Photo By Spc. Anthony Zane | Pfc. Marshall O. Hughes, satellite communications operator and maintainer, Signal...... read more read more
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COB ADDER, Iraq – Waves of Soldiers have moved in and out of Iraq since the U.S. first arrived in 2003, their uniforms creating a contrasting flow across the desert sand.
Surfing within that constant current is Pfc. Marshall Hughes, satellite communications operator and maintainer, with Signal Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 25th Infantry Division.
Growing up in Asheboro, N.C., Hughes’ interest to join the Army was inspired by his grandfather.
“My grandfather was prior military. And, after hearing about his war stories, I wanted to experience what it was like to be a soldier,” said Hughes. “I try to follow in his footsteps.”
“He was a cook,” said Hughes. “I decided to go a different path because being a cook didn’t sound too interesting to me, so I went with signal. I was hoping with my military occupational specialty, I could go outside the wire and have a little bit of fun.”
Looking for a soldier’s life, the 21-year-old is serving his first tour on Contingency Operating Base Adder.
Hughes has yet to venture off base to go on missions, he said. But he is still grateful for his experience so far. As long as he is doing his part as a soldier, he takes pride in his work and being an integral part of Operation New Dawn, he said.
Working for the Signal Company, Hughes has been cross-trained to perform a variety of tasks that includes working with satellite communication and transmission systems.
A soldiers life is just what he found: his team works long hours with no days off. Still, he finds time to stay physically fit, something he has actively pursued through his two favorite passions in life: marital arts and surfing.
“It all started back when I was in the fifth grade; I signed up for wrestling, said Hughes.
Hughes was briefly drawn to football, but decided to focus on wrestling.
“I preferred wrestling over football because it was a more physical, aggressive sport and it was a lot more fun,” said Hughes. “There was a lot more to it, dealing with stamina than anything. With football, I didn’t even get tired, so I didn’t care much for it.”
In his junior year, he started researching wrestling and it’s origins, he said. He found out that wrestling is generally considered the oldest sport, and he liked the idea of being part of that history and participating in a sport with deep roots, he said.
It was his experience on the wrestling mat that brought Hughes to the world of martial arts.
“One of my friends was the nephew of a Judo Sensei,” said Hughes. “He told me Judo would help me out with wrestling. I asked him if he could hook me up with some classes.”
The fundamental principle of Judo focuses on disrupting an opponent’s balance by using throws and takedown techniques. Grappling maneuvers and chokeholds are then used to immobilize or subdue the opponent.
He would later realize the importance of balance through his surfing hobby.
His first Judo experience tested his stamina and brought him to his physical limit, he said. He was used to grappling on the ground, but introducing a combative stance to it, and being thrown down to the ground over and over was a new experience for him.
“I liked it because it was competitive, but what I liked more, was when I walked into the environment,” he said.
“The name Judo actually means ‘the gentle way’ in Japanese,” he explained.
Even after the beating his body endured in his first Judo class, he was ready to learn more. For him, it was a whole new competitive experience, and he learned a different way of perceiving his opponent.
Hughes began to research the history of Judo to learn more about its origins, but also increased his interest in the culture behind the art.
Judo was just the beginning and opened the door to the world of martial arts for him. His desire to branch out led him to study other styles, including Muay Thai, Ju-Jitsu and Aikido.
His martial art practices have earned Hughes a brown belt in both Judo and Muay Thai, as well as a blue belt in Ju-Jitsu. Studying different styles of martial arts broadens your understanding of the arts and sharpens your techniques, he said.
For Hughes, taking the time to research the physical and cultural aspects of the fighting styles he practices is essential to create a complete picture.
If you understand its origins, and you understand the purpose of it from its history, you will excel in it, he explains. This understanding will help you out in the long run, he said.
During his deployment to Iraq, temporarily replacing ocean waves with desert sands, Hughes is able to stay active with one of his passions, through the Modern Army Combatives Program, an Army program with martial arts origins.
He participated in a MACP tournament, held at COB Adder. At 5 feet 6 inches, and weighing in at 155 pounds, Hughes was able to compete in the welterweight class.
After practicing moves with his fellow soldiers, Hughes entered the ring with determination. He cautiously moved with speed and agility; postured as a worthy opponent.
The match concluded with his opponent making the final conquering move, forcing Hughes off balance and finishing the match. But Hughes walked away with a smile on his face and his head held high.
He quickly analyzed his bout: “He got me with an Uchi Mata slam,” he explained, referring to one of the original Judo throws; a move known for it’s difficulty to defend against. “I was too focused on one choke, and that’s what got me.”
His unwaveringly positive attitude about the outcome of the match comes from his understanding of competition on a basic level.
“It doesn’t matter how good you are, and it doesn’t matter how long you’ve done it,” he said. “You will always lose at least once to somebody. That’s part of the process, and it only helps you improve your technique. You learn from your mistakes and from your losses.”
His outlook with his martial arts parallels that of his surfing experiences. When a wave throws him off his board, he gets right back on the board ready to conquer the next wave.
“It doesn’t come down to who wins and who loses,” said Hughes. “It’s what you learn from it. That’s what my Sensei always taught me. He said, ‘never be upset at the end of a match. Unless you broke your arm, you can get right back in there, and you can win. Learn from it.’”
“Every time I would lose, I would go off to the side with the person that beat me and have him teach me how to counter what happened,” he said. “I would do the same with whoever I beat.”
Hughes may endure Uchi Mata takedowns in the ring and the unforgiving waves of the ocean surf throwing him from his board, but one thing never changes: He always gets back up; smarter and stronger.
His durability and resiliency mixed with his humble, optimistic attitude keeps Hughes in the fight, making him a worthy opponent and a well-rounded soldier.
| Date Taken: | 10.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.05.2011 09:35 |
| Story ID: | 78045 |
| Location: | TALLIL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 427 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Judo-surfing soldier signals for waves in Iraq, by SPC Anthony Zane, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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