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Chapter 234 - 211: Throwing the Medicine Ball, Spinal Power

Chapter 234: Chapter 211: Throwing the Medicine Ball, Spinal Power

"Awesome, teaching Kung Fu in TUF!"

"Isn’t this making history?"

"Master Wu is making a name abroad!"

"I wonder what Master Wu will teach them?"

...

In the live streaming room, netizens were all excited because Wu Li was going to be a mentor on TUF. As for Wu Li signing with the UFC, no one found it surprising. Given Wu Li’s abilities, signing was just a matter of time, but being a mentor on TUF was a different story; throughout TUF’s history, only star UFC fighters became mentors, and here Wu Li was, newly signed and already becoming a mentor. Once the show aired, Wu Li’s name would probably resonate across many places in the United States.

Of course, what made Hua Country’s netizens most proud was that Wu Li was going to teach these contestants Hua Country’s Kung Fu.

Mixed Martial Arts is still a relatively weak field for Hua Country, with not many notable achievements, especially among men—none have yet been listed in the UFC’s official rankings. Under such circumstances, what Wu Li was doing filled martial arts fans from Hua Country with excitement and pride.

"Next, you will undergo comprehensive training for the strength in various parts of your body, followed by group matches in three days. The team that loses will have the three worst performers eliminated," Danny finally announced before leaving.

"First item, medicine ball throwing!"

As soon as Danny left, Charles stood up, not even glancing at Wu Li, and loudly said to everyone.

He then walked to the training area, where a row of black medicine balls was laid out. Charles picked up a medicine ball, stretched out his arms, and bent his legs with his butt sticking out.

He held the ball, half-squatting, placing it between his legs. Then he stood up again, hugging the ball up to his abdomen, repeating the process, and finally with a burst of energy, he threw the medicine ball behind him.

The medicine ball traced an arc and landed about seven or eight meters behind Charles.

"Most of you have likely done this exercise before. Its purpose is to train your abdominal and core muscles," Charles explained as he picked up another medicine ball, this time explaining as he demonstrated the motions.

"Bend forward, gathering full energy at the hips, then stretch the knees, hips, and shoulders, simultaneously throwing the medicine ball upwards and backwards."

Charles demonstrated in slow motion, wearing a black tank top and white shorts, his muscle contours visibly changing as he exerted force, full of power.

"Back of the legs, quadriceps, glutes, thigh muscles, abdominals, arm muscles... These muscle groups should transfer power like a chain, then perfectly integrate together to burst forth with maximum efficiency!"

Charles painstakingly explained each component of the motion and finally addressed everyone, "Each of these medicine balls weighs five kilograms. Your final test will be to throw ten medicine balls backward and ten forward. The average distance they land at will be your score."

After finishing, he looked at Wu Li, "Since you’re the mentor, why don’t you give a demonstration?"

Wu Li smiled and stepped forward, picking up a medicine ball, bending his knees, and squatting.

His movements differed from Charles’s; Wu Li’s arms were slightly bent, and the angles of his waist and thighs were different from what Charles had just taught.

"Heh," Charles couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing this.

He had done this training many times, so he could immediately tell that Wu Li’s form was off—clearly a novice. Such a posture wouldn’t allow the medicine ball to be thrown very far.

In fact, Charles had agreed to come back because TUF organizers promised he could continue coaching the contestants in an advisory role, and his main purpose, of course, wasn’t to instruct the contestants but to regain face through Wu Li.

Even though he had lost the dodging training, Charles didn’t believe Wu Li could win all the subsequent training; he was determined to make Wu mentor lose face, and the TUF organizers, considering the show’s appeal, weren’t planning to stop him even though they knew Charles’s intentions.

Wu Li, without making much preparation or adjusting his posture, directly exerted himself to throw the medicine ball backwards.

Swoosh!

The black medicine ball flew back in a sweeping arc, landing far behind Wu Li.

Bang!

As the medicine ball hit the ground, there was no need to measure; it was visually obvious that Wu Li’s throw was much farther than Charles’s had been—at least by two meters.

Charles’s expression froze, "How is this possible?"

He had already used full strength for his demonstration, and although it wasn’t his best throw, it was close. Yet Wu Li had surpassed him by more than two meters with an unorthodox stance.

Wu Li turned around, ignoring Charles, and said to the others, "Everyone, split into groups and practice."

In his role as mentor, he didn’t need to practice himself.

In reality, although Wu Li had never trained with medicine ball throwing specifically, he had done similar training because it primarily focused on core strength and power transmission, which are crucial aspects of Ming Jin. Wu Li’s Ming Jin was also of Great Success, so naturally, these aspects wouldn’t lag behind.

Moreover, he also utilized Dark Force while using Ming Jin. In terms of muscle strength, Wu Li, who had traded to become a muscleman, was certainly no less than Charles, not to mention that he also used Muscle Bone Power. In such well-prepared events, across all of UFC, only the heavyweight competitors could match Wu Li in terms of strength.

With a sullen face, Charles began instructing the contestants in his group.

Wu Li was not idle either. He walked to a trainee, gesturing for the translator to relay his words to the other person.

"Hey, what’s your name?" Wu Li asked.

"George," the other person turned to face Wu Li, "Wu, are you going to coach me in my training?"

George wore a smile on his face. He had practiced throwing medicine balls before, and Wu Li’s previous technique was clearly not standard. Although Wu Li had achieved great results, George did not believe Wu Li could actually teach him anything.

Wu Li understood George’s smile but did not bother to explain; instead, he said, "George, come on, try to push upward and break free from my power."

Saying this, Wu Li had George squat slightly and stretch out his right hand to press on the other’s nape.

George looked at Wu Li with a smile, his legs exerting force trying to straighten his body, but the pressure from his neck felt like a giant rock pressing down, trapping him momentarily.

George’s smile vanished and surprise flickered in his eyes as he exerted force simultaneously with his lower back and legs.

This time, he managed to move, but it was strenuous. Conversely, Wu Li appeared relaxed, showing virtually no sign of effort.

"How did you do that?" George asked in astonishment, unable to believe the immense power Wu Li possessed.

Wu Li chuckled and replied, "Because in this position, I have your spine pinned down, preventing the power from different parts of your body from connecting."

Continuing, Wu Li had George squat again with his right hand still on the nape, indicating him to push up hard and challenge himself.

Then Wu Li extended his left hand and trailed it down George’s spine, pressing down inch by inch.

As Wu Li pressed, George’s body involuntarily pushed upwards until Wu Li pressed on his tailbone. His body uncontrollably shot upward, releasing a sudden burst of power that broke free from Wu Li’s right hand.

"OH!" George exclaimed in surprise, "What just happened?"

He felt like electricity coursed through his body at that last moment, akin to a needle prick, causing his body to instinctively shoot upwards.

"The medicine ball throw actually also involves spinal movement. If you maintain good spinal alignment and tighten your core while managing the bending and extending of your spine, you can elevate your Explosive Power to the next level," Wu Li explained.

Controlling the alignment and bending of the spine is the essence of unleashing Dark Force, Muscle Bone Power, and Inch Force, all relying on spinal power. Wu Li had just let George experience the process of unleashing Dark Force, aiding him in shifting his spine inch by inch. The final focus on the tailbone mobilized the contraction and release of the muscles and bones in the lower back, hips, and shoulders, releasing an upward thrusting Dark Force.

"Can you teach me?" George asked earnestly, looking at Wu Li, "Instructor Wu Li."

His pronunciation of "Wu Li" was blurred, but Wu Li understood and responded with a smile, "Of course."

He began to explain the key points of exerting force and repeatedly helped George press down on his spine to let him experience the process.

Twenty minutes later, George successfully unleashed Dark Force on his own.

"Not bad, try it with the medicine ball," Wu Li said.

Obediently, George picked up the medicine ball, bent his knees and slowly adjusted his spine, finally launching the medicine ball. However, it did not go very far.

"Mistake."

George shook his head and picked up another medicine ball to continue practicing.

After several attempts, a medicine ball traced an arc and was thrown quite far.

"I did it!"

George exclaimed excitedly. He could clearly feel that this throw had surpassed his personal best distance.

The commotion caught the attention of others, Charles frowned and looked over. When he saw George pick up another medicine ball to continue practicing, he immediately yelled discontentedly,

"Who told you to train like that?!"

Charles strode over to George, "Did I teach you that just now? What kind of move is that?"

In fact, utilizing spinal power necessarily meant a posture different from one relying solely on Muscle Strength, which deviated from Charles’s teaching or, to put it another way, from the conventional teaching of UFC.

Faced with the furious Charles, George felt a bit guilty but did not give in. He pointed at Wu Li: "I’m practicing the method of exerting force that Instructor Wu Li taught me. I think it’s very effective, and it has made a massive improvement in my performance."

"Ha?" Charles scoffed, pointing at Wu Li, "You’re actually learning a new method from someone who has never practiced throwing medicine balls? Are you an idiot?"

"Are you a fucking idiot?"

A voice interrupted Charles’s words, and at this moment, no one other than Wu Li would say that.

Wu Li pointed at Charles, "I am the instructor of this group right now. I’m teaching here. What right do you have to criticize and interrupt? Get the hell out of here!"