Tap Out!

Photo By Sgt. Jared Sollars | Spc. Joshua Beecher wraps up Department of Defense civilian Jason Allen in a triangle using a quick movement of his legs and locking them in place to do so.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

04.01.2009

Story by Pfc. Jared Sollars 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq — With a quick slam and a thud a combatant in a well lit gym is thrown to the mat then put in a ferocious submission move. That's the heart and soul of any Mixed Martial Arts fight.

Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Department of Defense civilians from Forward Operating Base Marez and Forward Operating Base Diamondback competed in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in preparation for an upcoming MMA event in May.

MMA events are unique in the way their bouts are set up. Fighters that have trained in various martial arts go head to head. For example, a wrestler will go against someone in his weight class that is well trained in jiu-jitsu or judo. The variations of skill and style in bouts are enormous.

Marine 1st. Lt. Lee Stuckey said the event is a welcomed relief from the day-to-day operations in theater.

"This event was put together as a morale booster to give the soldiers something to look forward to and participate in." said Stuckey who refereed the weight classes along with professional MMA fighter Sgt. Patrick Miller who both competed in the pro division and were key coordinators in the event.

The tournament was divided into five amateur weight classes and a professional division. The first-place winners in each weight class were presented with a medal, a K-Bar knife, a $50 gift card and a certificate of participation by Col. Gary Volesky, commander of 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Events like this are positive outlets for Soldiers to put their focus toward self-improvement, making them stronger both physically and mentally, Stuckey said.

"MMA is a good way for people to physically cope with post traumatic stress disorder," Stuckey stated. "I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2003 and as long as I'm training, I don't have the panic attacks or any other PTSD symptoms. I think it's a better solution than just medicating people."
Over the past few years MMA has become a phenomenon that has swept across the world bringing the best of the best to challenge one another, pushing their skills to the limits, said Stuckey, who also is a professional MMA fighter in the United States.

• Date Taken: 04.01.2009
• Date Posted: 04.01.2009 20:38
• Story ID: 31890
• Location: MOSUL, IQ