San Diego --
“To achieve the mood of
a warrior is not a simple matter. It is a revolution. To regard the lion and
the water rats and our fellow men as equals is a magnificent act of a warrior's
spirit. It takes power to do that,” said Carlos Castaneda, an American author.
Private
First Class Leo C. Menge, Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion,
discovered a warrior’s mindset at an early age.
“I
started wrestling in second grade, stuck with it all the way to high school and
started as a varsity wrestler my freshman year,” said Menge. “When I first got
to high school, I was 4 feet 8 inches tall and maybe 90 pounds soaking wet.”
The
young Marine devoted himself to the gym and fully committed to the sport by
wrestling year round, which began to quickly pay off.
During his sophomore year, he elevated his wrestling
career to the state championship tournament and then became a captain of his
team starting the next year.
“After becoming captain of the team my junior year, I
went back to state where I finished first place,” said Menge. “I was
disqualified just before going to state my senior year due to aggressive
wrestling, but I didn’t hang my shoes up. I started my fighting career and
began practicing Jiu Jitsu.”
He opted for this style of fighting because it’s an aggressive,
hands-on sport.
“One day leaving the gym I noticed a couple of guys
practicing Jiu Jitsu,” said Menge. “As a wrestler, I was naturally curious. I
sat down on a bench and just watched them for the next few days until one day
they asked if I wanted to practice with them.”
Jui
Jitsu is one of the main bases of mixed martial arts. His prior wrestling experience
gave him an edge in what he may have found to be his calling.
On the new students first day of practicing the martial
art, he submitted a Naga Jiu Jitsu Champion, utilizing a leg lock.
“They seemed pretty shocked and asked me to come compete
with them at the Naga Championship Tournament,” said Menge. “I entered at the
intermediate level and after 33 matches, I won the tournament.”
During the tournament, Menge met Patrick Miletich, the
first Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion, who showed him how
to throw a simple jab punch.
“I felt comfortable fighting on the ground, but I needed
to work on my stand-up fighting,” said Menge. “I had a few former world
champions from Miletich [Miletich’s gym] and Team Round Kick help me hone my
fighting techniques on my feet.”
Once Menge felt comfortable fighting on his feet, he
started fighting for Quad City Fight Club in Iowa. His first official match was
against a former Marine that was decided by a judge’s decision. Mange was
declared the winner of the match was awarded to Menge after three five-minute
rounds.
Menge
went on to fight for another organization called Caged Aggression where he was
the victor in two fights and then was placed into a professional fighting
organization with Amsterdam Fighting.
Although
the young fighter had a successful career of 18 wins and only one loss, he
still wanted something more. A greater challenge.
“I
have a lot of family in the military, so it’s always been one of my options,”
said Menge. “Once my career took off as a fighter, they wanted me to keep
competing in the cage, except my uncle. He told me if I decided to join the
Marine Corps, I would never regret it.”
Menge
soon found himself at a Marine Corps’ recruiting office.
“I
loved fighting, but I needed a change,” said Menge. “I want to learn more about
being mental disciplined rather than the physical. I’ve always been able to do
a lot of things others can’t physically, but mentally I’ve never really been
able to accomplish most tasks.”
Menge
explains that his single loss in his MMA career came from lack of bearing and
not being able to stay calm in the fight.
“During
my time at recruit training, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my
bearing and mental discipline,” said Menge. “My whole personality has changed.
Being the guide of the platoon has humbled me as a leader.”
Following
recruit training, Menge will move on to the School of Infantry in Camp
Pendleton, Calif., where he will go through Marine Combat Training. Upon
completion of MCT, he will pursue his military occupational specialty in military
police. He plans on trying out for the USMC MMA Fight Team and competing with
them as long as he can.