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Marines

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NEW ORLEANS – Marine Forces Reserve Legion, a mixed martial arts team comprised of Marines from Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, participated in the Battle of the Big Easy American Grappling Federation tournament at the Alario Center in New Orleans, Aug. 6, 2016. Marines of all experience levels competed in multiple fights throughout the day that resulted in MFR Legion winning a team total of 22 medals with 10 gold, nine silver and three bronze. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dallas Johnson)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Dallas Johnson

New Orleans Marines Take on the Battle of the Big Easy

11 Aug 2016 | Lance Cpl. Dallas Johnson U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve

Marine Forces Reserve Legion, the new martial arts team at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, competed in the Battle of the Big Easy American Grappling Federation tournament at the Alario Center in Westwego, La., Aug. 6, 2016.

Marines of all experience levels competed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in front of a crowd of more than 600 spectators to show off the dedication and hard work the Marines have invested for over two months. With a training schedule that spans every day for almost two hours, MFR Legion demonstrated mastery of the fundamentals of grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program is designed to give warriors a good, quick confident understanding of martial arts and prepare them for combat,” said Gunnery Sgt. Justino Vasquez, operations chief of G-3/5, Marine Forces Reserve. “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a way of life, it gives you a way to challenge yourself and it takes something to get on the mat, give 100 percent and put it all out there and then tap out. It’s very humbling.”
On multiple occasions throughout the tournament, MFR Legion competed against their teammates, both eliminating each other from the competition and establishing the final podium hierarchy.

In almost every weight and rank division, MFR Legion took down their opponents with a team total of 22 medals with 10 gold, nine silver and three bronze and an overall team finish of third place. With continued training, MFR Legion plans to compete in multiple competitions beginning early October.


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