US Army Doc

[Doc]

I am currently a Medical Doctor in the US Army finishing my final year of residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Before the Army I practiced as a Chiropractor for 4 years. Then I enlisted in the Army as an E4 to see things from the "ground up." I made E5 rather quickly. I was the training and ops NCO for my unit and was able to attend the Army Master Fitness Trainer's Course. Given my background, I was then invited to "moon-light" as a part-time instructor in the MFT course given at the Sergeants Major Academy. After that I applied for training at our national medical school....Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda Maryland. I was accepted and received a direct commision from E5 to O1 literally overnight! I started residency training right when things got hot in Iraq. We were established as the amputee service early on, so I have seen lots of soldiers and marines with missing body parts come and go. I have to say that by far.....soldiers with a bad attitude are the EXCEPTION...not the rule! Most of these guys are great and wonderful to work with. The challenges that they have to face in recovering and training to use their prostheses is impressive. We refer to our patients as "tactical athletes." I would love for these guys to be able to hook up with the RMAX philosophy and training methods in some way. I hope Walter Reed is included in the recent offer announced!

In July I will be headed for my next assignment. We are hoping to go to Ft. Bliss in El Paso Texas, because this is close to home for my wife and I. It is very possible that this time next year I will be in Iraq working as a GMO (general medical officer). Anyway....I'm glad to have found this forum and am looking forward to learning and developing!

[Robert V]

Glad to here that. I spent a lot of time in Ft. Bliss.

[Doc]

Glad to here that. I spent a lot of time in Ft. Bliss.

Hi Robert!

I understand that Ft. Bliss is now, or soon will be growing by leaps and bounds. Many of the troops that are being brought out of Korea and Germany are being reassigned to Ft. Bliss. The post is scheduled to nearly double in population size over the next several years. I'm from New Mexico and graduated from NMSU, so El Paso is about as close to home as I can get. :D

[Thundercleese]

Doc,
I'm at Ft. Bliss now. It's growing by a lot. There is new development going on all over Biggs Airfield where 1st Armored Div. will relocate to. So when you move out here do you have any idea of what you're going to study MA wise?

[Doc]

Doc,
I'm at Ft. Bliss now. It's growing by a lot. There is new development going on all over Biggs Airfield where 1st Armored Div. will relocate to. So when you move out here do you have any idea of what you're going to study MA wise?

Hey David!

I have a pretty good background in stand-up empty hand and weapons and thought I would try and gather a small group that was interested in training with me. Of course, a lot of it would now be "RMAX powered". :D But I haven't done much grappling training and was thinking I would seek out some instruction. That's why I asked you about your BJJ class and RMAX group in the Welcome forum.

I lived out on Biggs Field in "Bedrock" for 2 years. It will be interesting to see what they've done to it!

[Thundercleese]

Well you're going to see a whole lot of new houses and roads on Biggs, as well as a new PX and Commisary soon. There are only a few decent schools here. The BJJ school is pretty good and really cheap to train at. There is also a shootfighting club. I train Xingyi/Bagua with a couple of guys up at NMSU on the weekends. All and all BJJ is probably the best thing out here. I look forward to meeting you this summer.

[Doc]

Well you're going to see a whole lot of new houses and roads on Biggs, as well as a new PX and Commisary soon. There are only a few decent schools here. The BJJ school is pretty good and really cheap to train at. There is also a shootfighting club. I train Xingyi/Bagua with a couple of guys up at NMSU on the weekends. All and all BJJ is probably the best thing out here. I look forward to meeting you this summer.

One of those guys wouldn't happen to be Russell Coryell would he? He and I go WAY back! :D

[Thundercleese]

Well you're going to see a whole lot of new houses and roads on Biggs, as well as a new PX and Commisary soon. There are only a few decent schools here. The BJJ school is pretty good and really cheap to train at. There is also a shootfighting club. I train Xingyi/Bagua with a couple of guys up at NMSU on the weekends. All and all BJJ is probably the best thing out here. I look forward to meeting you this summer.

One of those guys wouldn't happen to be Russell Coryell would he? He and I go WAY back! :D

That would be him. Actually come to think of it he did mention an old buddy of his who's in the army and coming back to Ft. Bliss this summer. I just didn't see the connection. So I take it you'll probably be joining us for the training?

[Doc]

That would be him.

---Cool! Tell him I said "Hi" and that he owes me an email. :D

So I take it you'll probably be joining us for the training?

---I've never studied Hsing I or Ba Gua. While Russ was doing that I was into Wing Chun. So we were natural "Gung Fu buddies" on campus. :D I've become somewhat disillusioned with the "traditional" approach to martial arts, which is why the RMAX stuff really appeals to me. I've also done a good amount of Filipino Martial Arts in the past, which seems to mesh with the RMAX approach the best. So now I am concentrating on the RMAX way of doing things with Fisticuffs, Softwork, carbine fencing, Knife-fighting etc. Haven't gotten into the grappling aspects, since I have little background there.

---Can I ask a favor? Would you snag some of those local real estate magazines you see in the grocery stores for me and send them? I'm being optimistic about going to Bliss and want to get the lay of the land, so to speak. :D Thanks!

Keith P. Myers
11220 Troy Rd
Rockville, MD 20852

[Thundercleese]

No problem. Next time I'm in the store I'll pick some up and mail them to you. I'll also tell Russ that you said hello. The training they do has changed a lot since Russ's teacher, Tim Cartmell, switched over to BJJ. We do a lot of drills and sparring now.

[Doc]

Thanks David! I appreciate it. BTW...you mentioned 2 guys at NMSU. Who is the other?

[Thundercleese]

Actually there are 2 other guys. Norwood and Sasha. They're both pretty new to CMA. In reality we don't do a whole lot of Bagua/xingyi, the forms anyways. It's mostly just drills, and we work out with some judo guys a lot. The only one real serious about kung fu is Russel. Norwood and I are more into BJJ. Kung Fu is just fun to train. I don't really feel that I'm getting anything out of it martially.

[Doc]

Actually there are 2 other guys. Norwood and Sasha. They're both pretty new to CMA. In reality we don't do a whole lot of Bagua/xingyi, the forms anyways. It's mostly just drills, and we work out with some judo guys a lot. The only one real serious about kung fu is Russel. Norwood and I are more into BJJ. Kung Fu is just fun to train. I don't really feel that I'm getting anything out of it martially.

Well, if I get to El Paso in July, I think I can hook you guys up. :D I can share the stand-up with you guys and you can share the grappling with me. What I'm working on is essentially a western boxing/filipino panantukan approach with a heavy emphasis on incorporating the RMAX methods like shock absorption, casting blows, flowing movement, etc. You might find it a bit more to your liking. 8)

[Thundercleese]

Well, if I get to El Paso in July, I think I can hook you guys up. :D I can share the stand-up with you guys and you can share the grappling with me. What I'm working on is essentially a western boxing/filipino panantukan approach with a heavy emphasis on incorporating the RMAX methods like shock absorption, casting blows, flowing movement, etc. You might find it a bit more to your liking. 8)

That sounds good. There is actually a ROSS/RMAX guy here in El Paso. I work out with him on sunday afternoons. So far I really like it, it blends well with my BJJ. I'm starting boxing classes this week, so I'm interested to see how that will change everything I'm currently doing.