R 161815Z MAY 02 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO MARADMIN
BT
UNCLAS //N01000//
MARADMIN 275/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA/CG//
SUBJ/MARINE CORPS MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM (MCMAP) SAFETY ADVISORY 1-02//
POC/K.S. OSUCH/MAJ/TECOM/GTB/TPS/TEL: 703-784-3045/TEL:DSN: 278-3045/
FAX:DSN: 278-2334//
REF/A/ALMAR 042/01/CMC/200905ZSEP01//
REF/B/MARADMIN 537/01/CMC/MCMAP/260900ZOCT01//
NARR/REF A IS THE ALMAR ESTABLISHING THE MARINE CORPS MARTIAL ARTS
PROGRAM (MCMAP), IDENTIFYING CMC PROGRAM GOALS AND VISION. REF B IS
MARADMIN PROVIDING PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND INITIAL GUIDANCE.//
RMKS/1. TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMAND WILL PUBLISH A QUARTERLY
MCMAP SAFETY UPDATE TO HIGHLIGHT TRAINING INJURY TRENDS AND CONCERNS.
THE INTENT IS TO ASSIST COMMANDERS, MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTORS/
INSTRUCTOR TRAINERS, AND ALL PARTICIPANTS WITH MAINTAINING A SAFE
TRAINING ENVIRONMENT FOR CONDUCTING MCMAP.
2. A NUMBER OF REPORTED INJURIES HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO MCMAP
TRAINING. AFTER REVIEWING THE PRIMARY CATEGORIES THAT THESE INJURIES
PREDOMINANTLY FALL UNDER, IT APPEARS THAT THE MAJORITY WERE
AVOIDABLE. THE PHYSICAL NATURE OF MCMAP DEEMS IT CRITICAL THAT
SAFETY BE ADHERED TO IN ALL FACETS OF TRAINING. SUPERVISION, PROPER
INSTRUCTION, AND STRICTLY ADHERING TO THE PROGRAM MAXIM, INCREASE
SPEED AND POWER WITH PROFICIENCY," WILL GREATLY DECREASE TRAINING
RELATED INJURIES.
3. COMMANDERS, INSTRUCTORS, AND ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE ACUTELY
AWARE OF THE ELEVATED PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL LEVELS INVOLVED WITH
MCMAP TRAINING. CONTROLLING THESE HUMAN FACTORS IS NECESSARY TO
MINIMIZE THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF INJURIES. OPERATIONAL RISK
MANAGEMENT (ORM) MUST BE INCORPORATED INTO EACH TRAINING SESSION.
ORM MATRICES FOR ALL MCMAP TECHNIQUES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE
MCMAP WEBSITE AT WWW.TBS.USMC.MIL; FOLLOW THE LINKS TO THE MARTIAL
ARTS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.
4. MCMAP USES A PROGRESSIVE TRAINING PLATFORM, IDEALLY SUITED FOR
INTEGRATION WITH A UNIT’S WEEKLY PHYSICAL TRAINING SCHEDULE. MCMAP
IS NOT DESIGNED FOR "BLOCK TRAINING," E.G., THREE-DAY TAN BELT
COURSES. BLOCK TRAINING INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY DUE TO
ITS COMPRESSED NATURE. HIGH REPETITION OF THROWS AND FALLS, RAPID
IMMERSION INTO MARTIAL ARTS DRILLS, AS WELL AS LONG PERIODS BETWEEN
MCMAP INSTRUCTION ARE PRIMARY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO ACCELERATED
INJURY RATES. A TWO-HOUR MCMAP SESSION, TO INCLUDE MENTAL AND
CHARACTER DISCIPLINE ASPECTS, IS THE PRESCRIBED LIMIT FOR ONE
TRAINING SESSION.
5. PROPER EXECUTION OF PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES
A. WHEN CONDUCTING THROWS/PRACTICING FALLS, USE A SOFT SURFACE FREE
OF OBSTACLES; SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND GOOD JUDGMENT MUST BE
PRACTICED BY ALL TRAINERS. THE TECHNIQUE OF "FITTING IN" CAN BE A
USEFUL TOOL. "FITTING IN" A LONG STANDING GRAPPLING PRACTICE - IS
A PROTOCOL IN WHICH ONLY 2 OF THE 3 PORTIONS OF A THROW ARE EXECUTED
(E.G., ENTRY, OFF-BALANCING). ACTUAL THROWING CAN OCCUR ON A MUCH
LESS FREQUENT BASIS. MULTIPLE FIT-INS CAN AND SHOULD BE PRACTICED
(RATIO OF 1 THROW TO 10 FIT-INS IS RECOMMENDED).
B. WHEN CONDUCTING BODY SPARRING OR FREE SPARRING ENSURE PROPER
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS USED. FREE SPARRING - OF ALL TYPES - IS
CONDUCTED AT A MAXIMUM OF 50% OF EACH MARINE'S STRENGTH AND
INTENSITY. SPARRING SHOULD NEVER ACHIEVE FULL CONTACT OR FULL FORCE.
C. WHEN CONDUCTING GROUND FIGHTING, ENSURE SLOW STEADY PRESSURE IS
APPLIED WHEN EXECUTING CHOKES AND HOLDS. GROUND FIGHTING IS MEANT
TO BE A LAST RESORT METHOD OF ENGAGEMENT; A MARINE SHOULD NEVER
REMAIN ON THE GROUND FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. GROUND
FIGHTING TRAINING SHOULD EMPHASIZE THE QUICK RETURN TO THE STANDING
RATHER THAN EXTENDED MOCK BOUTS ON THE GROUND. AS IN ALL MCMAP
PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES, INCREASING SPEED WITH PROFICIENCY IS GERMANE.
TAN BELTS DO NOT CONDUCT GROUND FIGHTING FREE SPARRING.
6. THE DIRECTOR, MARTIAL ARTS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IS AVAILABLE TO
COMMANDERS FOR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS AT DSN: 278-5345.//
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