Rys would probably be caught off guard - as she began to swing, she'd find her first blow countered.  Whether it was luck or due to the predictability of the girl's movements, it was hard to tell.  The man stepped [i]inward[/i] towards her attack, slamming his body into her own as he finished wiping the sand from his eyes, likely making it difficult for the girl to have the remainder of her swings be delivered with any sense of grace or balance.

The older man grinned at the Roman, raising an eyebrow.  [b]"Oldest trick in the book for a novice fighter.  But you won't be finding sand on a ship."[/b]  He smirked a bit, clearly enjoying this more than a bit.  The man finished his speech with a feint towards the head and then a swipe towards the shin.  It was rather apparent the man was a skilled, seasoned fighter.

As for the other pirates, a few cheers were elicited.  [color=yellow]"Dethrone him Rys!"[/color]  [b]"Kick his ass!"[/b]