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CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea- Four Soldiers assigned to the Signal Intelligence Sustainment Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK–U.S. Combined Division, won several medals while competing in a jiu-jitsu tournament held in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea on Jan. 21, 2024.
Spcs Tyler Pomroy, Christian Torres, Camden Alden, and Ethan Miknuk, competed in the Jäger Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament and won both gold and silver medals in their respective weight class and belt rankings.
Jiu-jitsu is a self-defense martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds. It focuses mainly on taking one's opponent down to the ground, gaining a dominant position, and using several techniques to force them into submission using joint locks or chokeholds.
Pomroy, a Network Communications Systems Specialist who won gold in the 77kg no-gi beginner division, originally joined because of Torres.
"He joined our company about a year ago, last January," said Pomroy. "He had been training for like five or six months prior. I have a little wrestling background and just wanted to do something to stay fit."
The competitors signed up depending on belt level and weight class, then went through single elimination brackets until they reached first place.
Torres, a Network Communications Systems Specialist who won gold in the 88kg pro and silver in the absolute pro division, joined jiu-jitsu because of a fellow Soldier.
"We did a little wrestling thing in our platoon area, and a buddy of mine told me that I should try jiu-jitsu," said Torres. "I just showed up and tried it. I haven't stopped since. I started to train six days a week."
The class is taught by their coach, Kris Kim, who owns a gym in Seoul. He commutes three days a week and donates his time to teach Soldiers and civilians alike.
Pomroy mentions one of the main reasons he did so well was their coach's dedication.
"He's an outstanding individual; he deserves all the credit," said Pomroy. "If it weren't for him, this program wouldn't be a thing. He's one of the highest-ranking black belts on the peninsula, and we get to learn and train with him."
The Army continues to encourage its Soldiers to be all they can be by furthering their physical and mental fitness outside of morning physical training and mandatory Army Combat Fitness Test training through classes hosted by instructors such as Coach Kim.
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 02.14.2024 19:40 |
| Story ID: | 463439 |
| Location: | CAMP HUMPHREYS, KR |
| Web Views: | 45 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldiers from the 2ID/RUCD win Jiu-Jitsu competition, by SPC Sebastian Johnston, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
