Spc. Derek Del Rosario
Task Force Baghdad PAO
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq " Confidence. Discipline. Passion. These may sound similar to Army values, but they're also leadership traits Spc. Fred Jean-Francois and Sgt. Jean Valnues strive to instill in their martial arts students.
Jean-Francois and Valnues are both mechanics with Headquarters and Headquarters Operations Company, Special Troops Battalion. In their off-duty time, they teach tae kwon do to Soldiers at Camp Liberty.
Jean-Francois, a second-degree black belt, brings almost 20 years of experience to his students. He began teaching in 1992 in his native country of Haiti, where he has won two national championships. His interest in martial arts began in his childhood, when a classmate he looked up to showed him the passive nature of tae kwon do.
"I was a bit of a trouble-maker as a kid and I would get in a lot of fights," he said. "One classmate had a very calm character that I admired. I saw him practice tae kwon do one day and I was very impressed, so I became interested (in martial arts) as well."
Valnues came to the sport later in life. After he attended Jean-Francois" class in March, he said he was immediately interested. He trained diligently, earned his green belt, and is now an assistant instructor.
"When I first came to the class, it was the first time I ever participated in tae kwon do," Valnues said. "I was hooked from the beginning. I found it very competitive and challenging."
There are two aspects of tae kwon do: form and fighting. Form is like imaginary fighting or kata. Fighting is more active and self-defense driven. It is Jean-Francois" specialty.
Tae kwon do is not just a hobby, but a part of his everyday life, he said.
"It's a way of life, like a religion for me," Jean-Francois said. "I think people who study tae kwon do learn self-control in every aspect of life, and most importantly, discipline."
The ideals of the martial art as preached by Jean-Francois have made Valnues a better martial artist.
"He is truly a master of his art," Valnues said. "He makes sure people understand the moves, he's very informative and takes a step-by-step approach to teaching, yet he remains very relaxed and approachable."
Maj. Susan Robinson, a staff physician with 602nd Area Support Medical Company, said she takes the class to keep herself connected with her family.
"My 6-year-old son is taking tae kwon do (in the U.S.), so talking to him about it is a real bonding experience," Robinson said.
The instructors have stayed dedicated to their duties as mechanics, but they both agree that tae kwon do has helped boost their spirits during some of the most trying periods of deployment.
"When it comes to Army life, I have no stress despite being away from family or being in Iraq," Jean-Francois said. "Tae kwon do gives me the discipline to stay positive no matter what happens during this tour. That's just the way I am, and I try to pass that positive attitude onto others."
Valnues agrees that the martial arts helped boost his morale. He also sees parallels between tae kwon do and the Army. He is a leader in the motor pool, but a student when it comes to tae kwon do.
"Tae kwon do has definitely given me more confidence and discipline, which is important in the Army," Valnues said. "The Army structure is very similar to tae kwon do, they both have a rank structure and there is a level of respect among us. He (Jean-Francois) is my Soldier at work, but here (in class) we switch positions. I salute him by bowing to show respect."
Jean-Francois believes that physical ability is not the most important characteristic to have in order to succeed in tae kwon do. He advises those who want to be successful in martial arts to have the mindset to never quit.
"You have to believe in yourself in order to succeed. When I teach, it doesn't matter if my class has one or 100 people, I'm going to stay dedicated to teaching, and that mindset is what you need to be successful in tae kwon do," Jean-Francois said. "Tae kwon do is an art that is all mental, if your heart is in it, you will get to where you want to go. When life gives you a punch, you have to get back up. Never stay down."
After his tour of duty ends, Jean-Francois plans to open his own school called the Haitian Tae Kwon Do Academy and is also training to earn his third-degree black belt.
Valnues plans to participate in tae kwon do competitions, and hopes to earn a black belt rating.