VIEWFINDER: Mixed Martial Arts Helps Soldiers Prepare For Close-Quarters Combat

(Editor's note: This article appeared on the Facebook page of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, University Place Patch's Community Connector, and is republished on Patch with the brigade's permission. It was written by Pfc. Sean White, 16th CAB public affairs, Joint Base Lewis-McChord)

For Soldiers in the Modern Army Combatives Program, class will wind down at Sheridan gym after a grueling two weeks of training leading up to level two qualifications.

MACP, a mixture of Muay Thai, Jiu jitsu, and Greco Roman wrestling, was started in 2002 by U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Larsen, and is designed to improve hand-to-hand combat skills through instructional partner-assisted ground and striking scenarios. It was created to help Soldiers function well in close quarters combat and respond to situations with confidence and without hesitation.

Sgt. Rickey Dunn, 16th Combat Aviations Brigade command driver, has been teaching in the MACP program for two and a half years and is a level four certified instructor. He has competed in Alaska post tournaments and hopes to compete in more in the future.

“The program instills confidence and teaches Soldiers how to defend themselves in both their Army and civilian lives,” Dunn said.

MACP is one of many programs created for Soldiers to prepare for the harsh realities of combat during overseas deployments. Students are required to challenge different peers which brings them out of their comfort zones, and encourages physical and mental resilience.

Soldiers physically benefit in coordination, strength and flexibility through controlled group stretches and kinesthetic movements that include a mixture of cardio, boxing and wrestling mat exercises. This allows students to stay healthy and keep them from damaging muscles, ligaments and tendons while engaging in rigorous physical strain. The program can also serve as a measuring tool, allowing Soldiers a chance to measure their fitness in comparison with others and see what they can do to improve.

“I like that I get to gage and test my abilities by sparring with other people. This helps me see where I am and what I can work on to get better,” said Pfc. Jarrod Misner, 16th CAB aviation operations specialist.

Mentally, the program helps Soldiers develop self-confidence and self-control by teaching them to effectively protect themselves and others, think ahead and be able to adapt to changing conditions.

“Combatives and any form of martial arts are like a game of chess,” Misner said. “If your opponent does this, then you have to already be thinking ahead five steps that you are going to do this and that to counter it until you eventually don’t even have to think about it.”

As a self-improvement and empowerment program, MACP allows Soldiers an alternative means to develop the strength and the confidence needed to tackle problems and seek out solutions both in their Army and civilian lives.

“One of the goals of MACP is to teach students to take your place and have the confidence to teach it back eventually,” Dunn said. “There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your students get the moves right and at the same time be able to teach them back to others.”