Dojo

The gang walked through a forest, feeling very happy. Not only were they happy about Ash and Tomo capturing Ariados and Ledian a few days ago, they were happy with Brock's and Misty's new Pokemon evolving. The day after the bug-catching contest, Misty was training with her Staryu, Goldeen, Gloom and two Poliwag. Gloom was growing strong and Misty decided it was time for her Gloom to evolve. Ash showed her Gloom's second evolution Bellossom on the Pokedex. Bellossom looked like a hula dancer because the leaves around it's waist looked like a hula skirt. Misty liked the thought of having a Bellossom and Ash used his Sun Stone to evolve Gloom into a Bellossom. Misty immediately fell in love with her new Bellossom. The day after that Brock's Zubat evolved into a Golbat and Brock was happy to have a Golbat.

"With all the new Pokemon we've captured and our Pokemon evolving." Ash said. "It makes me wonder what Pokemon we will capture next or which one of our Pokemon will evolve next."

"I wonder that as well." Brock smiled.

Suddenly they heard a noise that sounded like a stampede. A Tauros was charging down the hill. The Tauros's trainer was charging after it, telling it to calm down. But Tauros was in such a panic it couldn't hear him. Just then Ash saw an old man walking down the same path as Tauros and feared he may be in trouble. He ran towards the old man and released his Noctowl to try and calm Tauros down.

"Use Extrasensory Noctowl." Noctowl fired Extrasensory at the ground in front of Tauros to stop it in it's tracks. Tauros did stop and started to charge at Noctowl.

"Fly around Tauros." Ash said.

Noctowl flew in circles around Tauros and it started to feel giddy.

"Okay, now use Hypnosis to put it to sleep." Noctowl's Hypnosis instantly put Tauros to sleep.

The old man had been watching Ash and was impressed how he commanded his Noctowl in battle. Tauros's trainer came up to return Tauros to it's Poke Ball.

"We were training together, but he was stung by a Beedrill." The trainer explained.

"You have trained your Noctowl well young man." The old man said. "If you come with me, I may have the perfect job for you."

The old man introduced himself as Kenzo and brought the gang to some wooden mansion in the forest.

"What is this place?" Tomo asked.

"This is a Pokemon dojo." Kenzo said.

"I've heard about those before." Ash said. "It's like a martial arts school but it's for trainers and fighting type Pokemon."

"That's correct." Kenzo nodded. "And my family has run this dojo for years. I am the current Shihan of this dojo."

Ash had heard of Shihans before; they were the master instructors of dojos.

"So why have you brought us here?" Brock asked.

"Because of my granddaughter, Chigusa." Kenzo said. "I call my granddaughter's way of teaching absolutely foolish. The way she does Pokemon training makes the dojo look like a dance school."

When they went inside they saw Kenzo's granddaughter teaching some kids and their fighting type Pokemon. Chigusa's fighting type Pokemon was a Hitmontop and right now they were teaching the trainers and Pokemon about footwork. Ash, Tomo, Misty and Brock thought that Chigusa and Hitmontop were doing well with their training, but Kenzo didn't.

After Chigusa's lesson ended and the trainers went home, she noticed her grandpa's visitors.

"Who are your guests grandfather?" She asked.

Kenzo introduced Chiguza to Ash.

"He shall replace me as the new Shihan." He said.

Chigusa and the others were surprised with what Kenzo just said.

"Wait a minute grandfather." Chiguza said. "I'm going to take over this dojo."

Kenzo laughed.

"You are not worthy of the Shihan title." He said. "You are more worthy as a instructor at a dance school."

Chigusa was incensed with what Kenzo just said.

"Would you battle me and my Hitmontop?" Chiguda asked. "I take it you do have some fighting type Pokemon Ash?"

"Yes I do." Ash said. "And I have one with me right now."

He released Tyrouge from his Poke Ball. Chigusa was surprised with Ash's decision.

"I got my Hitmontop as a Tyrouge." She said. "But yours hasn't evolved into a Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee or Hitmontop."

"My Tyrouge here doesn't want to evolve." Ash explained. "He is strong enough as is. And that's why I've chosen him to battle your Hitmontop."

"Very well." Chigusa said. "But I will win."

Ash and Chigusa went to the battle arena of the dojo and got ready to battle. Kenzo became the referee and declared the battle to begin.

"Okay Tyrouge, use Bulk Up." Ash said.

A red glow surrounded Tyrouge while he was flexing his muscles, and he felt stronger.

"Hitmontop hit that Tyrouge with Rolling Kick." Chigusa said.

Hitmontop jumped over to Tyrouge to kick him.

"Use Double Team Tyrouge." Ash said.

Tyrouge made multiple copies of himself, causing Hitmontop to become confused on which Tyrouge was real.

"Don't let your rhythm go down because of this." Chigusa said. "Use Rapid Spin on all the copies."

Hitmontop spun on his head like a top and started to tackle the copies of Tyrouge.

"Stand your ground Tyrouge." Ash said. "And keep a close eye on Hitmontop."

Hitmontop began to get closer to Tyrouge.

"Use Triple Kick." Chigusa said.

Hitmontop tried to kick Tyrouge three times, but Tyrouge dodged all of them.

"Use Dizzy Punch to stop Hitmontop from spinning." Ash said.

Tyrouge's fists glowed white and it was going from left to right to punch Hitmontop.

"Now use Strength Tyrouge." Tyrouge glowed white and grabbed one of Hitmontop's hands. Then he swung Hitmontop around and tossed it to the ground.

"Finish it off with Dizzy Punch." Tyrouge threw one last punch to Hitmontop and then Hitmontop fainted.

"Hitmontop is unable to battle. Ash is the winner." Kenzo said.

Chigusa was surprised with Ash's battling techniques.

"How did you manage to defeat Hitmontop?" She asked.

"Well the truth is." Ash said. "What I did was pay attention to Hitmontop's movements. The thing is Chigusa you didn't pay attention to any of Tyrouge's movements at all. I mean you kept relying on Hitmontop's spinning ability that even if Hitmontop can attack while still spinning it can easily be defeated. You need to stop relying on the spinning so much."

"Young Ash is right, Chigusa." Kenzo said. "It's true that spinning is a great offense, but it makes it difficult for Hitmontop to defend itself from another Pokemon's attack. You put your Pokemon in danger."

After hearing Ash and Kenzo's words, Chigusa started to feel ashamed and apologized to Hitmontop.

"Can you train me and Hitmontop?" She asked.

Ash gladly accepted and swapped his Totodile for his Hitmontop from Prof. Oak's lab. Together Ash and Chigusa trained their Hitmontop and Ash showed Chigusa his way of battling with his Hitmontop and Tyrouge.

The next day a turquoise-haired man came to the dojo. He introduced himself as Shiro and asked to battle the Shihan of the dojo.

"The thing is, I wish to be a Shihan of my own dojo." Shiro said. "So I battle every Shihan there is and win the plaques of the dojos so that I could hang them in my own dojo."

Kenzo, being the Shihan, was going to accept the battle but he decided to have Chigusa battle Shiro.

"I want you to show me the results of your training last night." He said.

Shiro sent his Pokemon, a Hitmonlee, to battle and of course Chigusa sent out her Hitmontop to battle. Thanks to Ash's training and tutoring last night, Chigusa and Hitmontop battled better than they did last night. Chigusa paid close attention to Hitmonlee's movements and she didn't rely on Hitmontop's spinning so much this time. Soon Hitmonlee was defeated by Hitmontop's Rolling Kick attack. Shiro returned Hitmonlee and thought Chigusa was a good fighting type Pokemon trainer, and then he left the dojo for another dojo. Kenzo was impressed with how well Chigusa had progressed and decided that she was suitable to become the next Shihan. Chigusa was happy to hear that and the gang was happy for her.

Soon the gang got ready to leave.

"Thank you so much Ash for teaching me about Pokemon battles." Chigusa said.

"It's my pleasure." Ash said. "And I think you will be a great Shihan."

"If you ever decide to be a Shihan in the future Ash." Kenzo said. "Come to me and I will help you become one."

The gang said goodbye to Kenzo and Chigusa then left to continue traveling across Johto.