Page 74 - Bugle Autumn 2024

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ELITE SPORTSMEN
BIATHLON
I didn’t know much about biathlon until 2022 after watching a YouTube video. Soon afterwards I set off for Infantry NORDIC SWORD with the 5 RIFLES team.
So, what is it? Biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. It is a race, with contestants skiing through a cross-country trail whose distance is divided into shooting rounds. The shooting rounds are not timed, but depending on
the competition, missed shots result in extra distance or time being added to the contestant’s total.
Taking up any new sport is a challenge, and Biathlon is up there for not being easy! To be successful at the elite level you need to master the technique of skiing, your fitness levels need to be off the scale and you need levels
of determination that previously might appear out of reach. The shooting is next level and despite already being familiar with weapons I had to spend countless hours testing, refining, and developing my firing position. Firing with
your heart rate at 170 bpm is a skill I rarely developed throughout my military training but have found hugely transferable and beneficial to my shooting.
This intense training became an obsession, which I loved and took to immediately (three sessions a day, 6-days a week) and resulted in the 5 RIFLES team winning the Infantry Championships for the first time in 22/23, before successfully defending this title the following season. Both experiences taught me the value of discipline and preparation, with the work required before race day in preparing the skis and analysing conditions, critical to performance.
As an individual, I felt my hard work was vindicated when I won the best overall Junior Novice award in the 22/23 season. I strongly believe the additional time spent on marksmanship, along with my focus on developing aerobic capacity prior to the season, was critical. I am now technically an international athlete having competed
Taking up any new sport is a challenge, and Biathlon is up there for not being easy!
for Great Britain in Pokljuka, Slovenia. Representing The Rifles and the wider Army has been a truly special experience, where they have supported and enabled me to compete at world class venues around Europe.
I have now received the incredible opportunity of training full-time for the 24/25 season, supported by the regiment. Watch this space for my results on Instagram at nayfancarter.
LCpl Nathan Carter
importance of continuous improvement and the holistic development of soldiers, both physically and mentally.
To keep track of my progress in the upcoming competitions you can follow me on Instagram at ricky_bell_bjj. Swift and Bold!
LCpl Ricky Bellingham
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ)
I’ve been lucky enough to have served for 15 years in various roles, mainly at 1 RIFLES. I’m currently on a BAE sports scholarship for BJJ and I am fortunate enough to be in a prestigious position where the regiment has allowed me time to train and compete as a professional sportsman.
First off though, what is BJJ? Well, it’s a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting and submission holds. BJJ focuses on taking one’s opponent down to the ground, gaining a dominant position, and using several techniques to force them into submission via joint locks, chokeholds or compression locks.
During my time with the regiment I have won BJJ medals all over the world in places including Abu Dhabi, Paris, Las Vegas, and Rome. What I’m working towards this year is preparing for global competitions like
the Worlds and Europeans, in places like California, Las Vegas, Rome and Lisbon. These international competitions expose me to some of the best in the world at my sport, which is an amazing opportunity.
I’ve also received offers for matches in the UK against top competitors. These bouts will provide invaluable experience, helping me gauge my progress and pinpoint areas for
improvement and its great exposure for Army sports and the opportunities available in the wider Army.
This year, we’re putting special emphasis on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training camps with the aim of attracting more personnel to the sport. These are advertised on the Army Sports Board and notice boards across camps, and these week-long courses are open to all.
I’m really looking forward to coaching and being the principal instructor on these courses and the curriculum includes techniques from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo and Wrestling essential for improving the grappling skills of Army personnel.
I’m also conducting seminars nationwide in gyms near military camps which are designed to encourage Army athletes to train in civilian gyms to boost performance but also the sense of community and well-being. Evidence proves that there are significant mental health benefits to exercise and I’m a big fan of that.
By integrating various martial arts techniques and promoting civilian training opportunities, we’re setting a new standard in military sports training. This forward-thinking approach highlights the
there are significant mental health benefits to exercise and I’m a big fan of that
74 RIFLES The Bugle