Birchwood, Tenn., native is Tennessee Army National Guard Soldier and amateur boxer

Photo By Master Sgt. Robin Brown | Sgt. 1st Class Lashanda Johns is the readiness NCO for the Tennessee Army National Guard's Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, Regimental Training Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment. She has been in the National Guard for 13 years. During this time, she has participated in six boxing matches and four kickboxing matches, boxing off and on since 2009.  

NASHVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES

08.25.2015

Story by 1st Sgt. Robin Brown 

Tennessee National Guard Public Affairs Office

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Would you last more than 34 seconds with Ronda Rousey?

"No," said Sgt. 1st Class Lashanda Johns. "Ronda is very experienced in all forms of martial arts. I am only experienced in two of them."

Johns is the readiness NCO for the Tennessee Army National Guard's Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, Regimental Training Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment. She has been in the National Guard for 13 years. During this time, she has participated in six boxing matches and four kickboxing matches, boxing off and on since 2009.

"I compete as much as a I can, but I also do it for fun," said Johns. "It is really difficult at times to manage boxing and the National Guard; most of my tournaments usually fall during annual training or drill weekend."

The National Guard has kept her busy. Johns has deployed three times, twice to Iraq and once to Kuwait. She even received a Bronze Star during her first deployment to Iraq. Training didn't stop when she deployed.

"The friends I have made throughout the years in the Guard are like my family," she said. "I just recently returned from a deployment [to Kuwait], but I trained over there almost every day."

Johns returned from Kuwait at the beginning of July 2015. She attended the World Amateur Kickboxing Tournament in Orlando, Fla. July 24-26.

"Tony Alston, who is still deployed, trained me while I was in Kuwait to get ready for my most recent kickboxing tournament here in the United States," Johns added. Alston is a Staff Sergeant with the Indiana National Guard's 1313th Engineer Company. "He teaches boxing part time back home.”

"In combat sports, you have to be very disciplined; this is the same with the National Guard. To be a good Soldier, boxer or kick boxer, you have to stay disciplined and focused," she said. This focus is evident in her training.

"I do a lot of sparring, speed bag work, heavy bag work, running and circuit training," Johns said. "Since I also kick box, I do a lot of kick pad drills and stretching."

"You have to train hard and be ready to get hit, and sometimes hit really hard," she added.

Johns said she participates in the sport for herself, but she got an interest in boxing at an early age.

"As a kid, I watched boxing with my father every Tuesday night. I told him I would love to do something like that, but he told me no," Johns said. "Many years later, after my second deployment, I went to a kickboxing gym and it all started there."

"I thought it was awesome and looked like fun," she added.
That enthusiasm hasn't changed for Johns, but her father's opinion has.

"My father loves the fact that I compete now. He comes to every event he can attend," she said. "I asked him what changed, and he said he hasn't seen be get beat up yet. He said if the day ever comes that I am taking a beating, it will be hard for him to watch."

"I feel really good when I box, it relieves a lot of stress and is an adrenaline rush," she said. "Boxing and kickboxing are very rewarding. You see results in a every aspect of your life. It makes you look great, feel great, and feels even better when you win."

Johns has advice for anyone who is interested in boxing.

"Do not listen to people who say you can't do it, or that it's dumb," she said. "If you have a dream, you should go after it!"

• Date Taken: 08.25.2015
• Date Posted: 08.25.2015 10:13
• Story ID: 174159
• Location: NASHVILLE, TN, US
• Hometown: BIRCHWOOD, TN, US