Tae Bo comes to Camp Ramadi

Photo By Staff Sgt. Emily Suhr | Tae Bo inventor Billy Blanks leads a group of Soldiers and Marines through one of his workouts on Camp Ramadi, Iraq, April 30 during a stop on his 12-day Iraq tour.  

RAMADI, IRAQ

05.07.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Emily Suhr 

81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq — Soldiers from Headquarters Company, 81st Brigade Combat Team, Washington Army National Guard got a chance to work out with Tae Bo inventor Billy Blanks during his visit to Camp Ramadi, Iraq, April 30 and May 1.

Blanks and his associate, Tae Bo Instructor Melanie Neat, spent two days during their 12-day Iraq tour with the Soldiers and Marines of Camp Ramadi. During the visit, Blanks led a class of about 30 service members in a high intensity aerobic Tae Bo work out.

"It was tough for me for some parts, but I did what I could and I enjoyed it and I got a good workout," said HQ Co. Soldier Sgt. Lisa Scott of Tacoma, Wash.

"It was awesome," added Staff Sgt. Derrick Grasty of Lacey, Wash., another HQ Co. Soldier. "It was so much better than doing it with the video. You can cheat at home, you can't cheat when he's standing there behind you."

After the intense workout, Blanks gathered the service members around him to discuss fitness and answer any questions they had. He also offered his thanks for everything they do.

"It's a privilege and honor to be in front of you guys because you all give us the opportunity to have a free world and do what we want to do with our lives," he said. "To me, that's really special and I don't take it for granted."

This was Blank's sixth trip to Iraq to visit with the troops. He also runs the Billy Blanks Foundation, which puts together and sends care packages out to deployed service members.

"Anything I can do for the troops, I'm going to do," he said.

After speaking with the troops, Blanks and Neat signed autographs and posed for photos. One Soldier received a very special treat.

"I commented on how much I liked his shorts," said Scott. "The one side of the shorts had 'Jesus is Lord' and the other side had 'Tae Bo Warrior' and those words were also in another language, not to mention they were my favorite color, Purple! He thanked me and told me if I came back the next day he would give them to me, of which I thought he was joking."

He wasn't. Scott came back the next day and, as promised, Blanks gave her his workout shorts.

"I felt blessed to get such a gift and the autograph just made them that more special," said the mother of four who plans on preserving them.

"I just want to bring a part of home to them," Blanks said about why he visits Iraq. "Even if it's just for the hour or two that we're here, if I can bring just a little part of home and sit down and talk with them, that's the best."

• Date Taken: 05.07.2009
• Date Posted: 05.07.2009 10:25
• Story ID: 33313
• Location: RAMADI, IQ