DVIDS – News – Pacific Army Reserve Soldier Discusses Martial Arts Philosophy

311th Signal Command (Theatre) Honolulu –

They say “practice makes perfect,” and true confidence comes from thousands of hours of repetition, and the same is true for martial artists. A multi-discipline black belt and lifelong martial artist, Lt. Col. Matt Tyra, HHD, 311th Signal Command Theater logistics officer, embodies this quiet, disciplined confidence.

“The main reason I started martial arts was because I wanted to protect myself.Growing up in Hawaii, it was important for me to know how to protect myself because fighting is part of the culture. Because of that,” Taira said. “I practiced martial arts most of my life, trained in karate from age 6 to 14, then started boxing, wrestling and judo.”

The day martial arts changed forever was on November 11, 1993, when the first-ever Ultimate Fighting Championship event was held in Denver, Colorado. This was the first demonstration of the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and how smaller fighters can defeat larger fighters. Defeat your enemies with your techniques and skills.

“Around that time, the UFC came along and I learned about the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and wanted to give it a try. For the first time, smaller opponents were competing against numerous stronger opponents from different martial arts disciplines one after the other. We achieved victory,” Taira said. “I finally found a place where I could practice BJJ and that was Relson Gracie's school in Honolulu. Once I started training BJJ, I never stopped, no matter where I lived or where I traveled. After joining the Army, Taira demonstrated his martial arts skills in a variety of disciplines and was active on the regional mixed martial arts and kickboxing circuits.

“I have competed in small professional mixed martial arts circuits such as Total Combat and Desert Rage, competed in numerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo tournaments, and competed in numerous amateur boxing and kickboxing events.” said Taira. “At one point, I was ranked in the top five in amateur kickboxing. But when my career as a law enforcement officer began, I stopped fighting in MMA and kickboxing. It took a lot of time to compete in this event.”

One of the biggest benefits of being a martial arts practitioner is not only the physical exercise, but also the mental health benefits. Being a martial artist requires a huge amount of focus and discipline, which also affects other aspects of life.

“Martial arts has helped me maintain a healthy lifestyle and has improved my life. When you do a physical activity like martial arts, you quickly realize the importance of a proper diet and a solid strength and conditioning program. '' said Taira. “Martial arts is a way to clear your mind before the day starts, during your lunch break, or at the end of the day so that you can be a better person when you go home and return to your family, and always It gives you the strength to move on to your next goal.'' Because you're always looking to improve. ”

Martial arts training may seem scary and daunting, but it's a powerful way to join a community that strives for the goal of continuous improvement and progress. Martial arts training is said to be life-changing with its combination of stress relief and an enlightening social circle.

“If you're interested in martial arts, I recommend finding a gym you trust and going to,” Taira says. “A gym that fits your schedule, and a gym that fits your social skills. I train with fighters, cops, mechanics, lawyers, bartenders, Marines, doctors, and more, and we all work as a team. Find a gym that does the same thing.

Every martial artist, whether a beginner or a veteran fighting professionally, is the product of a coach and a close-knit community of training partners who have dedicated many hours of their lives to honing their martial arts skills. The bonds developed as martial artists share blood, sweat, and tears with their coaches and teammates can be valuable and last a lifetime.

“I think the main benefit of training in martial arts is that you make lifelong friends through your martial arts journey,” Taira said. “I've trained in different places around the world and met a lot of great people.”

As a soldier, it is essential to constantly develop and sharpen your warrior skills, and participating in some form of martial arts is the perfect platform to display your warrior skills. It not only improves the physical ability of soldiers, but also strengthens the spirituality of warriors.

“It builds the warrior mindset necessary to survive as a soldier,” Taira said. “Learning how to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations will make you more resilient to tough situations you may encounter in the future.