Africa Partnership Station Brings Martial Arts Training to Cameroon

LIMBE, Cameroon (NNS) -- In the spirit of international cooperation, U.S. and Spanish marines assigned to Africa Partnership Station (APS) brought a unique mix of martial arts training to the Cameroonian Marine Corps on Feb. 21.

Staff Sgt. William Sudbrock, Staff Sgt. Robert Wold, and Sgt. Jonathan Silva instructed Cameroonian marines in the U.S. Marine Corps martial arts fighting system while Gunnery Sgt. Rafael Garcia and Cpl. Nadiuska Torro taught the Wing Tsun and Choy Lee Fut styles of Kung Fu.

"Being a part of APS and being able to learn new styles of fighting like the Marine Corps martial arts while teaching our style of fighting to the Cameroonians is very interesting," said Garcia. "Because there are not many martial arts instructors here in Africa and the students are not familiar with our techniques, we try to teach basic movements that they can learn quickly and easily."

The Marines spent the previous four days at sea between Sekondi, Ghana and Limbe, Cameroon familiarizing each other with the fighting style that each country uses.

"I believe the students are progressing normally," said Silva. "Despite the language barrier they are very smart and work hard to pick up the basics of the techniques we're teaching them."

The martial arts course will conclude with a graduation ceremony held onboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) Feb. 28.

"We appreciate the training provided by the U.S. and Spain because of the effort they are making to work with us," said Staff Sgt. Charles Fon, a senior noncommissioned officer of the Cameroonian marines. "The training we are receiving is very valuable and will be passed on to our junior personnel so that the next time APS comes here they will already have basic knowledge in martial arts to build on."

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe -Commander, 6th Fleet or Africa Partnership Station, visit www.navy.mil/local/naveur/.