Company C drill instructors Staff Sgt. Jose M. Mariscal, left, and Sgt. Timothy Brown demonstrate counters and chokes. Both drill instructors have taken the Martial Arts Instructors Course. Photo by: Lance Cpl. James Green
Posted on 08/18/2006 4:31:07 PM PDT by SandRat
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO (Aug. 18, 2006) -- Since August 2005, almost every drill instructor who has graduated from Drill Instructor School here has attended the Instructors’ Course at the depot’s Marine Corps Martial Arts Program facility.
The course is designed to give drill instructors more knowledge and experience with the materials taught in MCMAP before they teach it to the recruits.
“Instructors’ courses are recommended for all drill instructors to make them more proficient in MCMAP to help the recruits out,” said Staff Sgt. Jeff J. Vandentop, course instructor on the depot.
A minimum of a gray belt, the second of five belts that can be earned in MCMAP, is required to attend the class. If a Marine does not yet have his gray belt prioir to the class, he will first go through a week-long gray belt course before starting the instructors’ class, said Vandentop.
The course is comprised of numerous fast-paced, but thorough, lessons. Instructors must ensure each Marine who leaves the class is proficient in the material he learns. Marines are tested on their knowledge of MCMAP before receiving their instructors’ tab, which allows them to teach other Marines martial arts so they can upgrade their belts as they excel through the belt system from tan through black.
However, an instructor is not able to advance a belt user past his own belt. For example, a green belt instructor cannot certify a belt user higher than a green belt.
Because of the amount of time spent with each Marine, the material is understood and enjoyed by the students who attend the course.
“It’s a good course,” said Staff Sgt. Jose M. Mariscal, Company C drill instructor, Platoon 1021. “It took away the comfort zone by pushing us beyond the limits that we mentally set.”
Although MCMAP is a martial arts-based program, a lot more is put into the making of a warrior than just physical training.
Aside from the physical discipline necessary in the Instructors’ Course, Marines who attend the class are taught two other MCMAP disciplines.
“We teach mental and character discipline as well,” said Vandentop. “The synergy of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program is based on these three disciplines. They are the backbone of the program.”
Developed over years, MCMAP spawns from a variety of different martial arts styles and disciplines and remains available to Marines in the fleet who desire to upgrade their belts and become more knowledgeable and proficient in the unique fighting style.
“It’s our history,” said Mariscal. “MCMAP has helped Marines before me and will continue to serve them after me.”
The Instructors’ Course is offered to all noncommissioned officers and above.
For more information on the next course, call the Martial Arts Facility at (619) 524-5114.
Company C drill instructors Staff Sgt. Jose M. Mariscal, left, and Sgt. Timothy Brown demonstrate counters and chokes. Both drill instructors have taken the Martial Arts Instructors Course. DON'T MESS WIT DA MARINES!
That was one of the areas of Boot Camp training I both hated and enjoyed.
Pugil sticks, rubber hoses and chokeholds.. ouch.
Bayonet practice was OK, PT was too.
My DIs knew it, but none of the other recruits did. Being of smaller stature the larger recruits thought I'd be easy to take down.
Needless to say they got a suprise.
They weren't teaching this particular course when I was in back in the early 80s. I'd love to see what they're really using.
L
We didn't do much actual martial arts per se, this was 1972. we did garrots and a throw or two, nothing like what these folks here or you did.. you little meanie, you.
I remember meeting a Sgt at a Marine Barracks in Mare Island, CA, he was a black belt, and was in the real high rankings service-wise, I never messed wtih him, nice guy.
That's about all we were taught as well. It was the one thing my DIs said I did well enough from the get go, though.
Once they saw me take down a guy who went about 200 lbs or so my Senior DI said "That'll do recruit." It was the first time I ever did anything right the first time. I just about burst.
L
lol.. I had a 3oo pounder I'd like to have seen ya tackle, fortunately , I didn't draw him as a partner either,, he lost damn 100 pounds on 3 months, he was a special project..
I was on double rations, he was on half rations. I put on 20 lbs of solid muscle and he lost something like 50 lbs IIRC. Man did he hate me for those first few weeks. probably just as much as I hated him. We both PT'd till we thought we were going to die.
Me to gain muscle mass and him to lose fat.
L
That can't be MCRDSD,,,, nobody is wearing their sun glasses!
Semper Fi :-)
Sounds like one of the guys in my platoon squad, he had double rations too, he was real wiry, fairly tall, he put on probably 20 pounds or so of muscle, he had thick lens glassses too, heck he outshot me at the rifle range too.
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