MCB HAWAII -- Standing in a room filled with dangerous mixed martial arts fighters — witnessing their sheer strength, quick yet intense struggles and the utter helplessness of those defeated. It can leave you feeling like you’re the one being tapped out.
For fighters like World Extreme Cagefighting veteran and prior service Marine Phil Cardella, however, mixed martial arts is more than just earning a submission. Together with undefeated WEC fighter and world champion wrestler Kamal Shalorus, Cardella hosted a Relson Gracie Team Seminar at the School of Infantry West — Detachment Hawaii on base Sunday.
“Having them here is a great opportunity,” said Staff Sgt. Idris Turay, director, SOI West — Det Hawaii, and a native of Rockville, Md. “We don’t have professionals out here often, and they’ve even stayed longer to make sure the students have mastered the techniques.”
Cardella, a Relson Gracie black belt champion, worked with active duty Marines, explaining techniques spanning jiu-jitsu, MMA and the Modern Army Combatives Program.
“The Marines I’m getting to train with are truly inspired by the training I provide, and I feed off this,” Cardella said. “When I see them motivated and happy and using the techniques I’ve taught in a combat arena — that makes it all worth it.”
Despite being born in Chicago, Cardella grew up in south Houston. At the age of 12, he began experimenting with different forms of martial arts. After joining the Marine Corps in 1994, he spent his enlistment aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii with Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, Combat Support Company, 3rd Marine Regiment.
Beginning as an AAV crewman, he progressed to crew chief and then to section leader, in addition to earning qualifications as a primary marksmanship instructor and combat safety swimmer. In 1996, he was selected as Marine of the Year on both the platoon and company levels. Although busy with his duties, Cardella didn’t lose his love for martial arts. He was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Master Relson Gracie in 1997 and wasted no time becoming a part of the Relson Gracie Competition Team.
Since then, he hasn’t looked back, and this is evidenced by the impact his training has on students.
“The training is priceless,” said Cpl. Gerson Lindor, Jr., scout sniper, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a native of Miami.
Lindor, whose enlistment is nearing an end, is attending Windward Community College with plans to transfer to the University of Hawaii. “I’m looking forward to being able to work with the fighters again,” he said.
The knowledge these fighters pass on is invaluable, as they’ve honed their training and techniques over years of experience and a track record of proven success, Cardella said.
“We battle-test all our techniques to ensure they work,” Cardella said. “We teach real self-defense moves that can be used in every situation.”
In an evolving MMA world, Cardella said, this battle-testing process is vital to one’s continued success.
“Grappling is a progressive art,” said Richard Power, a native of Austin, Texas, and owner of Austin-based private security contractor Statewide Patrol.
“Our troops have to keep up with the real-time advancements [in grappling], and it’s up to us to pass it on to them.”
Power, a brown belt under Gracie and Cardella, served in the Army as a military policeman from 1989 to 1992.
“I love teaching and being able to stay in shape,” Power said. “We stress high level technique and cardiovascular conditioning, but it’s all about the camaraderie — you can’t buy this.”
Smiling from ear to ear nearly the entire seminar, Shalorus, undefeated as a lightweight in the World Extreme Cagefighting organization, experienced this camaraderie working with the Marines.
Dubbed “The Prince of Persia” by critics and fans, the Iranian-born fighter represented Great Britain on their 2004 Summer Olympics wrestling team.
“I just learn, teach and support my team,” he said. “We make champions out of each other.”
Nevertheless, when the training ceases and he steps into the ring, he puts his game face on.
“It’s like hunting when I step into the cage,” Shalorus said. “It’s a different feeling, like everything is moving slow, but I want to get that feeling all of the time. I just step into the ring and taste blood.”
Together with Cardella, Shalorus, who is slated to battle former WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner on June 20 at WEC 49, made quite an impression on the Marines he trained with.
“You only realize how good they are until they fight a beginner or a less skilled fighter,” said Sgt. Andrew Farlaino, instructor, Infantry Squad Leader’s Course, SOI West — Det Hawaii, and a native of Price, Utah. “Then you see how easy it is for them and gain a better appreciation for the skills they have.”
Turay encouraged martial arts instructors, instructor trainers and all Marines to make use of every opportunity to train with professional fighters.
“As Marines, we need to always train to better ourselves,” Turay said. “Everything we’re practicing here relates to combat, and fighting mixed martial arts enhances what Marines are already doing with the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. It helps us to continue building a warrior ethos and character discipline.”