Courtesy Photo | U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Robert Corpt, a 1st Combat Communications Squadron...... read more read more
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ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - - It’s double overtime with 15 seconds remaining on the clock. A roar of cheers from the crowd floods the well-lit arena. All eyes are fixed on one mat, waiting for the culminating point of that match.
Both competitors, exhausted, strategize their next moves as the clock winds down. This is it, the moment where a victor will be crowned.
Airman 1st Class Robert Corpt, a 1st Combat Communications Squadron radio frequency transmissions systems technician from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, makes his move, knowing he must leave everything he has on the mat. His background and training have prepared him for this moment.
In these situations, what do you do? “Do what you know how to do,” said Corpt.
His attempt succeeds. Corpt gets the takedown on his opponent to win the match. The crowd goes wild.
New to the world of Jiu-Jitsu, Corpt has been flourishing. He has successfully finished top three in three separate tournaments while deployed to Lithuania with the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.
Corpt is in Lithuania supporting NATO’s peacetime Baltic Air Policing mission. In doing so, he and the 493rd EFS strengthen the bond between treaty Allies by working together to maintain the sovereign skies of the Baltic states.
This isn’t the only time Corpt has been in the ring. In middle and high school Corpt was on the wrestling team, and began coaching after he graduated.
“Wrestling definitely helped,” he said. “There’s a lot of things that overlap in wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu.”
After joining the U.S. Air Force, Corpt began training in Jiu-Jitsu, and found a new passion.
“I was definitely hooked,” he said. “I loved it.”
With encouragement from his peers, he decided to put his skills to the test and compete in his first tournament during this deployment. On Oct. 15, Corpt entered into the Vilnius Open, a competition hosted by the Lithuanian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Being new to the area, Corpt had to adapt to the contrast between competing in the U.S. and in Lithuania. Differences in language and fighting style were a couple of the obstacles Corpt had to overcome.
“The biggest difference is the style,” he said. “Everywhere you go is a little bit different. And you have to adjust your style accordingly.”
However, Corpt found support from the local Lithuanians to help him succeed. Establishing a relationship with them, he trained with the locals to help his technique.
“Luckily some people spoke English,” he said. “It was a great experience and they were great hosts. I had a good time.”
Corpt also had a Lithuanian coach, Deividas Taurosevičius, a retired Mixed Martial Arts fighter who has a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and has competed in Bellator, World Extreme Cage fighting and Ring of Combat.
As a coach and mentor, Taurosevičius helped Corpt with his ambition to compete in Lithuania, even presenting Corpt with his blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
With help from the Lithuanians and his coach, Corpt found success and took 1st place in his weight class at the tournament.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” he said. “I had some pretty tough matches but I had a lot of fun.”
Corpt’s success continued Oct. 25 at the European Open, a tournament put on by the International Grappling Association in Kanuas, Lithuania. In his weight class, he ended up placing 3rd in the tournament.
“That one was definitely a lot harder,” he said. “The rules were set differently. You aren’t able to win by points. It’s submission only.”
During his 3rd place match, he ended up winning with a Kimora submission with a minute left in the match.
“I was definitely humbled,” he said. “Jiu-Jitsu is a very humbling sport. No matter how good you think you are, there is someone always better.”
Having competed in two demanding tournaments, most people might take a break and recover. Corpt wasn’t quite ready for that. On Nov. 25 he entered the Utena Open, a tournament put on by the International Grappling Federation in Utena, Lithuania.
Corpt’s prosperity continued as he took 2nd place in the submission-only tournament.
“It was fun, I had a great experience,” he said. “There’s a lot of stuff I know I need to work on. Sometimes you learn that when you go against someone who’s a little better than you.”
Corpt’s early success in Jiu-Jitsu can be viewed as a testament of resilience, patience and continuing progress. To his peers, Corpt’s a great representation of what today’s Airmen should strive to accomplish.
"Airman 1st Class Corpt is a stellar radio frequencies technician and martial artist,” said Lt. Kevin Abington, combat support flight commander 1 CBCS/CYC at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. “His passion for Jiu-Jitsu is immediately apparent the second he steps on the mat. I am proud of him for being an ambassador of the U.S. in the international grappling community."
By utilizing his training, his past and his newfound relationship with the local Lithuanians, Corpt has earned recognition in his respective sport with no sign of slowing down. He realizes what he’s accomplished and hopes to continue competing in the future.
“It’s encouraging,” he said. “But I think it goes to show if you dedicate yourself to something and put in the hard work for it, you’ll always come out on top.”
| Date Taken: | 12.15.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2017 06:32 |
| Story ID: | 259019 |
| Location: | BRANDON, SFK, GB |
| Web Views: | 187 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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