BAGHDAD -- As part of a personal effort to boost morale of deployed troops, martial arts champion, creator of Tae Bo and movie star, Billy Blanks, visited Camp Victory Soldiers with his daughter Shellie Banks Sept. 22.
"Thank you for what you do for your country, it is surely appreciated," the 49 year-old Blanks said to the troops. "It is a privilege and honor to be in the presence of you guys."
The celebrity said he also visited Baghdad's troops at Camp Victory because he wanted to remind everyone to take a positive outlook on life.
With his daughter's assistance, Blanks demonstrated some moves to the crowd of service members, as evidence of body discipline. He invented Tae Bo while combining music with his Tae Kwon Do practices, and started the first Tae Bo studio in Sherman Oaks, Calif. in 1989. Tae Bo combines Karate, aerobics, boxing and dance.
Today, Tae Bo videos and workouts are found and practiced in many countries of the world. A seven-time world karate champion and seventh-degree black belt, Blanks has retired from competitive fighting after more than 30 years. "I won't be putting gloves on anymore, I retired in 1991," he said. "Now I want to teach others."
Blanks began his film career with the movie "Tango and Cash," which opened the door to many other films, notably "King of the Kickboxers," "Showdown," and "Blood Fist." Blanks said he plans to act again soon, but has been focusing lately on physical fitness training, particularly Tae Bo.
"The hardest thing about being a physical fitness trainer is getting people to do what they do not want to do," he said. "When I see people ready to quit, I say some encouraging words to help them go on," Blanks said. "It's a privilege and honor to be able to help people."
"When people come into my gym, I tell them, leave your body at home, give me your mind and will." Another Blanks philosophy he shared with the Soldiers, and had them repeat as he stated it, is, "Where I am today is where my mind put me. Where I'll be tomorrow is where my mind put me."
After demonstrating and answering questions, Blanks signed autographs and posed for photos. For more information about Billy Blanks, visit his website, [url]http://www.billyblanks.com.[/url]
| Date Taken: | 09.28.2004 |
| Date Posted: | 09.28.2004 13:03 |
| Story ID: | 425 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 12 |
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