combatives program

[ASU-DR]

ok, survey question, what do you all think of the army combatives? We've got an MS4 here who's got prior service with the 2nd Bat, and he's been giving us training on BJJ. It's awesome, good training, but I'm curious what your take is on it.

I like it. Like everything in the Army, there are negatives and positives.

Positives (over old combatives): If a soldier works hard at it, it's a martial art that allows a smaller guy a more even ground against a bigger guy, so long as the bigger guy doesn't know Ju Jitsu as well.

It is an awesome workout, where if done right, should result in few real injuries.

It should build up confidence in soldiers who aren't that good with his fists, although...see the negatives.

It gives a soldier a lot of tools if he's battling someone, especially in a less-than to-the-death type of fight.

The negatives can pretty much be summed up in one statement: it's not going to be enough to make a soldier in a hand-to-hand killer.

If a company or platoon has a boxer or any other type of martial artist who's good enough to teach punching, kicking, and manual weapons, it should somehow be integrated along with the BJJ.

[Blind_Reaper]

I agree, you musn't focus on one style of fighting but mix all you can possibly mix together. In my opinion, there are no "good" or "bad" systems. All depends on on the mentality of the fighter. You should study as many different systems as possible to get a broader view of the possiblilities that you have in a fight.

I do Krav Maga (it's basically very down to earth fighting mixing many elements from boxing, judo,...) and my instructor always tells us that 80% of the fight is psychological and a huge part of it is physical. You should never hesitate. When you see an opening, atack. Remember, he'd do the same to you...

To cut a long story short, it is not what you know that'll get you anywhere but how you think and how you apply it.

I believe a Ranger's mind is already hardened so much and that his physical condition is so good that whatever you teach him, he has huge chances of wining the fight.

Sure, some martial artists will say that "strength/size does not matter". Ok this may be true aslong as you remember every single technique. But face the facts, in a fight, you're put under tremendous stress. Do you really think that you're going to be able to perfectly execute some complicated move ? Strength and size DO matter in a real fight (outside of the regulated dojo). If you think the contrary, have a cat fight a tiger and see who wins :P