Since the year 1999 the U.S. Army has began the transition towards teaching its recruits and soldiers the sport of Mixed Martial Arts for Hand to Hand combat. This is largely because of the growing popularity of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) I as a former Special Forces Soldier and Combative instructor agree that as far as for physical exercise the training is fantastic. However as far as real life combat goes it is trash. There is the debate that I've seen online.."Who would win in a fight a Special Forces Soldier or a Pro MMA athlete?" This is really a foolish question in that you are asking the impossible. There are some Special Ops guys that could dominate the very best UFC has. Then again there are just as many who only know the training that the Army has given them. My concern is that soldiers fight as they train.

In my most recent experience I noticed a soldier from the 10th Mountain division attempting to apprehend a suspected Taliban member. The tactic he used was to execute a double leg takedown then attempt for an armbar after he was on the ground. The problem was : He lost his situational awareness by attempting the takedown, then he remained on the ground; immobile and impotent. I immediately ran close to assist and pull security. I asked him what he was thinking. His response;"Thats what we learned in combatives Sergeant." This is the wrong answer.

The UFC is a controlled environment with rounds, and rules. the opponent isn't trying to kill you and the competitors lives are not at stake. Combat has one rule...there are none! The ground is not where you intentionally want to be; so why go there. there are no rounds. The soldier should be training with simple dirty techniques that are going to eliminate his enemies will to fight not stroke the ego and test the competitive will. There is a new M,ilitary Combative book out it is by Greg Thompson. H2H is the name of the book. The techniques in the book are what is currently being taught to our soldiers. Yes I beleiev that if our soldiers apply them they will do okay in the famed "Octagon." The techniques taught are not efficient tactically and will not assist the average G.I. outnumbered in a crowd or unarmed situation. Make no mistake this book and these techniques are designed for competition not Combat!


Soldiers can benefit from MMA conditioning; but the MMA mindset must leave our military. Although a hand to hand situation is rare, but ever increasing in todays low intensity comnflict. Our training must still be simple , efficient and painfully brutal. They must be trained to use what ever is in their hands and bite. dig, spit and choke. They must be trained to not compromise their footing and stay away from the ground at all cost. MMA is for the athletes not the troops! Please don';t think I am insulting Mr. Thompson in anyway; he is a master at what he does and I am sure he can hold his own. It is just what he does is not practical in combat. The Army buys into this simply because MMA is popular with the youth. The youth is where the recruits are and that is whatr sells. So I believe that the Army is more worried about numbers than lives. What's new;right? Please put forth your opinions.

Take care,

Andy