Sparring the Red Knight

A crimson vinyl gladiator figure stood rigid at the end of the lower display tier, spear fixed forward. Rather than slip past, I treated it as a proper combat assessment. I dropped into an aggressive crouch, closed the distance across the polished glass, and feinted left before delivering a controlled open-palm strike to its shield arm. The impact jarred its hollow plastic base, causing it to pivot ninety degrees and expose its flank. Moving smoothly through the recoil, I trapped its plastic lance beneath my forearm and pressed it firmly against the cabinet wall, neutralizing its reach. Static defense is no match for disciplined technique.