MILITARY CQC: “Gross motor skills vs. complex when facing the blade.”

Author: Odhinn Kohout

Many fighting techniques will work on a padded mat when going at 30% with your training partner. But these do not account for many complex variables which affect the efficiency of your tactics. Below are four crucial points for consideration;

Environmental Variables: Temperature and terrain conditions

Amount of Equipment and Physical Conditions: Wounded or exhausted. Weighed down by kit.

Previous Training Readiness, Specifically Stress Inoculation: Lack of interest in prior resulting in limited cognitive reasoning in a crisis vs. a high speed offensive mindset which embraces new CQC/H2H material.

Appropriate Training Syllabus: Is the training based on fooling around on the mats and lacks direction? Does the curriculum present solutions for worst case scenarios which may be encountered during the mission?

 

   

Now that we have set some basic parameters we can look at the technique for this week. From the flinch position the “reflexive response” from the startled flinch is to intercept the attack and strike the inside of the inner forearm at the median nerve. 

My left arm wraps above my Attacker’s right elbow in order to lock out the joint fulcrum and gets his weight moving in back of his hips to relieve the pressure affecting his elbow instead of forward.

I clasp my hands together into a “Gable Grip” and now use my hips and NOT arm strength to put tremendous pressure on his elbow by turning into him.

I can kick out the back of his legs to facilitate the takedown and armbreak (don’t do this in training) and finish the lock on the ground from a tripod position (posting on one leg).

Incorporating this type of tactic into your CQC program is effortless as it is a gross motor skill which can be performed under extreme stress without the need for extensive training and repetition.

It also follows the laws of bio-mechanical responses in that it starts with a “flinch” as the basis from which to build. It will be effective from a surprise attack and can be accomplished while wearing gear.

If you have been wounded, it relies on CORE strength and not how strong your arms are. The conditions of your surroundings do not impact the outcome of the technique.

Using this as a simple checklist for your own techniques, take some time and go over your program prior to teaching your next class and be honest with yourself. Don’t be afraid to scrap parts of the program that fall short and are too complicated or used to impress your class rather than to teach them valuable tools which could save their lives.

Be safe Guys!