thedrifter
12-12-03, 06:25 AM
6th Comm Marines pursue next level in martial arts training
Submitted by: New York Public Affairs
Story Identification Number: 2003121114371
Story by Cpl. Beth Zimmerman
NEW YORK(December 11, 2003) -- "Swoosh!" An intense burst of air escapes Sgt. Rebecca Serrano's lips as Gunnery Sgt. Edna Nunez punches her in the stomach. On the opposite side of the room, Cpl. William Bye takes a quick jab at 1st Sgt. Rudy Resto. On the third straight day of martial arts training, the Marines in the class exude enough intensity to convince anyone it's their first day.
At 6th Communication Battalion in Brooklyn, N.Y., Reserve and active duty Marines are spending the entire week preparing for their next belt in the Marine Corp Martial Arts Program.
The Marines in this week's martial arts class at 6th Comm have already received their tan belts, which is the first belt Marines qualify for in MCMAP. According to the program's mission, tan belt training teaches Marines the fundamentals of the mental, physical and character disciplines that make up the program. The gray belt is the next level in the belt system; it introduces them to intermediate fundamentals of each discipline.
Martial Arts Instructors at 6 Comm are squeezing gray belt test preparation into one tough week of training, according to the class's instructor, Sgt. David Dixon. "At the end of the week, we will have covered forty hours of gray belt training, and then some," he said. After that, the class members will test to qualify for the belt.
Staff Sgt. Pahlo Correa is the primary Martial Arts Instructor for this week's class. He said they've packaged the gray belt training like this because reservists already have such a hectic training schedule. "It's better to run them through one initial course," he said." "Then we can continue with sustainment training on drill weekends, and they won't miss the initial block of training," said Correa.
The class members agree with Correa. "It stays fresh in your mind this way," said Cpl. William Youssef, who is an activated reservist with 6th Comm. The Flushing, N.Y. native would rather not waste time rehashing previously taught techniques. "Plus, stuff like body hardening loses its effect if you don't keep doing it," he said.
Marines practice body hardening in all levels of MCMAP; it helps them sustain more pain in hand-to-hand combat.
Gunnery Sgt. Edna Nunez is glad the entire week is dedicated to martial arts training. "There's always so much else going on at work," said Nunez. "This way you can focus on one thing."
"I'm sure at the end of the week we'll be really worn out," said Youssef. "But it's worth it."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031211144018/$file/resto-kick_low.jpg
1st Sgt. Rudy Resto, 6th Communication Battalion, Brooklyn, N.Y., executes a round kick towards Martial Arts Instructor Sgt. David Dixon during a body hardening exercise. The purpose of the kick is to hit the peroneal nerve on the partner's leg. Body hardening makes the Marines less susceptible to pain when certain areas of the body are hit, and it's used in all levels of Marine Corps Martial Arts. Photo by: Cpl. Beth Zimmerman
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/DF17FD6CEF3ED29D85256DF9006BC2B6?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Submitted by: New York Public Affairs
Story Identification Number: 2003121114371
Story by Cpl. Beth Zimmerman
NEW YORK(December 11, 2003) -- "Swoosh!" An intense burst of air escapes Sgt. Rebecca Serrano's lips as Gunnery Sgt. Edna Nunez punches her in the stomach. On the opposite side of the room, Cpl. William Bye takes a quick jab at 1st Sgt. Rudy Resto. On the third straight day of martial arts training, the Marines in the class exude enough intensity to convince anyone it's their first day.
At 6th Communication Battalion in Brooklyn, N.Y., Reserve and active duty Marines are spending the entire week preparing for their next belt in the Marine Corp Martial Arts Program.
The Marines in this week's martial arts class at 6th Comm have already received their tan belts, which is the first belt Marines qualify for in MCMAP. According to the program's mission, tan belt training teaches Marines the fundamentals of the mental, physical and character disciplines that make up the program. The gray belt is the next level in the belt system; it introduces them to intermediate fundamentals of each discipline.
Martial Arts Instructors at 6 Comm are squeezing gray belt test preparation into one tough week of training, according to the class's instructor, Sgt. David Dixon. "At the end of the week, we will have covered forty hours of gray belt training, and then some," he said. After that, the class members will test to qualify for the belt.
Staff Sgt. Pahlo Correa is the primary Martial Arts Instructor for this week's class. He said they've packaged the gray belt training like this because reservists already have such a hectic training schedule. "It's better to run them through one initial course," he said." "Then we can continue with sustainment training on drill weekends, and they won't miss the initial block of training," said Correa.
The class members agree with Correa. "It stays fresh in your mind this way," said Cpl. William Youssef, who is an activated reservist with 6th Comm. The Flushing, N.Y. native would rather not waste time rehashing previously taught techniques. "Plus, stuff like body hardening loses its effect if you don't keep doing it," he said.
Marines practice body hardening in all levels of MCMAP; it helps them sustain more pain in hand-to-hand combat.
Gunnery Sgt. Edna Nunez is glad the entire week is dedicated to martial arts training. "There's always so much else going on at work," said Nunez. "This way you can focus on one thing."
"I'm sure at the end of the week we'll be really worn out," said Youssef. "But it's worth it."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031211144018/$file/resto-kick_low.jpg
1st Sgt. Rudy Resto, 6th Communication Battalion, Brooklyn, N.Y., executes a round kick towards Martial Arts Instructor Sgt. David Dixon during a body hardening exercise. The purpose of the kick is to hit the peroneal nerve on the partner's leg. Body hardening makes the Marines less susceptible to pain when certain areas of the body are hit, and it's used in all levels of Marine Corps Martial Arts. Photo by: Cpl. Beth Zimmerman
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/DF17FD6CEF3ED29D85256DF9006BC2B6?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: