Danbury grad teaches judo to fellow soldiers in IraqBy Elizabeth PutnamTHE NEWS-TIMES
Sheila Pereira
Army Spc. Sheila Pereira's days serving in Tikrit, Iraq, are long and no doubt stressful.
But instead of resting during what little free time she receives, Pereira, 22, of Danbury, is teaching her fellow soldiers the martial art of judo.
"I wanted to continue training in Iraq, and I also wanted other soldiers to benefit from judo," Pereira said in an interview with a military newspaper. "So, I figured I'd start up the class, and soldiers could learn something new if they wanted."
Pereira, 22, is a graduate of Danbury High School and has been stationed in Iraq since September as the only company clerk for HHC, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.
Shortly after arriving in Iraq, she decided to start a judo class to help soldiers take their minds off of the daily stresses of life in a combat zone.
"If something makes you upset, just blow it off and say 'OK, judo is my therapy,'" she said. "Once you get on the mat, you're not thinking about work anymore. Everything is judo then."
Sheila Pereira, on top, competes in a judo demonstration on the Danbury Green last summer. Pereira, who is serving in the Army in Iraq, is teaching judo to other soldiers there.
Judo, a Japanese martial art, essentially takes advantage of an opponent's force. It's a discipline, a sport and means of self-defense or combat.
For Sheila and her family, it's a way of life.
The Pereira family of Danbury owns a judo dojo at the War Memorial in Danbury, and Sheila and her sister and brothers began learning judo techniques when they were toddlers by their father, John, a 6th-degree blackbelt.
It's no surprise to them that Sheila is teaching.
"She is optimistic and full of strength," said Debbie Pereira, Sheila's mom. "She's always been one to reach out to others."
Sheila, who now has a brown belt, was the national judo champion in 1993 when she was 8 years old, but her sister, Sharon, 25, says Sheila is modest despite the more than 200 medals she has earned.
"She does judo because it gives confidence," Sharon Pereira said.
Judo especially is beneficial to women who want to built mental and physical strength.
"If you lose to a guy the first time, don't worry about it. You're not going to win every fight, and that goes for males and females. Test yourself as a female and represent for all the females," Sheila Pereira said.
Her oldest brother, Jason, 28, describes his sister as a go-getter, always striving for the next thing, but he was surprised when she joined the Army as a freshman at the University of Miami.
"She has always been very independent, and I had a hard time seeing her following the authority," Jason Pereira said.
But instead of resting during what little free time she receives, Pereira, 22, of Danbury, is teaching her fellow soldiers the martial art of judo.
"I wanted to continue training in Iraq, and I also wanted other soldiers to benefit from judo," Pereira said in an interview with a military newspaper. "So, I figured I'd start up the class, and soldiers could learn something new if they wanted."
Pereira, 22, is a graduate of Danbury High School and has been stationed in Iraq since September as the only company clerk for HHC, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.
Shortly after arriving in Iraq, she decided to start a judo class to help soldiers take their minds off of the daily stresses of life in a combat zone.
"If something makes you upset, just blow it off and say 'OK, judo is my therapy,'" she said. "Once you get on the mat, you're not thinking about work anymore. Everything is judo then."
Sheila Pereira, on top, competes in a judo demonstration on the Danbury Green last summer. Pereira, who is serving in the Army in Iraq, is teaching judo to other soldiers there.
Judo, a Japanese martial art, essentially takes advantage of an opponent's force. It's a discipline, a sport and means of self-defense or combat.
For Sheila and her family, it's a way of life.
The Pereira family of Danbury owns a judo dojo at the War Memorial in Danbury, and Sheila and her sister and brothers began learning judo techniques when they were toddlers by their father, John, a 6th-degree blackbelt.
It's no surprise to them that Sheila is teaching.
"She is optimistic and full of strength," said Debbie Pereira, Sheila's mom. "She's always been one to reach out to others."
Sheila, who now has a brown belt, was the national judo champion in 1993 when she was 8 years old, but her sister, Sharon, 25, says Sheila is modest despite the more than 200 medals she has earned.
"She does judo because it gives confidence," Sharon Pereira said.
Judo especially is beneficial to women who want to built mental and physical strength.
"If you lose to a guy the first time, don't worry about it. You're not going to win every fight, and that goes for males and females. Test yourself as a female and represent for all the females," Sheila Pereira said.
Her oldest brother, Jason, 28, describes his sister as a go-getter, always striving for the next thing, but he was surprised when she joined the Army as a freshman at the University of Miami.
"She has always been very independent, and I had a hard time seeing her following the authority," Jason Pereira said.
Brian Pereira, 18, said his sister excels at everything she does.
"Judo does allow you to adapt," he said.
"Judo does allow you to adapt," he said.
Sheila plans to study international business when she gets out of the Army, and although the Pereiras aren't sure if Sheila will be home from Iraq in August or in January next year, they do not that when she returns, judo will continue to be in her life.
That makes John Pereira, Sheila's dad, proud.
"She's a good kid," he said.
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Spc. Michael Pfaff of the 133rd MPAD contributed to this story.
"She's a good kid," he said.
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Spc. Michael Pfaff of the 133rd MPAD contributed to this story.
Hi! I'm Brazilian, and Sheila is my friend. We studied together years ago here in Brazil. When she returned to USA, we changed some letters, but with the time we loose the contact and I never had more notices about her. Please, could someone give me some contact of her? Thank you!
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