HOHENFELS, Germany -- Soldiers from across Bavaria gathered at Hohenfels Sports and Fitness Center to test and display their combative skills in the 2011 Bavarian Open Combatives competition, June 25.
“Every Soldier regardless of MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) or duty position is required to be proficient in basic combative status,” said event coordinator, Sgt. First Class James Boston. “Events such as today’s are designed to test that proficiency and help soldiers build confidence in their abilities.”
Preliminary bouts were fought with competitors using take-downs and grappling to try and force their opponent to submit. During the finals, fighters could use limited strikes such as kicks, blows to the body, or open-handed strikes to the face.
“As General MacArthur once said, ‘On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and other fields will bear the fruits of victory,’” said Lt. Col. Rafael A. Paredes, 1rst Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment commander. “The worst that can happen here today is a bloody nose, a black eye, or a bruised ego."
Staff Sgt. Judith Oman, U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr Religious Support Office, who recently placed 2nd at the IMCOM-E Best Warrior NCO of the Year Competition, said her NCO suggested they compete not only to hone their skills but as part of a team building exercise, as well.
As the only woman in the competition, Oman said, “I was a little intimidated at first, but once I saw everybody else start to wrestle and started doing it myself, I started to feel more comfortable.”
“I had a good time, and I learned some stuff,” she added.
Despite some fierce fights and close competition, camaraderie reigned. Contestants cheered each other on from the sidelines, shouting encouragement and advice.
“This the first tourney I’ve done like this,” said first place winner in the light-heavy division, Pfc. Kevin Repass, 1st Inland Cargo Transportation Co.,Grafenwoehr. Though he’d done combatives before on his way to the title of the 16th Sustainment Brigade’s Warrior of the Year, Repass said that that tournament had not allowed strikes.
“This was fun, but I’m glad it’s over,” Repass laughed.
Many competitors had prior training in various martial arts. Second place winner in the light-heavy division, Spc. Jeremy Koehn, 12th Chemical Co., said he wrestled free-style for nine years and studied Roman-Greco wrestling for three.
Welterweight winner Sgt. Omar Ramirez, 16th Sustainment Brigade, Bamberg, has been studying judo for years. Ramirez, who at 140 pounds should have been in the lightweight division, fought as a welterweight as there were no other competitors in his weight class.
“I had to give my opponent 15 pounds,” said Ramirez. “It proves that everything is technique, not strength.”
Ramirez is hoping to drum up support to send a team from USAREUR to the All-Army Combatives Tournament in America.
“I’m trying to show my leaders that we’ve got the people, we can go over there and represent USAREUR,” he said.
Spc. Aiden Zohrabi, B-Meddac, Rose Barracks, took third place in the middleweight division after four grueling fights. He was also chosen as victor of the “fight of the night”, a fierce 10-minute bout against Sgt. Roderick Sellers of Schweinfurt’s 173rd Airborne Brigade.
“I’ve done Brazilian Jiu-jitsu as a civilian, which is what combatives are bases off of, and I just really like to do it,” Zohrabi said.
His wife, Jessica, really enjoyed it as well, filming and laughing throughout his combats.
“I never get to see him fight,” she said. “I’m really enjoying this.”
The tournament allowed soldiers to meet others interested in strengthening their skills through additional training. Zohrabi and Repass have already decided to begin sparring together.
“We do things like this because it promotes and develops the warrior spirit,” said Paredes. “Just getting out here…looking at the other soldier who wants to kick your butt…whether you won or lost, you have proven what it takes to be a real warrior.”
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