The Jiu Jitsu Instructor

Chapter 13 – Continuing the Journey

On the morning of the farewell, Gisele's house was bustling. Alessandra and Anja were finishing packing their things to catch their flight back to Los Angeles. In the kitchen, the smell of fresh coffee filled the air as the children laughed and chatted. Gisele, ever the attentive hostess, helped Alessandra close her bags.

"Gi, it was so great spending these days here," Alessandra said, putting the last item in her suitcase.

"I'm so glad you came. It was wonderful having you here, and the training was a great surprise, don't you think?" Gisele replied, smiling.

"Absolutely. I didn't expect to have so much fun with jiu-jitsu. And Anja is hooked!" Alessandra said, laughing.

Before heading to the airport, Alessandra and Anja decided to stop by Ricardo's gym to say goodbye. When they arrived, Ricardo was on the mat, adjusting the training of a group of students. He looked up when he saw them enter.

"Oh, I'm glad you stopped by before you left," he said, walking towards them.

"Of course, we couldn't leave without thanking you for everything," Alessandra replied.

"It was a pleasure to have you here. You both have natural talent, and Anja has the potential to go far if she wants to keep training," Ricardo commented, looking at the young woman, who smiled proudly.

"I really want to keep going, Ricardo. It was so cool learning these techniques. I feel more confident," Anja said excitedly.

"I'm happy to hear that. And if you want to keep going, I have a gym in Orlando. If you're ever there, just drop by. And of course, I also have a few in Brazil. If you visit, it would be great to train with you again," he explained.

"Oh, sure! I'll let you know when we're in Orlando or Brazil. You can expect us," Alessandra replied enthusiastically.

While they were talking, Gisele entered the gym with Vivian and Benjamin, who had insisted on saying a final goodbye to Anja.

"So, are we saying goodbye?" Gisele asked, hugging Alessandra.

"For now," Alessandra replied, smiling. "But we've already agreed to keep training. Anja fell in love with the sport."

"That's great! And Ricardo is the best teacher for this," Gisele said, giving him an approving look.

"Oh, thank you. But the merit goes to those who dedicate themselves," Ricardo replied modestly.

After a few more laughs and warm goodbyes, Alessandra and Anja finally headed for the door.

"Thank you again, Ricardo. And Gisele, we'll see you soon. You can bet on that," Alessandra said, waving as she left.

"Of course, Alê. Travel safely!" Gisele replied.

After they left, Ricardo returned to the mat, where Gisele was still with her children. She seemed thoughtful, watching Vivian and Benjamin playing with their classmates.

"You're quiet today," Ricardo commented, approaching.

"Just thinking about how good these last few days have been. It's incredible how jiu-jitsu has brought people together around me," Gisele said.

"It's a special sport. It's not just physical, it's mental, emotional. And it creates a community," Ricardo replied.

"You really have a gift for this, Ricardo. Not only for teaching, but for connecting people. Even Alessandra was enchanted," she said, looking at him with a smile.

"Thank you, Gisele. Hearing that from you means a lot," he said sincerely.

On the way back home, Gisele reflected on Alessandra and Anja's visit. She felt grateful to have shared this new part of her life with her friend. And, more than that, she realized how Ricardo was becoming increasingly important not only to her, but to everyone around her.

As the jiu-jitsu classes continued and the connections grew stronger, Gisele knew that this was just the beginning of a journey that had much more to offer.

Chapter 14 – Feelings on the Boil

Gisele was at home, sitting in a comfortable armchair while leafing through a book she had recently purchased. The afternoon sun streamed in through the large windows of the living room, warming the room.

However, she couldn't concentrate on the text in front of her. Her thoughts were elsewhere, fixed on Ricardo and the interactions they had had in the last few days.

She vividly remembered how he would hold her wrists during classes, explaining the techniques with that calm and authoritative voice. His firm and secure hands, large and strong, made her heart race inexplicably. Just thinking about it made her cheeks start to heat up, and she dropped the book on her lap.

"You need to control yourself, Gisele," she muttered to herself, placing her hands on her face to try to dissipate the sudden heat.

The next morning, Gisele arrived at Iron Will for her jiu-jitsu class. Vivian and Benjamin were already on the mat, excited to train with the other young people.

Gisele, however, felt a little nervous as she walked through the door. She knew she would see Ricardo and that, inevitably, her thoughts from the previous day would come flooding back. Ricardo was on the mat, adjusting the position of a student. When he saw her enter, he gave her a warm smile.

"Good morning, Gisele. Ready for today's training?" he asked, approaching.

"Yes, of course," she replied, trying to sound casual, but feeling the heat rising up her neck.

"Great. Let's start with the warm-up," he said, gesturing for her to join the group.

During the training, Ricardo was demonstrating a sweeping technique and asked Gisele to be his partner for the demonstration.

"Gisele, lie down here on your back. I'm going to show you how to position your feet and shift your weight," he said, kneeling beside her.

She obeyed, lying down on the mat while he explained the steps. When he placed his hands on her waist to adjust her position, Gisele felt the firm touch that had been occupying her mind so much. Her body reacted instantly, with a wave of heat that made her cheeks flush.

"Now, bend your left knee and push your hip against mine," Ricardo said, focused on the technical explanation.

Gisele tried to follow the instructions, but her mind was so distracted that she ended up making a mistake in the movement.

"Calm down, let's try again," Ricardo said patiently, adjusting her arms. "Relax, it's normal at first."

"Okay... Sorry," she said, trying to concentrate, but without success.

After practice, while the other students were in the locker room, Ricardo approached Gisele, who was sitting on the mat tying her hair.

"Are you okay today? You seemed a little distracted," he asked, with a worried expression.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine," Gisele replied quickly, avoiding looking him directly in the eye.

"If you need help with anything or have any questions, just let me know," he said with a friendly smile.

"Thank you, Ricardo. You're always so thoughtful," she replied, feeling her heart race at the sight of his smile.

When she got home, Gisele went straight to the shower, trying to wash away not only the sweat from her workout, but also the lingering thoughts that had been lingering in her mind.

As the hot water ran down her body, she couldn't help but remember Ricardo's hands on her waist, adjusting her position on the mat.

She shook her head, frustrated with herself. "Why are you thinking about this like that, Gisele?" she wondered aloud, leaning her forehead against the shower wall.

Despite her attempts to distract herself, the memories kept coming back. Ricardo wasn't just attractive; he exuded confidence and self-assurance, qualities that Gisele deeply admired.

Later, while eating dinner with Vivian and Benjamin, Gisele tried to push her thoughts of Ricardo away, focusing on her conversation with her children.

"Mommy, did you see how I managed to do the scraping technique today?" Benjamin asked excitedly.

"Yes, I did, my love. You're getting really good," Gisele replied with a smile.

"And Professor Ricardo said I'm learning fast," Vivian commented.

At the mention of Ricardo's name, Gisele felt her heart race again, but she quickly hid it, focusing on her children.

"He's right. You two are doing great," she said proudly.

Later that night, as she lay in bed, Gisele stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Her mind drifted back to Ricardo, to his smile, his calm voice, and the hands that made her feel so self-aware.

She sighed deeply. "What's happening to me?" she asked herself, knowing that she was beginning to feel attracted to him in a way that she could no longer ignore.

Despite knowing that she should keep things professional, Gisele could not help the wave of feelings that grew inside her went on inside her every day she spent with Ricardo.

And for the first time in a long time, she felt that something new was unfolding in her life something that perhaps could not be ignored.

Chapter 15 – An Important Announcement

It was a sunny morning at Iron Will, and the atmosphere in the gym was full of energy. Students chatted excitedly as they tied their belts and prepared for training. Gisele arrived with Vivian and Benjamin, both excited after having made progress with some techniques recently.

In the center of the mat, Ricardo was finishing setting the schedule for the upcoming training sessions. His face was calm, but there was excitement evident in his eyes. He had something important to announce.

When all the students were gathered, he clapped his hands to get the group's attention.

"Good morning, everyone! Before we start today's training, I have some important news to share with you," he began, crossing his arms.

The students looked at each other curiously, as Ricardo continued:

"As you know, the IBJJF World Championship is coming up, and I have been invited to participate. It is a great honor, and I hope to represent our academy with pride."

A buzz ran through the group, followed by applause and cheers of support.

"That's amazing, professor!" said one of the students.

"Congratulations, Ricardo! Let's cheer for you," commented Gisele, smiling, while Vivian and Benjamin clapped enthusiastically.

"Thank you, guys. I'm really excited, but it also means I'll be out for a few days to compete. During that time, classes will continue as normal, with substitute teachers that I trust completely. I want you to keep up the pace and take advantage of training with different styles," he explained.

Benjamin raised his hand, as if he were in a classroom.

"Professor Ricardo, you're going to win, right?" he asked with almost naïve confidence.

Ricardo laughed, bending down to the boy's height.

"I'll do my best, Benjamin. But the important thing is to compete and show what we've learned on the mat. Every fight is an opportunity to grow."

Vivian, in turn, looked at her mother, intrigued. "Mommy, can we watch his fights online?"

Ricardo heard the question and smiled. "Yes, Vivian. I'll let you know about the broadcasts. If you want to watch, you can cheer for me from home. Just promise not to forget to train while I'm away!"

After the announcement, the students returned to training. During a break, Gisele took the opportunity to chat with Ricardo while he set a timer.

"Congratulations on the opportunity, Ricardo. It's huge, isn't it?" she asked, genuinely interested.

"Yes, it is. The World Championship is the biggest stage for jiu-jitsu with gi. Every time I participate, I feel the same mix of nervousness and excitement. It's a test both physically and mentally," he replied, looking at her with a smile.

"I'm sure you'll do incredibly well. Your students are all rooting for you. Including me," she said, and noticed that her voice had come out softer than she had expected.

Ricardo seemed to notice her tone, but he kept his composure. "Thank you, Gisele. Your support means a lot to me. And don't worry, when I get back, I'll charge you double for the training," he joked, winking.

She laughed, feeling more relaxed.

In the days leading up to his trip, Ricardo made sure that everything was organized. He gathered the team of substitute teachers to ensure that each class was well attended to. Gisele noticed the care he took with the students and how he made sure no one felt neglected.

During one of the last practices before his departure, he gathered Gisele, Vivian and Benjamin for a special moment at the end of the class.

"Vivian, Benjamin, keep trying. I want to see you guys killing it when I get back. And Gisele, don't worry. I trust that you will continue to progress," he said, looking directly at her with an encouraging smile.

"You can rest assured, Professor. We will make you proud," Benjamin replied firmly.

"I will try hard, Ricardo. I promise," Gisele added, feeling the weight of her words.

On the morning of the trip, the gym was especially busy. Many students showed up to wish Ricardo good luck. Vivian and Benjamin made sure to be there too, along with Gisele.

"Good luck, Professor Ricardo! Don't forget to win for us," Benjamin said, with a broad smile.

"I will do my best, champion," Ricardo replied, patting the boy lightly on the shoulder.

Gisele approached, trying to hide the slight anxiety she felt.

"Good luck, Ricardo. I know you will do a great job," she said, trying to keep her tone casual.

"Thank you, Gisele. And thank you for taking care of the group while I'm away. I trust you to keep things on track," he replied, giving her a look that seemed to last a little longer than necessary.

She smiled, feeling her heart race, but she kept her composure.

As they watched Ricardo leave, Gisele realized that something was changing inside her. Their relationship, respect, and admiration for him were transforming into something deeper.

She knew that the days without Ricardo would be different, but she also knew that his absence would only increase the anticipation for his return. And with him would come the next phase of this journey that was already intertwining their lives in unexpected ways.

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