There is a broad movement in the US military away from martial arts based combatives and towards a mixed martial arts approach unarmed hand to hand combat. The reasons are obvious. Martial arts are theoretical. Mixed martial arts are real.
Navy SEALs made the switch five years ago from a close-combat training system that dates back to the early 90s, the same general time as the birth of modern mixed martial arts. However, a politician, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., is arguing that the old Close Quarters Defense program is superior to the MMA program, and wants the Defense Department to review the Naval Special Warfare’s close-combat training contract for any conflicts of interest.
The Close Quarters Defense system was created by Duane Dieter. He describes the creation of his system on his website.
In 1980, Mr. Dieter served on a local police department, which allowed him to experience the various duties of law enforcement as well as the techniques and tactics taught. He witnessed similar unrealistic methods being utilized in training in preparation for criminal attacks and apprehension. Mr. Dieter also recognized that his firearms training introduced further inconsistencies and contradictions, as the skills were more focused on target shooting and did not integrate with the unarmed techniques. This prompted him to train more extensively, traveling to numerous schools and camps, entering competitions, and earning several black belts. He continued his search, traveling throughout the Eastern United States. Significantly influenced and encouraged by a dear friend, Mr. Dieter traveled to the Orient, the birthplace of systemized martial arts, to find a master who could answer his questions and teach him the skills of the high-risk fight. He sought a mentor who was not only a good fighter, but also a man of integrity who lived his life with honor.
His quest led him to Hong Kong, Okinawa, and Taiwan. After studying with a number of different senior instructors he found that, though very challenging, rewarding, as well as culturally enriching, the training lacked the high-risk focus that he desired. Finally, an elder master with a very rich lineage and remarkable martial history, who understood Mr. Dieter’s quest told him, What you’re looking for does not exist. You must develop it yourself. It must be your purpose.
Upon returning to America in 1981, Mr. Dieter continued to train and teach martial arts, earning additional black belts and achieving advanced degrees in those previously earned, while privately beginning the process of developing the CQD System. ?
It reads like the plot of a lesser Jean-Claude Van Damme flick.
Here a CQD disciple can be seen doing the ninja walk (2:49 mark).
You can’t make this stuff up. But the politician wants it returned.
Meghann Myers has the story for Navy Times.
“I have concerns with the process for considering and awarding the contracts that have led to the removal of CQD from SEAL training,” Hunter wrote to Defense Secretary Ash Carter in a memo on Tuesday. “I also have concerns with consistent reports that MMA training is not conducive to SEAL operations.”
In 2011, Navy Special Warfare Command went in another direction, awarding one of its combatives training contract to Linxx Global Solutions, which has a mixed martial arts academy in Virginia Beach.
That push toward MMA-style training was led by Rear Adm. Tim Szymanski, according to an official with knowledge of the memo who could not speak on the record, the SEAL on tap to take over Naval Special Warfare Command.
“The allegation is that Szymanski is directly related to this selection process,” the official said.
Hunter’s letter alleges that the switch came because active-duty and former SEALs affiliated with the trainers wanted to set themselves up with the lucrative contract.
“Alternatively, NSW operators and leadership have consistently determined CQD to be the most operationally effective training to prepare SEALs for combat, evidence by more than 11,000 positive critiques and numerous complimentary reports,” Hunter wrote. “And on average, the cost to NSW for CQD was $345 per SEAL compared to $2,900 for MMA training.”
Frank Cucci, a 10-year SEAL veteran who developed the Linxx training, didn’t have any insight into the controversy, but offered that the military’s embrace of MMA has followed the trends in the martial arts world.
“You’d have to really ask them why they choose to use me over any others,” he told Navy Times on Wednesday. “I just think it’s a natural progression based on what’s most effective in real fights.”
Cucci, who is the Linxx founder and head instructor, added that when broken down, his training works out to about $8 an hour per operator.
Tuesday’s memo is another salvo in a recent push from Hunter’s office to look into Naval Special Warfare activities.
However, some observers question Hunter’s motives, including a SEAL veteran who served with Teams 2 and 4.
“My opinion is that politicians should stay out of the business of the SEAL teams and let the boys determine what they want and need,” former Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) Joel Lambert told Navy Times.
In his experience, he said, the “sled dogs and senior enlisted” have been allowed to make the calls about what’s best for team training and development, and that’s gotten the SEALs to where they are today.
“Unfortunately now, with all the attention on us, everyone from [Navy Secretary Ray] Mabus on down has an ill-formed opinion on what we need and it may very well be the death of the SEAL teams as we know them,” Lambert added.
Cucci agreed.
“Look at what they’ve been through the past 10 years, and you’re telling me they don’t know what’s best for them?” he said.
Sooner or later it all comes down to money. The politician’s gripe is that teaching a SEAL hand to hand combat used to cost s $345, and now costs $2,900 for MMA training. It doesn’t take a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing – $345 is the cost of three months of karate classes, it’s not enough to impart necessary, elite unarmed skills. $2,900 seems if anything a bargain.
There is of course a simple solution.
LINXX academy founder Frank Cucci is a former Navy SEAL who earned a black belt in BJJ in 2003, and has an extensive background in Muay Thai and other realistic martial arts. Duane Dieter was told by an honorable master in the ‘Orient’ to make up his own system, and earned many black belts along the way. If you want to see whose approach is better, have Cucci and Dieter fight.
The thing is, Cucci will take that fight in a heartbeat, Dieter won’t.
They never do.
