Page 16 - Bugle Issue 20 Autumn 2022

2 RIFLES
As a civilian I always loved sports and as
I got older I was drawn to combat sports and boxing. I watched and followed Tyson Fury and other British boxers, admiring their courage and always wanting to get involved and give it a go, but never getting round to it. This year after Kenya I was aware that the battalion was running an Inter-Company Boxing Gala and so I volunteered for the A Coy team. From the beginning I found it a really good experience and loved the team ethos as well as the training and confidence it gave me. As a novice I was so excited to make the team and although I lost my first bout, it gave me more motivation to do it again.
After the Gala, I was told that my performance had been good enough for me to be selected for the 2 RIFLES Battalion
Boxing Team, which I was really excited about. Shortly after, we started a team training camp, which started off with a week of general
skills and prepping our bodies for a long six weeks of graft which was followed by a more intense, conditioning phase. This consisted of countless sessions incorporating 4x running sessions, 3x strength and conditioning sessions, sparring, bag conditioning and team objectives. We would constantly train how to contend with different styles of boxing. The training was tough but extremely rewarding and crucially it was very progressive.
The next step for the team and myself was to participate in the Army Individual Championships at Aldershot. I was lucky enough to be selected to fight as the featherweight contender for 2 RIFLES. I won my elimination bout but then sadly came
up short in the final gaining a silver medal. Overall, I think this was a really good learning experience for me and the whole team.
This experience has given me the desire
to compete again, and I can’t wait for the next opportunity in the Infantry and Army Championships.
Rfn Nevin, I Coy
health encourages others to speak out and seek support should they need it.
It wasn’t all theory though, because the swimming lessons saw us split into three groups based on our levels of ability. I personally enjoyed this PT session because it is brilliant for active recovery and is something we don’t do enough of. On the final day
we had an introduction to yoga, which we discovered has numerous positives effects on the body and helps with recovery.
Overall, the week was a great introduction to the different ways individuals can look after their mental and physical health. Going forward it is hoped that people will introduce them into a weekly routine which should be massively beneficial to their wellbeing, both physically and mentally.
LCpl Barnes, A Coy
WELL-BEING WEEK
Earlier in the year A Company organised
a week to focus on mental health and wellbeing. The aim was to organise sessions that would provide the Riflemen with tools to help look after their mental health as well as give them a chance for a more relaxed week amidst a busy schedule.
There was a significant focus on the physical ways we can help ourselves either through yoga or exercises to reduce the chance of injury. Coupled with classroom-based lessons it meant the week was varied and hopefully had something relevant for everyone. To kick things off it all began with an introduction to Pilates. This was a new activity for everyone, and it gave the company knowledge of how to strengthen the posture, balance and flexibility. All important aspects of reducing the risk of injuries and muscle soreness.
This was followed up with briefs on how
to design a resistance program as well as produce a written gym programme with various ways to weight train. Many people found this useful as quite a lot of people avoid going to the gym as they don’t know where to start. The lesson that the PTI delivered to the company gave everyone the ability to have
a general understanding of weight training, letting them incorporate it into their weekly training program. Throughout the week we were given various flexibility sessions, which is such an important thing we need across the whole British Army.
Also included in the course was a mental health brief, an initiative that many of us don’t feel is spoken about enough and which provided advice on where to seek help. We learnt that by talking openly about mental
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16 RIFLES The Bugle
I was so excited to make the team and although
I lost my first bout, it gave
me more motivation
The aim was to organise sessions that would provide the Riflemen with tools to help look after their mental health
BOXING TEAM