Continued from page 14 Sharratt (left), pictured with Dave Durnil in Iraq, taught a hand-to-hand curriculum for the troops that featured techniques
used in wrestling, grappling and jiu-jitsu. Sharratt traveled to Iraq in April to work with U.S. troops stationed there.
much of which was centered on some of the most basic wrestling techniques. “There was a hand-to-hand curriculum on their feet, pummeling on your feet, some ground techniques, wrestling, grap- pling and jiu-jitsu,” said Sharratt. “We’d start a class on Monday, put them through it again on Wednesday, then we’d put them through it in their battle armor; bullet-proof vests, Kevlar helmets. We put them through drills that tested their proficiency in those drills, the ‘circle of love,’ we called it.”
Some of the basic ground techniques did have to be slightly modified, as none of the troops taking the course could afford to be hurt in the process, as Sharratt explained, “Hurting someone over there directly impacted the mission.” Positively impacting the mission was
one part of the trip Sharratt found person- ally accomplishing.
“Being recognized as a person who could help our troops in theater in a small and very unique way – that was reward- ing for me,” he said. “I’ve been in the Academy system for 10 years. I’ve sent a lot of guys over there; I’ve had one guy die – Travis Manion. They’re working incredible hours during their deployments. It was a very neat look into the life of
what our guys are going on to do.” Sharratt, who spent two years on the U.S. National Team, explained how most of the techniques start off with a Greco- Roman background.
“The pummeling, the balance, the weight shift,” he said. “Just the push-pull and circling concept, people moving their feet. When you throw 85 pounds of battle armor on you, all those simple move- ments become much more difficult. Staying in a fighting position is so much more difficult with all that gear. You might be in an environment that may have a curb or concrete and going to the ground isn’t the easiest thing to do.” But while developing skills with profi- ciency in hand-to-hand combat is a great skill set to have, it’s not a skill Sharratt hopes the troops will ever have to encounter.
“From a wrestling standpoint, it’s some- thing we never knew in a training environ- ment. Here, there is no time limit,” he said. “Contrary to the UFC, you have to survive a five-minute round, then you can come back and win the fight. Time is kept. In the world (the troops) are fighting in, there is no time limit. We’re preparing them for a worst-case scenario, that if it comes down to a one-on-one situation, our troops are going to lead the way in
that fight. Always plan on having a buddy or to keep the fight going until the good guys get there to help you.” “When you’re training military person- nel in hand-to-hand techniques to 18-20- year-old kids, the first place they envision these skills being used is downtown at the pub,” said Sharratt. “You have to understand the responsible use of force and when and where to use this. These are real skills that have real damage. They need to make sure they know what you’re fighting for, someone’s honor or the Constitution. Once you engage, know what you’re committed to.” But the battle-ready troops weren’t the only ones making sure they were profi- cient in the course. “We were giving the airmen that posi- tive warrior ethos,” said Sharratt. “We did- n’t just have Special Forces in the class. We had a young lady who was a meteor- ologist; one young man was a cook. Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer wanted to inspire the troops to prepare, be confident and know they’re warriors inside, no matter what their job is.”
Said Sharratt: “It was a great opportuni- ty for me, and made me prouder of the job I have here at the Air Force Academy to help develop the leaders in our mili- tary.”
15 USA Wrestler
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