Ep 17. Ippo On The Beach

Ippo Makunouchi is a high school student who is often bullied by his classmates. One day, he is saved by Takamura, a professional boxer, and is introduced to the world of boxing. In episode 17, "Ippo On The Beach," Ippo and a group of boxers go on a training camp at the beach.

As soon as they arrive, they are greeted by Okita, the owner of the inn where they are staying. Okita tells them that they should have fun during their stay, but also warns them to be careful not to get hurt. Ippo and his friends are excited to hit the beach, but their coach, Kamogawa, reminds them that they are there to train, not to play.

Training on the beach is tough. The sand is soft and unstable, making every movement that much more difficult. But Kamogawa has a plan. He has Ippo focus on footwork drills, while the others practice on their punching technique. Ippo struggles with the sand, but he never gives up.

During a break, Ippo and his friend Aoki go for a walk on the beach. Aoki tries to convince Ippo to relax and have fun, but Ippo is determined to keep training. While walking, they come across a group of girls playing volleyball. Aoki is immediately smitten, but Ippo is too focused on his training to pay much attention. However, as they walk away, Ippo can't help but think about the cute girl who was playing volleyball.

That night, the group gathers around a bonfire on the beach. They talk and joke around, enjoying a moment of relaxation. Kamogawa joins them and tells them a story about how he once fought a bear. The group is amazed and a bit frightened. Kamogawa then tells them that he expects them to work harder in the coming days. They all nod their heads, ready to put in the effort.

The next day, the group continues to train on the beach. Ippo focuses on his footwork, while the others work on their punches. Aoki tries to hit on the girls they saw playing volleyball yesterday, but he gets shot down. Ippo notices the same cute girl from yesterday walking by, but he still doesn't say anything.

That night, Kamogawa announces that they will all be running up the mountain behind the inn. The group groans in unison, but they know that they have no choice. The next morning, they all set out to climb the mountain. The climb is brutal. The steep incline and dense forest make it difficult for them to keep going. Ippo's legs start to give out, but he refuses to give up.

When they finally reach the top, they are all exhausted and covered in sweat. Kamogawa tells them that this is just the beginning, that they have many more challenges ahead. But he also praises them for their effort, reminding them that they are all here for the same reason: to become better boxers.

As they make their way back down the mountain, Ippo notices the cute girl from before walking by again. This time, he gathers the courage to talk to her. Her name is Tomiko, and she tells Ippo that she loves watching boxing matches on TV. She even recognizes Ippo from one of his matches. Ippo is overjoyed and asks Tomiko if she would like to watch him box sometime. Tomiko agrees, and Ippo can barely contain his excitement.

The rest of the training camp goes by quickly. The group continues to work hard on the beach, but they also have some fun playing volleyball and swimming. Ippo keeps thinking about Tomiko and can't wait to see her again.

At the end of the week, the group packs up and prepares to leave. Kamogawa reminds them that their hard work doesn't end here, that they must continue to push themselves in the gym. Ippo is sad to leave the beach, but he knows that he is a better boxer for having come here. As the group drives away, Ippo thinks about Tomiko and the promise he made to her. He is determined to keep training hard so that he can impress her in the ring.