OKINAWA CITY, OKINAWA, Japan -- Under the bright lights of the ring, two men prepare for an intense competition. After the bell rings, a test of strength and willpower between fighters begins.

Students from the Ryukyu Rehabilitation Academy and two Marines from Camp Hansen participated in a kickboxing competition Dec. 16 at Music Town Otoichiba in Okinawa City, Okinawa.

For the Marines, the competition was the culmination of three months of kickboxing training.

“We had excellent support from the Marines’ command during these three months,” said Mark Carr, the kickboxing coach for the Marines. “There was also support from the (academy) and they allowed their students to practice (kickboxing) with us.”

The academy specializes in teaching occupational therapy, judo therapy and physical therapy, which allows fighters and other athletes to train longer and harder.

Several academy students spent the entire three-month period training and working with the Marines, according to Shigeo Machida, a second year student at the academy. The students learned different therapy techniques from the academy’s instructors and were able to practice during their training.

Training for kickboxing can take a toll on the human body, according to Cpl. Anthony L. Dale, an intelligence specialist with 3rd Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.

“The students looked at how we moved and trained and devised methods to help us,” said Dale. “If we were injured at any time, the students at the academy would help us recover as fast as possible. We have a really good relationship with them.”

The Marines and students worked to fit the entire syllabus into the training period, and were aided towards this goal by the therapy skills of the academy’s students.

“We had to train every day,” said Carr. “The training regimen, with its built in recovery days and help from the students, allowed the Marines to be ready for the competition.”

Training for the competition allowed for progress to be shown and measured.

“The school is willing to cooperate in more projects,” said Tomohide Taira, the vice principal of the academy. “This project and event is special, and we hope for more interactions like this in the future.”

Each event helped build upon the relationship between the groups.

“The program did exactly what it was supposed to do in building a relationship between the academy and the Marines,” said Carr. “After this, we hope to develop more opportunities for cooperation.”

The outcome of the competition was one draw and one win, demonstrating the hard work put in by the students and Marines.