Photo By Staff Sgt. Steven Schneider | Spectators take in the flyweight match at the first night of 2015 Saturday Night...... read more read more
CAMP CASEY, South Korea – Second Infantry Division's Soldiers crammed into Hansen Field House, Camp Casey, South Korea, to watch Soldiers grapple and compete in a combatives competition Jan. 17.
The first in a series of Saturday Night Fights was a battle between 1st Armored Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division units, the 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry (Mechanized), and the 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, with the 1-15th FA Regiment taking the series 13-2. Soldiers competed in seven different weight classes, ranging in weights of 100 pounds for the lightest Soldier to 239 pounds for the heaviest.
“I mean it’s a good way to occupy your time and at the same time, learn self-defense which you may need later on in life,” said Pvt. Timothy Cohen, middleweight competitor from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1-15th FA Regiment.
Cohen said he had always liked combatives, and when he found out about the competition, it made sense to train and compete against his peers.
“I was always interested in martial arts and stuff, so I figured I’d try it out,” Cohen said.
The fights are tournament style and will occur weekly at 9 p.m. on Saturdays between 2nd Infantry Division units until one is crowned a champion.
The Saturday Night Fights are designed to give Soldiers quality entertainment and help build esprit de corps by allowing troops the ability to watch their peers compete and work on their combatives skills.
“It’s bringing everyone together as a team and unit,” Cohen said.
“Everyone is coming together and having a good time.”
Spc. Nicholas Peace, flyweight competitor in Bravo Battery, 1-15th FA Regiment, said the fights give Soldiers an opportunity to pull for their buddies.
“It brings Soldiers together, and they root for each other,” he said. “It’s just good for morale.”
The competition gives Soldiers the ability to compete hard against each and the opportunity to spread the Warrior spirit.
“They had support from their batteries and their battalions and they basically put their battalion on their backs when they go out there to finish the fight,” Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Jones, competition referee Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 70th Brigade Support Battalion, 210th Fires Brigade.
Jones said the troops training for the tournament also improves their Soldier skills.
“Basically with what combatives is, it gives the ability, in close conditions, to engage with the enemy and finish the fight,” he said.
He added the fights will give Soldiers something constructive to do with their weekend time and help build camaraderie.
“If they are here on post watching good fights, they tend to stay out of trouble,” Jones said.
| Date Taken: | 01.17.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2015 20:08 |
| Story ID: | 152422 |
| Location: | CAMP CASEY, KR |
| Web Views: | 182 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Soldiers kick off Saturday Night Fights, by SSG Steven Schneider, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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