Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

While some recruits come into basic training with little to no martial arts training, some come in with years of experience. Nevertheless, regarless of skill level, all recruits start with the basics.

Recruits of Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, practiced punching, their basic warrior stance and their footwork during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program class at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, July 15. The class was designed to introduce recruits to the importance of the hand-to-hand combat skill as well as show them the basics of MCMAP.

The class began with recruits learning the basic warrior stance, a stance that requires shoulder width spacing of the legs and arms up, ready to block or strike. After the recruits mastered the stance, Staff Sgt. Brandon Curry,  MCMAP instructor, Support Battalion, demonstrated how to shift right, left, forward and backward from the stance, ensuring recruits never cross their feet.

After his demonstration, he picked various recruits to perform the ne skill and took the opportunity to correct mistakes.

Recruit Omar Ponce came to recruit training with four years of martial arts training and explained he believes MCMAP teaches discipline and focus just like his previous training.

“Martial arts teaches you discipline. When I’ve practiced in the past, I’ve always had to think quickly because there is always a way to get out of a submission and a way to win. You just have to keep a clear mind and stay focused on what’s happening,” said Ponce , a National City, Calif., native. “I’m using that same mentality here, and I’m motivated to learn new fighting techniques and the Marine history that comes with it.”

Although Ponce is a recruit who comes in with a martial arts background, there are others with no fighting experience just as eager to learn.

“This is my first martial arts class. I have no formal background in fighting, but I do have three older brothers,” said Recruit Aaron M. Willey, with a laugh. “I like this hands-on experience, I think that it is the most effective way to learn. It’s like weights, you can only get good form by practicing it. I just hope with this training I can take away techniques I can use in combat.”

Although this is the company’s first MCMAP class, many more are on the training schedule. Now that the basic fundamentals have been mastered, the recruits will have 8 weeks on techniques such as leg kicks, chokes, knee strikes and counter to chokes.

On training day 50, they will be evaluated on their MCMAP techniques, and if they pass their exam they will be MCMAP certified with tan belt. The lowest of the five MCMAP belts, however it is the foundation built upon to attain all higher MCMAP belts. Company C is scheduled to graduate October 2.