thedrifter
08-16-07, 11:16 AM
Best of the Best: Two Willcox natives reach top level of military martial arts
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
Gunnery Sgt. Manuel Gonzales and Sgt. Anthony Williams, both U.S. Marine Corps Black Belt instructors, graduated July 27 from the highest-level course available for military martial arts..
Gonzales, 34, and Williams, 22, both from Willcox, are two of only 25 graduates of the Martial Arts Center of Excellence 1st Degree Black Belt Instructor Trainer Course.
The seven-week course at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., is for the select few (32 started the course) who have completed the Black Belt instructor level, passed numerous prerequisites (including a score of 225 on a physical fitness test, proficiency in swimming and running the obstacle course in full military gear three times in 15 minutes), as well as having a recommendation from one's commanding officer.
"That's just to be there," Gonzales said. "To graduate, you have to run the O (obstacle) course five times in full gear in 30 minutes. That's not to mention any of the things we had to do that we can't talk about. They pushed us beyond to a level I've never known."
"I've been to Iraq and several other (military training) schools, and this is beyond all that. You can push yourself beyond what you think you can do - so never stop (pushing yourself)," he said.
Another graduation requirement was being sprayed with oleoresin capsicum (or OC, similar to pepper spray), and then being required to do drills including threat assessment, subject control and compliance, elbow, knee and baton strikes and more.
Gonzales said his and Williams' job is now to train instructors in the Marine Corps. They will be required to take additional refresher courses as well in order to stay fit.
They will teach instructors dealing with combat situations, as well as peacekeeping, evacuations and security missions.
"Out of 220,000 Marines, only 1,500 are martial arts instructor trainers," he added.
"This course was the next route to take. But this is like our right of passage ... a poster on the wall when I walked in, said, 'Our Belts are earned, not issued.' They weren't kidding," he said.
Gonzales and Williams are also Combat Conditioning Specialists, and both received a Letter of Recognition from Commanding General J.B. Laster, Training Command at Quantico.
In his letter, Gen. Laster wrote, "You are commended for a most creditable and professional performance while attending the Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor Training Course. You've just accomplished what only a handful of Marines have accomplished since the beginning of the program in 2001."
"You have earned the right to wear the black belt with the red stripe and have the honor of representing the Marine Corps as a Martial Arts Instructor Trainer," he said.
Gonzales said Williams's mother is Robin Morrow of Willcox, and he graduated from Willcox High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps from high school and is now stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on active duty.
"I saw him when I walked in the door and knew I recognized him. I didn't know he was an instructor. To be recommended and to make it in the course - I was very proud of him," he said.
Williams was in Willcox to open the Rex Allen Days Parade last year with Gonzales as part of the Color Guard.
Gonzales enlisted in the Marine Corps from high school and has spent 16 years on active duty or in the Reserves since them. He is part o the Selected Marine Corps Reserves.
A former NFL football player and a professional mixed martial arts fighter joined the Marines at the course for a week and then the two took on the Marines for an episode of "The Human Weapon," to be aired on The History Channel on Oct. 10.
"It should be interesting to see what they used for the filming," he said, noting that, yes, the Marine 1st Degree Black Belt Instructor Trainers won the bout.
Ellie
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
Gunnery Sgt. Manuel Gonzales and Sgt. Anthony Williams, both U.S. Marine Corps Black Belt instructors, graduated July 27 from the highest-level course available for military martial arts..
Gonzales, 34, and Williams, 22, both from Willcox, are two of only 25 graduates of the Martial Arts Center of Excellence 1st Degree Black Belt Instructor Trainer Course.
The seven-week course at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., is for the select few (32 started the course) who have completed the Black Belt instructor level, passed numerous prerequisites (including a score of 225 on a physical fitness test, proficiency in swimming and running the obstacle course in full military gear three times in 15 minutes), as well as having a recommendation from one's commanding officer.
"That's just to be there," Gonzales said. "To graduate, you have to run the O (obstacle) course five times in full gear in 30 minutes. That's not to mention any of the things we had to do that we can't talk about. They pushed us beyond to a level I've never known."
"I've been to Iraq and several other (military training) schools, and this is beyond all that. You can push yourself beyond what you think you can do - so never stop (pushing yourself)," he said.
Another graduation requirement was being sprayed with oleoresin capsicum (or OC, similar to pepper spray), and then being required to do drills including threat assessment, subject control and compliance, elbow, knee and baton strikes and more.
Gonzales said his and Williams' job is now to train instructors in the Marine Corps. They will be required to take additional refresher courses as well in order to stay fit.
They will teach instructors dealing with combat situations, as well as peacekeeping, evacuations and security missions.
"Out of 220,000 Marines, only 1,500 are martial arts instructor trainers," he added.
"This course was the next route to take. But this is like our right of passage ... a poster on the wall when I walked in, said, 'Our Belts are earned, not issued.' They weren't kidding," he said.
Gonzales and Williams are also Combat Conditioning Specialists, and both received a Letter of Recognition from Commanding General J.B. Laster, Training Command at Quantico.
In his letter, Gen. Laster wrote, "You are commended for a most creditable and professional performance while attending the Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor Training Course. You've just accomplished what only a handful of Marines have accomplished since the beginning of the program in 2001."
"You have earned the right to wear the black belt with the red stripe and have the honor of representing the Marine Corps as a Martial Arts Instructor Trainer," he said.
Gonzales said Williams's mother is Robin Morrow of Willcox, and he graduated from Willcox High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps from high school and is now stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on active duty.
"I saw him when I walked in the door and knew I recognized him. I didn't know he was an instructor. To be recommended and to make it in the course - I was very proud of him," he said.
Williams was in Willcox to open the Rex Allen Days Parade last year with Gonzales as part of the Color Guard.
Gonzales enlisted in the Marine Corps from high school and has spent 16 years on active duty or in the Reserves since them. He is part o the Selected Marine Corps Reserves.
A former NFL football player and a professional mixed martial arts fighter joined the Marines at the course for a week and then the two took on the Marines for an episode of "The Human Weapon," to be aired on The History Channel on Oct. 10.
"It should be interesting to see what they used for the filming," he said, noting that, yes, the Marine 1st Degree Black Belt Instructor Trainers won the bout.
Ellie