Naa: Chapter 1

Before Naa became known as the old tigress of the south, her village faced a crisis. Some of the Lumei (masters) of Abotri ke Tahuumo (Ga martial art) decided to fight for the highest paying chief, regardless of their position in battles that engulfed the region. Fearing that their interference would end any hope of peace, the Asafoatse (Chief Warrior) took 2 drastic measures.



She advised that the chief place a 2 year ban on the movement of villagers outside the village walls and she instructed Naa Amerlei, a Shipi (Asafo Bii captain) to defeat all the lumei alone!



'I'm not even a lumei' protested Naa. 'To deteat them, I would need 7 lumei to accompany me'.



'The villages are currently waging war with each other,' replied the Asafoatse. 'Sending in a small squad of Asafo Bii would be seen as an act of aggression by our village, giving them an excuse to attack us with their combined might. 'If that happens, everyone you know and love will die'.



'You are not a lumei yet but at the age of 8, you fully understood that the art of Abotri ke Tahuumo is the expression of self protection and offensive warfare tactics and you have more of the strength of a Kla (tiger) and the speed of the hawk than most lumei'. You understand how vital it is that one leads a balanced life and because of this, you are more of a lumei than those traitiors.'



'Where do I start?' asked the Shipi.



'In the western village where some of the villagers share my concerns and will ensure that they are duly incarcerated after you defeat the lumei.'



It was midnight when Naa entered the village stealthily with the help of the Asafoatse's allies. A scarred Lumei strode confidently across a footpath, when Naa sprung at her from a treetop, knocking her down before attempting to restrain her. The lumei brushed her off but Naa used Abotri (use of handstands and somersaults) to advance towards her again.



The lumei sunk into an offensive stance and used Akotoku (Empty hand combat with the fist and its supporting arsenals) to fend off Naa but she used Intia Shomo (the art of complex kicking and feet attacks) to deflect some of her punches and raised her knees. Naa swept her right foot across the lumei's face, knocking her to the ground.

The Asafoatse's allies emerged from the bushes and carried the unconscious lumei away as Naa sprinted to the next village, the moonlight guiding her path. The next lumei was practising her Abotri Ke Tahuumo by the riverside when Naa slowly crept behind her. Without warning, she used Abotri and landed neatly behind Naa.



The lumei kicked her left shoulder, dislocating it. She moved it back into place and used Mim Dzee (art of evasion) to dodge her subsequent attacks. Just then another figure used Abotri to somersault over her head, landing next to the lumei.



'What are you doing here, 'Shipi'? asked the lumei.



'Assisting you, of course. 'Rumour has it that this Shipi has been sent by the Asafoatse to defeat us. Since she's not dead yet, I take it that you need the assistance.' she replied.



The two assailants sunk into offensive stances and used Kwasafo Nomo and Asafo Atwele ( the art of free expression and multi-partner combat in strategic warfare) to repeatedly punch her in the face and the belly. The lumei struck her shin at the same time as the Shipi struck her chest and face.



Naa lunged at the lumei but she blocked her punch and the Shipi struck her neck with her sandaled left foot, causing her to stumble as the two began to encircle her. Exhausted from dealing with their synchronised attacks, she began to use Asafo ke Tahuumo kalai ke loo (the art of fighting in a trance like state), blocking their punches and kicks.



They leapt away from her punches but she began to discern their attacking patterns before attacking them with ferocius double handed slaps and kicks to their faces and chests. She sprang at them and struck them both with her left foot smashing into the lumei's face and her right foot smashing into the face of the Shipi, felling them.



The sun began to rise as she stumbled into the next village and despite her better judgement, headed straight for the market, her eyes searching for the next lumei. The lumei recognised her and broke into a run, lunging towards her in a trance like-state, her punches and kicks almost impossible to anticipate.



Naa used Adzenklulu (acrobatic arts) to evade the attacks using each moment to study her style. She cartwheeled away using Ataalai Gbanoo, her two feet knocking her on the chin as she spun away. The lumei fell into a stack of tomatoes as the sellers and buyers fled the market.



Several Asafo Bii armed to the teeth appraoched Naa and bound her in chains and to her surprise, escorted her outside the village's borders. Naa entered the village and stopped abrubtly as the final lumei waited for her at the entrance to the village. She rose to her feet and darted towards the exhausted Shipi before she could even move, delviering several ferociuos double handed slaps and kicks with her feet.



She then drew out two machetes from the folds of her cloth and slashed Naa's belly. Naa dodged the subsequent attacks and leapt backwards before ripping part of her wardress to wrap around her wounded belly. The lumei struck her repaeatedly using Gbobi hava, the art of hunting down prey, to approach her wven when Naa used Mim Dzee.



She slashed Naa's arms, legs and belly repeatedly using Kakla ke klante Nomo ( the art of bladed weapon combat). When she swung the machete for the fourth time, Naa struck the machetes with such force that they were knocked out of her hands. Despite her wounds, Naa went on the offensive, somersaulting over the lumei, her left leg striking the lumei's back, before she landed.



The lumei spun around and was struck in the throat by Naa's left fist as Naa used Akotoku and Intia Shomo to force her back, repeatedly kicking her in the face and belly. She tackled the Lumei with a sweep of her left foot, tackling her. The lumei steadied herself and swung her right fist at her but she used Mim Dzee, grabbed the outstretched hand, braced herself against the lumei and flung her over her shoulder.



The lumei hit the floor headfirst. She picked herself up and attacked her again but Naa sunk into a trance like state, blocking her attacks involuntarily with her arms. Naa kicked her chest driving her backwards. Naa lunged at her, both fists striking the lumei's head and dealt her several ferocious double hand slaps and kicks to the feet, stopping only when her fist was inches away from her neck.



The village's Asafo Bii arrived and bound them both, escorting Naa to the edge of the village's borders, and watched as a very wounded Naa slowly headed back to her own village.By the time she returned to the village, she became known as the old tigress of the South for her exploits.