FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Leaders throughout the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade are constantly training their Soldiers to be a more mentally and physically resilient force, whether it is through rigorous downed aircraft recovery team exercises, logging long hours of aircraft maintenance or the daily challenges of life that occur. The 2nd Aviation Assault Battalion, Unit Ministry Team came together on Fort Bragg, Feb. 4, to help facilitate troopers in team-building activities through Shaolin Kung Fu in a morning physical training session.
Pfc. Steven Lee, chaplain’s assistant, led the morning PT session, instructing the fundamental drills of Shaolin Kung Fu.
“Shaolin Kung Fu originated in China over 1,500 years ago,” said Lee. “It’s foundation is built through a series of repeated drills and exercises designed to conduction and mold the body to have power, speed, dexterity, stability, and flexibility.”
Lee is using his skills to help build a resilient force within his unit.
“The Shaolin Kung Fu traits allow us to find ways to build confidence and resiliency through a method that otherwise troopers wouldn’t know or knew they could do,” said Lee.
Lee, prior to joining the in Army 2013 practiced Shaolin Kung Fu in China at the age of eight. For the next six years, he built and perfected his skills in the Tagou Shaolin Martial Arts School in Henan, China. He then moved to Houston, Texas, and continued to practice his skills, leading him to become a member of the Shaolin Monks Performance Team and a two-time World Legends of Kung Fu Champion.
“Training in Shaloin Kung Fu has helped me throughout my life, but most importantly developed me personally in becoming a better Soldier,” said Lee.
The PT session started with Sholin Kung Fu stretches which are very different than normal Army PT warm-ups. The session involved the basic foundation drills of Sholin Kung Fu which Lee demonstrated, including the inside outside kicks, horse stance punch, bow punch, front sweep, and snap kick.
Pfc. Lawonda Martin, information technology specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, was one of the participants in the PT session.
“These drills were different types of exercise that we’re
accustomed to for PT,” said Martin. “At first the drills seem awkward, but as we continued I felt energized and gained confidence through the course of the session.”
The Soldiers built on each drill that pushed them to step outside their normal zone of physical conditioning, helping them to accomplish the session.
“I learned a lot in the short hour,” said Martin. “This would be something I would enjoy doing more often; it was a morale and confidence booster.”
Lee made reference to the famous quote of Sun Tzu encouraging his fellow Soldiers that, “Mastering others is strength, but mastering yourself makes you fearless.”
At the end of the PT session, the Soldiers bragged with each other about their newly learned Sholin Kung Fu moves.
Lee’s devotion to helping his fellow Soldiers as a chaplain’s assistant is no surprise.
“The mission of the UMT is to provide moral and spiritual support to Soldiers,” said Lee. “Hopefully, today our Soldiers learned new skills of Sholin Kung Fu in providing them a new a source of physical and spiritual support.”