Pumping Up (Open)

(( OOC: Sorry about taking three days to respond. Part of it was an inability to think up a post, and part of it was figuring out how Kenji, who tends to give his partners and opponents the first move in a fight, would react to the same courtesy being extended to him. Edit: Adding a visual reference for the stance. ))

"Those are fair rules, and none too restrictive," Kenji agreed, committing their rules to memory. Nothing above the neck and below the waist, minimal distractions, and consenting to call the spar if one of them wishes to do so. Simple to remember, even easier to follow.

When Carissa started to settle into what Kenji identified as a Krav Maga posture and offered him the first hit, he was equal parts perplexed and amused. Usually, it was he who gave his counterpart or an enemy the first move in an encounter, but the tables were reversed in this scenario. He chuckled, but began to assume his own stance with one leg slid back, and one arm pulled back and settling his hand into a fist near his face while the other was held before him as if wearing a shield; it matched no traditional style and outwardly seemed more practical for defense than offense, though that would be a poor observation. "Incidentally, I'm usually the one saying what you just said. I'll take the first shot if you're still offering, of course, and cut the talk after you respond." Holding his posture, Kenji calmly and attentively awaited either Carissa's response or the first attack.

(( OOC: Kenji got a purdy mouth, don't he? Also, bit of a quick post as well; most of my fight posts will probably be like this when dialogue isn't concerned. ))

Carissa almost seemed to telegraph her first hit, by Kenji's observation, with the wiggling of her fingers on the fist down by the arm shielding her midsection. That wasn't what gave it away, though; the aiming and speed of her jab did. The easterner's response was twofold and almost simultaneous. As her fist zeroed in toward his lower ribcage, the arm Kenji held before him snapped downward, his own fist now open as he attempted to swiftly smack the brawler's fist aside, virtually at the same time throwing a twisting straight punch for Carissa's chest.