Kuma

Only 20 years old, Kuma fights with the skills and verve of a grizzled veteran. Her precise, defense-destroying strikes attracted the most notice, but right behind were her accolades for fancy footwork. Named the best fighter at her university, Kuma shows off her stuff with speed, grace and knockout strength with the strongest punch of all the fighters. "The kid is such a natural." - Mo Samuels.
== Life on the Algae Farm ==
The generation born after the atmospheric metamorphosis was characterized by their tolerance to heat, self-sufficience and work ethic. Kuma fully embodied these traits. She grew up managing a modest algae farm with her older sister Yuuku and, as was common for algae farmers, life was a challenge. They worked for very low wages and it seemed they'd lead an impoverished life of labor forever. Still, Kuma and Yuuku were happy together. They didn't have much but they never forgot they had each other.
From an early age, Kuma displayed an imagination and intelligence which impressed those who knew her. Naturally, Yuuku was the person who spent the most time with her and so was the most impressed. She worked very hard to instill in her younger sister the importance of studying hard, knowing that one day Kuma could be so much more than an algae farmer.
Kuma was an ace student and scored high marks on all her citizen assessments. Her future was looking bright; however, Kuma’s excellent grades turned into a source of bittersweet sadness when the inevitable happened. Alpine Technical Institute selected her for enrollment.
When it was time to leave for school, the girls tearfully separated, knowing it would be a very long time before they would see each other again.
== #1 Pound for Pound ==
Once in school, Kuma gravitated to medicine and discovered a previously hidden passion for an unlikely extracurricular activity: boxing. Years passed and Kuma became a gifted doctor and an excellent boxer. She developed a highly technical style, dismantling her opponents in the ring with surgical precision. 
As one of the top schools in country, Alpine Technical Institute provided many luxuries to its students in the name of higher education, including allowance to otherwise sealed media from the pre-2009 civilization. This gave Kuma the opportunity to study footage of the great boxing matches of the 20th century to develop her technique.  
She honed her style into a furious combination of cutting edge punch mechanics and old school power, Kuma's "Stinging Butterfly" style is as quick as it is powerful. She rose to #2 in the inter-university boxing circuit during her enrollment at ATI, not a bad rank considering most of her contenders were training in law enforcement and military operations.
Despite her gentle, doctor-like demeanor, Kuma utilized brutal tactics in the ring. Her trainer described her as "Fuzzy on the outside, rage on the inside."
== The Tsunami ==
With only weeks to go before she could graduate and reunite with Yuuku, the Great East Coast Tsunami completely disrupted the balance of society. Kuma returned home to find her algae farm was gone and her sister with it. As tsunami refugees crashed upon middle America, Kuma was truly confused and scared for the first time in her life. Thankfully, it didn't last long. When Kuma heard rumors about someone in the Presevation who was trying to restart the roller derby bouts at the fights, Kuma knew exactly where Yuuku was...
== FIGHT HISTORY ==
===== GOLDEN AGE: SEASON 1 =====
POUND FOR POUND: KUMA V. SWEAT PANTS 
Like Malito, Mr. Ferris, Supastank and a few others, Kuma’s first fight was purely for passage into the Preservation. She stepped out into the Scrapyard, having heard that Inessa Leonov had recently resurfaced just to get smacked down by grandson of the Fistfoot. If that was true, she was on sacred ground. If that weren't enough, the organizers tell Kuma she'll be fighting against a woman they believe to be the legendary racer Sophia Kim. 
That's why she was so disappointed by the calibur of her opponent. This so-called Sweat Pants Ninja was an inexperienced rookie. To an outsider, it looked like Kuma was toying with Sweat Pants like a kitten with a lizard but this wasn't the case. It was just an epic mismatch. After testing the ninja for her skills, waiting for something, Kuma got bored and unleashed a FUZZY FLURRY that dropped the Sweat Pants Ninja like a sack of algae snacks.
AFTER FIGHT 9: KUMA (1-0)
After her first fight, the organizers saw something in Kuma and they honored her request to field a few questions. They confirmed there was indeed a party very interested in restarting the derby bouts and they were considering her offer. They would even agree to arrange a meeting between Kuma and this person, in exchange for another fight... 
FUZZY: SWEAT PANTS V. KUMA
When Sweat Pants Ninja returned to demand a rematch, Kuma was tired, just finished brushing her teeth and in her pajamas. Though she was ambushed unfairly and extremely tired, she agreed to another round if it would teach Sweat Pants a lesson. Turned out the ninja had learned a thing or two; Kuma learned a lesson that night. Never underestimate a Sweat Pants Ninja.
SIBLING RIVALRY: KUMA V. YUUKU
After that spastic girl and the weird tattoo guy completely destroyed the Scrapyard, Kuma was a little bit excited and pretty honored to be the main event at the opening night of the New Arena. She warmed up for the That is until Yuuku starts telling her sister how to fight. Kuma didn't need any "constructive criticism" and they light up the ring. Though Yuuku was ahead when the match ended and technically claimed the victory, this is a matchup that will no doubt be revisited. 
After the events of the evening, the organizers offer Kuma a contract for three fights. Unbeknownst to Kuma, Blight's recording of her fight with her sister eventually was viewed by Mo Samuels. When Waiting Room approached him to join the fights shortly after, he only agreed to come out of retirement if he were allowed to train Kuma.
CABBAGETOWN
When Kuma hears about the Cabbagetown Massacre, she is overcome with grief. She knows many who attended the university and she had visited it many times. After having heard such terrible news, she doesn't feel much like fighting. Nevertheless, Yuuku reminds her that they have a contract to fulfill if they want to make a life here in the Preservation. Besides, they get to fight side by side in their next match.
THE FRYING PAN: KUMA/YUUKA V. SPIKE/LOVETRAILS
Together, Kuma and Yuuku face a volleyball spiking duo who pack quite a punch. Their speed is unreal. It's a very close fight. Eventually, Kuma realizes what she needs to do and sets herself as an easy target. She takes a laser ball directly to her chest, giving Yuuku enough time to get behind Spike and Lovetrails and take them down. Kuma and Yuuku take their first sponsored victory and win a large purse.
After the fight, Kuma discovers that their opponents were refugees from Cabbagetown. Kuma feels betrayed and deeply saddened. She knows the organizers hid this from her or she would have refused to fight. She has been manipulated into fighting people who deserved her protection. She starts to wonder to what extent she and her sister are being manipulated...
===== GOLDEN AGE: SEASON 2 =====
TOTAL HOMERS: KUMA/YUUKU V. CUPERTINO
After Kuma kicks off to Willie about making her fight someone who just escaped Cabbagetown, she assigned her next fight. Unfortunately, it's someone who's way above her skill-set. Cheapness abounds as Tino slides around on her skates and Kuma gets so jacked in the match that Yuuku jumps in to protect her. Yuuku also gets jacked. After the fight, Kuma can't help but feel the fight was punishment for questioning the management...
DIGGING YOUR OWN HOLE: KUMA V. EL MARIACHI
If there was any doubt Kuma was being marginalized before, it was gone now. For her next match, the organizers give Kuma El Mariachi, "a nothing fight." It's not even on a proper stage. Yuuku asks Kuma what she's there for: the glory, the money or the experience? She warns Kuma not to underestimate El Mariachi and to finish the job quickly. The fight is not what Kuma expected. The burrito salesman is actually quite smooth. He's hard to hit and hits hard, the fight going both ways until the end when Kuma thinks she's finally defeated him...until she hasn't. The organizers ring the bell and she takes a loss in the books. Rather than protest their decision and get punished even more, she keeps her mouth shut and "eats the bitter burrito."
THE CAT'S PAJAMAS: KUMA V. BURGERMEISTER
Kuma suspects Willie is eager to feed his golden boy Burgermeister a win. It's obvious to Kuma she's being punished for questioning management so much but it's fine for now. She's eager to dish out some payback to the guy who fell into her fight with Yuuku way back when. So what if this man is three times her weight? Suspecting she's in for a heck of a fight, Kuma practices intensely for the match. She's happy to have a legit opponent and on the main stage, no less. So what if there's no music for some reason and the stadium looks nearly empty? The fight is brutal. It's like Burgermeister knows what she's going to do! Kuma gets thrashed and walks away with a chip on her shoulder and a bit more respect for Burgermeister.
===== GOLDEN AGE: SEASON 3 =====
AI KUNAI: BLIGHT V. KUMA
Some time has passed and the fights are really growing in popularity. Kuma even seems to have gotten back on Willie's good-side. She's collected a few wins from newcomers and she's a respected figure around the ring. The crowd has even taken to calling her and her sister Ai Kunai, which she heard means "hell bitches."
There is a definite top dog here in the Preservation, however. Blight. The girl is no-doubt gifted. Who the heck knows what that stuff she makes out of thin-air is? It's creepy...but cool. Only problem is, Blight is sloppy. Real slop. Well, Kuma thinks they've gotten to be pretty amiable around the fighter kitchen so she offers to teach Blight a little about boxing.
Blight is thrilled to train with Kuma and she's a pretty fast study. When the time comes, Kuma tells her it's time for a real fight. Kuma won't hold back this time. She's gonna make Blight earn it. Blight agrees to the match but warns Kuma not to punch her too much or "stuff might happen."
Indeed, stuff does happen. Blight's got an eerie strength that keeps Kuma fighting to keep her head above water. When Kuma finally gets a good shot in, Blight's "retrovirus" starts to attack and Kuma calls the fight.
The training sessions deepened Blight and Kuma's friendship and Kuma adopts her into Ai Kunai.
===== GOLDEN AGE: SEASON 4 =====
AI KUNAI V. TARBABY #1
When Ai Kunai gathered to face Tarbaby, the battle ended in tragedy. In her enthusiasm to help, Kuma raced in to save Yuuku before ensuring the safety of the others in the area. The tragic outcome was that Kuma became a victim herself. She was was badly injured. Even worse, Sweat Pants Ninja lost her life.
== Trivia ==
Kuma was conceptualized by Chelsea Austin in 2016, "fuzzy on the outside, rage on the inside." Kuma's fatal flaw is that she's too energetic and foolhardy. Naively enthusiastic. She grows to learn to assess the scene correctly before jumping in. She's overly emotional and overly competitive.
Category:Fighters
Category:Golden Age
Category:Ai Kunai