The Fort Campbell Courier

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Read it in acrobat format

Air Defense goes hand-to-hand

C Battery undergoes combatives class

by Sgt. Matt Wrzesinsid
101st Sustainment Brigade

Soldiers must be alert and ready to fight at all times. That is why the Army implemented combatives as part of the pre-deployment- training.

Soldiers from Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, and 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment took part in a combatives course Oct. 1. The course was taught by Pedro Valente from the Valente Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Miami, Valente taught the Soldiers fighting techniques to use during a hand-to-hand combat situation. The class was based on techniques created and mastered by Grandmaster Helio Gracie who taught Valente.

"We must conduct extensive combative training before we deploy," said Cpt. Ryan Schrock, commander, C Btry. 2-44 ADA. "The Gracie fighting style best prepares Soldiers to survive and win a fight."

Over the 4-day course Soldiers were taught thirty-six techniques to use during hand-to-hand combat. The techniques included grappling, throwing, striking and clinching strategies. The course is structured to teach the Soldiers techniques that are applicable to real life situations.

COMBATIVES

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"Pedro has years of hands on experience and a level of insight that you can't get anywhere else," said Schrock.

Schrock also understands that the little things are what make the difference in a hand-to-hand combat situation.

"The victory is in the details," said Schrock. "It's hard to get the minute details out of the manuals."

For the last two days of training, the Soldiers not only got to work with Valente but they got hands-on training with two professional fighters, Mark Coleman and Adam DiSabato from Team Hammer house. Mark "The Hammer" Coleman was the first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship Heavyweight champion.

Coleman has been a professional lighter for eleven years and was impressed by the work ethic of the Soldiers.

"They picked up the moves very quickly," said Coleman. "The way they worked together and dedicated themselves to this impressed me."

Although the Soldiers don't do this type of training everyday, the same principles of the course mirror the principles Soldiers live by every day.

"Soldiers need discipline and focus," said Schrock. "Martial arts was founded on both of these principles."

The Soldiers aren't the only ones who will take what they learned throughout the course back home with them.

"I admire the way the Soldiers act and their level of discipline, said Valente. "I apply the military's way of conducting themselves in my classes, from the way they stand to the way they count."

Even though the techniques taught in the class can be used for competition, the reason the Soldiers went through the course was to be able to protect themselves if they are in a fight for their life.

"What we do is fun," said Valente, "but what you guys do overseas is a matter of life or death."