Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Breckenkamp | Gabriel Kitober, seven-time Brazilian grappling national champion, demonstrates...... read more read more
MARIETTA, Ga. - With intensity and fury in their fighting stances, mixed martial arts experts coached future Soldiers to, “Hook! Jab! Punch! Kick!”
About 60 future Soldiers, most of them 18 to 19 years old, grappled with each other under the instruction of martial arts professionals. The world-class fighters brought experience from Ultimate Fighting Championship matches, Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Russian Sambo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Staff Sgt. James Paska, a recruiter with the Smyrna Recruiting Station and an avid member of X3 Sports, coordinated the Mega Future Soldier Event in Marietta, Georgia. He wanted this Future Soldier Event to be different from others in the past.
“It’s not every day new Army recruits train one-on-one with world champion fighters. I was interested in putting this out there in the community because I want people to know what we (recruiters) do every day, and also what new recruits have to go through,” said Paska. “Our recruiters loved the idea of inviting these fighters to be part of this event. We wanted to show fighting discipline. Soldiers have to always be disciplined in every aspect of their lives. X3 emulated that in a very professional manner.”
But it wasn’t just champion fighters from around the globe. UFC champion Clint “Headbussa” Hester, a graduate of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, was honored to train with the future Soldiers.
“I enjoyed meeting these new Soldiers,” said Hester. “It was exciting to work with our future Army leaders. It was great being here and teaching them the physical and mental discipline they need to succeed in everything they are going to face.”
Other martial arts experts who taught were Rodrigo Artilheiro, Israel Gomes, Tony Tucci, Gabriel Kitober and Joe “Hitman” Elmore. Wearing colorful gis, they demonstrated proper techniques for basic striking and kicking, judo, take-downs, jiu jitsu and submissions. The new recruits eagerly paired up on the gym mats and quickly learned from the pros, many of them for the first time.
Future Soldier Brandon Love, from the Douglasville Recruiting Station, was like a kid in a candy store. He had never learned martial arts before this event and had a blast fighting with world-renowned prize-winning champions.
“I loved it! Doing these hands-on techniques was a great experience for me,” said Love. “These UFC guys look intimidating, but they’re actually very friendly and knowledgeable. They really know what they’re doing.”
Current black belt No-Gi world champion Artilheiro and seven-time Brazilian grappling world champion Kitober called Saturday’s all-day event “serious fun.”
“Everything you do in life, you need commitment. You need to find your focus on your commitment, and do it with heart. Get away from the things that distract you,” said Artilheiro. “If you’re struggling, remember that anything is possible. Always work hard, and believe in yourself.”
Kitober agreed, and added, “You have to believe in yourself. Don’t look at your past. Get excited about what you have just embarked on. All of you here have a great future, and I’m happy we could be a part of it.”
“Hitman” Elmore, MMA pro and trainer at X3 Sports, hopes to establish a regular partnership with the local Army recruiters.
“I had such a blast, and I look forward to doing it again,” said Elmore. “I appreciate your service to our country.”
Army Reserve recruiting stations hold a Mega Future Soldier Event every three months. The goal is to educate and encourage youth and young adults to consider joining the Army.
Capt. LaRissa Erickson, commander of the Marietta Recruiting Company, oversees recruiting centers in Cartersville with a detachment in Rome, Kennesaw with a detachment in Woodstock, Smyrna and Douglasville.
Erickson explained that this event is important because they want to show future Soldiers how discipline is essential in their commitment to the Army.
“This event motivates them to prepare for basic combat training and all future training,” said Erickson. “We also ask them to bring referrals. That way it can be a lead-generating event as well, because our mission is to enlist qualified young men and women into the United States Army.”
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2015 20:02 |
| Story ID: | 155402 |
| Location: | MARIETTA, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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