Fit to fight, ready to fight

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chris Drzazgowski
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ., --  A combatives seminar was held here, March 30.

The intent of the seminar was to spread interest in combatives so Airmen are not only fit to fight, but accomplished enough to win the fight.

"The number one thing I wanted was to spread word of the program," said Senior Airman Garrett Clark, combatives instructor and 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron engine aircraft mechanic. "I'm sure there would be a lot more people who would be interested if they knew more about it."

Clark transferred to D-M from Korea in 2013. At that time, the combatives program was stagnant.

"While I was in Korea, I got the opportunity to go through the Level 1 and Level 2 Army combatives class and that's how I ended up getting certified. When I got here, they had a small program but no one was really doing anything with it. We started out with one mat in one small room where ten guys would be on it at a time."

The course introduces students to U.S. Army combatives to establish a solid foundation of fighting skills.

"What we do here is teach the Level 1 course because it's the most basic and fundamental," Clark said. "It's easy for the students to learn and understand the concept."

When the students have a solid comprehension of Level 1 fundamentals, they are introduced to a wider variety of fighting techniques, Level 2.

"Level 2 is where we start mixing in jiu jitsu," Clark said. "It starts getting more complicated with the addition of higher level moves."

The seminar was unique for the participants because it included instruction from special guest, Anthony Birchak, the Maximum Fighting Championship Bantamweight World Champion.

"When teaching military guys, they're always right on top of everything," Birchak said. "They take instruction very well."

When teaching mixed martial arts, Birchak aims to give students a means to the end of a technique to create a better understanding of why a move is being executed.

"The way I teach my skill and my technique is from backwards up," Birchak said. "I won't go from takedown, to the transition, to the mat, to the submission. I go from the submission backwards and why you end up at that position."

One of the ideal elements Birchak uses when teaching students is humor.

"I love bringing lighthearted humor and fun to the sport," Birchak said. "I like being able to keep everyone entertained while teaching solid fighting, wrestling and jiu jitsu technique."

Among spreading the love of MMA to a wider audience, Birchak also expressed his gratitude for being given the opportunity to work with Airmen on their fighting skills.

"This is something I love doing," Birchak said. "I just want to pass that passion on to everyone else as well. I am tremendously grateful to be able to come and do this at D-M's combatives center."

Classes for Level 1 and Level 2 are currently free. They are held on the second floor of the Airman Leadership School in the combatives room Mondays at 4 p.m.

For more information, you can visit Davis-Monthan Combatives Program on Facebook or email instructor Garrett Clark at Garrett.Clark.3@us.af.mil.