Photo By Sgt. Walter D. Marino II | Recruits of Company F, 2nd Recruit training Battalion, demonstrate rifle strikes to...... read more read more
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SAN DIEGO — For some recruits knowing how to fight has never been a necessity or desire until arriving to recruit training. In fact, for many of the recruits in Company F, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion the first time they threw a punch was during their training for tan belt in Marine Corps Martial Arts aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
Company F recruits were tested out on every aspect of tan belt techniques before earning their belts, July 18. Recruits were required to show proper technique on moves such as leg sweeps, arm manipulations and bayonet slashes.
Although Company F’s focus was to instill their recruits with tan belt knowledge, drill instructors were also aware of a MCMAP belt being a confidence booster for their recruits as well.
“We teach them the fundamentals and I’d say it’s a confidence builder. A lot of them have never hit a punching bag,” said Sgt. Cliffton L. Roush, senior drill instructor Company F., Platoon 2126. “For a lot of them it’s their first physical contact. That’s why it’s so important they get introduced to being physical here.”
Other drill instructors had similar thoughts and also felt strongly about taking full advantage of their allotted MCMAP training time.
“Experience breeds confidence. Were getting them repetitions and putting them in situations,” said Gunnery Sgt. Anthony C. Sims, chief drill instructor, Company F, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. You can see a change in their demeanor, more confident in their execution, movement and overall in themselves,”
At times during tan belt testing, recruits messed up moves with a wrong step or wrong position. But when that happened drill instructors were there every time to show them what they were doing wrong and how to fix it. As long as recruits had most of the move learned they were given another opportunity to perform it correctly.
“It was challenging, I messed up on some of the moves like the wrist lock. But if I review it again I know I can do better,” said Recruit Sean G. Jamison, Plt. 2126, Company F. “My favorite part was take downs. It’s fun flinging people to the ground. I don’t think there is anything more humbling than putting someone on their bottom.”
Recruits were not afraid to admit learning the moves were hard but also weren’t afraid to speak of their driving force to learn MCMAP.
“It can be difficult if you’re not familiar with the fighting form. It can be hard to get your body used to the different stances. It looks natural for professional fighters and instructors but it’s not as easy as they make it look,” said Recruit Devon C. Fairman, Plt. 2126. “It’s definitely important to know how to not only how to defend yourself but also your brothers to the left and right of you. I think this training is something that makes Marines more proficient fighters than the other branches because we get this in boot camp.”
On top of liking MCMAP for its usefulness, recruits were also aware of MCMAP’s uniqueness in comparison to other martial arts.
“The weapon and bayonet techniques are things that show the difference between MCMAP and any other form of martial arts,” said Fairman, 21. “From what I have seen no other martial arts uses a rifle with a bayonet. I mean I’ve heard of swords being used but a rifle with a bayonet? I’ve never heard of that.”
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.25.2012 13:09 |
| Story ID: | 92134 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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