Purpose: To teach special Military and Security Personnel techniques of unarmed combatives which support non-use of firearms when operating in an hostile environment.

Description: The techniques in this course are currently in use by several Military and Government, Agencies to increase personal survival when the use of firearms is, for whatever purpose, not available.

The course information is beneficial to all personnel regardless of billet and is designed to enhance an individuals ability to protect themselves in sudden, unexpected violent confrontations.

Methodology:  The ACI Combative Skills Course is broken down into two sections: unarmed combatives and edged weapons assault. The first section will be dedicated to unarmed combative skill training. The second section will be dedicated to knife defense and the use of edged weapons.

The first section is dedicated to unarmed combatives demonstration and execution of the impact strikes of close quarter combat. These strikes are taught to be executed from various body positions and distances. They are placed in working sequences so the individual can develop flow of execution . The constant repetition of striking sequences enhance the personnel’s ability to counter attack instinctively when faced with a violent encounter.

The second section focuses on knife defense and use of the edged weapons, utilizing the strikes of section one. The counter knife section focuses on demonstration and execution of realistic knife assaults. This part of training emphasizes the importance of awareness, distancing, and positioning. Once the individual is familiar with knife assaults, methods of countering those assaults is covered.

Goal: The goal of this ACI Combative Skills Course is to bring the individual’s C.Q.C. tactics to a level of competence to efficiently and instinctively neutralize a sudden unexpected violent assault.

TRAINING AND TEACHING PSYCHOLOGY
UNARMED COMBAT

1. MILITARY VALUE

It inculcates that spirit of self-confidence, initiative and determination so necessary to the soldier. By those qualities, allied to a sound knowledge of the art, a man is enabled to acquit himself as a soldier even although he finds himself in the most desperate of situations.

Unarmed combat has hitherto been considered mainly as a means of defense in close-quarter fighting, when no weapons are at hand. Its use as a method of attack, however, must not be overlooked, particularly on such occasions as those when weapons cannot be conveniently used, as for example, when the question of noise is involved, with its consequent betrayal of position. Furthermore, by teaching a man to attack on every possible occasion, one develops that fighting spirit so vital to the soldier. Attack is often the best means of defense, for the initiative always lies with the attacker.

No attack will prove successful if performed in a half-hearted manner. Hence, every endeavor will be made to cultivate a real fighting spirit in the soldier, so that when an attack is made it will be carried out with the utmost vigor and perfect timing and control.

The soldier must be taught to close with his opponent, whether the latter is armed or otherwise, and immediately attack the most vulnerable point open to him. The location of this will, of course, depend upon the opponent’s dress and equipment, as well as upon his position, i.e. whether he is standing, kneeling, facing or with his back to the attacker.

The vigor and suddenness of this action will probably catch even an armed opponent at a disadvantage, for it is unlikely that he will anticipate an attack from an unarmed man.

In war, your attack can have only two possible objects; either to kill your opponent or to capture him alive. It must be emphasized that whichever of the two objects is in view, it should be attained with the minimum number of moves.

In the description of the defenses and releases given here, a number of following-up offensive movements is suggested. It is essential to appreciate that these are only suggestions and that the quickest available means to the end should be used.

The use of unarmed combat in defenses is equally as effective as in offense, and whilst the same skill is required for its successful application, the defender should always bear in mind the fact that at the first available opportunity he must assume the role of attacker. There is nothing more disconcerting for an armed opponent than to find that an apparently unarmed man is ready and willing to take the initiative. It argues supreme confidence or possibly concealed weapons and is bound to make the attacker more cautious and hence less sure of himself. Therefore, from the start, the defender should endeavor to make the attacker conform to his movements, and this valuable seizing of the initiative may even enable the original defender to deliver an attacker before his armed opponent. This will not always be possible, however, and if forced on the defensive, the defender must use every means to deceive his opponent. Then, with the accurate timing of a champion boxer, he should parry his opponent’s attack and assume the role of attacker.

War is a matter of life and death, even where unarmed combat is concerned, hence there must be no scruple or compunction over the methods employed. Complete ruthlessness is necessary in order to gain the mastery over one’s opponent, and it must be used without a tremor.

Surprise, speed and smoothness of execution and, perhaps most important of all, the gaining and retention of the initiative, are all essential if success is to be achieved. These cannot be attained without a thorough knowledge of the art, allied to constant practice with a variety of partners and under different conditions, as for example, in the matter of dress, when one is tired as well as when fresh, and even occasionally at night when it is dark.

No two opponents will attack in precisely the same manner, but the skilled exponent of unarmed combat will by virtue of his continual practice under all conditions, have a variety of moves at his command and be able to apply that most suitable to the occasion.

Although the initiative of an attack may appear to be with the combatant who is armed, for example, with a rifle and bayonet, the unarmed man can, and should, by a skillfully-timed offensive action seize the initiative, disarm his opponent and thus secure the upper hand.

Great care must be taken during practice to avoid injuries for a bone might easily be broken or a joint dislocated, hence the speed of a movement may have to be made as realistic as possible. In an actual combat do not be misled by the false cries of an artful opponent.

6. Dress

In the early stages, unarmed combat may be practiced in P.T. kit. Later, however, it should be practiced in uniform, gradually working up to battle dress and full equipment.