Combatives training

Photo By Master Sgt. David Largent | Sgt. Samuel T. Ohnstad, top, and Sgt. First Class David M. Jurpik, bottom, practice combative skills during a course at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

01.02.2010

Story by Sgt. Robert Walden 

Joint Force Headquarters - Wyoming National Guard

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Despite bruises, broken ribs and uncomfortable situations, 17 Soldiers from the 115th Fires Brigade became Level 1 certified at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, after completing a six day Modern Army Combatives Course Jan. 2, which is designed to teach basic hand to hand fighting techniques.

There were about 50 Soldiers from various units that participated in the course, which was divided into a morning and afternoon section. Of these Soldiers, 10 were from Headquarters, Headquarters Battery, 115th FiB, and 7 from the 61st Chemical Company.

"If you're ever in a situation where you can't use a weapon and you have to take it to the ground, these guys are going to do better than the average person," said Capt. Jakob Z. Norman, a Judge Advocate General officer with HHB 115th FiB who encouraged many of the Soldiers in his unit to enroll in the course. "It's not a bad skill to have even back home walking around the streets of America," Norman added.

During the 40 hour level 1 course, Soldiers learned 17 skills including fighting positions, chokes and arm bars. They were tested on performance of these skills, as well as their ability to teach others.

"In order to pass, not only do you have to be able to do the skill, but you also have to be able to articulate what's going on in order to teach other Soldiers those skills," said Norman. "After completing the first certification course, Soldiers are qualified to teach the techniques at a squad level in their unit."

There are four certification levels in the Modern Army Combatives program. Each certification builds on previous levels and teaches more advanced techniques. Upon completion of the level 2 course, which is 80 hours and teaches 57 fighting skills, the Soldier becomes an instructor and can help with level 1 certification courses.

"The combatives courses are designed to be hard. They put people in uncomfortable situations so that if they ever find themselves in that situation again they will feel more comfortable," said Norman, who is level 2 certified and helped instruct the level 1 course. "There's a lot of things we do in there; whether it's get punched in the face for the first time, or to go against people that are a lot bigger than you, or females against males and males against females ... all of these are uncomfortable positions," Norman said.

Each day before the instructors teach the fighting skills and allow the students to practice, they wear them out by having them do stretches and drills. Some of the drills were: various rolls from one end of the mat to the other; the assisted bear walk, where a partner holds onto a Soldiers neck and wraps their legs around his waist, dangling underneath the Soldier as he bear walks across the mat; different ways of sliding across the mat on your back and side; and variations of flutter kicks, sit-ups, and pushups.

"Everyone that goes through the course, regardless of their level of physical and mental training, gets worn out," said Norman. "The idea is to wear the students out and get them exhausted before they actually start practicing techniques on each other. This reduces the likelihood of injuries because they aren't able to push as hard and it also simulates a real situation where you wouldn't have all your energy and strength but still need to fight."

In order to ensure as much safety as possible for the class, the instructors used Composite Risk Management and experience to identify potential safety problems. They had several instructors there during the course to watch for unsafe conditions and correct them as needed. If someone gets too aggressive they tell them to back off. They also teach techniques that encourage the participant's safety and limit injuries.

"In the drills we do while practicing arm bars we tell the students not to actually grab the arm and finish the move," said Norman. "Once you get to where you know you can do an arm bar you leave it. There's no reason to break anybody's arm in the class."

• Date Taken: 01.02.2010
• Date Posted: 02.07.2010 11:47
• Story ID: 45052
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW