Giving you something to ‘grapple’ with

Military members battle for position during a two-day Grappling Camp at the Naden Athletic Centre on March 23. Credit: Peter Mallett/Lookout

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Any casual observer who happened to stop by the upper gymnasium of the Naden Athletic Centre (NAC) on March 23-24 might have thought a Greco-Roman wrestling competition was underway.

With accelerated heart rates and sweat dripping from every pore, 30 athletes from Esquimalt put their bodies to the ultimate test during a two-day Grappling Development Camp at the NAC.

As music blasts from a giant tower speaker, 15 pairs of combatants sparred during an afternoon session. Their endurance, mental strength and every muscle were pushed to the limit as each tried to get the upper hand on their opponent while practicing their best head and arm locks, holds, submissions and takedowns.

“It’s all about giving each competitor a full-body workout, letting them battle it out and applying their knowledge of what they have learned,” explains Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Lee Thibault, organizer.

Military members battle for position during a two-day Grappling Camp at the Naden Athletic Centre on March 23. Credit: Peter Mallett/Lookout

The athletes were preparing for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)-sanctioned competition titled Military Combatives, where grapplers across the CAF compete in regional and national competitions for the first time. PO2 Thibault, a Small Arms Instructor at Naval Fleet School Pacific and a five-time CAF Combatives champion, has been a tireless promoter of the sport for several years.

Grappling is a form of submission wrestling and involves holds and takedowns without striking or punches. Every takedown is achieved by controlling the opponent into submission to score points. The equipment needed to participate is only gym shorts and a t-shirt.

PO2 Thibault helped form the Esquimalt Tritons Grappling team in 2019 after Military Combatives was officially sanctioned as a sport by Personnel Support Programs (PSP). Slowly but surely, he says, the sport he loves is gaining in popularity locally and at other bases across the country. Grappling teams have also been formed at CFB Edmonton, Gagetown, 12 Wing Shearwater and other locations.

member of the Tritons Grappling team looks on during a two-day Grappling Camp at the Naden Athletic Centre on March 23. Credit: Peter Mallett/Lookout

Sailor Third Class (S3) Jared Hamilton, a 21-year-old Maritime Technician with HMCS Calgary, is convinced grappling is the sport for him.

“I like to think of grappling as an aggressive form of chess,” S3 Hamilton said. “You don’t need to be the biggest or strongest fighter in the gym to win.” 

S3 Hamilton competed as a high school wrestler in his hometown of Uxbridge, Ont., and has gravitated towards the newest Tritons team since joining the Royal Canadian Navy over two years ago.

Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Shawn Mann, Damage Control Petty Officer of HMCS Ottawa, says grappling is excellent for improving conditioning and mental health and ideal for small spaces on board a warship. He believes grappling skills can enhance the readiness of his ship’s company and its Boarding Party.

“It gives you something more to learn than just having a weapon in your hand and prepares a sailor for what to do in a dangerous dispute,” he said. “You try to overpower them using some of the skills that we are learning here at this camp.”

The camp participants spent the morning learning grappling mechanics, techniques and form and spar in the afternoon.

Military members battle for position during a two-day Grappling Camp at the Naden Athletic Centre on March 23. Credit: Peter Mallett/Lookout

As PO2 Thibault looked across the gymnasium, he was brimming with pride about growing and developing the Tritons grappling team.

“We had new personnel learn a lot and they definitely want to come back,” he said. “I want to show them we are not just a club but a competitive sports team; hopefully, this will attract new members with diverse skill sets.”

The Grappling Camp was possible with the logistical and technical support of Crusher Combat Sports, a Langford-based martial arts and fitness centre.

The centre supplied a giant mat that covered almost the entirety of the gym’s basketball court and provided equipment during last year’s successful Military Combatives Tournament at the NAC, which saw 25 grapplers from Esquimalt and CFB Edmonton compete for medals.

Mike Jorgenson of Crusher Combat, a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and an MMA Fighter who fought and won via Knockout, provided instruction for that tournament, bringing a wealth of knowledge in the technical aspect of grappling.

PO2 Thibault encourages would-be competitors of all ages, genders and experience levels to contact him and get involved as the Tritons grow their talent pool.