Puerto Belgrano- El Cabo Principal IM Claudio Colavitti is 35 years old and joined the Argentine Navy 16 years ago. Born in the town of Peyrano, 240 kilometers from the city of Santa Fe, Claudio Colavitti joined the Navy in 2008 following some way to his uncle, who was part of the Argentine Army and instilled in him his love for the Armed Forces.
Corporal Colavitti says that his childhood was spent in a town dedicated to agriculture and livestock; that he is the second of three brothers and the first member of his family to be part of the Navy.
“My parents dedicated themselves to the countryside all their lives; They were humble and very hardworking, but they always made an effort to give us the necessary tools for life, to be able to defend ourselves. What’s more, before joining the Navy I had done many jobs,” Colavitti introduces.
“The love for the Armed Forces was always there; My uncle was an inspiration because every time I saw him in uniform, for me it was something unique, something I wanted to do. Finally I opted for the Navy and I discovered and fell in love with the Marine Corps,” highlights the Principal Corporal.
After finishing the Preliminary Selective Period (PSP) at the Navy Non-Commissioned Officers School (ESSA), his first destination was the Communications Battalion (BIC1), then the Infantry Battalion No. 2 and returned to BIC1, where he participated in two Peace Missions as a United Nations blue helmet: in the Republic of Haiti (Haiti Contingent XIV 2011) and on the Island of Cyprus (Cyprus XLV 2015).
Currently in ESSA he is in charge of a Division of Naval Aspirants, who are trained to be non-commissioned officers and graduate in the different specialties that are required. “It is a different job than what we infants are used to doing. Training young people who have just entered the Navy is complex and a great responsibility, since we forge essential values in them,” explains the person who teaches them classes in Communications proudly.
A few days ago, Corporal Colavitti returned from an infantry campaign in the field with a hundred Naval Aspirants of the Marine Corps. For 15 days they developed activities to strengthen capacities as part of the Instruction Plan for the training of future non-commissioned officers who will graduate during the current school year.
They managed to strengthen general concepts of amphibious individual combatant, land navigation, combat formations at the platoon and group level, with the aim of achieving a high level of training for future Second Corps.
Judo and the Argentine Navy
The Japanese martial art appeared in Argentina with the help of the Navy more than 100 years ago. More than interesting fact: history records that it was a Commander of the frigate ARA “Sarmiento”, Captain Adolfo Días, who saw the need to incorporate personal defense into the troops.
On a visit to Yokohama – during the frigate’s seventh World Instruction Trip – Captain Dias witnessed a judo exhibition and quickly hired sensei Yoshio Ogata, a direct disciple of the master and creator of judo, Jigoro Kano. This fact allowed the Navy to be the architect of the landing of judo in the country.
For his part, Claudio says that the desire to practice some martial art was always there, although nothing had caught his attention, beyond the fact that in the Marine Corps hand-to-hand combat and self-defense exist as part of their training.
Judo appears in his life at the invitation of the then Fire Support Liaison Company Chief in the BIC1, Midshipman Dolores Agüero. She explains that he was 30 years old and thought he couldn’t practice it, but she encouraged him because age is not a limitation.
“My career in the Navy can be assimilated with this sport, since they completely merge. In my work I use the values and learnings of judo and, in turn, what judo gives me I apply here at ESSA. The school’s motto is ‘Loyalty and Efficiency’ and in judo, efficiency is the primary value: maximum efficiency with the least effort,” he reveals.
“The sailor seeks to use the best resources and talents to achieve a goal, and the same thing happens in judo; The talents we have and the resources that are presented to us are used to be able to defeat an opponent,” explains the young Marine.
To make us know more about this sport, Claudio explains that it is international and has more than 10 million judokas around the world. It is practiced in pairs and each person tries to skillfully turn over their opponent when they are standing, or to dominate and control his body when fighting on the ground.
“But it is not simply a fight, it is a martial art to promote values such as honor, respect, sincerity and self-control; that is the most beautiful thing,” she emphasizes. In Puerto Belgrano, judo training is carried out in the “Sarmiento Frigate Dojo” of the Naval Center and was inaugurated in 2016 at the initiative of teachers and students of this discipline in the Navy.
Claudio says that, at the end of last year, he was part of the team that participated in the National Tournament in Santiago del Estero and won the silver medal in his category (Kyu Novice up to 66 kilos), being crowned runner-up.
Around 1,500 judokas from different federations in the country participated in the contest and the Dojo delegation made up of 4 people – who are part of the Navy team – represented the Argentine Intercollegiate Judo Federation.
“The tournament finds you with very big teams, with younger people and with another level; Getting there was an achievement for our Dojo and, personally at my age, being able to achieve this award is one of the most incredible things that happened to me in my life,” enthuses Claudio, who also managed to advance from orange belt to green belt last year. .
“The competitions leave learning and teachings, successes and mistakes to improve technique. In judo there are no enemies, the other always helps us perfect; “It is a matter of mutual and continuous learning,” he says.
“Each belt is equivalent to incorporating ten new techniques to those already incorporated and, therefore, it is important to attend as many annual classes, participate in tournaments, camaraderie, will and collaboration,” says Corporal Colavitti, who also He takes care of his meals to maintain his weight and category, and dedicates many hours to training and preparation.
Peyrano has the best childhood memories, such as his time in high school at the “Our Lady of Luján” School, and he says that his grandmother still lives near the town of Santa Fe, whom he visits regularly.
In conclusion, the sailor from Santa Fe expressed his personal desire in the Navy and regarding judo: “My desire is to fulfill each goal and challenge that arises in my career in the Navy; and in sports, becoming a national and international champion.”
“I am very grateful for what the Navy and judo have given me in life. I love the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Homeland, and I ask God for the strength necessary to improve and move forward day by day,” he concludes.
2024-03-22 14:44:17
#love #Argentine #Navy #Marine #Corps #Homeland #Gaceta #Marinera
