San Diego -- Recruits of Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, learned various chokes and counters aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, June 5.
Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructors with Instructional Training Company, Support Battalion taught recruits different chokes and counters in order to off-balance an opponent and re-gain control during an altercation.
The MCMAP session included the proper execution of a figure four variation choke, a rear choke, a counter to a bear hug, counter to a rear choke and counter to a headlock.
“These techniques teach how to incapacitate and defend against bigger opponents,” said Sgt. Phillip S. Haly, drill instructor, Platoon 1031, Co. B., 1st RTBn. “If techniques are done right it levels the playing field and caters to a smaller fighter.”
Some recruits come to recruit training with little to no fighting experience, while others arrive with prior martial arts experience.
“All these techniques are helpful. It’s a good balance of self defense and offense,” said Recruit Erik Estrada, guide, Plt. 1030, Co. B, 1st RTBn., who has previous martial arts training. “I like that MCMAP is more technique than raw strength; even something like a wrist lock can snap something.”
Even though Estrada arrived at recruit training with experience in Taekwondo and boxing, he has not only improved his physical fitness through MCMAP, he’s also learned something new.
“My dad was in the Marine Corps and showed me a few things but he told me I would learn more here,” said 19-year old Estrada. “I didn’t know the proper way to use chokes before (recruit training) but now I feel 100 percent capable of using these techniques properly.”
During the session, drill instructors helped supervise recruits as they executed the newly-learned tan belt syllabus techniques.
The tan belt syllabus lays the foundation needed in order to move up in belt levels within the MCMAP program.
Recruits can look forward to earning higher belts when they finish initial training and arrive at their first duty station. The five MCMAP belt levels are tan, gray, green, brown and the highest, black.
With each belt come new and complex skills. Marines must learn and demonstrate mastery of all MCMAP techniques up to the belt they are testing for in order to pass.
Recruits must show proficiency in all tan belt MCMAP techniques as a graduation requirement. They must also learn all other fundamental skills that encompass being a Marine.
With six weeks remaining until graduation, recruits of Co. B are getting closer to achieving their goal, earning the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.