FORT SILL, Okla. -- 214th Fires Brigade Soldiers assembled Sept. 7 in Artillery Bowl by battalions as the brigade conducted its inaugural pugil stick tournament.
The tournament was divided into three categories: 180 pounds and above, 180 pounds and below and a female category. The competitors scored one point for a legal strike and two points for a knockdown.
Before the tournament began Staff Sgt. Jason McClain, C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, provided the rules to those competing.
"No hits to the back of the head, no hits to the groin, do not strike your competitor when they are down, and most importantly -- no mouth guard no fight," he said.
The tournament was also an opportunity for the battalion family readiness groups to raise money selling water, sports drinks and snacks between rounds to the crowd. FRG volunteers walked around their respective battalion sections yelling to the crowd and delivering drinks and snacks to the Soldiers as they sat in the stands.
The crowd cheered for their battalion competitor and rose to their feet when their battalion competitor was the victor for a bout.
The competitors fought three, 60-second rounds, in boots, ACU pants, unit T-shirt, pugil stick pads and mouth guards.
As the competitors sat under the brigade tent waiting for their time on the mat, some discussed their strategy with their fellow Soldiers coaching them on good techniques.
For most of the competitors this was their first pugil stick tournament, although most had competed in combatives.
"In the beginning my strategy is to go out there and attack. I want to keep my opponent on his heels," said Spc. Michael Jones, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2-5th FA, 180 pounds and above category. "I will stay aggressive so that my opponent can't get underneath me."
After Spc. Jonathan Green won his first pugil stick fight he went on to the semi-finals.
"I want to get my opponents to a position where they cannot react; I want to keep them on the defense," he said.
The tournament concluded with trophies awarded in the 180 pounds and above to Pfc. Edward Cowell, B Battery, 1-14th FA; 180 and below to Green, C Battery 2-5th FA; and the female category to Pfc. Robbyn Atkins, HHB, 1-14th FA.
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