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BJJ, our U.S. Troops and Iraq
#9 - 1--jasculs--BJJ, our U.S. Troops and Iraq--2005-04-23 22:41:24
#Recently, Kyle Spendiff told me about his brother Garth (a lot of you know him, a Brown Belt in BJJ under Relson Gracie) is instructing troops deploying to Iraq.
I told Kyle my brother-in-law, Col. Charles Mitchell, is in the Army and currently serving in Iraq, and that I had sent him some of our BJJ stickers, which he proceeded to put on all the humvees and then sent me pictures to show he is promoting our team everywhere he goes.
Kyle had gone to Georgia to visit his brother in March. Garth has a contract with the Fort Stewart Army Base to teach the new hand-to-hand combat techniques adopted by the US Army. These techniques are based on the principles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Western Boxing. Kyle had the chance to assist Garth instructing the units from the 48th Support Battalion while he was there. The troops in this division are reservists who provide logistic support to the 3rd Infantry Division (3rdID).
Kyle found this to be a very moving experience, knowing the people he was helping to train were putting their lives on the line and leaving their homes and families to help the Iraqis and the USA. Many of the soldiers were older (40-50) and have careers and families that would be put on “hold” until they came safely back home. It’s quite different to read in the paper or hear on the news about troops being sent to Iraq, it’s another to talk with them and know that the techniques you are teaching them may actually save their life, or that of a fellow soldier.
Garth is all business training the troops, and has instructed over 4,000 soldiers to date, which is no easy task. Garth introduced Kyle to the troops and explained that he trained under Sensei Edson Carvalho, “a world class judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner.” Garth’s respect for Sensei is shown when he wears the Team Edson Carvalho hat that Kyle gave him for Christmas. It’s cold in the morning and evening there, and Garth wears his TEC hat with pride.
Thank you Garth, for helping our troops to be a little more prepared for the unknown, and we hope they all make it safely home. You can check out Garth’s website at www.coastalcombatives.com.
Speaking of the difference between reading or hearing about someone being sent to Iraq and having a family member or close friend actually sent there is something I have experience with, first hand. My brother-in-law, was in Baghdad, where he was serving as an Inspector General. Part of his job there was to go and inspect prisons and living conditions of troops, including the now infamous Abu Grav prison as well as one prison that had one solitary confinement prisoner – Saddam Hussein.
When the elections were being held, there was a full lock down of his base and soldiers were required to wear full battle-rattle, tensions running very high. We did not hear from him for a few days during this, and it’s very nerve racking.
His stories of the suicide bombers and the missile that hit the trailer 2 slots down from the one he was in are enough to give anyone nightmares. But I did like the story of the one suspicious car they stopped, a noise coming from the trunk—3 goats were stuffed in the trunk, food and milk to go, I guess!
Chuck tells us there are only 2 kinds of time there, scary time and boring time. To help with the boring time, we sent DVD movies, books on tape, magazines, cookies, etc. I was also sending him the UFC, Pride, and other fights, as well as news of Team Edson Carvalho and some of our bumper stickers and team shirts. Chuck is doing his best to promote our team, he put the stickers on humvees and sent me pictures as proof. When other soldiers found out he knew someone training BJJ, the things I sent got passed around. They were very appreciative of having the chance to watch fights, something most of them did when they were home.
Team Edson Carvalho is everywhere! Chuck has just been transferred to the “Green Zone” and I am sending him some more stickers for the vehicles there.
So that is BJJ and Team Edson Carvalho with our Troops here and in Iraq and we wish a fast and safe homecoming for all our troops.
Train Hard, Train Like Your Life Depends On It, Support Our Troops
By Kathleen Mitchell - --comments-->2--1078--2
