Test your Warrior Ethos: Fort Leonard Wood combatives tournament set for September

By Mr. Mike Bowers (Leonard Wood)July 30, 2015

Test your Warrior Ethos: Fort Leonard Wood combatives tournament set for September
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

There is one Soldier who doesn't need to showcase his hand-to-hand combat skills at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Post-Level Combatives Tournament, scheduled Sept. 9 to 11 at Davidson Fitness Center.

Sgt. Brandon Bunner, 5th Engineer Battalion Combatives Training Facility noncommissioned officer in charge, is the combatives alpha male, mentor and coach of the Fort Leonard Wood Combatives School.

As a U.S. Army Level-IV Army Tactical Combatives instructor, he is the organizer of the tournament that is open to all service members, including Reservists stationed on post. There will be nine male and female categories, including a new weight class.

"Previously, anyone more than 205 pounds was put into a catch-all heavyweight category," Bunner said. "We've now added a 225-pound and below category to help even out the possible weight difference."

Weigh-ins take place at 6 a.m. Sept. 9. The tournament is progressive style -- initial bouts are fought using standard rules, those winners will advance to intermediate rules, with advanced rules for final bouts.

According to Bunner, Soldiers and other service members should get as much training, or mat time, in as possible before the tournament.

To allow participants training time, the training facility, 1701A Cooley Ave., will host open mat from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. There is also open mat beginning at 2 p.m., Sundays for those who have issues making it during the week or just want additional mat time, according to Bunner.

There is an added incentive for placing in this year's tournament. "We are planning on taking the first- and second-place winners in each weight category to represent Fort Leonard Wood at the Fort Bragg (North Carolina) invitational scheduled in October," Bunner added.

There is more at stake in combatives than garnering awards, according to Bunner. He noted, combatives allow Soldiers to display courage, discipline, sportsmanship and esprit de corps through fair competition directly related to the mastery of the warrior tasks.

"In combat, you might not be able to employ a weapon to engage your enemy," he explained. "Combatives tournaments give Soldiers the opportunity to test their skills in a controlled tactical enclosure, which would be similar to room-clearing procedures.

"Soldiers must have the personal courage and the willingness to close the distance on the enemy and finish the fight," Bunner said.

Bunner learned his trade at the U.S. Army Combatives School, Fort Benning, Georgia. Since arriving at Fort Leonard Wood in December 2012, he coached the since-deactivated 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade to three of their four-consecutive 1st Infantry Division championships and led a Fort Leonard Wood team to second place at last year's Fort Bragg invitational.

"I take no credit for any of those victories," said the humble warrior who hails from Newburgh, Indiana. "I simply provide the training and opportunities, and the team puts it to work."

Bunner has advice for those considering entering the tournament. "Iron sharpens iron," he said. "Everyone adds value -- from the new private straight out of AIT (Advanced Individual Training) to the seasoned war vet who's been training for years. Come let us train you. You may or may not have the skills to take first place right now, but if you have the personal courage to step forward, you might down the road."

Participants will not have to worry they might face Bunner on the mat. "As the tournament director, I will not be competing. My job will be running a professional and safe tournament," he said.

Basic combatives is one of the 40 Warrior Core Tasks of the Warrior Ethos initiative and is incorporated into the new training directives. The 2nd Ranger Battalion started what is now the Modern Army Combatives Program in 1995.

To sign up for the event, contact Bunner by email at brandon.d.bunner.mil@mail.mil or stop by the combatives training facility.

Related Links:

https://twitter.com/fortleonardwood

Fort Leonard Wood on Flickr

Fort Leonard Wood Guidon Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonad Wood