Military Self Defense Techniques
Bootcampers in any branch of the military are taught discipline, honor, respect and the proper way to make a bed. In addition to several other skills involving weaponry, drilling and related equipment, unarmed combat is introduced to instill in the recruit self confidence and the ability to handle themselves accordingly should the situation arise. Although hand-to-hand combat is very basic (yet still effective) during bootcamp, more techniques are taught for those involved in any of the special forces.
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The Arts
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The various branches all prescribe to any number of, or combination of, martial arts. Marines go through a progressive system that awards belts to signify accomplished levels, called the MCAMP, or Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. The same goes for the Air Force's Special Operations Command, which leans heavily on Tae Kwon Do and Judo skills. Some branches believe that a discipline less concerned with the formalities of form and more in line with actual unarmed combat, thus the Navy SEALs preference for Krav Maga, the official self-defense system of the Israeli special forces. Krav Maga carries a "him-or-me" philosophy, meaning students are taught to blur the distinction between offensive and defensive moves in favor of intentionally debilitating an opponent by any means possible. Army Rangers specialize in the Gracie brand of Jiu Jitsu, popularized by the Gracie family of the Ultimate Fighting Championships, which stresses techniques when the combatants are forced to fight lying on their backs.
Civilian Learning
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All martial arts systems used by the military are available to the public. If you're interested in the military's hand-to-hand combat techniques you should search online or consult your local yellow pages for credited and knowledgeable instructors, schools or dojos that teach those arts. For MCAMP style, most any martial art school or those specializing in mixed martial arts would provide more than enough instruction. For Krav Maga, only schools affiliated with the original school can teach it. Gracie Jiu Jitsu can be learned at any of the affiliated centers in the world. Brazilian in nature, Gracie Jiu Jitsu is divided into four separate curricula, each aimed at teaching the methods to kids and women and those wanting to learn potentially life-saving self-defense techniques.
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