Chaplain assistant teaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class Published July 31, 2014 By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A short man wearing ABUs with five stripes on his sleeves unlocks the doors to the Community Chapel Activity Center shortly after leaving his office for the day. Once inside he changes into a black martial arts uniform and turns on some music. He opens up a storage area and carries out blue, padded mats. He arranges them in a square, touching each other and waits for his students to arrive. Tech. Sgt. Tony Eclavea, a chaplain's assistant here, began teaching free Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes in an effort to broaden activities for Team Vance Airmen. "I originally bought the mats to teach classes in my house to make a little money on the side," said Eclavea. "But, I decided I wanted to give Airmen here the opportunity to learn instead. The class is also tied to our chaplain core values, particularly the value stating to 'create warriors to face challenges.'" Eclavea went through his chain of command and was approved to teach the class twice a week in the Community Chapel Activity Center. "Since starting a few months ago, I've lost weight and have seen obvious improvements in my endurance and strength," said Senior Airman Oscar Felix, a student who attends the class and a 71st Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller. Classes are broken into four parts, a warm-up, which consists of practicing rolls and ground defense movements, stretching, techniques and sparring. "When it comes to sparring, the most important thing for people to do is leave their egos at the door," said Eclavea. "This class is about enjoying the sport, not being better than the person you're practicing with." The sparring sessions are six minute intervals. Experienced students usually spar with each other first then mix with the newer students. Matches are started with a hand slap and fist bump, to show that it's friendly. "If you're sparring with someone, feel free to ask them to practice the technique that we covered during the class," said Eclavea. "It's not a competitive environment." Eclavea began his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training in 2002 while he was stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and trained there for three years. When he arrived at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, in 2005 he went on hiatus from training because there was no school available to practice. It was not until 2011 when he got the opportunity to train again when he received permanent change of station orders to Yokota a Air Base, Japan. "I decided then that I would refuse to let it out of my life again," said Eclavea. "It's had such a positive impact on my life." A year later, Eclavea deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and stood by his vow to never give up his art and started a class there with one other person. By the time he left five months later, the class expanded to more than 20 people. The group he started still practices there today. Since starting his class here about four months ago, Eclavea has six regular students who attend his class, two of which he brought to the North American Grappling Association Oklahoma Grappling Championship tournament in Oklahoma City June 21. "We ended up taking four gold medals home between the three of us," said Eclavea. Each participated in a different division based on their experience. Divisions are broken down into two categories, "gi" and "no gi." In the gi competition fighters wear their gi, similar to a traditional martial arts uniform but made heavier and more durable to withstand the stress grappling puts on the material. The no gi, is exactly what it sounds like. Competitors wear clothing that their adversary cannot grab onto during the match. Felix entered the beginner division and took home a gold medal in the gi competition. Another student took home gold in the novice no gi competition. Eclavea took the gold in both gi and no gi competitions in the intermediate division. Currently, the Air Force does not recognize Jiu Jitsu as an Air Force sport. Eclavea would like to see that change some day. "I'm working on what needs to be done for (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) to be considered, but for now I would like to see a training camp between the Oklahoma bases," said Eclavea. All Team Vance members are eligible to participate, he said. It would be great to have a larger team here. Anyone looking for more information can call Tech. Sgt. Tony Eclavea at 213-7211.