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Combatives House offers physical, mental benefits

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  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Five minutes is all that is on the clock at the Combatives House. Two people rush at each other, trying every trick in the book to knock the other to the ground. One is thrown to his back, cushioned by the blue mat underneath.

The two continue to struggle for power, trying out different locks and trying to gain the upper hand, or foot, on the other. The fight is intense, but it is only practice.

Individuals from around Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., teach classes at the Combatives House including Jiu Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and U.S. Army Central combatives, which consists of Level I and II Army Combatives: hand-to-hand combat training and techniques based off of Jiu Jitsu, Sambo and Muy Thai.

All classes, including U.S. ARCENT combatives, are available to both Airmen and Soldiers.

“We’re all a force,” said Sgt. Brandon McClintick, U.S. ARCENT combatives instructor. “All of us. You have Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. We all work together. Period.”

The courses give participants the opportunity to invest in their physical and mental fitness while learning hand-to-hand combat and grappling skills.

“You’ll get a lot of strength benefits,” said retired Master Sgt. JD Olsen, Keishi Dojo owner and instructor, and Combatives House instructor. “Flexibility is increased almost ten-fold. A few of my students couldn’t touch their knees or toes, and after about a year they’re able to fold themselves into a pretzel.”

However, physical fitness is not the only type of health improvement these classes can contribute to.

“Being that you’re doing a combative sport,” said Olsen, “you get a lot of frustration out. In that realm, it kind of centers you: you’re doing a physical fitness activity, you’re getting your mind straight, and then all you’ve got to do is figure out the spiritual side.”

While physically and mentally rewarding, self-defense skills can present life-saving benefits when an individual is deployed.

“When you deploy, you don’t know what kind of situations you can come across,” said McClintick. “You want to have confidence that if you encounter any type of individual you can defend yourself until either a buddy shows up or to finish the fight and kill the enemy.”

In a matter of minutes, an individual has been caught in a choke hold. It is over. Time is up.

After the sparring match, the two shake hands and help each other to their feet. Smiling and laughing, they switch partners and wait for the clock to signify their next match.

The next Level I Combatives class is scheduled for April; for more information visit www.facebook.com/teamshawfighthouse.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4:30-7:30 p.m.; Jiu Jitsu classes are held Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8 a.m. For more information contact Tech. Sgt. Andres Santiago, at 803-895-1522.