Black belt is kicking it in Iraq

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ty Stafford | Staff Sgt. Kineta Lyde (left) works on drills with her instructor 1st Lt. Punnarin Koy, who is her company commander also.  

12.29.2005

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

As a roundhouse kick nears his head, he blocks and parries with his own kick landing solidly in the midsection of his opponent.

This wasn't a scene from an action movie, but a sparring session at the Logistical Support Area Anaconda gym.

The winning fighter was 1st Lt. Punnarin Koy, who happens to be a World Tae Kwon Do organization certified black belt and an Olympic-level competitor.

Koy, who received his commission in the U.S. Army Reserve in 2002, spent 16 years as an enlisted Soldier and has been the unit commander for the 322nd Maintenance Company since January, 2004. The 322nd is deployed to Anaconda and is supporting the 3rd Corps Support Command.

The Cambodian-born Soldier came to the United States in 1975 and started martial arts to stay out of trouble.

"I lived in a bad neighborhood," Koy said. He used the martial arts as an outlet and to keep a sharp body.

"The martial arts are great for helping with stability and flexibility and learning how to read an opponent â?¦. It has also helped me with patience, a trait that is especially useful in the military," he said.

Koy not only trained in Tae Kwon Do, but also practiced other styles like ninjitsu and judo.

Koy explained that in martial arts you have to have patience in order to perfect your technique. One technique Koy favors is from Bruce Lee.

"I grew up watching Bruce Lee. He is a legacy. His foot work is phenomenal and what I've taken from him along with many other fighters around the world is his footwork," Koy said.

"His technique has brought a whole new level to the game," he said.

As a master instructor and president of the Minnesota Tae Kwon Do Center, Koy has been training for a comeback to the national circuit while he is stationed here.

On the circuit, Koy won a silver medal in sparring at the 1992 National Collegiate Tae Kwon Do Championships and was a bronze medalist in 1993. He was also an Olympic trial qualifier in 2000.

"I plan on going back home in better shape and maintain or improve my skill so that when I get back home I can check and see if they still want me to train the team," Koy said.

Koy was offered the job of living with and training the Army team at Fort Carson, Colo., where the All Army sports teams are maintained.

Even though Koy has missed several amateur tournaments because of military he said it has helped him learn about time management.

"This has definitely taught me how to focus," he said.

Anytime Koy has free time, he uses it to train. During his lunch, he works out and during the evening he has begun training some of his students from Minnesota who are deployed with him.

"The cardio is the best. It's the best thing since sliced bread," said Staff Sgt. Kineta Lyde, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 322nd Main. Co.

"He does it free of charge [in the U.S.] and mainly we did it to help train for the PT tests. We had one PFC [private first class] who dropped 40 pounds and all of our PT scores went up," said Master Sgt. Miguel Machado, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 322nd Main. Co.

"We are here for him and that's why we take the beatings," Machado said of sparring with Koy as he trains for the circuit.

While his students use it as an opportunity to get in shape, Koy has used martial arts to live his dream. At 39 years old, he is still ready to compete against younger opponents and his training program at Anaconda will hopefully allow him to hit the circuit once again.

USAR

• Date Taken: 12.29.2005
• Date Posted: 12.29.2005 08:48
• Story ID: 4209