Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- Many recruits who come to recruit training have never experienced martial arts or any type of fighting first hand. For them, learning to fight can be like learning a foreign language.
Recruits of Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, took on the task of learning lower body strikes as part of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, June 6.
Sergeant Todd P. Talley, martial arts instructor, Instructional Training Company, Support Battalion, began the class by demonstrating various techniques such as the front kick, round kick and knee strike.
Talley explained key aspects to each move such as proper placement of feet and hands while performing each kick.
“Kicking may seem easy, but it’s an art,” said Talley. “In a fight, I’d rather use a kick because there is more power behind it.”
The recruits lined up in rows, and on Tally’s command, performed the kicks in sets of 10. Drill instructors watched keenly for errors in technique and quickly corrected recruits with improper form.
For many, the MCMAP session was an opportunity for recruits to do something they had only seen in martial arts movies.
“This was the first time learning martial arts in my life,” said Recruit Albert Duong, Platoon 1062. “Learning to do a round kick that I grew up watching in movies is pretty cool. I actually felt the power of the momentum when I drove forward with the kick.”
While learning the techniques may be interesting, recruits acknowledge the significance of knowing how to effectively employ MCMAP techniques.
“I will be in the infantry, and if I’m ever in a combat scenario I will need these skills for my safety and my squad’s safety,” said Recruit Stephen Keezer, Platoon 1066. “I’ve never fought before, so this experience is especially valuable for me.”
No matter what level of experience recruits had in martial arts, the skills learned brought the recruits one step closer to becoming combat-ready Marines.
Before the class ended, Talley made sure the recruits were aware of how the MCMAP techniques could assist them in combat.
“If you kick the enemy in the femoral artery with the techniques I’m teaching you, it doesn’t matter if he’s bigger than you, he will come down to your size,” said Talley.