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4 April 15, 2016                                                                                                 SPOTLIGHT                                                                                                                      Thunderbolt
           www.aerotechnews.com/lukeaf b                                                                                                                                                                                             http://www.luke.af.mil

Luke Airman receives black belt                                                                                                                                                                                               ADAPT                                      (from Page 2)

          by Senior Airman                                                                                                                                                                    Senior Airman Devante Williams  pizza or lasagna in the oven, but it is not what my
       DEVANTE WILLIAMS                                                                                                                                                                                                       body needs. Sometimes the easier option in physical
                                                                                             Senior Airman Adrian Cook, 56th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, spars with                                                   fitness is not the best option.
              56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs                                               an instructor during his black belt ceremony March 12, 2016 at Sentosa Martial
                                                                                             Arts in Avondale, Ariz. Cook went through rigorous training to receive his belt.                                                    Sustaining those healthy habits post-baby takes
   Out of all the different styles of mar-                                                                                                                                                                                    extra work and I will never be perfectly consistent,
tial arts, Muay Thai is considered by                                                           “I start off teaching little ones at     a reward that comes after many years                                                 but every good day helps.
many as the hardest to master. How-                                                          three years old,” he said. “I try to make   of hard work and training.
ever, one Airman was able to achieve                                                         it as fun as possible. The older ones get                                                                                           We had tons of support from family and friends,
this mastery and learn more about                                                            the more advance techniques such as            “Cook has made major improvements                                                 but I was not expecting my fellow Airmen to ask
himself in the process.                                                                      striking and ground movement tactics.       from the time he started his journey                                                 how the family was doing every time they saw me.
                                                                                             Once they reach 16 years or older, the      till now,” said Jerry Laurita, Sentosa                                               When I’m walking the halls like a lost zombie, that
   Senior Airman Adrian Cook, 56th                                                           training intensifies.”                      Martial Arts owner and certified third                                               simple communication and connectedness makes
Security Forces Squadron patrolman,                                                                                                      degree black belt. “I want to see him                                                a difference. Not only do they let me unload the
started practicing Muay Thai many                                                               So far, Cook has taught more than        grow and keep shaping his techniques.”                                               weight of the struggles, but I also get good advice
years ago. His interest in the sport                                                         100 students, and plans on taking his                                                                                            because most of them have been there and done
started after he began watching martial                                                      teaching to the next level.                    It was not easy getting there, but for                                            that. That’s teamwork.
arts movies.                                                                                                                             Cook the journey was worth it.
                                                                                                “I want to open up a school one day,”                                                                                            It is not just ears to listen and a reminder that
   “I’ve always been fascinated by mar-                                                      he said. “I take great pleasure in teach-      “When I look back, every belt I earned                                            they are thinking about my spouse and me. It is a
tial arts, but I wanted to be great in one                                                   ing. It’s a great feeling knowing I helped  has a story,” Cook said. “I’ve gone                                                  social support from Airman to Airman, and every
specific style,” Cook said. “The movie,                                                      my students with their training.”           through a lot of pain. I had to drag my-                                             little bit helps.
‘Ong-Bak Thai Warrior,’ made me want                                                                                                     self out of bed just to make it to practice.
to actively get involved in Muay Thai.                                                          Cook recently received his black belt,   It feels amazing to finally receive it.”                                                Spiritual fitness covers such a multitude of areas
Muay Thai is about freestyling and                                                                                                                                                                                            in this experience. It is the underlying principle
hand-to-hand combat, which had me                                                                                                                                                                                             that motivates me in all the other areas. Spiritual
hooked as soon as I saw how the main                                                                                                                                                                                          fitness takes effort and choice just like any other
character was taking down the enemies                                                                                                                                                                                         aspect of Comprehensive Airman Fitness. What
with various moves.”                                                                                                                                                                                                          kind of parent am I going be? I want to be the best
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              parent a baby could ask for, so I try to pay attention
   Cook started training at Sentosa                                                                                                                                                                                           to my attitudes and reactions under stress. I try to
Martial Arts and has been there for the                                                                                                                                                                                       persevere when weak, because it is all for the kiddo.
last three years. During his first year of                                                                                                                                                                                    Perspective is good fuel for a tired mind. It gives me
Muay Thai training, Cook took on his                                                                                                                                                                                          a new sense of purpose to sacrifice my needs for his.
first official bout. He went on to win his                                                                                                                                                                                    I keep reminding myself that the complications of
first fight and the experience he gained                                                                                                                                                                                      having a newborn are temporary, because it is true.
inspired him.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Part of spiritual fitness is finding that silver lin-
   “It wasn’t just about me anymore,”                                                                                                                                                                                         ing in what looks like only dark clouds. Obviously,
Cook said. “I wanted to teach other                                                                                                                                                                                           it is not always easy to be spiritually solid and I do
people and become that big brother                                                                                                                                                                                            not always get it right, but every little win helps.
figure. As a teacher, you get to help a
person willing to learn and train them                                                                                                                                                                                           It may all sound like Parenting 101 to the uniniti-
to be the best.”                                                                                                                                                                                                              ated, but I promise it hardly feels that simple in the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              moment. Life’s challenges never do. That is why it is
   Cook has now been teaching at Sen-                                                                                                                                                                                         so important to practice mental, physical, social and
tosa Martial Arts for a year and a half,                                                                                                                                                                                      spiritual wellness on a regular basis. That is why
a desire that matches the Air Force core                                                                                                                                                                                      the Air Force built the Comprehensive Airman Fit-
value of service before self. He divides his                                                                                                                                                                                  ness doctrine. You can never be ready for the trials
students based on their age and ability.                                                                                                                                                                                      life throws at you, but you can be prepared. In the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              meantime, what can you do to support your fellow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Airmen’s fitness during their struggles?

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