Why Modern Army Combatives is BETTER than MMA

[@k9m42]

Military hand to hand combat training and strategy is focused on leading you back to your weapon and using it.

[@davefletch3063]

Ie, real combat

[@raul_jocson_]

Yup, this is what I heard straight from a vet. And you could actually say the same thing about a lot of the original asian martial arts.

[@gregorylatta8159]

That is why weapons were invented in the first place!!!

[@gregorylatta8159]

​@@raul_jocson_Correct!!!

[@Tannyller]

​@@davefletch3063aah yes you most likely walk around with a gun or knife in your pocket.

[@ramjo1]

Its funny to see people outside the military thinking that military stuff is optimally good just because they're "battle tested" meanwhile everyone in the field know "military graded" translate to cheap, fast and reliable in that order.

[@connorperrett9559]

It is also true that most military personnel experience very little unarmed combat training unless combatives or some other martial art is a personal hobby of theirs.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Except that isn't what I said in this video. At the very end I tried to make it very clear that I was saying if you take the exact same effort that a UFC fighter puts into their training...the time, the endurance, conditioning, and focus, and you put that same effort into MACP, then you would have someone who was more primed to defend themselves from real world situations. There are some MACP guys who have continued and had successful UFC careers. These guys still do cage fighting and UFC-style matches for practice. How many MMA gym practice defense against weapons or multiple attackers, or wearing gear or even fighting outside? Virtually none. Given the same effort and dedication, one is primed for sport and the other primed for self-defense.

[@williamw1332]

Awesome video Dan Sensei! It’s too bad that many people don’t realize it’s not the art…it’s the person. Comparing arts is worthless in this case, it’s about completion of the objective at any/all cost. Train for the worst, plan for the best. Electro Training Knives fun 😁👍⚡️🔪⚡️😱⚡️

[@kris4786]

That only applies to equipment. Built by the lowest bidder. M16 and M14 are garbage. There are better weapons in the world and most other countries are willing to pay.

[@tommyrq180]

Well, except most of the people training in “Army combatives” are not very competent. I’ve worked against them. It’s the Army. Thus it’s the lowest common denominator. Just like MCMAP or any grunt-level combatives. MMA is designed to train for the top. Army combatives is for training the lowest infantry qualified guy who barely failed ASVAB. It’s not for example Russian combat sambo at the elite special operations level. It’s designed for the basic infantry grunt. Not elite combative competition. Period.

[@Scorch1028]

Many people don't realize that fighting with gear on changes what you're able to do in a fight or a tactical self-defense situation. I discovered this when I did combatives at two different law enforcement training centers. That big, clunky gun belt with all of that gear, hindered what I was able to do with my hips in a grappling situation. There's a similar dynamic with soldiers training with their particular gear.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Not to mention the weight of all that gear will gas you out faster than rash guards. Anyone who can fight efficiently in all that seriously has my respect.

[@dingusmcgringle9741]

In gym shorts I can easily kick over my head. In my SWAT battle belt or duty belt with a thigh holster i can barely kick above my knees without haveing back pain. My point is the gear not only limits movement but it can cuase serious injury if you try to do things you normally would do.

[@thekalamazookid4481]

Yeah striking becomes useless with all that stuff on. Grappling mixed with a knife is the way to go if you absolutely have to. Realistically though modern combat is moving further and further away from firefights.

[@Hoss999]

This is still mma.. it just has different goals.

[@persxnal]

eat your protein

[@thelaundryman9287]

I did combatives in basic in the British Army. The emphasis was mostly on basic boxing and wrestling takedowns, double leg and single legs and clinching. Never did anything like it after that. But coming from a kickboxing background and going there the boxing was subpar and more about teaching us controlled aggression as opposed to "how to fight".

[@jessiebedlam6094]

Pankration imo is pretty much what I was training in prior to MACP.

[@davidcrawford8583]

My Dad now 86 was one of the last in the British Army who did national service. He was taught a modicum of boxing and wrestling in 1958.

[@thelaundryman9287]

@@davidcrawford8583 damn so it seems like our country's combatives have always centred around basic boxing and wrestling then.

[@ShinobiENT777]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing. 🥷🏽

[@Joselockington]

Yeah I am in the us army and our combatives consists of really poor boxing, and even shittier wrestling I do Brazilian, jujitsu, and Muay Thai and I would never suggest that anybody train army combatives. You said it’s for training controlled aggression not learning how to fight.

[@derekhoyle5371]

I trained under a dude who had won one of these military tournaments. It must force something next level because I have not trained with anyone more insanely talented and fit than him in my walk of life

[@scout3058]

I've been lucky enough to train with 3 guys who won the US Army Combatives tournament: Tim Kennedy, Colton Smith, and Damien Stelly in addition to two years under Matt Larsen at his Combatives Academy in Lorton VA. Beasts, all of them.

[@dtibvgz8441]

First rule in active combat - the fact that you are unarmed doesn't mean the opponent is. The frequency of which modern military enter combat unarmed is basically 'none' as if we count the number where both sides are unarmed and not just one - nobody stand a chance against armed opponent.

[@christophervelez1561]

I went through combatives through the usaf the problem with these programs is the frequency they are trained after the courses. This is why I train in bjj. What I think it’s great for is the proliferation of martial arts in the military.

[@tommyrq180]

Right. Army combatives is very, very basic and most of them are incompetent. It’s based on training the very lowest common denominator in the ARMY, which is very low. They allow a certain percentage of felonies. Yes, that’s right. You can be convicted of a felony and enlist in the Army. Pretty much not in all the other services, especially the Air Force. But you can get into the Army. So think about that when it comes to learning “combatives.”

[@christophervelez1561]

@@tommyrq180 I’ve trained with some of the full time instructors but for the average soldier I don’t think it’s enough to develop proficiency. Like I said the best thing this does is give members exposure to martial arts to pursue it further on their own.

[@cowlico]

We had a fair program during my time in the Army while I was stationed in Alaska, but prior to that I learned the old Marine Corps L.I.N.E. system and it wasn't too bad because we had a SSG who implemented it into our regular training.

[@Alleyesonme223]

​@@tommyrq180you are from airforce?

[@dereksmith6097]

@@tommyrq180 I served in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. I was AFOSI and Army Intel and CID. There are some very smart people in the Army and some dummies in the Air Force. But to the point, you don't have to be smart to be a good fighter.

[@ThePimpedOutPlatypus]

I went through the first few levels of the US Army Combatives program. It was the best hand to hand training I have ever had, and the hardest. That shock knife completely changes the dynamics of the fight. You have to experience it to truly understand. It didn't make us expert fighters, but it gave us solid foundations within 6 weeks. I continued training after and now build on the skills I developed there by training Judo, BJJ and Muay Thai for the last few years.

[@thomaslanoue7519]

I went through this training level 1 at ft sill. Level 2 at Ft Brag back in 2006/7 after my deployment. It was tough, remember icing my joints on the daily during those weeks of training. For some reason I had it in my head that level 1 would have been easier than going to the field lol. However once you pass level one you get to throw punches to the next class trying to test out. Level 2 was significantly harder. If you wrestled in high school it physically not that bad but your joints take a wrenching

[@qlethsbagofdecks4959]

I did Level 1. I was sore all weekend long afterwards and some of the week later. I wish had been able to get a slot for level 2, but those were very rare for my unit.

[@bernardbarr2354]

Ranger Regiment started on another combatives program prior to SOCP. Some of it was taught in Army training manual fm21-150. I was responsible for a portion of the program . It was taught during the Special Forces qualification course.

[@MasterPoucksBestMan]

I joined Army infantry in 1994, and yes the hand to hand training had become a joke. I was a Shotokan practitioner and even with what I now know to have been a subpar way of training the techniques of what was Okinawa's "first MMA", I was lightyears ahead of everyone. When I got to my unit in Panama, however, there were a few Vietnam era upper rank sergeants who liked to show us some of their training from time to time, which during the years they entered service was Combat Judo, which was basically a mixture of dirty boxing and the highest percentage throws and grappling of Judo, developed during WWI by Cpt. Allen Corstorphin Smith, the 5th Caucasian to ever get a black belt from the Kodokan itself. It was highly effective and useful in the conflicts up to the Vietnam War because of the frequency of close quarters in trench warfare. The Army and Marines taught that system until the end of the Vietnam War, but then the training was thought not useful enough to spend training time on and was discontinued in 1975 unfortunately. So for 20 years, military hand to hand training did indeed suck until they introduced this.

[@bernardbarr2354]

You didn't have any experience with FM 21-150 did you? We didn't use Larson's system at Bragg. Socom was still doing Dovito stuff. Coincidentally his son is a good combatives instructor over at Skallywag tactical.

[@bernardbarr2354]

Should have read Domvito....not Dovito.

[@georgepierce2273]

Man you're on point, I was in from 90 to 94 and the training sucked ass. I'd gotten tips over time from nco's that had hand to hand training already but the army's training was trash.

[@AztecUnshaven]

I heard the WW2 era guys were outstanding hand to hand fighters. Col. Fairbairn combined dirty boxing, Shanghai Kungfu, and Kodokan Judo and worked 12 years in some of the most dangeous cities in China pre WW2.

[@dninja6657]

Paul Vunak : 🏆

[@Mark-r2z9u]

This looks like an outstanding program. Congratulations to the U.S. Army and its members. The shock knife looks interesting but similar to learning how to take a punch and not panic. In a real knife fight, you will most likely get cut at the very least. The possibility of a student being subconsciously programmed to avoid the knife at all costs can create several problems, vs rolling with the knife, etc. whenever possible. Overall, this looks like an outstanding program. Thank you for sharing.

[@cdouglashall]

Ditto

[@johncurtis5367]

Grandmaster of Taekwondo and a world Judo champion as a Korean ROK soldier taught H2H combat during Vietnam War. We would attend a combat Judo seminar at Fort Campbell every year in the early 80s. I enjoy this very much one step H2H drills has been the way for ever in the military and the amount of time doing this wasn't the greatest like today. Great program and real world fighting concept is important and knowing the difference between 3 types of training 1 basic club for self development 2 martial sport or competition and 3 H2H combat for military and law enforcement. So yes sir you are on it 100% and it's important to each soldier to develop an maintain their personal style!!!

[@jessea4280]

Great video. I only did basic training combatatives. The only thing I remember and will never forget was shrimping. Very important skill.

[@Moonlight-dg9wq]

I respect that but you still can't fight a MMA guy

[@MyZ001]

@@Moonlight-dg9wq Dont think that was ever a question

[@Moonlight-dg9wq]

@@MyZ001 I just think you should know that I still woop you 😄

[@MyZ001]

@@Moonlight-dg9wq I doubt it, I am an MMA fighter😆. Well, technically I train in them separately, but you can bet your ass the Muay thai, judo and bjj is coming out if its time to bang

[@jessea4280]

@@Moonlight-dg9wq your a nerd. Keyboard warrior that hasn’t did anything in your life.

[@LOVES-A1911]

Would like to see your take on what is taught to the U.S. NAVY'S S.E.AL. TEAM 6 and how it has evolved from the beginning to present day.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

I would be willing to look into that. I imagine that would be educational.

[@cowlico]

@@ArtofOneDojo actually it's quite educational give a look!

[@Alleyesonme223]

Read code over country there is a chapter where duane dieter a DIA agent trained seal team six,he called his system close quarter defense

[@559anthony]

A former battle buddy of mine, and very close friend is an SOC (SEAL Chief). I've asked him about their CQC training, mind you he is an instructor in Little Creek Virginia. He had always told me much of it is mainly independent on you, they really are not super focused on CQC, in terms of the same focus on other skill sets. However many of the teams dudes that are experienced in CQC will often times hold their own regular training for teams members. He trains BJJ, as does a handful of other guys from his unit, DEVGRU, and other teams in the area. He said many guys focus on clinch work, dirty boxing, judo/Greco, submission grappling, and knife combatives.

[@bernardbarr2354]

​@@ArtofOneDojoPaul Vunak and Frank Cucci.

[@petert4540]

I had some training with a gentleman that helped create the hand to hand combat manual for the ADF (Australian Defence Forces). He said that the majority of the techniques taught were chosen from a variety of different martial arts and that they mostly were white belt techniques. This was because they worked and were easy to learn. This blew me away.

[@collinclapero1493]

Active duty and Level 2 cert going to level 3, this gave a very insightful and well documented explanation of what this program has to offer. Highly encourage my soldiers and team to go through this.

[@daithi1966]

I was in the Army, and I would have loved it if we had something like this back when I served. It truly does sound useful.

[@dmills5755]

I took the Gracie Survival Tactics for law enforcement and Military with Rener and Ryron in Torrance and I fell in love with Gracie Jiu Jitsu. It’s well organized, taught well, and very applicable to real life. I followed up with the beginning belt of their system which is the Gracie Combatives program. It’s the best ROI for training around. Supplement with boxing or a legit Krav Maga program and your good to go.

[@MyZ001]

@praywithoutceasing4939 Did you do GST as well, or does your LE department not support it, and all your bjj training comes from combatives ?

[@SINdaBlock411]

they conned you

[@SINdaBlock411]

@praywithoutceasing4939 until you get your ass kicked by a guy who's done some judo and boxing for 2 years, or until you get shot in the head like Leandro Lo ...

[@JamesHerring-db2ln]

I thank you for putting this video out there. I was a Level 4 Combatives Instructor and I saw the value in the system. I currently teach a civilian version of the program minus the firearms.

[@80077655]

The greatest benefit of actual fighting competition is that it helps you deal with your adrenaline and nerves. Generally, the adaptations required for a really good MMA fighter to move to combat proficiency are much more easily achieved than for a combatives program graduate to succeed in competitive MMA. The higher level competition faced in MMA fights makes you better and weeds out those who don't have the knack for it.

[@jasoncaine7829]

On behalf of Bodhidharma thank you for putting this information out.

[@lucaspanto9650]

In the military you don't need to knock someone out, you just need to survive until backup arrives. MMA is more realistic because you almost always won't have a street fight in army gear with friends with guns ready to back you

[@rooseveltcade3935]

Love the topic stellar, you should a part 2 of this

[@Han_Cholo420]

Great video! Would love to see more videos of hand to hand/martial arts training as it pertains to the military. Super interesting 💯💯💯💯

[@bwkid1]

Love this! Obviously anyone training combat sports will have a huge advantage in the street. But I agree with this. I train combat MMA, not sport MMA. We do all the same things as MMA fighters. But we also use headbutts, groin strikes and biting. Along with anything else we want to do. We do two on one senarios and attacks from behind etc. it is hard to fit in everything to the training, as there is so much to cover. We do 2 nights ground work, 2 nights striking. Then add other things the rest of the week. We try to do 6/8 weeks bjj. Then the same for sambo, wrestling etc. And stand up we do boxing, kick boxing, krav maga, lethwei etc. So bringing it all together gives us a very rounded game.

[@MyZ001]

This place sounds like my dream gym. I dont think I have anything like that around me, but thats' exactly how I want to train. I've always been into training to use as self defense or in a street fight, even if I was taking MAs focused on it. So, that'd be exactly what I want

[@lsporter88]

That makes sense. Great video. 👌

[@SonoraSlinger]

I trained MACP at ft. Benning on sand hill. It was mostly Gracie Jiu Jitsu. With a focus on getting your weapon back in the fight. I remember shrimpin' through wood chips for miles. It made us human turtles, with leathery backs.

[@IRONFOX6-fy5se]

I was trained in Army Combatives since I was 6 years old by my uncles. Back then it was a combination of boxing, judo, karate, and knife fighting. ACT included many target focused moves and locks that were prohibited in the above sports. 50% of it did not work. I perfected what I knew about ACT and taught it to my U.S. ARMY teammates. When I became an Infantry Officer I revised it again by adding weapons disarms. As a company commander I taught it to the Honduran and Salvadoran military. During my second company command which was training Infantry OSUT IN Fort Benning, now Fort Moore, I revised it again. As a University Professor, I revised it one more time. In summary, you and only you know which techniques work for you. Become an autodidact and learn what are the laws in your state regarding the justifiable use of deadly force. Learn to use a reliable pistol. Look into joining the USCCA. They have a lot of training videos. Finally, it is up to you and only you to maintain your fitness level and your combat preparedness. Look into MCMAP. Good luck on your journey. Train daily. Remember, that someone somewhere is training to kill you and your family. #Fight2Win!

[@KarateBreakdown]

A buddy sent me this video, dude great presentation and great topic. The format is what I’m trying to build on my channel. Thanks for doing good work!

[@BMO_Creative]

Yeah bro, It works because we learned how to fight with a full ruck, flack jacket, kevlar, gloves, full gear and weapons. Not in a rashguard, padded floor and ac... we trained for war, not competition. BUT gamification of the training is the fastest way to learn it. so at first kind of competitive.

[@ritch_j]

Started MACP in 2005 became a Level 4 Master Combatives Instructor in 2008. The purpose of the program is to instill the warrior mindset by giving the Soldier the basic tools to close the distance and finish the fight. It works! Most Soldiers joining the Army have never been in a fight, and now they're expected to go to War and kill.. Well, MACP can get them a set of tools to utilize. The Army's directive on training is clear, though most unit leadership do not apply the directive because they lack in their own training, skills, and ability. Great program. That just isn't given the training time it deserves.

[@PursuitOfStrength.]

My combative instructor told us “we teach you enough to get you into trouble, and enough to hold off a single enemy until your battle buddy can come off him”

[@juelz713]

The UFC was promoting the Marines

[@jackleg2007]

I would to see a comparison between this style and the the USMC combative.

[@bojnebojnebojne]

Just the small variable of people having clothes for you to grab onto is a major game changer in the sense of what u can do with or to a person. There is no one single best martial art. What is best is what is the most effective and safe in any given situation regardless of what that martial art might be. So the more you styles or martial arts you practice the off you will be.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

I absolutely agree with this. It also is important to train for a specific goal. If you want to train for real world self defense, that requires practicing elements of that scenario.

[@bojnebojnebojne]

A 100%@@ArtofOneDojo

[@almonaheslop1018]

In other words, modern army combatives could be taken as an extension of MMA.

[@Vincentorix]

Weapon retention would also be valuable skill for a soldier to learn as well.

[@tb6664]

Weapon retention is trained during Combative training.

[@scout3058]

Very lucky to have trained with Matt at his gym in Lorton VA 2017-2019. I left there and ended up in Slidell, LA training under Rich Clementi (former UFC welterweight).

[@Ymirson999]

There have been several former military people in the UFC who were versed in their particular branch's martial arts. Mark Hunt went against a U.S. Army ranger and Oleg Taktarov among others fought Moti Hohenstein, an Israeli former solider who was a senior student of Israel's top Krav Maga instructor. They both got slaughtered.

[@rhodrickcamacho9980]

I think what he's stating that modern combatives is better at dealing with an actual street fight due to it actually dealing with knives, guns, and other weapons of sorts. There's no rules in a real fight.

[@StimParavane]

Er...can anyone tell me how BJJ works against multiple opponents?

[@ArtofOneDojo]

It doesn't. Not unless you have buddie with you. I have never heard a BJJ expert answer this question.

[@folgoll8927]

SGT.Lasrsen is my army combatives instructor. He teaches the class very professionally and it has been one of the best martial arts experiences I have had. I attend his class every other day during the week. I feel that I have learned more about self defense in these few short months than I did with an entire year of Krav Maga back in my hometown. About a year and a half ago I was doing a summer training detail known as "CFT". CFT ended with a culminating field training exercise. I remember it being a long 5 days of no sleep and exhausting ruck marches. At the end of the FTX my training company had one final obstacle before we were allowed to go home, and that was to have our platoons fight each other in combatives. (Think like a full platoon fighting another full platoon at the same time). Safe to say, nobody wanted to do it. Nobody really put their heart into it, they just wanted to get out and go home. After the first round, Mr.Larsen appeared before the company and gave one of the greatest and most motivating speeches I have ever heard in my entire life. He talked about the warrior spirit, and that if we didn't train how we fight then it will only result in the deaths of our friends. He used great imagery too. I distinctly remember him saying something like "In real combat you will be shooting the enemy in the head to stop them from burning your best friends face off" After his speech we fought like hell during that platoon vs platoon competition. It's really cool to see him featured in this video.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

That is an amazing story! He sounds like an incredible instructor, thank you so much for sharing this :)

[@folgoll8927]

@@ArtofOneDojo I told him I found this video, he sounded pretty happy to hear about it. He asked me to send it to him, I will probably do that tonight

[@Benjamin-ml7sv]

"You wanna see what real MMA outside the ring looks like" Proceeds to show a video of two guys fighting in a ring.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

LOL I was waiting to see who'd point that out first :P

[@dennisodischew7201]

So what’s the difference between this and sambo, which the Soviet’s had a long time ago?

[@donaldcarico1580]

Depending on what your MOS is or pursuing on your own. Not everyone receives the training. You are able to do it if you feel inclined to do so

[@ArtofOneDojo]

That's exactly it, those who choose to continue are the ones who will actually excel.

[@ThePimpedOutPlatypus]

I was a Medic when I went to the Combatives courses at Ft Bragg. It was/is MOS immaterial, the only thing needed was the willingness to fight and a unit that would send you.

[@donaldcarico1580]

@@ThePimpedOutPlatypus which is why I said or pursue on your own as in its just not something every Soldier learns and as you said you can choose to do the combatives training. You get the basics of it but as you said have to want to go further. I was a MP. In AIT there was actually a different system developed by a Chicago PD officer for MPs closer to Aikido for multiple oppents, cuffing ect

[@TheSuperGringo]

As a former Army NCO, we would use combatives as a type of physical fitness training. It can be trained anywhere, any time, with any equipment. You want a workout, put on some body armor, an ACH (helmet), get a rubber rifle, some training knives, then do two minute rounds. I was a level two instructor.

[@artyombychkov2134]

But they teach only for few months or even weeks. If you don’t have prior fighting experience, you won’t be able to learn anything.

[@connorperrett9559]

Most will be lucky to even get days unless they actively pursue these programs as a hobby.

[@laisphinto6372]

well army has an unique motivator to learn either you learn all that in training , learn in real combat or die

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Same thing applies to an MMA gym. If someone with no fighting experience comes into an MMA gym and only trains for a few weeks, are they going to be ready for the UFC? Absolutely not. That's why at the end of the video I said if you take the same effort and time UFC fighters put into their training and apply it to MACP tactics, then that person will be better prepared for self-defense outside the cage. There are soldiers who choose to continue their training past the basic minimum. THOSE are the ones who become fighters.

[@PL-up5ig]

The problem is implementation at the unit level. The program was created in a way that units could train Combatives as part of their physical training, but most units don't include Combatives as part of the PT plan.

[@savevsdeath]

Ahh yes, i remember clinch drills. I came home eggplant-colored from all the bruises and my wife thought I had gotten mugged.

[@garywhite3209]

As a person who unable to get training from the USMC nor is army, I'd rather be fluent in MMA "sport" fighting than any traditional martial arts or even all of em. MMA has to work in hand to hand combat, if it doesn't then it will get you hurt. Kung fu masters that's been practicing for a decade get folded by the slightest pressure

[@cyberserk5614]

A guy I trained traditional japanese martial arts with told me, his teacher was showing Yoroi Kumiuchi, fighting in a samurai armour to military personnel from US and Israel. No-one seem to appreciate or enjoying it very much so they stopped coming to those special occasions. Then some of them came back from war and started training Yoroi Kumiuchi again because their military equipment is really just the modern version of Yoroi and they've found themselves in close combat situations where the attcker had grabbed their body armour and the defendant had difficulties to utilise anything else then close combat techniques.

[@ADAM_COLLECTS]

I would like to think that of one went into the military with martial arts training that it would be a solid base but, i imagine that the military “bad habits” and consider it a clean slate

[@salahuddinmuhammad3251]

There is a huge difference between real Combat and combat sports, people always confuse that. It's incredible that they don't get the difference.

[@cmp7083]

I was certified in Modern Army Combatives Program(MACP) and honestly… it’s basically a watered down version of Brazilian ju-jitsu. Ever my MACP instructor mentioned that. I’ve studied karate, taekwondo, boxing and bjj for over 10 years. MACP needs more standup. The majority of it is just ground fighting. MCMAP is more efficient. And this is coming from a guy who served in the Army as an infantryman. No disrespect to the Army, but the Marines have a better self defense program.

[@teanistillmon3341]

This is beautiful ❤

[@shantanusapru]

Nice video! Now do a video on MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Programme), and compare & contrast it with the MACP (Modern Army Combatives Programme)... Also, it'll be good to look into what's taught to the 'Tier 1' SOF units - like DELTA & DEVGRU as part of CQB/CQC...Also, krav maga seemed to be en vogue for some time for this, but not so much now...Wonder why...?

[@Skywolf224]

One thing that I had learned to do is to actually use You're gear to your advantage. One drill, in particular, involved headbudding with the a c h on. You didn't actually headbutt your drilling partner but you did go through the motions

[@canadafree2087]

And hit the chest plate to simulate an elbow to the throat while your training partner is on the ground. Some may want to yell, "Throat!" "Eye!" "Head" to be clear that that was your target when you are in fact hitting the chest plate, the helmet, and stomp the mat.

[@ThePatience404]

Lol, "hurts like sh**" so that is why monkeys throw it. Love the distinctions that are made here between sport and practical use. Love that we are also trying to keep our soldiers safe

[@mubarkqardas46]

We went from the most effective h2h combat during nam to awful back to effective h2h combat. I hope our army keeps evolving.

[@lmurashchik]

It all works. Every fighting system works. Every martial artworks. However, it all hinges on how it is trained and understood. I've seen some of the wildest looking kicks pulled off successfully, in a street fight, as well as some slick wrist locks and chin manipulations, ala aikido. The method of training is what matters most, which is why sports related to MMA are optimal. MCMAP is a great fighting system specifically for that reason.

[@cameronbeatty8022]

During my active duty time, I did levels 1 & 2, 2010, and 2016 respectively. While it was fun sometimes, MACP is severely watered-down a lot for safety and has awful instructors (arrogant NCO's). I heard of a level 3 guy in Schofield, Hawaii, who challenged one of BJ Penn's BJJ trainers to roll. The level 3 guy tapped out in seconds. If you want a good martial arts/ self-defense course, you can scratch MACP off your list, and just don't waste your time with the army at all.

[@johnvetter1849]

As a US Marine, i can say for a fact that military combatives are super basic, and aren't good at all.

[@canadafree2087]

Not in the military but the problem with all military H2H (that included with weapons), is not so much in the style but in the limited time given to the study of it. You need to teach people in a short time. Only special forces types may be given extra time. The problem with civy martial arts is the lack of all the gear the military wears, the often lack of weapons used in class (Yes, the now and then use of a stick or knife in BJJ is not enough), the lack of deadly force that is sometimes needed in combat, the lack of aggression from someone not winning a UFC but rather trying to kill you, there is also a lack in many cases of fighting someone from another style. If you take Wing Chun, most likely you will be fed Wing Chun strikes. If you study basic Karate, your knife "attacks" may look more like a 'see it coming a mile away' pull back of the arm to the hip before thrusting an outstretched arm. Of course the problem with looking at both, is that each military/unit and each MA school may train more and/or better than the next one even within the same style.

[@vik12D]

MACP is good for a Soldier in full kit. Your average Soldier versus your average MMA athlete, unarmed? MMA is pretty good lol. Ultimately, the best self defense is a knife, gun and weapon retention, deployment.

[@Caliell]

Just to throw my two cents a lot of people do not understand how MCMAP works. - Its always ever evolving and that's why I like it, even though coming from Russian Combat Sambo background. In Russia, even Sambo itself became kind of eh, due to different instructors introducing different techniques (sometimes even crazy ones like the leg scissor take down, or off the wall push and superman punch or kick - not something you could just up and do off the go and "very situational i.e. impractical). However, the Russian Combatives that are tought are not very ground fighting based and more of the stand up and to knock down techniues due to the mentality "once they are down, you can finish them off" as if the fight is over if someone got knocked down. - That's why a lot of Russian fighters who went to MMA had their asses literally beat from the get go until they "Gon Lern". US military did studies on hand-to-hand incidents, as rare as they happened and noticed something that extremely hard to ignore. - Almost all of those incidents did not really involve a lot of punching, hitting, kicking but all outright the grab ass for the nearest deadly thing possible and enough leeway to stick it at the enemy. In good part, most of the combatants today wear body armor and helmets, wich makes punching and kicking kind of mixed bag to self-injury. That's why Rangers first switched to that strange SOF weapon retention centered combatives and who knows what now. Ultimately hands in comparison to the next deadly thing, unfortunately aren't very efficient and combatives are not tought in 90% in the military past the naked basics. Which is kind of the shame since it is good Physical Fitness that increases both Psychological aptitude (confidence), ability to think and operate under stressful situations, and of course physical health.

[@lightartis228]

once we move above bullsh@do grade of fighting styles then the most effective fighting style in a selfe defense situation simply becomes the one that you actually practice consistently/permanently and at the same time ANY fighting style by default will lose to that if you train it only in a form of crash course lol...that is my personal opinion.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

I don't disagree with you, but sometimes we need to draw lines on where we think "bullshido" starts and ends. That is a matter for opinion and different arts can work for different people, as long as they are tested. Now as far as a crash course, I will agree, it's hard to learn how to fight after just a short amount of time. However, MMA gyms are crash courses themselves. MMA guys tell me all the time that after a couple of months of training they could beat someone who has 10 years in a traditional art. That is a crash course. The difference is, the time and effort put into it, and then they CONTINUE to put it in. A soldier that only does the bare minimum of this training isn't going to become a great fighter. They'll have better reaction skills, but not necessarily a great fighter. The ones who continue afterward, and put in that effort will be. There are a few Army soldiers that went through MACP and went on to have successful UFC careers.

[@blockmasterscott]

I get what you’re saying. Yes, it’s possible for someone with under 5 years of BJJ to beat me with over 30 years of Choy Li Fut in unarmed combat, but ….and this BUT with capital letters, I have three decades of pressure testing sticks, pencils, knives, chairs, the staff, and so on.

[@lightartis228]

@@ArtofOneDojo i love how people gets c@@ky after just learning to do basic moves infront of mirror or something... xD but as for what fighting style is the most newbie friendly i would argue that mma is ironicly one of the least newbie friendly fighting style cuzz new guys gets stright up overhelmed with all the different moves they have to learn how to do it and when to do it... the best newbie friendly fighting style in my opinion probably would be boxing cuzz you just have to learn there basic block,jab,cross and there you go ,you already a step above statystical average ,out of shape american that has no fighting expierence and attacking you only cuzz you were cheering for the wrong football team lol

[@chosenfewbuddha5696]

im retired Army level 3 army combative best training ever

[@mrhoneystinger3676]

I've trained combatives for over 20 years, learning from both traditional martial arts, and from special ops guys. The fun part was working with some Jiu-jitsu guys. Sure I got tapped out, but it was comical when I pulled out my training knife as they went to arm-bar or guillotine me. They learned, right quick, you need to deal with the knife. Now this is not a knock on BJJ, or an attempt to negate it. Rather to let people know that your opponent wants to win too, and operating in a spot mentality may not work well for you.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Thank you for this comment. Too many MMA fanboys here crying how it's not better than UFC. You get the point, you're comment specifies exactly what I'm trying to point out. Thank you for sharing this.

[@mrhoneystinger3676]

@@ArtofOneDojo thanks man, even though I spelled "sport" wrong 😳🤣

[@DavidMarshall-x2p]

I study a lot of Paul Vunak. Never crossed my mind to try to grapple wearing combat gear though. The more you know!

[@QubitTechnologies]

If you dont train after any training program you can't do anything on the fight.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

This is correct. Too many fanboys getting worked up in the comments lol. You are correct, you have to put whatever you train into effective application if it's going to work.

[@jonahmayo2622]

I honestly was impressed that all of the military personal can fight like that. Very impressive 😊

[@sardalamit]

wow..just wow. The Gracies have truly done it. Being the official foundation of a program designed to teach soldiers to fight. Nothing else comes close this.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

It's still important to remember it's a foundation, and not the entire training. It's the grappling portion, but the weapons, striking, and scenario are elevations above that.

[@gabbar51ngh]

I bet there's another reason they didn't go with Sambo, it's basically a Soviet Self defense system made by Ruskies.

[@sardalamit]

@@gabbar51ngh yaar kalari, silamban and so many more (from Kolhapur area for eg.) , ye sab kab famous hoga?!

[@SINdaBlock411]

the Brazilian army itself literally rejected their garbage, and we all know how safe the favelas of Brazil truly are ... the Gracies to Brasil pretty much equals Donald Trump to America ... only difference being Trump at least is hilarious, the Gracies however are pure cringe

[@5dragonskarategoryukarate-890]

It's good to see that they realized that the hand to hand training I got in basic in the 80's was garbage. Looks better and more effective now.

[@Elijah.willfight]

No MAC-P is not good 😂😂😂😂 the military doesnt make you stronger only self discipline and real martial arts. Drill USMC MCMAP, Or LINE with Muay Thai and your way better off. Combat Sambo and shoot even Combat Glima are way more complete Combative programs. 😂😂😂 all love though, I was Level 2 MACP i wouldn't recommend the system at all.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

I didn't say the military made you stronger, my point was if you take the same effort UFC fighters put into their training and apply that to these scenarios with weapons and tactics then a person will be a bit more adept at self-defense outside the ring.

[@chess_piece_bishop_knight]

To simplify, the reason why military combative techniques ultimately look good is that the concepts and techniques used are used for quick finishes, often you follow up by pulling out your knife and your gun.

[@IphigeniaAtAulis]

The only real problem I think that MACP (and MCMAP and most police DT) have is that once you go through the course, it can be hard to keep up with training. I was a contractor on an Air Force base and we had a guy who taught BJJ classes once a week. A number of Air Force guys would do one class and then never come back. A number did stick with it, but it just didn't seem like the military, or at least the Air Force, really pushed for it's members to train regularly in order to progress and hone their skills. The fact is, that you really can't get good at martial arts from one 40 hour class.

[@SINdaBlock411]

why would they waste valuable time on training that groundhugging garbage if they can just shoot or fight as a unit instead ...bjj takes FIFTEEN YEARS OF YOUR LIFE to get to black belt ... people don't have time for that, especially for something 1-dimensional as bjj ... if you can't learn the basics of self defence (ALL self-defence, not just that Gracie garbage) in a matter of weeks or months at most ... then you're just trying to scam people, which is precisely what people like Rener Gracie, Jocko Willink and Joe Rogan do ... milking the bjj cash cow, fueling the bjj hype train, nothing more

[@erikpaulson4929]

Thank you for this video❤

[@ArmyfighterATX]

I started teaching Combatives under Matt Larsen at the US Army Combatives School in 2004 and at one point became the Cheif Trainer and the GOD Father of Army Combatives. This is by far the best explanation I’ve ever heard. Combatives is America’s Martial Art!

[@TheVixen8806]

Quick question. Every time I've asked Soliders about Army Combatives and how they liked it. They tell me that it's just MMA with weapons. Why do you think that Soliders look down on this system? P.S.: I'm a Marine and most Marines say the same about MCMAP.

[@jasonbourne1119]

Good video, lvl 3/4 are now combines into "lvl III" also known as Master Trainer Course. its 4 weeks long

[@burtbiggum499]

Basic combatives as of 2018 in osut is a joke compared to actual time in an mma gym

[@ArtofOneDojo]

How is the weapon training going in the MMA gym?

[@burtbiggum499]

@@ArtofOneDojo I would still take 90% of mma athletes over a macp expert. I always hear about macp guys comingin and getting mangled. Macp is good on paper maybe but l personally never heard of it being praised by service members or anyone else

[@ArtofOneDojo]

@@burtbiggum499You may want to check out the remainder of this comment section. There are several posts from soldiers who hated it and those who loved it. Each person is different in their experience/dedication. I would trust a soldier in a combat situation over a UFC guy though. The MMA guy has ZERO concept of weapon awareness or tactical response.

[@burtbiggum499]

@@ArtofOneDojo i think for the average individual mma is far superior. For a guy in full kit whos number one on a stack maybe macp is better

[@CaPnBaLlBaG]

@@ArtofOneDojo bring in a rubber knife and practice with it in your rolls one day per week and I promise you the average MMA hobbyist will be better off than the guy who trained combatives. The grasp on framing, wrist control, body/head position, everything critical in knife defense are going to be FAR better in someone who trains "sport grappling" than someone who trains combatives. It's easier for someone with a really strong grasp of the fundamentals to learn to adapt them to specialized situations than it is for someone who got the Cliff Notes version of the basics.

[@TenchiBushi]

All of our combative guys studied a martial art on their own. We had minimal H2H training during basic training (I did basic in 1988). Prior to the 2000's H2H was contracted or conducted as alternative PT. We learned LINES prior to deployment to Afghanistan (2003). My experience is limited to a few of us from different units and organizations getting together on our own after work trying to figure it out. We had a mix of guys that learned MCMAP, MAC, RAT & other martial systems.

[@BURGAWMMA]

I remember the first time a Navy SEAL showed up to my MMA Club... we all thought to ourselves "holy shit" this guy's going to be unstoppable however as soon as we hit the Mat it became obvious he was no better than a BJJ blue belt with a couple years of high school wrestling... that said Army combatives is always going to be "better" than the "unified rules" (a watered-down sport version of Asian rules MMA) which of course is the ultimate test of a Fighter's skill however we're not allowed to fight that way in the sissy ass USA😆

[@ronja6791]

When I was a BJJ white belt with about 6 months of training, a SEAL showed up for his first class. I was able to submit him but I was exhausted and he wasn't breathing heavy at all. Something about SEALs, or maybe it was just him, but his intensity in training after day 1 was off the charts, like it was his life's goal to absolutely excel at BJJ in the fastest time possible! In 6 months he was a blue belt who could hold his own with very experienced purple belts...and I was still a white belt!

[@BURGAWMMA]

@@ronja6791 cool story... oddly enough I couldn't keep any of them in the MMA world

[@akotarakz]

Me and a buddy of mine did a mix of USMC Martial Arts and US Army Combatives training for 6 months, 2 times per week, 1 hour per session, roughly. So lets say 48 hours total. Some time after that I got into a confrontation with a guy on the street and was about to choke him out because he didn't give up, but I got lucky a friend of mine was there and I felt secure to let the aggressor go of my hold, because I didn't want to do jail time. My buddy that I trained the military stuff with, on a different occasion, went to an amateur grappling competition and when they presented his opponent it turned out that the other guy was a national level bjj champion that decided to go there for fun. My friend was heavier than the champion, so he had weight advantage, but the other guy had endurance and skill. In the end my guy won the fight. In summary - yes, the army martial arts work very well. Of course, I wouldn't want to test it on MMA fighters or other professional fighters, but it is effective against people on the street that you are most likely to have problems with. And by extension, it will be effective against enemy combatants and conscripts that a soldier might run into during urban warfare or trench assaults.

[@DMtheDM93]

Neither is a good as ameridote. So there. Master Ken wouldn’t listen to this nonsense. I don’t even know why I watched.

[@alexanderren1097]

Are there any MMA fighters who are former military and practiced combatives? If so, I’d like to know what their MMA record is and their thoughts on the crossover they’ve experienced firsthand

[@PL-up5ig]

Active Army - Colton Smith, Army Reserve - Tim Kennedy

[@alexanderren1097]

@@PL-up5ig cool, thanks

[@dustinkilburn]

Feel like Tim Kennedy spoke about this very subject recently

[@litafskatecrew4122]

So what i found from this video, is not the sport itself, but the person using it. Think of it like this, A MMA guy ve a military trained guy. They are both trained so nobody has an advantage, the person who will win the person who is willing to hurt more. Now i now that the army specializes is teaching how to hurt people. But its up to the person to inflict that hurt. The only think that makes military training better in my opinion is they teach you to fight with weapons. Though i do think in a hand to hand only mma wins. Then again, its all up to the person on how much they are willing to inflict hurt on others.

[@warrennicholsony.fernando4513]

It boils down to howthe system is taught and applied when the need arises.

[@DavidDemiseOfficial]

In MMA you can not use foul tactics. You are separated at times when in the clinch or in the ground. You get breaks between rounds. Etc. In a real life self defense situation you can do whatever it takes including biting, throat strikes, eye jabs, grabbing a weapon, etc to prevail.

[@akayokalumba5151]

If mike Tyson bit a guys ear off with the rules imagine what he could do without them. Just because some one knows mma means he would not poke you in the eyes into a rear naked.

[@DavidDemiseOfficial]

@@akayokalumba5151 very true. Boxers and mma fighters already have the conditioning and delivery systems.

[@captainjacksparrow6655]

Charlie Nelsons combat arts is a great way of fighting he was ex US marine. Rex Applegate was another one and Larry Jordan too. Real close quarter combat warriors. As is the cqb defendu by W.E FAIRBAIRN. Who trained the SAS in ww2 who use this style of fighting. All good

[@elindioedwards7041]

What happened to the WW2 era combatives that you alluded to? Over time were there simply just less people who knew them?

[@captainjacksparrow6655]

youtube.com/@CNSDS?si=gMeD7AWWW2BkIeTv

[@captainjacksparrow6655]

There are a few who still teach variants of WW2 combatives, however it's not as commercialised as mma is these days.

[@captainjacksparrow6655]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boGbaHudopt1j5Isi=G4LUOwpbXWTACs0k

[@captainjacksparrow6655]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYHCg5ZobJh1gZosi=tmn7ssvgQJorFNVo

[@brianmcd9492]

Great insight into real street full combat fighting.MMA is controlled to the point of doing medical damage.Most referee's before any combat will say in parts No Eye gouging, Hitting below the Belt, Spitting, Punches on or behind the head etc that is in itself the answer to what is real and what is controlled 🙂 keep winning 👍

[@ericmiller9688]

Well off the bat the fact army combatives is for soldiers is what makes it superior. Mma is for sport

[@kungfujoe2136]

in europ i'm pritty sure juijitsu (japanees) is the bessis for army hand to hand training

[@darylehret]

I served in Fort Benning in 1990, before this program. At the 7 minute mark, you reference Fort Benning, which I believe no longer exists.

[@terrymiller111]

When it gets to this point, you have a missing or malfunctioning rifle/long-range firearm, a missing or malfunctioning sidearm/handgun, and a missing or broken knife.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Not necessarily. A soldier could be sweeping a building, turn a corner and encounter an enemy combatant and suddenly their in close range struggle. MACP teaches them how to fight WITH the weapons and use them in close range. The scenario for this is far more common than people think it is. In urban settings, this kind of contact is extremely likely.

[@cerberusreaper9759]

The problem with the Army Combatives Program, at least when I was in the army, was that they gave you an introduction to the system while in basic training, and then tell you there's a level 1,2,3, and 4. But trying to get to go to these schools is next to impossible. The program is not wide spread and taught regularly.

[@ShibaMcDripNu]

We need a MA that teaches you how to use a shield/skateboard for self defense and how to shed your "skin" in fights to either fight or flight.

[@oldgeezerfitnessr.perales7344]

Any mid to top level mma guy...would wipe the floor with any military ...combatives guy!! Same as most college wrestlers....

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Mid to top level MMA guy.... That would be a fair point if I hadn't specified that if the soldier put the same effort and time into training as a UFC guy, who do you think would be better prepared to handle a real life situation outside the ring where weapons, multiple people, and the environment is a factor. Oh and clothing. How many top level MMA guys train to grapple in 60 pounds of gear?

[@CaPnBaLlBaG]

@@ArtofOneDojo not even mid to top level. Just someone who trains consistently. I see it constantly where I train (which is right next to a major base in my area). The issue with military combatitives is trying to do too much with too little time. We don't retain what we don't use and without adequate repetitions of the basics, we aren't going to use it right to begin with. ESPECIALLY when it comes to grappling. I don't care how intensive the training is, a few months just isn't enough time to become proficient enough to take on actual trained fighters. And that's completely fine in a street fight against the average untrained, out of shape bozo or even in a war where nobody wants to be using their fists anyway. But to act like a few months of specialized combatives training is superior to consistent, long-term MMA training in a self-defense situation is crazy to me. It just doesn't make any sense. Honestly, and this would probably be too expensive, I think the military would be better off subsizing MMA training for their soldiers and then doing the more specialized weapon and gear work as an annual seminar type of deal. You should be putting way more time into the basic over the specialized stuff anyway. Imagine how great your knife defense would be if you trained grappling year round and then spent a few weeks per year drilling the knife defense.

[@richardcranston5160]

I served and while I served I studied combat Sombo with my instructor (r.i.p) in Virginia. I drove from Bragg to Hampton Virginia to train. I cut my teeth in FMA, Sombo and JKD. I loved Sombo because it is as nasty as you get. Weapons I prefer FMA. I sparred with combative guys and subbed them with leg locks and ground and pound. I love BJJ but the combative program is such sport oriented and still to this day I recommend FMA program and Sombo (true combat and not sport shit). To this day I use it in Philadelphia

[@chinesebob7220]

These are two different things though with overlaps. One is a sport the other is kill or be killed. Look at the old William Fairbairn videos. If you make the very bad mistake of fighting hand-to-hand in battle you have to take out the guy within 3 moves, not fight for 10 rounds.

[@Shin_Akumi]

the mma guy could kill u in 2 moves. he will always have more hand to hand combat than any army jerk. how often is the Army jerk using their combat experience? are they also getting elbowed in the head by jon jones until they are unconscious? what about ngannous punches? tom aspinalls rnc? not to mention eye pokes knee stomps and other joint manipulation. in ur army gear u are not training for headkicks. its an absolute joke to compare minimum military training to an mma fighter who has 20 years of exp. 😂

[@wargeneralbonez]

I hope you also do a video for Unfight.