Marines compete in series of combat sports

Photo By Cpl. Devan Barnett | NEW ORLEANS – Cpl. Christian Plant (left), a fiscal clerk with Headquarters Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve, watches and scores Marines competing during the MARFORRES King of the Ring Competition at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, March 22, 2017. The competition featured three separate events to include grappling, knife fighting, and combative baton, all hosted by the MARFORRES Martial Arts Team. The winners of the three competitions will earn a large trophy and the title as champion until next year’s competition. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Devan Alonzo Barnett/Released)  

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, UNITED STATES

03.23.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Devan Barnett 

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

NEW ORLEANS –Marines with Headquarters Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve competed in multiple combat sports, to include grappling, knife fighting, and combative baton, during the King of the Mat competition at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, March 22, 2017.
The tournament was organized by the in-house MARFORRES Martial Arts Team to establish awareness and demonstrate their skills as a team.
“The meaning of this program and this martial arts team is focused around helping Marines garner vital experience and training while connecting shared passions for martial arts,” said Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, the team manager and co-founder of the MARFORRES Martial Arts Team.
Competitions like these, combined with the lessons Marines learn in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, give Marines the best advantage when it comes to combat and combat sports.
“It’s all about teaching basic principles and trying to build up that warrior spirit to create the true ‘audacity’ a fighter needs in order to execute techniques successfully,” said Sullivan. “Form, technique, agility, strength, mental prowess, dedication, and so many other physiognomies are created through our MCMAP program and our martial arts team facilitates expanding on those planted ideas.”
Sullivan plans on having the martial arts team host another tournament next year, but is working hard to establish more tournaments for the Marines throughout the year. This tournament was a trial that turned into a success for not only the competitors but the Marines watching and cheering each other on.
“I can’t stress it enough, we are all Marines. We are all Marines who are training to fight. No matter our current MCMAP or martial arts skill level, this is our culture; it’s just what we do,” said Sullivan.

• Date Taken: 03.23.2017
• Date Posted: 03.24.2017 10:33
• Story ID: 227895
• Location: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, US