The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program: The Warrior Mindset of a Martial Culture
Abstract
MCMAP was originally designed as close combat program to combine combat instruction, core values and the development of a martial arts mindset. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program evolved into its present day form by combining the best combat-tested martial arts skills, time-honored Close Combat training techniques, with proven Marine Corps Core Values and Leadership training. However, the over emphasis on sportive and grappling techniques, the lethal aspect of the program has become convoluted, misdirected, and ineffective except under so-called sportive or competitive (i.e. unrealistic) conditions. Sustainment training of a Marine s mental and character disciplines must be balanced proportional to the physical discipline. That balance of disciplines is necessary to mitigate the strong inclination to act emotionally due to the influx of hormones and changes to a Marines physiological systems when he encounters combat stress. Despite the recognition that sustainment training across all disciplines is a contributing factor in the development of a Marine s warrior mindset, MCMAP continues to teach sportive techniques which are not effective when Marines are confronted with lethal threats in close combat scenarios. The martial art known as Guided Chaos will be discussed as an alternate view on training modalities effective in confronting lethal threats and the development of a warrior mindset. The principles and training modality of Guided Chaos is a unique martial arts example to achieve the warrior mindset of lethality currently lacking in MCMAP. Guided Chaos has no forms or set techniques, no prearranged specific responses to a given number of specific attacks and no learn-by-the-numbers choreography that would potentially clog the mind and the reflexes with unnecessary strategic calculations. Most martial arts focus on teaching tools and techniques instead of developing the skills and attributes that would make them work.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 04, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA601459
Entities
People
- Alan R. Singleton Ii
Organizations
- Marine Corps University