Arnold's Sgt. Jeremy Koerper in Missouri National Guard Combatives Tournament

More than 60 soldiers and airmen took to the mats during the 2012 Missouri National Guard Combatives Tournament at the St. Charles Family Arena on Saturday.

Combatives is a form of hand to hand self defense that all Army Soldiers are schooled in during basic training, reported a Missouri National Guard news release.

“The combatives program has been around since the early 1990s,” said Master Sgt. Richard J. Burns, of Nixa, a tournament organizer and first sergeant of the 1438th Engineer Company in Macon. “It was started by the Army Rangers and is now a requirement for all soldiers as a part of basic training. Under the standard rules there is no striking; it’s more grappling on the mat.”

Winners at each state tournament can compete in the All Guard Combatives Tournament at Fort Benning, GA. March 16-19. The competition is open to men and women in eight weight classes.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Massey, of the 3rd Chemical Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, served as the top tournament official at Saturday’s event. 

“Points are awarded to the competitor who exhibits dominance during the match,” Massey explained. “It’s based on techniques. So the officials are looking for specific moves such as taking a person down.”

Each match lasts six minutes unless one of the competitors submits before the time has expired. And to some competitors, six minutes can seem like forever.

“I didn’t do as well as I thought I would,” said an exhausted Staff Sgt. Matthew W. Renfro, of south St. Louis County, who competed in the heavy-weight class. Renfro is a medical readiness sergeant for the 70th Troop Command at Jefferson Barracks. “It takes a lot of endurance and strength to keep up in combatives,” he said, “but this is one of the best things that I’ve ever been involved in while in the National Guard.”

Equally enthusiastic was Sgt. 1st Class Evenson Turner, of Florissant, a Troop Command training sergeant.

“The way you train for combatives makes you a better soldier both physically and mentally,” Turner said. “It also builds confidence, especially if you’re new to the program. Once you have that first match under your belt the jitters are gone.”

No argument there from Spc. Miles McDonald, of Ozark, who serves with D Company of the 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment. At 120 pounds, McDonald took first place in the Flyweight Division at last year’s state tournament, while placing third at the national level.

“You have to be motivated to win here,” said McDonald. “You have to keep the warrior ethos in mind. Every time I compete my mentality is that this is war and only one person is coming out alive and that person is going to be me.”

One of McDonald’s opponents, Spc. Steven Atkins, of Higginsville, displayed no hard feelings after being defeated. Atkins also serves with the 138th Infantry.

“Even if you lose, you are losing to someone who has the same basic skills as you do and it’s all about competing,” Atkins said. “So even thought I just lost my last bout, my confidence is still way up there. This is my second tournament and I have no regrets whatsoever.”

Taking it all in was Command Sgt. Major James Schulte, of Jefferson City, the Missouri National Guard’s top noncommissioned officer.

“The participation and level of enthusiasm here is great,” Schulte said. “Combatives helps make for a well-rounded Soldier, both physically and mentally; you’re more alert and more confident. If I was 20 years younger I’d be in there myself.”

Awards were presented to the tournament winners on Sunday. 

The free event was open to the public.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, visit www.moguard.com; www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard;  www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; and www.pinterest.com/monationalguard/