Page 19 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 2-19-16

Thunderbolt SPORTS Feb. 19, 2016
http://www.luke.af.mil
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POWER (from Page 4) “Diet, nutrition – everything changes. It
changes your outlook on why you want Sports Shorts
and went home for a while, where he tried to go to the gym. Before my competitive Courtesy photo
college again for a short time. mindset, I would skip a day or two when I 0DUFKRIWKH)DOOHQ
didn’t feel like it or when I was tired. The Tech. Sgt. Benjamin O’Brien, right, 56th
“I still didn’t like it,” O’Brien said with competitive mindset gave me a training (TXLSPHQW0DLQWHQDQFH6TXDGURQDV- The 2016 March of the Fallen is March
a laugh. “I went back down to the Military schedule, and I kept to it because I knew VLVWDQWVHFWLRQFKLHISRVHVZLWKHOLWH 26 through the White Tank Mountains.
Entrance Processing Station and signed up my competition was doing the same thing. SRZHUOLIWHU*DUUHWW*ULI¿QDWWKH Weigh-in is 7 a.m. The march begins at
for the Air Force.” You stop looking for excuses not to train. 8QLWHG6WDWHV3RZHUOLIWLQJ$VVRFLDWLRQ 8:15 a.m. The cost is $40 per person age
Everything becomes more critical. You American Cup in Los Angeles. O’Brien 18 and over, and $20 per person 17 and
He was sent to Shaw Air Force Base, have new peaks and you try to progress placed second in the open raw single- under. For more information, call Senior
South Carolina, in 2003 for his first duty as much as you can.” OLIWEHQFKSUHVVHYHQWZLWKDQ$UL]RQD Airman Scott Giles at 623-856-7028.
station. Thereafter, he spent a year at Kun- UHFRUGEUHDNLQJEHQFKSUHVVRI
san Air Base, South Korea, before coming Today, O’Brien trains at Die Hard Gym pounds. %DVHEDOOVRIWEDOOIRU\RXWK
to Luke Air Force Base in 2006, where he’s in Peoria which has produced a number
been ever since. of elite powerlifters throughout the years. takes years or decades, sometimes even Learn baseball and softball funda-
Additionally, he assists powerlifters on longer, to get really good at something mentals for children ages 5 to 12 at the
The start of his Air Force career coin- base to achieve their own goals through like this. Patience and persistence are key. 56th Force Support Squadron Youth
cides with the beginning of his pursuit of personal mentorship and works as a volun- For bodybuilders, powerlifters, and even Center. Register through Feb. 29. For
powerlifting excellence. teer judge at the Bryant Fitness Center’s marathoners, it’s a long, drawn-out process more information, call 623-856-7470.
local powerlifting competitions. which takes years.”
“I was still lifting when I was in the Spring Break camps
Army, but before I started powerlifting, I’d “He volunteers whenever we ask him
always done it as a hobby, just something to come out,” said Sherri Biringer, 56th Youth ages 9 to 12 attend an all-sports
to do,” O’Brien said. “It was nothing com- Force Support Squadron Bryant Fitness camp 8 a.m. to noon and adventure
pared to what I do now.” Center fitness specialist supervisor. “His camp 1 to 5 p.m. March 7 through 11
knowledge in lifting and form makes him and 14 through 18 at the 56th FSS
O’Brien smiles before reiterating this a great asset. He’s really good at it, and Youth Center. Camps are $35 each and
difference. he’s a great guy.” lunch is $5 unless the youth signs up for
both camps. For more information, call
“Everyone knows some people who go O’Brien finds reward in helping others. 623-856-7470.
to the gym just to be there and don’t do “I always find discussing strength
a whole lot, right? I call them gym rats,” training to be really interesting,” he said. Start SMART soccer
O’Brien said. “I used to be a gym rat.” “I like to help people. I like having that
impact on people. I try to pay it forward Children ages 3 to 6 and parents par-
Over time his outlook on what it meant when I can because I’ve had so many op- ticipate together in a program designed
to lift weights and striving for a goal in the portunities to learn from others who have to help the children develop motor skills
realm of physical fitness changed. taught me free of charge simply because I by learning soccer skills 5 to 6 p.m. Tues-
wanted to learn. If someone shows genu- days through March 8. The cost is $25
“I didn’t really have a competitive mind- ine interest, I’ll take the time to at least per student and includes a T-shirt. For
set until I started competing and being get them started.” more information, call 623-856-7470.
around people who had that same drive,” O’Brien’s number one tip for newcom-
O’Brien said. ers is given sometimes as a warning: to 3RZHUOLIWLQJFRPSHWLWLRQ
anticipate a lifetime of perseverance in
He gained this drive after his first pow- pursuit of a never-ending goal. The 56th FSS Bryant Fitness Center
erlifting meet in December 2010 at Camp “I think a lot of people give up because is featuring a powerlifting competition
Pendleton, California, where O’Brien they don’t see results as fast as they want at 10 a.m. Feb. 26 at the combat PT
totaled around 1,650 pounds worth of to,” O’Brien said. “For those who are re- center. Weigh-in is 9:30 a.m. For more
weight lifted in the single-ply division, a ally interested or want to get started, it information, call 623-856-6241.
competition type where competitors are al-
lowed to wear equipment, like squat suits
and bench shirts, which support the body
during heavy lifts. After this meet, O’Brien
says he was hooked.

“A lot of things changed,” he said.

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