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    Desert Rat Grappling/Judo Club throws down on MCLB Barstow

    Desert Rat Grappling/Judo Club throws down on MCLB Barstow

    Photo By Laurie Pearson | Lance Corporal Hector Arenas, S-1 clerk, taps the mat during training to let Hospital...... read more read more

    MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CA, UNITED STATES

    02.22.2018

    Story by Laurie Pearson  

    Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

    Juan Rivera, S-6 Communications director, and Maj. Alfredo Romero, S-4 director started a grappling/judo club, kicking off their first practice aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., Jan. 9.

    “The goal, eventually, is to compete,” said Romero. “We are centrally located between Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego, so there will be a lot of opportunities to compete in both military and civilian events.”

    People of all skill levels are welcome to practice, learn and grow their skill-sets. Romero and Rivera are instructors as well as participants in the program.

    “I was a high school and collegiate wrestler,” explained Romero. “I used to train with Jacksons MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) in the early 2000s in Albuquerque. I trained with the likes of Diego Sanchez, Carlos Condit, Keith Jardine and Greg Jackson himself. In fact, had I not joined the Marine Corps I’d have most likely gone that route and become a professional MMA fighter.”

    Rivera has a long history of martial arts experience, as well.

    “I have a 2nd-degree black belt in Aikido, a 1st-degree black belt in Judo, (and) 2nd-degree brown belt in Danzan Ryu Jiu -Jitsu, and a USA Boxing coach” Rivera said. “I am also an amateur and professional MMA coach. I’ve coached seven professional and amateur MMA fighters.”

    He also teaches self-defense at Semper Fit Gym. When asked why grappling is important, Rivera made an important point about what happens when someone may have to or want to fight.

    “85 percent of all fights wind up on the ground,” he said. “Then what?”

    Think you may never need to fight?

    “In 2016, U.S. residents age 12 or older experienced 5.7 million violent victimizations,” Rivera said. “That is a rate of 21.1 victimizations per 1,000 persons.”

    It could be anyone, and if it is not you who is attacked by a would-be mugger, or rapist, then it could be someone you know, or even a stranger who needs your help.

    In addition to learning how to protect one’s self and their loved ones, fighting, to include grappling has many other benefits.

    “It’s a great full-body workout,” Romero said. “It also includes physical conditioning and hones mental toughness in addition to learning self-defense.”

    The club is new, and the team is making efforts to expand. Everyone is welcome, and they are hoping that personnel from Security and Emergency Services will participate, as well as other civilians on base, Romero explained.

    “We currently have four or five active, consistent participants,” Romero said. “We’d like to get more people involved, to include men, women, and people of all ages. We can modify things for anyone who wants to participate.”

    Grappling and judo covers techniques used in a lot of disciplines, styles and martial arts forms, explained Rivera.

    “They are used in both self-defense and combat sports,” he said. “Grappling encompasses ground techniques while Judo teaches how to take your opponent to the ground.”

    Although they currently meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., they are flexible with timing for practices. So, if they hear of interest, but the current times are not convenient, just let them know and they can adjust training schedules to meet the need.

    “Instruction consists of warm-ups, drills, techniques of the day, then free sparring,” said Rivera.

    People are paired up by the coaches based on skill sets.

    “We want people to learn to crawl, walk, then run,” Romero said. “The key is consistencies of progression. The easier it is to execute techniques, and the longer you last on the mat without getting tired, the better you become as an athlete. Egos are checked at the door because this is a learning environment.”

    Competition will come with time and experience, if there is a desire to do so.

    “This is intended to be a club where we can compete intermural with other bases, compete in grappling and judo tournaments, etc.,” Rivera said. “But it also is an opportunity to learn self-defense techniques. You are NOT required to compete.”

    Fighting is different than any other sport, explained Romero, who then compared it to other sports. Fighting is about the individual.

    “I have always thought wrestling was the hardest sport, mentally, physically, spiritually,” he said. “There aren’t many sports out there where you have to cut weight and train in a 6-8 week training camp, where you have to deal with conditioning, injuries, nutrition, and a lot of mental preparation, to be ready for a cage fight, or grappling match.”

    He pointed out that another benefit is spending time with like-minded individuals who have an appreciation for martial arts and pushing yourselves to your own personal limits.

    To join is free.

    “Just show up,” Romero said. “Wear regular, comfortable workout clothing and either wrestling shoes or bare feet are fine.”

    So, it is a free gym, offering free lessons, with highly skilled instructors and coaches. What are you waiting for?

    “The opportunity to grow and learn exists here in Barstow,” Rivera said. “It is up to you to take advantage.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.22.2018
    Date Posted: 02.23.2018 15:27
    Story ID: 267032
    Location: MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CA, US

    Web Views: 100
    Downloads: 0

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