Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from the 1st Theater Sustainment Command conduct Escrima training, also...... read more read more
By Maj. Sonise Lumbaca, 1st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affair
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - While some Soldiers on Fort Bragg are conducting conventional physical training such as long distance running or general calisthenics, every Wednesday morning at Dahl Gymnasium, members of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command spend their time conducting PT in a unique way.
Like some units that have incorporated combatives such as hand-to hand combat into their training, the 1st TSC, who also began their training in this manner, have since expanded on a different level.
"It is called escrima," said Brig. Gen. Kevin A. Leonard, commander of the 1st TSC. "And we are tapping into it in order to work on developing the "warrior spirit" in our Soldiers."
With one thick stick in each had, striking through the air in a variety of patterns and then pairing up with a partner, the Soldiers of the 1st TSC conduct this training under the instruction and watchful eye of Leonard.
Escrima, also known as Arnis de Manos or Filipino stick fighting, dates back to the 1500s when Spanish rule first came to the Philippines. Filipinos taught this martial art form as a recreational activity and for a selected few as combat training.
After the Spanish banned the teaching of escrima, it was taught as a clandestine art form secretly and placed to music disguising it as a dance. Spanish soldiers later realized that the martial art form hadn't died--every time revolts occurred.
Passed down from generation to generation, the martial art form has evolved and through migration traveled to a variety of countries.
"There are two parts to this (training) and why we are doing it. The first is, we are searching for the warriors out there," Leonard said.
In keeping with the Army wide focus on Warrior Ethos, which combative training remains a huge part of, Leonard turned his unit onto this form of self-defense.
The second part, Leonard said, is to learn to train your mind and eyes to pick up on movement at a fast pace.
"If your body and eyes can get accustomed to the quick movement, then when attacked, your eyes and your body will know exactly what to do," Leonard said. "Combat or fighting is rarely a scripted event and so you are better served to have a series of techniques, a tool bag if you will that you can draw on."
Leonard has been practicing the martial art form since the age of 13. He has been teaching it for the past 10 years. He has taught at the battalion and brigade level throughout his career and more recently while deployed in support of Operation Iraq Freedom while in Kuwait.
"The training is fun and informative," said Master Sgt. Pamela Gaines, Logistics Branch supply noncommissioned officer-in-charge. "There is no such thing as a fare fight everything comes from the element of surprise."
Gaines, like many other members of the command hopes to continue with the training.
"The training helps to make you better prepared. I think that it is nice that the General takes his time out to share something unique and that is going to help us."
While some critics might question when would a Soldier have the opportunity to pick up a stick to fight or what if there are bullets coming their way, Leonard believes that escrima goes far beyond the physical and more so mentally prepares the Soldiers.
"When you are faced in a tough and tight situation the question is "how are you going to survive?" The answer is simple- instinct. If you are scared and someone attacks you, you will have a normal instinctive reaction," he said. "The enemy always gets a vote and we want to be prepared for that."
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.03.2006 14:18 |
| Story ID: | 6246 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 64 |
| Downloads: | 37 |
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