Head to Head (4 page)

Mark remembered Sifu Hale’s words:
Perhaps there are others who could learn by watching you
. Mark wondered if Sifu Hale had meant Jonas. Then he realized it didn’t matter. Jonas was asking for his help, and Mark hoped
he’d be able to give it.

And who knows?
he thought.
Maybe I can learn from watching Jonas, too
.

The following week, Mark and Jonas worked every afternoon to prepare for the demonstration. But before their first session,
Mark made sure he explained why Sifu Hale wanted them to do the moves slowly.

“Oh, that makes sense,” Jonas said. And that was that.

Sifu Hale had decided Mark and Jonas would do just one throw instead of the three Mark and Jenna had been scheduled to demonstrate.

“Will you be able to learn it in time, Jonas?” the teacher asked.

Jonas glanced at Mark and grinned. “Oh, I think so. I’ve already had a preview. I’m looking forward to trying it out, myself!”

And learn it he did — Mark had the bruises to show for it. But that was okay, because he was pretty sure Jonas had a few new
black and blues as well.

The day of the demonstration, they sat together

in the party room with the other students, listening to the murmurs from the gathering audience.

“Sounds like a lot of people out there,” Jonas commented suddenly. “I hope I don’t screw up.”

Mark looked at him in surprise. “You’re not nervous, are you?” he said.

Jonas made a small space between his thumb and forefinger. “Maybe just a little.”

“Well, you know what to do, then,” Mark told him.

Jonas nodded, closed his eyes, and took several deep breaths. After a moment, he opened his eyes again and smiled. “That’s
such a neat trick. Thanks again for showing it to me.”

“No sweat,” Mark said. He heard Sifu Hale call their names. “Now, let’s go show those folks what kung fu is all about!”

The martial art of kung fu began hundreds of years ago in a monastery in China. The monks there learned hand-fighting techniques
so that they could protect their monastery from invaders. Many of these techniques are based on the movements of five animals:
the snake, the tiger, the crane, the leopard, and the mythical Chinese dragon.

The snake is a legless, armless creature. It moves silently, almost invisibly. When it defends itself, it coils its body,
and its head rises straight out of the coil. Its strikes are sudden, so it is hard to see them coming. Snake moves in kung
fu mimic those made by real snakes. Arms and legs bend like the letter s. Lightning-fast strikes are made with the fingertips,
which are held like fangs and target soft areas of the body.

The tiger is a powerful, aggressive animal. It attacks head on with great ferocity, using its huge paws and strong jaws to
overwhelm its prey. Tigers rarely need to defend themselves, and tiger kung-fu moves are mostly attack based, too, with fierce
kicks and punches but few blocks.

The leopard uses stealth, cunning, and agility to surprise its prey. Kung-fu moves based on this animal share these qualities:
fighters attack in unexpected ways and catch their opponents off guard using their quickness.

The crane is a graceful, patient bird. Unlike the tiger and the leopard, it is not aggressive — but if it has to, it will
use its claws, sharp beak, and powerful wings to defend itself. Crane kung-fu techniques are likewise based on grace and patience.
Fighters using crane techniques always let their opponents attack first before fighting back.

The Chinese dragon is a mythical creature believed to bring good luck and prosperity. It is the most spiritual of the five
kung-fu animals. People who study dragon techniques focus on building their inner strength as well as their bodily strength.
When they fight, they use open hands held like claws for grabbing their opponents.

There are other animals associated with martial arts, including the praying mantis, the monkey, and the eagle. If you can
imagine how each of these creatures looks and moves, then you may be able to guess how their traits have been adapted to fighting
and defense.

#1 ONE SMOOTH MOVE

#2 DAY OF THE DRAGON

#3 ROLLER HOCKEY RUMBLE

#4 ON THIN ICE

#5 ROCK ON

#6 INTO THE DANGER ZONE

#7 WILD RIDE

#8 HEAD TO HEAD

MATT CHRISTOPHER

HEAD TO HEAD

Illustrated by Michael Koelsch

Mark Goldstein has been taking
kung fu
lessons for months, and he’s gotten good enough for his teacher to ask him to be part of a public demonstration. But his
friend Jonas Malloy proves to be even
better
after just a few lessons. Mark suddenly finds himself caught in a web of
jealousy
— and when Jonas winds up as Mark’s partner in the demonstration, the web pulls even tighten Will Mark be able to look past
his feelings, or will his friendship with Jonas be
ruined
?

Matt Christopher is the name behind the
coolest
sports books for young readers. The latest series, the Extreme Team, showcases the fast-growing individual activities known
as
extreme
sports, including skateboarding, snowboarding, martial arts, rock climbing, ice skating, and more. Check it out!