The use of military self defense over the last decade has skyrocketed. Many people attribute this to the creation of MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program). A large number of former soldiers and instructors have been promoting the benefits of a military-style self defense curriculum over learning traditional martial arts. This has not only increased civilian awareness, but also provided easier access to this style of self defense. However, many people are still left wondering about how beneficial learning this really is. Here is a quick look at the 3 disciplines of MCMAP (mental, character, and physical) and how they can benefit the average person.
The mental aspect of MCMAP studies does not necessarily directly translate over to the civil world. However, a modified curriculum could prove very advantageous in regards to self defense. In the marines, soldier study issues like Warrior Studies and Martial Culture Studies. This includes studying cultures such as the Spartans, Zulu, and Marine Raiders. While this doesn't directly help the average person, there are some aspects of the discipline that could. The overall goal of this discipline is to teach tactical/strategic decision making, situational awareness, and risk management. With an altered curriculum, these goals can be very useful for the average person learning military self defense.
The second discipline of MCMAP is character. This discipline is based around core values, good citizenship, and ethics. Studying and understanding these issues can be very useful for the average person. In fact, an MCMAP instructor can fail a marine is they do not demonstrate intangibles such as honor and commitment. When learning self defense, understanding and following a set value system that emphasizes good citizenship can be a benefit to everyone. By learning this type of information, it is much easier for the average person to asses a situation and decide how much force is necessary to ward off an attacker.
The final discipline of MCMAP is physical. The marines rely on a variety of different skills when learning military self defense. This includes ground fighting, grappling, and close quarters combat (including hand to hand combat). It also emphasizes improving overall strength and endurance. There are a variety of benefits that the average person can gain from improving their overall physical condition as well as learning how to safely defend themselves in a wide variety of situations. The techniques that are taught in MCMAP vary greatly in degrees of force and lethality. This includes a large number of non-lethal techniques that anyone can use for self defense.
It is no surprise that learning military self defense has become more popular over the last decade. MCMAP is an excellent balance of physical and mental preparation that everyone can benefit from learning. Self defense in all about protecting yourself from an attacker and all three disciplines of MCMAP can make this easier. While learning martial arts will always be a part of the civilian world, the group of individuals that opting to benefit from military-style self defense courses continues to grow.
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