“The US Army, MMA, and the Minnesota Connection”
*The following is our recent press release submitted to MNMMA NEWS, Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Forest Lake Times, and the Forest Lake Press.
Forest Lake, MN – May 24, 2010 - The sport of mixed martial arts has been steadily rising in popularity over the past few years. The US Army has also noticed this trend and found practical use in having its soldiers train in mixed martial arts. A little known fact is the US Army’s combatives training, the Army’s version of mixed martial arts, has a strong Minnesota origin.
In 1995, General Stanley McCrystal, then Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the 2nd Ranger Batallion, ordered a revision of the US Army Combatives training . Sgt. Matt Larsen, head of the project, contacted J. Robinson in order to help develop the new manual, released in 2002. Robinson is famous for his career as the current wrestling coach at the University of Minnesota (1986 – present).
The new field manual has heavy mixed martial arts influences.
Fast-forward to the year 2010 and 10k MMA: Land of 10,000 Strikes, Minnesota’s new mixed martial arts school, has brought this tradition full circle. On Thursday, May 20, 2010, the US Army White Bear Recruiting Office and 10k MMA held their first official classes together as a supplement to the US Army’s Future Soldier Program.
10k MMA has begun training approximately twenty recruits and two recruiters as a part of their Thursday schedule.
Staff Sgt Gary Garner, a recruiter at the US Army White Bear Recruiting Office, said of the joint venture, “We hope to use this as one of our tools and selling points. We can tell the kids that once they get a little more serious we can get them involved with this. We are hoping that this will be a positive thing,”
The mixed martial arts school opened its doors on April 2nd of this year in Forest Lake to hold classes six days a week. The school began taking on scores of new students.
The school also immediately began seeking out a partnership with the military to train them through their workouts and classes.
“We couldn’t do this soon enough for the recruits. It took us a lot longer to set this up than we had planned or hoped but it is more for the recruits than it is for me.” Garner said.
Richard Leguil, an18 year old recruit and graduating senior at Forest Lake Area High School, said, “The class was pretty fun. There was a lot of information and we learned a lot of cool moves.” Leguil is planning on pursuing a career as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist in the Army.
“It is easy to understand why the Army would pick such a style for its combatives program,” Leguil said. “I’m hoping to get a little edge before basic.”
The Marines have also expressed interest to begin training with 10k MMA as well. The school is currently in negotiations with them.
Head Instructor Brandon Smith said, “We are honored to be training the US Army Recruits. We see this as our way of giving back to Minnesota and our country.”
10k MMA is open 6 days a week, Monday through Friday from 3pm – 9pm and Saturday from 10am – 12:15pm.
