Hansen encouraged to use martial arts room

Photo By Cpl. Mark Stroud | Lance Cpl. Haji A. Janneh (left) disarms Seaman Michael J. Lesinski during an Aiki Jujitsu class in the martial arts room at the House of Pain Gym North Aug. 16. Janneh is a postal clerk with Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, and Lesinski is a hospital corpsman, 3rd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.  

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.25.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark Stroud 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan - Camp Hansen athletics personnel are working to increase camp residents’ awareness of the camp’s second gym and its martial arts room.

Though the House of Pain Gym North has been in place at the camp’s northern end for several years now, it is still not well known, said Jason Myers, athletics director for both Hansen gyms.

“I’m constantly surprised that people still don’t know about it,” Myers said.

The House of Pain Gym North boasts a martial arts room designed to accommodate individual and unit training on a wide variety of martial arts disciplines, making it an excellent training asset for Marines here, Myers said. The martial arts room provides an indoor training area for martial arts or other physical training routines requiring ample floor space.

The room is outfitted with multiple striking bags and pads, as well as a boxing ring and a spacious padded floor for practical application of martial arts techniques.

Duane C. Waybright, sensei of the Aiki Jujitsu discipline of martial arts, hosts a class Tuesdays and Thursdays, utilizing the open floor space and striking pads to teach his students.

Waybright usually shares the room with Marines and sailors working out individually or in small groups, or units using the room to hold Marine Corps martial arts program courses, said Waybright.

Located on the second deck of the gym, directly above the weight room, the room will soon expand the martial arts courses offered.

The gym is in the process of bringing in a karate instructor to provide Monday and Wednesday classes to complement the Aiki Jujitsu course and offer the Marines and sailors more options, Waybright said.

The padded floor leaves the room well suited to martial arts training.

Learning how to control momentum and fall correctly will help minimize injuries in martial arts training, as well as other athletic endeavors and everyday activities, said Waybright. The alternative to learning and practicing on the padded floors of the martial arts room, where the risk is controlled, are the wooden floors of racquetball courts.

Along with the floor, the numerous bags and pads allow strike work for a variety of martial arts disciplines. The room features heavy bags, speed bags and fixed strike pads.

The room is open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and can be reserved by units during these time periods, with the exception of 5 to 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., when the room is open for all service members, said Oscar Sanchez, recreation assistance, House of Pain Gym North, Marine Corps Community Services.

Units or individuals interested in reserving the room can fill out a request form found at the front desk of the House of Pain Gym North or call 623-2078 for more information.

• Date Taken: 08.25.2011
• Date Posted: 08.24.2011 23:00
• Story ID: 75875
• Location: CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP