Cadet Wendell Groudy covers his battle buddy in individual movement training Thursday during which Cadets learn how to work in teams to move across land while under fire. Photo by Heather Cortright/LTC PAO
By Sara Nahrwold
Staff writer
This summer, Alpha Company Cadet Wendell Grouby Jr. is combining the physical and mental skills he has learned over the nine years of tae kwon do with the skills of the Army.
“These guys are pushing you to be organized, to be disciplined, to be a great leader, to be loyal, respectful,” he said. “That’s the same thing you find in martial arts.”
When he leaves the Leader’s Training Course, he will travel to China in August to compete in an Olympic qualifier with the U.S. Virgin Islands Olympic tae kwon do team.
“China is a different place to compete, its definitely a place you don’t want to lose at,” he said. “When you get beat in China, they beat you bad so you want to make sure you don’t get your butt kicked.”
Grouby, who started in martial arts, has competed in Spain and won a bronze medal when he competed in another Olympic qualifier in the Dominican Republic..
Evworth Charles, his instructor of about 15 years, said Grouby is one of his most disciplined students.
“He knows what he wants,” Charles said. “He’s a hard worker and very dedicated. He’s the first to come to practice and the last to leave.”
Grouby was an instructor for one of Charles’s classes because he is one of the most qualified of his students.
“He relates to younger students, older students and is very good at communicating with others to get the technique across,” he said.
Grouby is attending the Leader’s Training Course for two reasons — to be part of the Army and for martial arts training.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to get experience here at LTC to condition myself,” he said. “It’s good to train with them until I get to train with my team back home.”
Although he’s only been at LTC less than a week, Grouby has learned a lot in the short time.
“I like that they emphasize teamwork, but not just teamwork,” he said. “I like that they always push you. I’m usually not the kind of person who makes a lot of mistakes, and since I’ve come here, I’ve made some mistakes and they discipline me for it big-time.”
Although yelled at from drill sergeants for doing wrong, Grouby’s strong mental focus from his martial arts background is useful when it comes to the Army.
“I’ve seen people who couldn’t break a twig but if you put them in the right set of mind, I’ve seen them break bricks,” he said. “The hardest thing and the best thing to do is to get in that right state of mind.”
Grouby said he picked up marital arts easier than most people, but it was still a challenge.
“Martial arts is a way of life,” he said. “It teaches you not only how to control your body, but how to control your mind and control your energy.”
Charles credits Grouby’s attitude toward tae kwon do to his success.
“He eats it, sleeps it, drinks it,” Charles said.
The master’s student in biomedicine at Florida Atlantic University is using the Army to help pay for his education and pursue his passions.
“I want to become an officer,” he said. “All my passions and dreams that I want to follow, LTC is an open door to pursue it.”
Grouby said tae kwon do is one of the military sports he could participate in and he would like to follow that path in his future.
“Its my dream to stay fit, stay academic and pursue both of my passions,” he said.