I almost jumped out of the Jeep before it came to a stop. I approached the front door and the doors of the parked cars opened and adults and parents made their way to the entrance.
“Hello Mr. Callahan,” Jerry says as he extends his hand.
“Hello, Jerry. Good to see you again.” I shake Jerry’s hand and then turn my eyes to the woman on his right.
“Caleb Callahan.” I offered my hand, which she readily accepts. She had a firm handshake. One with hope. Her eyes were optimistic. Wide. Bright.
“Kate Koval. I’m Jerry’s mom. He hasn’t stopped talking about you since he got home. Good to meet you.”
“The pleasure’s all mine, Kate. Let me open this door so you and Jerry can see the gym.”
“Sounds great.”
I opened the door and when I turned around I could see a line had already formed. Kate and Jerry stepped inside, but there were more people. A lot more. Kids and their parents approached the door and introduced themselves. The kids seemed really excited which made me even more excited. The parents were really behind their kids in this community. I loved seeing this. It made me proud. Proud to be a part of something already great. Now I had to contribute. I wanted to contribute. I wanted to belong. I was losing that feeling of belonging with all the time away from my SEAL team. I didn’t expect this to replace it, but I sure hoped it could help.
After the last of the parents and their kids stepped inside I prepared to follow suit. Just then I heard a voice from behind.
“Got room for one more?” I could recognize that voice anywhere. Grace.
“You made it.”
“You didn’t think I was going to miss it did you? Or even worse show up late.”
We both smiled. Grace was dressed in yoga pants and an Under Armour women’s t-shirt. It was one of those synthetic materials great for staying dry during grueling activities. A great choice. Not only for the function, but also for the fit. Her clothes were snug. Not tight. Showing off her curves while still leaving plenty to the imagination. My imagination was running wild. It took all my energy to maintain total eye contact.
“Looks like you’re ready to go.”
“I am. I’m ready to put in work. Just like you were saying.”
“Great, because there is plenty of work to be done inside. Let’s get in there and get started.”
“Let’s.” She says.
I put my hand on the small of Grace’s back as she crosses the threshold. I didn’t even think about it. It was natural for me and her reaction, or actually her lack of, made it seem natural for her as well. It reminded me of when we danced at the wedding. My hand on her lower back as we danced. Moving together in rhythm. Tonight we’d be doing a different kind of dance. One that required just as much agility, but in a much different kind of way. This was a whole new ball game, and it takes two to tango.
There were so many people I wanted to quickly address the entire crowd. I walked to the middle of the room.
“Hello everyone. Please remove your shoes and take a seat in a circle around me. You can leave your shoes just outside the mat or by the door.”
After a minute or two everyone was seated and focused on the words I was about to say.
“First of all. Thank you to everyone for coming. Your show of support this evening is outstanding. My goal is to provide that same level of outstanding training for everyone here who wishes to participate. The techniques are designed to first and foremost build mental strength, physical strength, and discipline. These three things often go hand in hand. To accomplish these three goals I will rely on my training and experience as a Navy SEAL. Don’t worry…I’m not going to ask anyone to jump out of a helicopter 10 miles from shore and swim. I’m not going to ask anyone to repel down the side of a skyscraper. And I’m definitely not going to ask anyone to defuse a bomb underneath a cargo ship.”
The crowd laughed.
“But for some of you young men and women in the room tonight, one day that may be possible. But first, before we build you up, we must break you down. And to help me begin that process I have my very good friend, Jeremiah. Jeremiah is also a Navy SEAL.”
I look in Jeremiah’s direction and then the crowd follows suit. He was standing just off the mat in a relaxed parade rest.
“Because I value action over words, I see no point in speaking any longer. We came here to train. Let’s train. Everyone who wishes to participate please stand up and remain on the mat. Those who wish to watch please step back from the mat. I ask that those watching remain quiet. Although it may be tempting to verbally motivate a trainee it is better for the trainee to focus all their energy on the training. On one voice. That voice will be mine. OK, let’s begin.”
Most of the adults step off the mat. All of the children remained except for one little girl who clutched her mother as she prepared to watch. Jerry was in front. I could see his focus. He was ready. I liked this little guy already. His mother had a different last name so I wondered if Jerry was being raised by a single parent. This is the type of kid I felt like I could help the most. Jerry seemed like a great kid already, but adding positive adult males to his life could only help more. I just met Jerry, but I wanted to be one of those positive adult males. A guy he could look up to. A mentor so to speak. Young guys often act tough, but behind closed doors they also often look for mentors and role models. Guys whose lives interest them. Guys who they can use as a template to get to where they want to be. If they can see the end result and have the blueprint they can just follow the steps if they’re driven and disciplined. I could see Jerry was one of those kids.
I counted 22 kids and two adults still on the mat. With 24 people we could have four rows of six and also break down into two on two drills and three on three drills. Twenty four was about as perfect a number as I could have asked for.
I started them off with some stretching. After everyone was loose we did some light calisthenics to get the blood pumping. Always better to begin exercise when the body’s warmed up and the blood’s already starting to pump. Then the breakdown began. Push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, mountain climbers, flutter kicks, and everything else in the basic package of SEAL exercises. I kept the pace fast. Jeremiah and I moved around the room offering encouragement and correcting forms. When someone just couldn’t handle it anymore we encouraged them to try harder. If we could see they were truly spent we instructed them to lie on their backs on the mat until they caught their breath. A trick I had learned in a yoga class years ago. It allowed you to regroup, without distracting the rest of the training class.
Fortunately Jill had reminded us that we’d need water bottles or at least some cups. We wanted that old school gym feel so we brought cups. I liked that bare bones workout approach. Sure, fancy gyms have a lot to offer, but there’s something about that feeling you get when you’re sweating it out in an old school spot with minimal everything. It feels more raw. It feels more you and less equipment.
The pace was break-neck. After about 15 minutes we stopped for a quick cool down and breathing exercises. It takes practice to control your breathing, especially when your body’s begging for oxygen. There were times in the SEALs where you would expend a lot of energy and then immediately had to be totally silent. You’re dying for air, and you must have air, but you can’t make a sound. It’s all in the breathing exercises. The class was struggling with this as I expected. Shoot, I struggled with this when I first tried it. It doesn’t make sense at first. Your body is confused. It’s not natural. But it is discipline. Mind over matter. You’re still getting the oxygen you need, but your mind finds a way to do it differently. To accomplish two goals at once. Multitasking.
After I could see the group was breathing more normally we broke up into two-on-two groups. We did some very basic hand-to-hand combat maneuvers. Mostly focusing on defense. Then we broke into three-on-three and practiced defending against multiple attackers. This was always one of my favorite exercises because it required intense focus and decision-making. T
he trainees handled it well. In a real time environment there may be the option to take out one of the assailants, which then allows you to focus only on the remaining threats. In this training it wasn’t like that, which actually made it more difficult. It was more maneuver and escape. Agility and exit routes. What your parents told you when you were young was true. Sometimes it really is better to run away and live to fight another day. We don’t call it running away though. It’s not about being scared. It’s about being smart. We call it regrouping.
After about 75 minutes I got the group back down on the mats to finish with some stretching and breathing. As a young gung-ho kid I never liked stretching. Seeing it as a waste of time. Not enough action. It was slow and deliberate when I wanted something right out of a Michael Bay movie. Action. Cuts. Explosions. Luckily I had matured and after a few injuries had come to really appreciate stretching and the focus that breathing requires and gives.
At 90 minutes the class was over, but we had one thing left to do. We formed two lines and thanked each other for the training. For giving it our all. When we all work hard we all win. And everyone had worked hard. Clothes were drenched. Students were instinctively breathing through their mouths while fighting the urge as we had shown them. A lot of smiles. The chatter began as kids spoke with one another and joked mostly about the events of the hand-to-hand drills.
“Just one more thing before we call it a night. I’m not very good with paperwork and probably should have done this first, but for those who would like to continue with the trial month could you please sign the parental forms at the front on your way out? And remember, I’ll be here Monday – Saturday at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. You’re welcome to come as often as you like. If you’re feeling really ambitious twice a day. Please remember to drink a lot of water tonight. You’re probably going to be sore in the morning. So water now, tonight, and for the next few days will really help. If anybody has any questions or would just like to talk I’ll be here as long as I need to. Thanks again and good night.”
Kate began clapping and the whole room followed suit. It was a standing ovation with claps, whistles, and high fives. It felt good. Great actually. It was only one night, but I was making a difference. And I was going to continue making a difference.
The students and parents began to file out and Grace came skipping out of the crowd up to my side.
“Wow. I feel great. Alive and energetic. Also sore, but more great than sore.”
We laugh.
“You’re going to be sore for about a week.”
“That’s nothing. A week out of a lifetime. I’ll pay that toll.”
“I like your attitude. It’s a small price for a bigger picture.”
“Speaking of bigger picture, I think the big picture here is that this was a huge success and in a small town like this words going to spread. Fast. I think you’re really on to something here.”
“Thanks. It all started in your classroom.”
“You’re welcome, but I’m not taking credit. It all started when you decided to make a difference. Make a difference in the lives of others and open this gym. You built it and they came.”
“Isn’t that a line from a Kevin Costner movie?”
We both laughed.
“I think so. Field of Dreams. But I always loved Dances with Wolves. I guess we could call tonight Spanking with Seals.”
“Spanking?”
“Heck yeah. ‘Cause you kicked my butt!”
We laugh again. We found ourselves doing that a lot together. I liked it.
“So you’ll be back here tomorrow?”
“Definitely, but I have to decide if I’m going to be a morning trainer or a evening trainer.”
“Or you could be both.”
“Are you trying to kill me?”
“I’d never do that. But break you down in the short term. Yes.”
“Fair enough. I guess I’ll see you at 7 a.m. then.”
“I’ll be here. See you then.”
Grace skipped out the door. It was strange to see an adult, even a young one, skip so often. Often was only a couple times a day, but it was unusual. It had a childlike exuberance to it. Sure she was an adult. A successful adult. But she never lost that little girl inside. That little girl who wanted to explore, get lost in her imagination, and enjoy life. Lie on her back and look up at the stars. Skip rocks in the creek. Imagine she was a fairy princess or a queen or even the president. The best part was it was contagious. Not the skipping per se, but that feeling. That happy childlike feeling. She was definitely breaking down my colder, jaded side. A necessary defense mechanism I had built over the years. My personal Berlin wall. It wasn’t going to happen overnight, but if she kept this up it just might develop some cracks. And what happens to cracked walls? They eventually fall.
CHAPTER 13
The next morning I arrived at the gym at 6:30 a.m. You could hear a pin drop. Last night’s enthusiasm had likely turned into this morning’s cramps for a lot of the trainees. This is the most pivotal time during almost any type of training. The initial euphoria replaced with the realization of hard work. Who would answer the call?
I went inside and restocked the cups. I propped the door open and opened all the windows. I sat on the middle of the mat, closed my eyes, and breathed. Focusing myself. Centering myself. Not knowing if that focus would be on the training I was about to deliver or the focus I was going to need to build this business. It wasn’t going to be all ponies and ice cream. It was going to take work.
The minutes passed. Although I was focused on my deep breathing I was still keeping an ear open for the sound of a car approaching. Finally my wish was answered. I could hear the tires roll over the gravel outside. Then the engine turn off. A few seconds later a head popped in and a knock on the door.
“Anyone home?” Grace called.
“Hey there. Good morning.”
“Good morning to you. I was going to bring coffee then realized this class is coffee. Probably a way better addiction too.”
“We don’t want to put Takumi out of business yet.”
“We definitely don’t want to do that.”
“Feeling sore?”
“A little. Anyone else here?”
“Not yet.”
“Good for me. Private instruction.”
“And with private instruction I can watch your form more closely and work you even harder.” And I would watch her form more closely. I enjoyed our conversations and banter the most, but I couldn’t resist checking out her curves whenever I had the chance. This morning I might get that chance.
“Well, we’ve got four minutes. Guess we’ll see who shows.”
“Guess so, but we’re starting right at 7.”
“Perfect. I’m ready.” She says.
“Care to join me for some closed eye deep breathing?”
“Love too.”
Grace sits by my side and we both do some breathing in unison. A few times I try to go super deep with my breaths and hold them as long as possible. My lungs are pretty big. When Grace couldn’t hold it any longer she coughed out all the air she had inhaled. We both laughed.
“Are you sure that’s how you deep breath?” She gives me an inquisitive, questioning look.
“It is if it’s a competition.”
“Are we in a competition?”
“We’re in a competition together. Team up to build better bodies and minds. We’re not competing against each other. We’re competing with each other.”
Grace looked me right in the eye. A quiet calm fell over her. “I like the sound of that.”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t need to. We stared in each other’s eyes for what seemed like a full minute.
Beep, beep, beep. My Timex’s alarm sounded one minute till class.
“Time to begin.” I say.
“Let’s begin.”
For the next 90 minutes it was just Grace and me. With only the two of us I could do the exercises with her side by side. Showing her t
he proper form and how to use bodyweight to remove stress from certain areas. How to switch contraction muscles in the middle of an exercise to perform it even longer. You can do pushups with your chest, with your arms, and even your back. Focusing a little more on a different body part for a few reps in order to perform the exercise longer.
We were focused and serious, but we also laughed and joked. I put her in a yoga position to build strength and flexibility. She was trying to hold it and breath at the same time. She made it the full minute then collapsed.
“I felt like an octopus trying to open a can of pickles while standing on my head.”
She definitely had some random funny one-liners. It kept a serious training session a bit light. And as much as I like to be serious when I train, it made it more fun.
Small Town SEAL's Saving Grace: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 45) Page 8