7th CSC hosts Inaugural Combatives Tournament

Photo By 94th Airlift Wing | Army Sgt. Maj. James Murrin (left), the senior enlisted leader of the 7th Civil Support Command, presents the cruiserweight trophy to Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph B. Everett of the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, during the 7th Civil Support Command's inaugural combatives tournament held inside the Sembach Kaserne Fitness Center Aug. 14, 2015. (Army Photo by Sgt. Daniel Friedberg, 7th CSC PAO)  

KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, GERMANY

08.14.2015

Courtesy Story

7th Mission Support Command

By Sgt. Daniel Friedberg
7th CSC PAO

SEMBACH, Germany - Soldiers and Airmen from units across the Kaiserslautern Military Community grappled, twisted and pinned each other in multiple bouts on a warm summer day at the Inaugural Combatives Tournament hosted by the 7th Civil Support Command inside the Sembach Kaserne Fitness Center Aug. 14, 2015.

The tournament, with more than 20 competitors, was held as a morale building activity with the emphasis on the non-lethal principles of Army Combatives including self-defense and crowd control skills for deployed Soldiers during peacekeeping operations and combat deployments.

“It's the [U.S. Army] Ranger Regiments who came up with it,” explains the tournament non-commissioned officer in charge, Army Staff Sgt. David W. Maybury, a 7th CSC Soldier and native of Puyallup, Washington, “if they [Soldiers] are in close quarters combat, if their weapons jam, if they have a malfunction, they can easily sling their weapons and engage their opponent hand to hand.”

In addition to the tactical benefits of Army Combatives, some psychological advantages of combatives include building self-confidence and focus under stress.

“This is about building confidence,” said Army Command Sgt. Maj. James Murrin of Boston and the senior enlisted leader of the 7th CSC.

For Army Spc. Damaris Gonzalez, from the 92nd Military Police Company and a Melbourne, Florida, native, her participation in the tournament actually started out as a lost bet.

Gonzalez explained that she was called out by friends for making a joke about the Combatives competition.

And with one week to go before the competition, “I started to roll around and figure out some moves I could do,” said Gonzalez about her preparation.

Gonzalez would later win the lightweight category.

Other participants could rely on more training and experience but still found the tournament a serious challenge.

Army Sgt. John Rene of the 457th Civil Affairs Company from Washington, D.C., said that despite boxing both as an amateur and a professional since he was five years old, he finds the tournament rules required him to change his tactics.

“You can't punch anybody here, [or] else they disqualify you,” said Rene with a smile, “it´s all wrestling here.”

(According to Murrin, the next tournament is tentatively planned for December.)

• Date Taken: 08.14.2015
• Date Posted: 08.14.2015 13:06
• Story ID: 173218
• Location: KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, DE
• Hometown: BOSTON, MA, US
• Hometown: MELBOURNE, FL, US
• Hometown: PUYALLUP, WA, US
• Hometown: WASHINGTON CITY, DC, US