7/24/2008
TODD FLORY
Jenna McIntire didn’t want to be intimidated.<p>
Then, she heard that the man she was supposed to fight was the second runner-up for the all-Army team lightweight class the year before, and all bets were off.<p>
“That got me even more intimidated. I kind of lost confidence even before I fought,” said McIntire, who was participating in the 2008 Combatives Tournament at Fort Riley.<p>
The double-elimination tournament, which started Thursday and continues today, consists of three stages. During the first stage, participants primarily use grabbing and wrestling techniques. The second stage incorporates slapping as well as grabbing. Soldiers who advance to the third stage don gloves and protective footwear and engage in punching and kicking techniques.<p>
Soldiers are divided into weight classes ranging from flyweight to heavyweight, and the top two finishers in each weight class will represent Fort Riley at the All-Army Tournament at Fort Benning, Ga., later this year. <p>


Read more about the Fort Riley competition in Friday's Salina Journal.