Fitness guru, Billy Blanks, motivates service members

Photo By Daniel Rangel | Billy Blanks gives a motivational speech during a fitness seminar conducted Sept. 8 at Kandahar Airfield. (U.S. Army photo)  

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

09.22.2007

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

Combined Joint Task Force-82 Public Affairs Office

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — More than 50 service members gathered inside the Morale, Welfare and Recreation tent here for the opportunity to workout with Billy Blanks, creator of the Tae-Bo, workout Sept. 8.

Blanks, a seven-time world karate champion turned fitness guru, led the class through a whole-body fitness seminar and motivational speech.

Blanks has trained celebrities such as Paula Abdul and has gained fame with his home-video workout and his Billy's Boot Camp program. He explained how he got the idea of forming his own boot camp.

"I got it from going around the country working with the military and watching them do their exercises, watching their [physical training] program, watching [individual troops] and seeing what happens to them when they go to boot camp," Blanks said.

Taking a body and mind approach to fitness, Blanks encourages people to empower themselves.

The Tae-Bo workout is based on karate, boxing, and hip-hop dancing all combined into one exercise to give a person a chance to really have fun, get in shape, learn a form of self-defense and have a good time, said Blanks.

"My goal is not to break them down, but to show a person that they have the power to make a change in their life," Blanks said. "Once a person sees that they have a lot of power and that they can do what they need to do to help themselves then they're on their way. That's what Billy's Boot Camp is all about."

Blanks, 52, led the class with his daughter, Shelly Blanks, 33, who is also a Tae-Bo instructor at Billy's Boot Camp, the six week fitness program Billy is most recognized for on TV. The Blanks family believes the Tae-Bo workout can really change a person's life for the better.

"It's awesome; we really have a good time going all over the world seeing people's lives change," Shelly said.

By his appearance alone, Blanks inspires the service members at Kandahar Airfield.

"I hope I look like that when I'm 52," said Air Force 1st Lt. Karen L. Wilson of the U.S. National Command Element deployed out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., who also participated in the fitness seminar.

"I've never done it before," said Spc. Harvey Walker from Tyler, Texas, deployed out of Fort Bragg, N.C. "I've been wanting to, but you know in the Army you've got [physical training] in the morning and you're tired in the afternoon. It feels good to get a chance to do it."

Blanks, who has brought his family to visit American troops in Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Iraq, expressed his support for the troops.

"I think one of the most important things is to be able to serve the troops and to tell them thank you for what they do for our country from the bottom of my heart," he said. "I feel like it's a privilege and an honor just to be in their presence. I come over here and I tell them thank you. It's an awesome opportunity to be able to do it. So any time they ask me to come and do something for the armed forces, I go."

Not only do Blanks and his family enjoy giving service members the opportunity to try Tae-Bo, they also help others through charity.

"There is a Billy Blanks Foundation which my parents, Billy and Gayle, started that helps at-risk women and children," Shelly said. "We also just started a large campaign where we raised a bunch of money to send care packages to the troops in Iraq. That's our big project right now."

Service members overseas appreciate the Blanks family's efforts.

"It's good motivation," Walker said. "It really does help a lot to have people come out to see us on deployment. We don't know how long we're going to be here, but it's still good to have people come out here and talk to us, keep us motivated."

The Kandahar Airfield service members enjoyed their time with Blanks and his family and hope he will return.

"It's good for a change of tempo instead of doing the same thing over and over again," Walker said. "If he comes back, I'll keep doing it. If they have a session every week, I'll do it."

• Date Taken: 09.22.2007
• Date Posted: 09.24.2007 10:16
• Story ID: 12513
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF