Water Warriors Program Can Keep Marines Fit
Pfc. Garry J. Welch
okinawa marine staff

For many, swimming is a good way to enjoy nice weather and have fun, but what some may not know, is swimming is also a great way to improve physical fitness. Water Warriors is a water fitness class available to all service members and Status of Forces Agreement personnel on Okinawa.

There are multiple proven benefits of a water workout, such as improved cardiovascular fitness, endurance, flexibility, muscular strength, balance and coordination, core stability and body alignment, said Kimberly Beard, the health promotion program manager at Marine Corps Community Services Okinawa.

“Anyone can participate in water fitness classes,” said Beard. “Fitness experts highly recommend aquatics for all populations. The water provides an ideal training medium for healthy fitness enthusiasts, competitive athletes, older adults, sedentary individuals and prenatal women.”

“This class helps a lot,” said April Crawford, who is more than eight months pregnant. “When I can’t make it to the gym I come here [to the Water Warriors fitness class], and it’s always a workout.”

Participants should make the instructor aware of any personal or medical limitations so that modifications can be made to ensure they receive a safe but effective workout, said Beard.

Water serves as an ideal environment for people with musculoskeletal injuries, arthritis and other physical conditions that make frequent exercises on land difficult or painful, she added.

Every move made in the water has to be deliberate to resist the continual pressure of the water on your body, said Beard.

“Your muscles work harder in water compared to moving through the air since movement underwater creates approximately 12 to 15 times more resistance than movement on land,” she said.

According to Beard, research conducted on participants in water fitness classes has shown that participants can reach and sustain the intensity range needed to improve cardiovascular fitness making it an ideal program for anyone regardless of their physical fitness or injuries.

“This program is just not promoted enough,” said Master Sgt. David G. Barnette. “You never see young guys in here with us, and it’s a shame because the classes are awesome. It’s like any other physical training session; you get what you put into it.”

A beginner in the program should start with two classes a week, said Beard. For those cross-training, they may want to hit the pool two to three sessions a week. Those using swimming as their primary cardiovascular workout are suggested to participate in the water fitness classes up to five times a week.

“This is my first time. It’s a good workout, and I really enjoyed it,” said Tremain Crawford, a worker at MCAS Futenma air station supply. “It was a lot harder than it looked.”

“The goal of the Water Warriors program is to promote fitness,” said Josa P. Ampong, a water fitness instructor and personal trainer. “These are workouts that can be done to improve run times.”

Ampong is willing to travel to coach Water Warriors classes. She is happy to donate her time because it helps promote the program.

To schedule Water Warriors classes contact MCCS Okinawa’s aquatic center at 645-3180, or speak to the pool manager.

The schedule for water fitness classes are: Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Camp Courtney on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., and Plaza housing on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 to 11 p.m.