CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JAPAN — Surrounded by a vibrant group of friends, fellow boxers, and his devoted sensei, Ty’Von D’Antignac stands tall, a beacon of pride and determination as he poses for a photo. The banner behind him showcases a scarlet backdrop with the U.S. Marine Corps eagle, globe, and anchor, a symbol of honor and strength. Around his waist, D’Antignac proudly displays his Amuteur Mixed Martial Arts Middle-Weight Kickboxing championship belt, a trophy of hard-fought bouts and relentless dedication, a testament to his unwavering spirit and commitment to the sport.
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ty’Von “D” D’Antignac is an administrative specialist with Headquarters Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, stationed at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. A Richlands, North Carolina native, D’Antignac enlisted in the Marines with ambitions of pursuing his career in boxing and mixed martial arts and making a name for himself. D’Antignac’s end game is to create a legacy that will succeed him in his achievements as a Marine and becoming the MMA World Champion.
“I want to become great enough that people will talk about me for decades, for my greatness and achievements,” says D’Antignac, “and with my time in service, I hope to achieve that so that I can lead and guide others, because in the future I want to open my own gym.”
For as long as D’Antignac could remember, he had a passion for the art of fighting. Having grown up watching his grandfather and father participate in boxing and kickboxing, D’Antignac was inspired to continue that tradition and later pass it on. D’Antignac would follow in their footsteps by practicing in his free time at home before enlisting in the Marines, intending to join the Marine Corps Boxing team.
“I joined the Marine Corps hoping to better myself and travel. I also wanted to join the Marine Corps boxing team, but that didn’t work out for me,” says D’Antignac.
With the Marine Corps Boxing program only available within the United States, D’Antignac struggled to get his boxing career off the ground since he is stationed in Okinawa, Japan. So instead, D’Antignac spent hours practicing boxing drills at the gym, whenever he was away from the office. One day, while training at the North House of Pain gym, on Camp Hansen, D’Antignac was approached by a coach from the Setkudo MMA group. The Setkudo MMA Group is a program offered by the Marine Corps Community Service (MCCS) at the House of Pain gym. The instructor saw potential in D’Antignac and invited him to join the group. Since 2023, D’Antignac has trained with the Setkudo group weekly and has attended matches all over Okinawa.
“Last year, September 15, was my first fight. I found out the guy was a three-time champion when I got into the ring.” says D’Antignac. “My first fight was the only one I ever lost, and ever since, I did what I could to not lose again.”
D’Antignac engages in rigorous physical and combat conditioning that exceeds the Marine Corps fitness standards. He trains in boxing, MMA and the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). D’Antignac states that upholding this workout regime not only maintains his warfighting capabilities as a Marine but also fine-tunes his fighting prowess.
“Being in the Marines encourages me to stay physically fit, and having the discipline to do so helps me train and do what I have to do for my fights,” says D’Antignac.
D’Antignac continued to strengthen and hone his skills at the gym and attend training sessions where, a year later, his hard work and dedication would culminate in a successful kickboxing match at Kukuru Itoman’s College Gym, July 21, 2024.
“Recently, I won the Middle-Weight Amateur title. So right now, I am considered the Amateur Champion,” says D’Antignac. “After that, I knew I would have to work extra hard because the competition was only going to get stronger.”
After a well-earned achievement and establishing his first milestone in his journey to becoming the world champion, D’Antignac is back in the gym training for an upcoming match. This time, D’Antignac aims to evaluate the experience and strength he’s gained in the past year since his first fight.
(Courtesy Photo from: Ty’Von D’Antignac, News Story by: Lance Cpl. Yanisa Culp)
Date Taken: | 09.27.2024 |
Date Posted: | 10.09.2024 03:09 |
Story ID: | 481918 |
Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
Web Views: | 169 |
Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Lance Cpl D’Antignac | III MIG’s Amateur Kick Boxing Champion, by LCpl Yanisa Culp, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.