Combatives Competition in Kuwait
Story by Capt. Jerry Duong 184th Sustainment Command Sgt. Ryan Gossilen and Spc. Austin Bradford of the 300th Sustainment Brigade were selected to compete in a combatives tournament between the United States Army and the Kuwaiti Army at the Kuwait Interior Ministry of Interior on January 22, 2019. “What went on that day was the Kuwaitis hosted a duel against the U.S. forces from Camp Arifjan,” said Gossilen. “We had five weight classes and five competitors at each weight class.” Combatives is the U.S. Army’s version of jujitsu or Brazilian jujitsu, which is a martial art and combat sport system that focuses on grappling with particular emphasis on ground fighting. “I was very excited for the event, it took me back to when I wrestled in high school and gave me those pre-match jitters I missed,” said Bradford, who has been wrestling since he was 12 or 13 years old, as well as practicing jiujitsu until he turned 18 and joined the U.S. Army. “I wrestled for about nine years i...