Julian couldn't move. He was completely pinned by a man forty years his senior who weighed fifty pounds less than him.
Elias wasn't breathing heavily. There wasn't a drop of sweat on his brow. He looked down at Julian, his expression one of mild disappointment. He applied a microscopic fraction of more pressure to the nerve cluster.
Julian’s eyes watered. The physical pain, combined with the crushing, catastrophic death of his ego in front of the entire dojo, broke him. His lip quivered, and a single, hot tear rolled down his cheek, dropping onto the mat.
"You promised," Elias whispered softly, though not unkindly.
Elias immediately released the pressure. He stood up, smoothing out his white t-shirt. He took a step back and bowed deeply to the young man writhing on the floor.