From The Past: November 12, 2007

The following are descriptions of what Andrew did today and what he will be doing tomorrow.

Today:

There are several fundamentals of the physical discipline of our martial arts that are used throughout any type of confrontation or situation. These fundamentals form the basis for all martial arts instruction and techniques. Additionally, you must prepare your body for the rigors of combat.

To do so, your body must possess the attributes of both toughness and flexibility. You must be able to absorb and give out punishment, but have the flexibility to prevent injuries. The proper execution of these fundamentals will enable you to effectively perform martial arts techniques that may very well save your life or the lives of fellow Marines one day.

Fundamentals of MCMAP will cover the fundamentals of martial arts to include the purpose of close combat, ranges of close combat, weapons of the body, targets of the body, pressure points, basic warrior stance, and angles of approach and movement, and body hardening.

Tomorrow:

The gas chamber experience exposes the recruits to a simulated toxic environment that prepares them for a possible chemical attack by the enemy.

The recruit learns proper handling of a gas mask and to calmly place it on his/her head and breathe. This exercise builds the recruits confidence in his/her gear, with the understanding that the mask can save his/her life.

It futher reinforces the understanding that as Marines, we are a “force-in-readiness” regardless of the circumstance.

In Pugil Sticks II, the bouts are conducted on wooden bridges approximately 2.5 feet above the ground. The bouts are controlled by a Martial Arts Instructor that starts and stops the bouts. Each bout is stopped after a set amount of time or when a properly executed technique is delivered to an opponent that would result in a “kill” on the battlefield.

These descriptions came directly from the Parris Island Marines website.