Learn About The US Army's Combatives Program

The Modern Army Combatives Program is a military martial arts system taught to soldiers in the U.S. Army. This close combat program focuses on submissions, grappling, arm and leg strikes, weapons training and more. The US Army also sponsors Combatives Championship fights. Soldiers fight in a caged arena similar to a Mixed Martial Arts contest. The fights are broken out by sex and weight class (i.e. bantam to heavy weight).

Examples of US Army Combatives Techniques

Knife Defenses

• Knife Defense No. 1 Angle of Defense - US Army Combatives - Check and Lift
• Knife Defense No. 2 Angle of Defense - US Army Combatives - Check and Ride
• Knife Defense No. 3 Angle of Defense - US Army Combatives - Check and Lift
• Knife Defense No. 4 Angle of Defense - US Army Combatives - Check
• Knife Defense Low No. 5 Angle of Defense - US Army Combatives - Parry
• Knife Defense High No. 5 Angle of Defense - US Army Combatives
• Knife Defense No. 6 Angle of Defense - US Army Combatives
• Follow-Up Knife Defense Techniques - US Army Combatives

Self-Defense versus Bayonets, Clubs, Baseball Bats, etc.

• Unarmed Defense Against Bayonet, Club, etc. - No. 1 Angle of Defense
• Unarmed Defense Against Bayonet, Club, etc. - No. 2 Angle of Defense
• Unarmed Defense Against Bayonet, Club, etc. - No. 3 Angle of Defense
• Unarmed Defense Against Bayonet, Club, etc. - No. 4 Angle of Defense
• Unarmed Defense Against Bayonet, Club, etc. - No. 5 Angle of Defense
• Unarmed Defense Against Bayonet, Club, etc. - No. 6 Angle of Defense

Throws & Takedowns

• Rear Takedown - US Army Combatives

Defense Against Headlocks

• Defense Against Headlock & Punches - US Army Combatives

Other Techniques

• One-Hand Neck Press Against the Wall - US Army Combatives
• Captain Kirk Technique - US Army Combatives - A throw named after the popular Star Trek actor.

References

1. US Army, Official Home of Modern Army Combatives, http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/197th/combatives/index.html, Added - 5/28/13
2. US Army, 2012 U.S. Army Combatives Championship, http://www.hood.army.mil/combatives2012/, Added - 5/28/13