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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu trainer likens sport to 'reality'
Casey Leonard demonstrates Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu moves
Eric Schmadel/Tribune-Review
PFC Clinton Sanford and E-4 Chad Lankey practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu holds
Eric Schmadel/Tribune-Review
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu trainer Casey Leonard takes some time to work out
Eric Schmadel/Tribune-Review
Rob Biertempfel is the Pirates beat writer. He can be reached via e-mail. Also check out Biertempfel's blog, Pirates Q&A or follow him on Twitter.
"We still do, except now we do it on a professional level," Leonard said, laughing.
Leonard, 25, runs Combative Grappling Systems in South Greensburg. He is the only martial arts instructor in the area who specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a form of ground fighting that incorporates submission holds and chokes.
"I like it because it's reality," said Bigelow, who helps Leonard train students. "Karate is nice if you're competing in something that uses a point system. But out on the street, in everyday life, this really works."
Leonard began learning the discipline in the late 1990s while he was a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton in California. A friend told him about it, and Leonard trained two or three times a week on his own. He had never wrestled or tried any martial arts before, but quickly became hooked by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
"It was one of those things where once I first saw it, I was totally amazed," he said. "I got enveloped by it."
When Leonard returned home, he couldn't find anywhere to train. He began working out at a martial arts school in Youngwood and met a few other people who were interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. So nine months ago, he opened his own school in South Greensburg.
The clients at Leonard's school vary from average Joes who use Brazilian Jiu-Jistu as a great way to get a workout to state troopers also want to learn skills that can help on the job.
Six years ago, the U.S. Marine Corps began using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training at its Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Va. In January, the U.S, Army incorporated elements of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into its official hand-to-hand combat training manual. Since November, Leonard has taught the discipline to his comrades in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard B Company. which is based in Greensburg.
"The reaction was nothing but positive. It was something these guys had never seen before, and they were glad to know it because the rest of the regular army is doing it," Leonard said.
"It grew out of the September 11 incident," said Sgt. Mike Danko of B Company, who asked Leonard to train the troops. "We knew the chances of us getting called up (to action) are greater now, and we might only have a limited time to train.
"Instead of the regular regimen of jumping jacks and things like that, I wanted some form of training that would be more valuable. What Casey does is exactly what we were looking for."
The goal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not to beat an opponent silly or throw him around the mat. Rather, it is to use holds, strength and leverage to subdue an opponent on the ground.
"It's designed for someone who has to fight someone who is a lot bigger or stronger than they are," said Leonard, who stands 5-foot-10, 170 pounds. "You're using body leverage more instead of strength. The different techniques are technical, but they're easy to learn."
One evening in class, Leonard was matched up against Brent Blasco of Shaler Township, who outweighed Leonard by at least 50 pounds. Blasco recently returned from Bosnia, where he worked for a defense contractor. Although he lives more an hour away in Allegheny County, Blasco doesn't mind making the drive to Leonard's school.
"It seems to be the most effective (martial art) out there," Blasco said, then grinned. "I don't like to get hit, either."
Starting from a prone position underneath his student, Leonard lifted Blasco with his legs, spun and flipped him, and quickly put him in a head lock. After a second or two, Blasco tapped Leonard's arm to signal his submission. It was a wise move, since most holds are designed to choke opponents into unconsciousness.
"It's honorable to tap and submit in competitions," Leonard said. "No one ever looks down on you (because) you'll get injured if you don't."
Leonard has entered in a dozen competitions over the past three years, and has medaled in all but three. He is rated a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and hopes to soon travel to Washington, D.C., to test for his purple belt.
"I'm probably overdue for that," he said. "But geographically speaking, I'm kind of stuck. There's no place close to (Westmoreland County) for me to test."
