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“As a Marine you have to train harder than anyone else,” said Houston. “If you want something bad enough you have to work for it, and that is the same concept in Muay Thai.”
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Elijah Houston, a data systems administrator with Headquarters and Support Battalion, shares why training in combat sports is important to him and why it helps him as a Marine.
“I wrestled throughout my entire life,” said Houston, a native from Maple Shade, New Jersey. “I have always had that background of pushing myself. From my earliest memories, I’ve wrestled and competed in over a hundred matches.”
Houston explains that when he came to Okinawa, two years ago, his friend invited him to a gym off base where he was introduced to Muay Thai. He was hooked after the first session and went back almost every day. Soon, he was introduced to his current instructor, Am, a local off base, who kept him working diligently and hard. He said that they just ‘clicked’ because of similar mindsets and way of training.
Muay Thai originated from Thailand and can be traced back to the 18th Century. It is known as the “art of eight limbs” and combines the use of fists, elbows, knees and shins.
Marines are expected to maintain fitness standards and execute physical training even in the current COVID-19 environment. One tool Marines use to stay mission ready is through Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) which combines hand-to-hand combat and close quarters combat techniques to keep Marines mentally tough, mentally sound and physically capable warfighters. MCMAP is a combination of multiple different martial arts to include Muay Thai.
According to Houston, he trains six days a week, with each session lasting 2-3 hours. What keeps him motivated is something his dad always said to him “‘The times you’re not training, somebody else is.”’
During his training sessions, he warms-up with three rounds [three minutes of continuous work], of jump roping, two rounds of fast knee strikes on a bag and two rounds of push kicks.
After the warm-up, he completes three rounds of shadow boxing and five rounds of striking. Finally, he finishes with pad work consisting of striking which helps to refine his techniques. Houston explains that pad work can be the most difficult part of the session.
“Muay Thai is a humbling sport, and it has helped me stay ready, trained and focused,” he said. “I fight because I like to fight and Muay Thai is my release, it's my passion.”
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2020 02:12 |
| Photo ID: | 6360467 |
| VIRIN: | 200922-M-TS451-1300 |
| Resolution: | 2000x1333 |
| Size: | 578.07 KB |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
This work, Training in Muay Thai [Image 6 of 6], by Sgt Karis Mattingly, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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