challenger

Angel, you were awesome! Even though I didn't get a chance to see you in action as much as I would have liked during the bootcamp, whenever I did see you it looked like you were doing very well. Going out with you since has been wicked as well. Your lack of hesitation with opening is inspiring and will help push me to be better. Looking forward to your other FR posts.

It was awesome heading out with you guys! Crazy seeing the drastic change over just a weekend. You will definitely have to come down to Osaka as often as you can! Hoping to come and sarge in Nagoya with you sooner or later!

Redpole called me and asked why I wasn't posting anything. Gave him some excuses, but I realized I have to get this up. Might have to edit later. There were only two of us on this Bootcamp, Queri and I. So we both received a lot of personal attention from RedpoleQ, Allusion and Grizzly Havoc. I found it pretty intense and most of my time was spent with Allusion while RedpoleQ took care of Queri. The sets might be out of order since the whole weekend was a bit of a blur so it is easy to forget details, the order of things, etc.. I've written as much as I can because it helps me analyze where I'm strong and what I want to improve on. This FR is more for me than for others to read, but you are still welcome to read on. Better warn you, it is long... Met up with RedpoleQ, Grizzly Havoc (formally Psycho Teddy Bear I think) and Queri on Shinsaibashi. Headed over to McD's where Allusion showed up later. Started off with RedpoleQ and Allusion giving us a bunch of theory then had me open up a 2 set of that was sitting behind us with a takoyaki opener. I had so much approach anxiety I'm not sure how I did it, but I pull a chair up to them and started the opener. Talked a bit, they seemed to enjoy it and then I exited politely thinking I had done well. RedpoleQ sent me right back in and then shortly sent Queri in after to winged the obstacle. Bunch of BT spikes later next thing I know we are bouncing them off to Pure. Queri was good at making that bounce happen. Once inside Pure, Allusion had me opened a set of a couple of ok girls that didn't go great and lasted a short while before getting blownout. Next we went into a set of young 20yr cuties that Queri had already opened so it was easy to join in. Able to kino and BT spike and get the girl to massage me a bit. Then I massage her, but I realized I have to calibrate that better. My massage wasn't very good, but the mood was still cool. Afterwards I'm pushed towards a Brazilian girl standing on her own. I decided to open up with just a “hi” and she gives me a surprised look. I tell her that she looked confused and she responds that she is. I say that's ok cause now I'm confused which made her laugh and relax more. We joked around a bit and I tried to lock in but couldn't cause she wanted to sit down due to sore feet. Her French male friend came along and tried to AMOG me but Allusion swept in to take care of him. Had to talk to him a bit and was able to befriend him, however, that a bit trickier for Allusion to get him away cause then he genuinely wanted to talk. Sat down with the massage girl again. I was able to watch Allusion work some magic (literally) with a cool ring disappearing trick. Was able to Kino and BT spike a bit, but definitely could be doing more. Tried the ring trick myself and sort of pulled it off. That probably tells more about the girl's lack of perception skills than my sleight of hand skills. It was time for me to learn more about comfort kino theory and practice so Allusion has me wing an obstacle in a set that Grizzly Havoc had opened up. Allusion used the opportunity to show me various types of kino and BT spiking with the “little sister” routine. Felt a bit creepy with Allusion kinoing her left hand and face while I'm trying to copy him with her right hand. She seemed to be shyly loving it. I learned a great deal about having a more controlled, delicate touch and slowing down my movements. To increase my kinoing boundary threshold, Allusion forced me to into a kino blowout. I had huge approach anxiety because I was imagining that I was going to be hauled out of Pure by security for this one. So I'm told to approach a girl standing outside of the bathroom door, Allusion figured it would be easier cause she was a bit chunky. Start talking to her but she goes in to the bathroom when her friend comes out. Her friend is much better looking and better dressed. She had shorts and a funky fur vest. After a short chat and rapidly escalating kino (ie ridiculous groping), Allusion tells me to start slapping her ass. I'm terrified but she thinks it is funny and I'm pretty relieved. So then I'm told to pinch her ass. That goes well, so next I have to just grab it. I'm pretty much freaking out and Allusion says the look on my face is priceless. He then asks her if she thinks I'm a nice guy and she says yes. Then I have to kiss close, but funny enough I can't get the kiss in. So eventually we tell her to go and dance. The result is a failed kino blowout attempt. Probably my most memorable set of the bootcamp cause it broke down a lot of preconceptions I had about anything. Next I'm dragged around the bar to find another set. End up talking to a 30 yr old that was cute standing on her own who was probably more into Allusion than me, because I wasn't using enough BT spikes or kino and Allusion's kino is much more effective. French guy came around again and wanted to talk but one of the guys practically just dragged him off. I think it was Karyu. He left me to run the cube routine which just amazed her. Then he came back eventually guided her onto my lap where I really increase my kino. Timebridged and #closed with her telling me to make sure I call to hook up. Allusion practically made that one happen for me by himself though. Next set is a couple of girls, one already knows Allusion. Very pretty, but sometimes I'm so focused on all the things I supposed to be doing (kinoing, stacking, BT spiking, etc..) I realized that I'm never doing simple things like asking or remembering some girls's names. When we exit, she says “See you Challenger” very poignantly and I respond “yeah...” with the awkward trail off that said “I forgot your name completely”. Saw the furry vest girl again and Allusion made me slap her ass which made her smile. Another girl is standing by herself. Fake boobs and lots of make up. Way out of my league, but not my type of girl anyhow. Doesn't mean Allusion didn't make me go in and open her up. Just kept talking and kinoing her with not much response. Though I was amazed I could just keep petting her hair and have my hand on her back without her freaking out on me. A male friend comes a long and seems cool which gives her a chance to walk off. 2 min later Allusion makes me go back to talk to her. Now it is getting pretty awkward, she is looking mad, but I keep going. Finally she walks off to another male friend. I go back laughing and relieved that it is over, I see Allusion is laughing too. Saw the massage girl again and she shouted my name excitedly. She was pretty drunk by this time and guy friend was taking advantage of it. I flirted and kinoed her, but she was quickly becoming comatose drunk. Saw the obstacle from Grizzly's set who Allusion used in the comfort kino lesson. Some guy was trying to get her and I just leaned over with my hand and pull her right over to me into a big "younger sister hug" with lots of comfort kino. I glance over at the guy, he looked annoyed but impressed, sort of like "huh, how'd that happen?". By the end of the night I was pretty exhausted. Allusion told me that I didn't have to do anymore sets if I didn't want to and I decided that I was done. But as we were getting our jackets out of the lockers, I'm told to open up a 3 set getting their stuff out of their lockers. Didn't have much energy and they mostly ignored me. But as they left, Allusion karate chopped the hottest one of the bunch (and she was hot) on the forehead. She gave him a pretty seductive look as she walked off. I was impressed. Head off to a restaurant for debriefing, I enjoyed it, but all I could think of was my bed. Redpole, Allusion and Grizzly Havoc gave us a lot of good feedback. Sat Day Game We all met up in the Starbucks near the big crab. Once again I'm paired up with Allusion. We receive some theory and I'm told I need to relax more. I knew I had to relax cause I felt really nervous and tense. My heart was racing just sitting in the Starbucks cause I knew what I was going to have to do. Must have taken me 15 minutes to relax myself to the point where I felt comfortable to do this. Allusion gave some really good tips on relaxing my eyelids, etc.. to make myself look less intimidating on approaches. This advice has paid off huge and really benefited all my future sarging. Allusion gives me 2 books to hold in my hands and I'm told to approach women asking them which one is better. Seems to work well enough. Most of the girls I approached were pretty forgettable, but it was really good practice. I felt like an idiot the whole time, but the experience was helping me develop my inner game. Talked to a cute girl who played the piano, she was so quiet that it was difficult to stack forward. Sometimes the language barrier was rough too since my Japanese isn't great and she couldn't speak English. Next chatted up a girl, kinoed her a bit, Allusion helped me get her to sit down where we could chat more. The girl was very hesistant with everything, but in the end timebridged and #close. Once again the language barrier made things difficult, but it is pushing me to improve my Japanese so I can be more successful in these situations. Returned to our seats in Starbucks where Redpole and Queri had a couple of young girls with them. Redpole introduced me to one and let me have her to talk to so I could practice. Kinoed her a bit was having fun. Then we said bye so Redpole and Allusion could debrief us on our progress. Went out to eat with Redpole, Grizzly Havoc and Queri. After the meal Redpole opened a 2 set walking on the street. At the same time a Japanese guy was interviewing us about eating strange Japanese food for some comedy show. My Japanese isn't good enough for that and Redpole was using the situation to help DHV with the girls. Next we are walking down the street with the girls, Redpole arm in arm with one of the girls so I decided to copy with the other girl. By this time I'm pretty happy that I'm able to get to the point of walking arm in arm with a stranger so quickly. They tell us they have to go, but they stayed with us. Shortly after Redpole tells them they have to go cause we have things to do. It was funny and interesting to see the confused looks they had since only moments before we had ignored them telling us they had to leave. Sat Night Decided on Onziem, which was good cause I'm not a big Pure fan. It was fun, got to talk to a lot of pretty girls. Met in McDonalds. Loads of pretty girls in this McDonalds better than a lot of clubs. Redpole made me sit down beside some girls at a table and I asked them what they were doing. They pretended I wasn't even there. Kept trying to talk, but they picked up their bags and just moved on. I was stunned because the 2 girls were quite ugly, I was actually just making conversation. Redpole then had Queri sit down at the table of pretty girls that I was suppose to sit down (I mixed up who he was pointing to). Queri lasted much longer than me, but to my surprise they got up. I thought it looked like he was doing alright. Plus side was that we now had 2 free tables which worked out well. SpecialK and Allusion showed up so we were able to use them. Still at McDs, had to open up a 3 set of girls and I felt too nervous while doing it. Queri came in to help and had all three girls's attention. I just couldn't talk to my girl and just stood there feeling awkward. Made a bad start to the night. Quickly got passed when I sat down beside a cabaret girl who was much prettier that my previous sets and much easier to chat to. So far I was quickly learning that ugly girls can be harder to open to pick up than the prettier ones. Was able to kino this girl a bit with the BS palmread and check out her jewelry. Only had a short time cause then she had to leave for work. Going back to the table, Grizzly Havoc (I think) said from the interactions we were having it looked like we were dating. Next we went to Onziem. All the sets from here are in random order cause I forgot completely when they happened. Talked to 2 girls sitting by the bar, they pretty hot and cool to talk to. One girl quickly #closed me (the email bounced back to me and never got an answer with the #). Karyuu came into wing me and I moved to try and sit between the girls so I could talk to the target, but they wouldn't move. Later on tried to bounce them, but they wouldn't budge. Talked to a girl that I thought was just fantastically cute. For me she was the hottest girl of the bootcamp. 22 and wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. So focused on all the things I had to do (Kinoing, BT spiking, locking in, etc..) that I found I wasn't worrying about how hot she was. Was able to kino her well and temperary lock in. Wasn't going outside of my comfort zone enough and didn't stack forward enough either. Eventually her friend wanted to dance and they left. Really wanted to close that one. Can't remember if I opened the next one or if I was introduced (think I was introduced). This girl was really difficult. Was able to kino alot, but locking in and stacking forward was really tough. Eventually she moved on. At the time of the sarge I thought she was just average but as she walked away, her ass bumped up her value. Allusion told me that I had done the best of all the guys who had sarged her. I was really proud to hear that because before that, I had felt it was just a mediocre performance. Next Queri and I were talking to a couple of girls (I think Queri opened them). They kept trying to leave, but Redpole, Allusion and the guys kept telling us to keep going with the set. So I held on to my girl's arm and didn't let go even though she was trying to pull away. I kept my body position leaned back against the wall while smiling so she knew it was a joke. Even though her male friends and her other friend (the girl Queri was talking to) were all watching, no one seemed worried. I couldn't see her face, but Redpole said it looked like she was having fun even though she was trying to get away. I was surprised how long it went on for. They were telling me to keep talking while doing this, but I was still very nervous about what I was doing even though I was laughing at the time. Chatted up a girl sitting at a bar that I thought was Taiwanese (was wrong, she was Japanese). She was pretty unresponsive for a while. Despite getting minimal responses at first, she slowly opened up. I also learned to sit back and enjoy (or use) the silence in a conversation. I found that saying nothing at times got her to start moving the conversation forward. Eventually started getting some kinoing going. Also, I didn't even realize until a while later, but I had my leg nudged in under hers. Karyu commented on that later on after she. This set taught me that even if your intuition is telling you that a girl is just ignoring you or isn't interested, you may be wrong. Later on in the night, opened a girl who was trying to squat down cause her legs were tired. She was fairly drunk and so kinoing, etc.. moved quickly. Tried to bounce her out of the club, but it didn't work. I think I need to practice being more aggressive with my bounces even when I'm not really interested. Sunday Day Game Met at the Hep5 in Umeda. Right away Redpole gets us to open up a 2 set with the takoyaki opener. I started off ok, but then just died. Felt awkward and Redpole was able to call the other girl over. I ended up just watching Redpole chat up the girl and it was good to see how much he can do with so little verbal communication. Made our way to Starbucks, had to take someone's seat and open a 2 set sitting at a counter setting. Just got the opener out and chatted a bit. Then an old lady came to tell me that I was in her seat. Opened a 3 set after a lot of approach anxiety. I really have to push aside shopping bags, etc.. just to get in to talk to the girls. Asked them for a good place to buy a necktie for work. Opener felt good unfortunately I didn't get off the opener for at least an hour or two. Redpole and Allusion were pretty disgusted especially since the whole bootcamp they are telling us to get off the opener as soon as possible. Queri came into the set and help bounce the girls out of the Starbucks so we could hunt for a necktie. Grizzly Havoc came along too. Unfortunately with me being indecisive and weak with communication none of us really stack forward with any of the girls. Plus when Grizzly Havoc suggested that we go for ice-cream the girls stuck to finding me a tie. Came back after a while and with Redpole and Allusion pushing us, we #closed. Didn't really timebridge. Next was a woman sitting by herself, I hated this set. I didn't want to talk to her, but practice is important. She was a really quiet, unattractive older woman who wasn't comfortable with me talking to her. Can't remember how I opened but I ejected fast. Allusion wanted me to go back and I made excuses until she left the restaurant. Unfortunately Allusion grabbed me and dragged me over to her as she was waiting by the elevator. I had to ask if I could come along and she said no. It was brutal but funny. Opened two girls sitting down with a map of Tokyo. Once again I forget how I opened, I think with the takoyaki opener. Was able to chat for a while and ask them what they were doing with the map. Queri came in and run obstacle game. I high-fived my target and was able to bring her hand under the table then onto my thigh. Lots of secretive kino under the table, but I noticed when I lightened my touch I started to get more reverse-kino from her. The one problem was that I should have switched my hands so I didn't have to turn my body to kino with my free hand. Couldn't bounce the girls, but we had to go anyhow. On the way out of the Starbucks tried to get a kiss on the cheek but she wouldn't do it. So I point past her friend, told her to look there and gave her a kiss on her cheek then took off. Said bye to Allusion and Redpole then went out for dinner with Kid44, Emma Frost and Karyu. Got to relax, learn more theory and what the future might hold. Overall the bootcamp was an incredible experience. I'm hoping to keep the momentum up and keep improving. Right now I just want to get better and understand the game better. This has really broken many preconceptions I had about what can be done socially. It has changed my social dynamics and my friends see the difference too. Thanks to Allusion who was with me the most, I love your pick up style and really admire how much you helped me out! You pushed me well beyond my self-imposed limits! I have some pretty crazy memories and experiences thanks to you. I hope to hang out with you again! RedpoleQ, even though I didn't spend as much time with you during the bootcamp, you always pushed me when you could and I learned a lot just watching you work. I appreciate your follow up with me after the bootcamp to make sure I don't fall off the wagon. Grizzly Havoc, thanks to you and your friend who came out to Starbucks that day. You guys had a lot of good advice. Also, thanks to Karyu and SpecialK at Onziem. Queri, it was cool hanging out with you during the bootcamp, we often didn't get to see each other I enjoyed the sets we sarged together. Thanks! I think I have improved a great deal compared to who I was before, but I feel I have a long way to go. I hope to learn more and hang out with you guys.