The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program is a combat system developed by the United States
Marine Corps to combine existing and new hand-to-hand and close quarters combat techniques with
morale and team-building functions and instruction in the Warrior Ethos. The program, which began
in 2001, trains Marines in unarmed combat, edged weapons, weapons of opportunity, and
rifle and bayonet techniques. It also stresses mental and character development, including
the responsible use of force, leadership, and teamwork.
History
The MCMAP was officially created by Marine Corps Order 1500.54, published in 2002, as
a "revolutionary step in the development of martial arts skills for Marines and replaces
all other close-combat related systems preceding its introduction." MCMAP comes from an evolution
dating back to the creation of the Marine Corps, beginning with the martial abilities
of Marine boarding parties, who often had to rely on bayonet and cutlass techniques.
During World War I these bayonet techniques were supplemented with unarmed combat techniques,
which often proved useful in trench warfare. Between the world wars, Colonel Anthony J.
Biddle began the creation of standardized bayonet and close combat techniques based
on boxing, wrestling, savate and fencing. Also during this period, Captains Wallace
M. Greene and Samuel B. Griffith learned Kung Fu techniques from Chinese American Marines
and brought this knowledge to other Marines throughout the Marine Corps.
In 1956, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Hayward made
Gunnery Sergeant Bill Miller the new Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Hand-To-Hand Combat.
Miller was ordered to develop a new curriculum that a 110- or a 210-pound Marine could use
to quickly kill the enemy. Miller created the program from various martial arts styles
such as Okinawan karate, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Boxing, and Jujutsu. Every Marine
recruit that went through MCRD was instructed in Miller's Combat Curriculum. This also included
Special Operations Forces from all branches of the military and civilian entities. Later
in 2001, retired Gunnery Sergeant Bill Miller was awarded the Black Belt Emeritus "for pioneering
Martial Arts in the United States Marine Corps." Eventually these different techniques evolved
into the LINE System in the early 1980s. Later, the system was found to be lacking in flexibility
and techniques for use in situations that did not require lethal force, such as peacekeeping
operations. The Marine Corps began searching for a more effective system. The result was
the Marine Corps Close Combat training Program implemented in 1997–1999. MCMAP was implemented
as part of a Commandant of the Marine Corps initiative in summer 2000. Commandant James
L. Jones assigned Lieutenant Colonel George Bristol and Master Gunnery Sergeant Cardo
Urso, with almost 70 years of martial arts experience between them, to establish the
new MCMAP curriculum. In July 2011, MCMAP performers from San Diego
demonstrated for the Koyamada Foundation's United States Martial Arts Festival at the
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, California.
Structure and belt system
The program uses an advancement system of colored belts similar to that of most martial
arts. The different levels of belts are: Tan belt, the lowest color belt and conducted
during entry level training, signifies the basic understanding of the mental, physical,
and character disciplines. It is the minimum requirement of all Marines with a training
time of 27.5 hours, and has no prerequisites. Recruits receive these belts after completion
of a practical application test on all of the basic techniques of the Tan Belt.
Gray belt is the second belt attained after 25 hours of training. It signifies an intermediate
understanding of the basic disciplines. The Marine must complete the "Leading Marines"
course from the Marine Corps Institute, and most instructors will require a report be
completed on the Marine Raiders. Green belt is the third belt, requiring 25
hours of training. This belt signifies understanding of the intermediate fundamentals of the different
disciplines. This is the first belt level in which one can become an instructor, which
allows him or her to teach tan, grey, and green belt techniques with the power to award
the appropriate belt. The prerequisites for this belt include a recommendation from reporting
senior. Brown belt is the fourth belt level requiring
33 hours of training. It introduces Marines to the advanced fundamentals of each discipline.
In addition, as with green belts, they may be certified as MAIs and teach tan through
brown techniques. Prerequisites for this belt include recommendation of reporting senior.
Black belt 1st degree is the highest belt color and requires 40 hours of supervised
training. It signifies knowledge of the advanced fundamentals of the different disciplines.
A 1st degree black belt instructor may teach fundamentals from tan to black belt and award
the appropriate belt. In addition, a black belt can become an instructor-trainer, which
authorizes them to teach and award all belts, as well as teach and certify instructors.
Prerequisites include recommendation of reporting senior.
There are an additional five degrees of black belt, with several of the same common prerequisites,
including recommendation of reporting senior, appropriate level of PME completed, must be
a current MAI or MAIT. Black belt 2nd degree to 6th degree signify that the holder is an
authority in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. In addition to the above prerequisite,
each belt also has its own rank requirements. Black belt 2nd degree
Black belt 3rd degree Black belt 4th degree
Black belt 5th degree Black belt 6th degree
Because the belts are worn with the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform, the complete
range of belt colors such as red, yellow, or purple are excluded as a practical consideration.
Once Marines obtain their green belt, they can attend an additional training course to
become a martial arts instructor 0916, formerly 8551).
MCMAP instructors can train and certify other Marines up to their current belt level. The
instructor status is signified by one vertical tan stripe on the MCMAP belt. A Marine must
have attended at least the Martial Arts Instructor course to advance beyond first degree black
belt. The only one who can train a Marine to be an instructor are black belt Martial
Arts Instructor-Trainers. An MAIT's status is signified by a vertical red stripe on the
MCMAP belt and a secondary MOS of 0917. To become an MAIT, a Marine must have already
completed a local MAI course. The Marine then attends the MAIT course at the Martial Arts
Center of Excellence at located at Raider Hall aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico.
MCMAP techniques can be taught to other services and to foreign military members, and belts
awarded to those who complete the course. Disciplines
"MCMAP is a synergy of mental, character, and physical disciplines with application
across the full spectrum of violence." The disciplines are the foundation of the MCMAP
system, as it serves a dual purpose. MCMAP was implemented to increase the combat efficiency,
as well as to increase the confidence and leadership abilities of Marines. As stated
above, the three disciplines of MCMAP are mental, character, and physical. Marines are
required to develop the mind, body and spirit simultaneously and equally. Safety is also
of importance, so equipment such as mouthguards and pads are used in conjunction with techniques
such as half-speed practice and break-falls to prevent injury.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps has recently determined that the disciplines studied in
MCMAP are integral to the function of Marines, and had ordered that all Marines will attain
a tan belt qualification by the end of 2007. Additionally, all infantry Marines are required
to attain a green belt qualification, and other combat arms must qualify for a gray
belt by the end of 2008. Mental
Warrior Studies focus on individuals that have shown exemplary service on the battlefield,
as well as discussion and analysis of combat citations. Martial Culture Studies focus on
societies that produce warriors either primarily or exclusively. Some of the martial cultures
that are studied are the Marine Raiders, Spartans, Zulu and Apache. By studying these cultures,
Marines learn fundamental tactics and methods of the past and reconnect themselves with
the warrior ethos of the Marine Corps. Combative Behavior studies interpersonal violence, as
well as Rules of engagement and the Force Continuum. For some belts, PME courses are
prerequisites. The development of this discipline also stresses situational awareness, tactical
and strategic decision-making, and Operational Risk Management.
Character Development of this discipline involves discussion
on Marine Corps core values, ethics, and good citizenship. An instructor can fail a Marine
if he or she feels that the student does not adequately possess honor, courage, and commitment.
Some belts also require the approval of the commanding officer before being awarded. The
force continuum is discussed, allowing a Marine to responsibly use the minimum amount of force
necessary, including lethal force. Leadership qualities are also stressed.
Physical In MCMAP, only a third of the training involves
techniques and physical development. The physical discipline includes the training of fighting
techniques, strength, and endurance. This discipline also includes sustainment of skills
and techniques already taught, in order to improve skill as well as develop weak-side
proficiency. Ground fighting, grappling, pugil bouts, bayonet dummies, and other techniques
are used to familiarize Marines with the application of the techniques used. In addition, physical
strength and endurance are tested and improved with various techniques that often require
teamwork or competition, such as calisthenics, running with full gear, log carries, and boxing
matches. Techniques can also be practiced in water or in low-light conditions to simulate
combat stress. Techniques
MCMAP draws influences from several disciplines including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling,
boxing, savate, jujitsu, judo, sambo, krav maga, karate, aikido, muay thai, eskrima,
hapkido, taekwondo, kung fu, and kick boxing.
The techniques used by MCMAP vary in degrees of lethality, allowing the user to select
the most appropriate amount of force. For example, a Marine facing a nonviolent but
noncompliant subject can use an unarmed restraint to force compliance with minimal damage and
pain. A more aggressive subject could be met with a choke, hold, or a strike. Lethal force
can be used on a subject as a last resort. The majority of techniques can be defensive
or offensive in use, with or without a weapon; allowing Marines flexibility in combat and
operations other than war. An instructor can augment the circumstances of training to better
fit the unit's mission, such as military police practicing after being exposed to pepper spray.
Tan Belt The tan belt syllabus focuses on the development
of the basics of armed and unarmed combat. Students start with the Basic Warrior Stance
and break-falls are taught for safety, then move to:
basic punches, uppercuts, and hooks basic upper-body strikes, including the eye
gouge, hammer fists, and elbow strikes basic lower-body strikes, including kicks,
knee strikes, and stomps bayonet techniques
basic chokes, joint locks, and throws counters to strikes, chokes, and holds
basic unarmed restraints and armed manipulations basic knife techniques
basic weapons of opportunity Students must prove proficiency with 80% of
50 techniques to pass and earn their belt. The tan belt syllabus is part of The Basic
School and recruit training curriculum. Gray Belt
The gray belt syllabus expands on the basic techniques with:
intermediate bayonet techniques intermediate upper-body strikes including
knife-hands and elbow strikes intermediate lower-body strikes including
kicks, knee strikes, and stomps intermediate chokes, joint locks, and throws
counters to strikes, chokes, and holds intermediate unarmed restraints and arm/wrist
manipulations intermediate knife techniques
basic ground fighting intermediate weapons of opportunity
Green Belt Brown Belt
advanced bayonet techniques advanced ground fighting and chokes
advanced throws unarmed vs. hand held weapons
firearm retention firearm disarmament
advanced knife techniques Black Belt 1st Degree
advanced bayonet techniques advanced chokes, holds, and throws
advanced ground fighting basic counter firearm techniques
advanced upper-body strikes, including strikes and smashes
advanced knife techniques pressure points
improvised weapons counterattacks
Black Belt 2nd Degree rifle vs. rifle
short weapon vs. rifle unarmed vs. rifle
Black Belt 3rd Degree
Notes
References This article incorporates public domain
material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
External links USMC Martial Arts Center of Excellence - CAC
Enabled Web Version of USMC Manual Close Combat MCRP
3-02B