Maine Army National Guard Specialist Makes MMA Debut
The fighter stares across the cage. Lights stream down from overhead. Sweat is building on her forehead. The mat is soft under her bare feet. Her cornrows are pulled tightly against her scalp. Her opponent is young and muscular, with fierce eyes staring back over the top of her gloves. The crowd roars around them as the referee steps back, the bell dings and the fighters move toward each other, fists raised.
She trained intensely for this. Grueling hours at the gym left her sweaty, bruised and beyond muscle fatigue. But now she’s ready.
In the ring, like in the Army National Guard, discipline defines success for Danae Dostie, a specialist in the Maine Army National Guard, 488th Military Police Company. SPC Dostie fought her debut mixed martial arts (MMA) competition in an amateur bantamweight (135 pounds) contest held in Portland, Maine, on Nov. 3, 2017.
“I have always loved watching fights and sparring with friends,” said SPC Dostie, a native of Fryeburg, Maine. “Now, it’s my turn to be in the ring.”
MMA is a full-contact combat sport that allows striking and grappling while both combatants are standing upright on the ground. MMA allows for the incorporation of techniques from other combat sports and martial arts such as boxing, wrestling, karate, jiu-jitsu and judo.
Although she had just three months of training under her belt, SPC Dostie felt confident before her first fight. She said the goal, for now, was to learn.
“My main focus, especially for this fight, has been boxing techniques, with a focus on standing and low kicks,” SPC Dostie noted.
SPC Dostie trains at Kenney’s MMA gym in Lisbon, Maine. In preparation for her first fight, she studied techniques from boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and MMA grappling. She also worked on her endurance and stamina through sprinting, stair climbing, biking and circuits that focused on push-ups and sit-ups.
“I trained four to six days a week for at least two hours to four hours,” she said. “The hardest part was training even when I’d worked a long week. I really enjoy learning MMA, so it was easy for me to want to train. But it can be hard balancing my civilian job, my military job and training. There were times when I didn’t get a day off for a couple weeks straight.”
SPC Dostie went on to explain what kept her going even when fatigue was setting in.
“It takes a lot of discipline and willpower to train to be a fighter,” she said. “Discipline is what a Soldier should be about. This [training] is helping me become the best Soldier I can be. It is helping me to stay in shape and to be more equipped to fight for this country when I am needed.”
SPC Dostie also noted that her MMA fight training works to reinforce the combatives training she uses in the Army National Guard.
“As an MP, you need to know how to defend yourself and others,” she said. “Training for the fight [keeps] me ready for those moments.”
SGT Daniel Ojeda, a fellow Soldier of the 488th MP Company, has served with SPC Dostie for the past four years. SGT Ojeda commented on SPC Dostie’s work ethic and dedication as a Soldier.
“She’s the type you can always count on to be where she needs to be, when she needs to be there,” he said. “She’s someone that I would trust my life with in a battlefield and I know that she would always try to watch out for me.”
SGT Ojeda went on to speak about SPC Dostie as a major contributor to the 488th MP Company.
“She has the ability to retain knowledge and perform tasks or duties that correspond with what was taught to her, and is able to teach others what she has learned,” SGT Ojeda said. “She has always been a helping hand, not just [at the platoon level], but in the company as a whole.”
SPC Dostie’s unit, Family and friends are supportive of her MMA training and goal to have more fights. She said she plans to get back in the cage right away.
“If I can get more training under my belt, I know I’ll be a lot more experienced and have a little better head on my shoulders going into the ring,” she said.
SPC Dostie emphasized the importance of commitment for those who want to become MMA combatants. It’s the same type of commitment required for those who want to be great Soldiers.
“If you want it, you have to go out and get it,” she said. “It’s definitely not a walk in the park. You will need drive and motivation.”
Story and Photos Provided by SGT Sarah Myrick, Maine National Guard
