A motivational impact

Photo By Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr | Two children suspend from a metal rod held by Ron “Big Ron” Waterman , a member of Team Impact, at the Keystone Theater here, March 11. The kids were asked to hold on to test the strength of the rod before bending the bar in half.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

03.09.2011

Story by Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

KADENA AIR FORCE BASE, Japan – A frying pan may seem like a very sturdy object, but in the hands of Team Impact’s Jeff Neil, it was rolled up like a newspaper March 9.

Some members of Team Impact, a motivational strength team, demonstrated its abilities before a crowd of more than 100 spectators at the Keystone Theater here March 9.

Neil was one of three members of Team Impact who made the trek from the United States to Okinawa. Team Impact is a group of 15 professional athletes from different backgrounds: former National Football League players, mixed martial arts fighters, pro wrestlers and power lifters.

“They are tremendous role models,” said Air Force Col. Pat McCain, chaplain for the 18th Wing. “They go into schools and units and discuss values based character issues that are so important.”

McCain describes Team Impact members as men of good character who attract the attention of people of all ages from toddlers to the older generation with their feats of strength so they can send a positive message through their speech.

These men of character have traveled to many military bases, including Marine Corps bases, to display their physical and moral strength.

For the first demonstration of physical strength at the Keystone Theater, Team Impact members broke stacks of brick slabs with their forearm turning the bricks into piles of rubble.

Caesar Orocho, a member of Team Impact, and Neil displayed their lung power by blowing up whoopee cushions until they burst like balloons. The third member of Team Impact, Ron “Big Ron” Waterman grabbed a solid wood baseball bat, placed it over his thigh and splintered the bat in half.

Throughout the night, more items were crushed and bent. Canned goods burst from the pressure applied by the hands of Waterman, and a solid metal bar was bent in half by Orocho.

For their grand finale, Neil used Orocho as a human bench press as he lifted 225 pounds.

“We use a different platform to grab the attention of the masses,” said Waterman. “This is how we follow our calling.”

Make good choices and decisions, said Waterman.

• Date Taken: 03.09.2011
• Date Posted: 03.17.2011 08:13
• Story ID: 67207
• Location: OKINAWA, JP