Photo By Airman 1st Class Karina Lopez | U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Christina Byous, 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron first sergeant, taps out during a choke maneuver during a combatives course on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 18, 2025. The week-long combatives course allowed Airmen to practice hand-to-hand combat and sparring techniques. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Karina Lopez) (Uniform standards were temporarily relaxed during the USAF Combatives Course to ensure safety and allow full range of motion) see less
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Forging Warrior Ethos: Kadena Launches First USAF Combatives Course
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan – At 5 feet 3 inches tall, I don’t exactly fit the image most people think of when they hear the word “combatives.” I’ve never been in a fight, and until recently, I had no experience grappling. What I did have was a desire to grow stronger—physically, mentally and as an Airman.
When I heard Kadena would host the first official combatives course on Kadena Air Base, I jumped at the opportunity. Normally, I’m on the sidelines with my camera and notebook, covering training as a public affairs specialist. This time, I was able to immerse myself fully, balancing both roles: storyteller and participant.
At first, I was nervous. I had already started training at a local kickboxing gym on Okinawa to learn self-defense, but stepping onto the mats for combative training was intimidating. Grappling forced me out of my comfort zone in ways that challenged not just my body, but my confidence.
The week-long course, held Sept. 15-19, brought together 46 Airmen from across Kadena. Each morning began with a safety brief and a demonstration from certified Air Force combatives experts. Then came practice, hours of ground drills, defensive maneuvers, and eventually, live sparring.
“U.S. Air Force combatives is far more than a physical skill set,” said Senior Master Sgt. Keli Manglona, 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron senior enlisted leader and USAF combatives master instructor. “It is a foundational component of professional development that reinforces our warrior ethos and culture, leadership and sustains a resilient, mission-ready force.”
Those words resonated with me the first time I was thrown to the ground. My instinct was to pull away and create distance. But combatives taught me the opposite—that sometimes the best defense is to close in, gain control, and use leverage to neutralize a threat. Even as one of the smallest people in the room, I learned that technique and mindset can overcome size.
Not every Airman is required to go through combat training, but Master Sgt. Joshua Salyers, 18th Wing Agile Combat Employment superintendent of exercises, explained why courses like this matter.
“Exposing Airmen from different backgrounds to something challenging helps build mental fortitude and resiliency throughout the force,” he said.
By midweek, I could feel the difference. The techniques weren’t just drills; they became instinct. During sparring, when matched against bigger, stronger opponents, I realized I could hold my own. I wasn’t just practicing self-defense; I was building confidence, resilience, and the warrior ethos that underpins everything we do as Airmen.
The Indo-Pacific theater is constantly evolving, and our mission requires adaptability. This course gave me tangible skills to do that and the mental toughness to face uncertainty with confidence.
The Air Force combative course on Kadena wasn’t easy; it was intimidating and physically demanding. Most importantly, it was empowering. I walked away with bruises, sore muscles and a stronger belief in myself and in the importance of readiness.
The course reminded me that strength isn’t just measured by size or skill, but by the willingness to step into discomfort and grow. I may have started as a storyteller on the sidelines, but now I carry the lessons from those mats with me —in uniform, in mindset and in mission.
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