| When I search for martial-arts terms in the | | | | meant as a criticism; they just don't know the |
| search engines, a lot of ads appear along with my | | | | world of more efficient martial arts out there. |
| keywords. Lately, I have noticed advertisements | | | | The Navy Seals |
| for army-related martial arts. The general public | | | | What about the Navy Seals? Aren't they known |
| needs to do more research, if they think these | | | | for their fighting prowess? |
| online pitches are the answer... | | | | This is actually an interesting puzzle: You go to a |
| Martial Artists Don't Look to the Armed Forces | | | | Navy Seal looking for self defense, not realizing |
| In over 40 years in martial arts, I have never | | | | that the Navy Seal went somewhere else in |
| seen a black belt seek instruction in the army | | | | order to learn practical application. Throughout the |
| way of hand-to-hand combat. It would be like a | | | | 1980s and some of the 1990s, some of my |
| surgeon asking for operating advice from | | | | buddies were hired to teach the Navy Seals. |
| someone who only has a first-aid card. In fact, as | | | | Apparently, the S.E.A.L.s spent a lot of money on |
| you'll read in the Navy-Seals section of this article, | | | | bringing in the best martial arts instruction that |
| it's usually the reverse. Army people get their | | | | money could buy. |
| instruction from martial artists, rather than the | | | | What kind of instruction you get from an |
| other way around. | | | | ex-S.E.A.L. depends on what type of extra training |
| In the U.S. army, you are lucky if you get even | | | | he had. Just keep in mind that if your S.E.A.L. |
| two weeks of hand-to-hand combat. Often it's | | | | claims that it's "army training," it came from a |
| just one or two sessions, at the most. Compare | | | | third-party source. (It's probably not "Navy Seal |
| that to the years that a martial artist dedicates | | | | born.) |
| to his or her mastery. | | | | Krav Maga Requisites |
| The Marines | | | | Even Krav Maga is the short and quick self |
| In the Marines, it's a little better. There actually is | | | | defense taught by the Israeli army. It was |
| more self defense taught. After all, these people | | | | designed for those in extremely good shape and |
| are being taught to be our "roughest" branch of | | | | those who didn't have a lot of time to learn a |
| the army. Still, most people searching for practical | | | | complete self-defense system. Sure, the Krav |
| self defense, probably wouldn't be satisfied with | | | | Maga organizations have progressed since then, |
| marine instruction. This is especially true, if you | | | | inventing belts, and requiring more skillful |
| aren't as rough-and-rugged as a "leatherneck." | | | | perfection of the technique. Still, its army origins ... |
| So, why are there so many marine self-defense | | | | Army Martial Arts |
| courses offered? | | | | I am not suggesting that all instructors who |
| My guess is because once they get out of the | | | | advertise their army roots are martial klutzes - |
| marines, some of them want to make money | | | | far from it. But it "is" important not to be fooled |
| from what they learned. Also, it's the brand of | | | | by the term "army training." To some people, it |
| fighting that they were exposed to. This isn't | | | | could imply ... amateur. |