Modern Army Combatives Program

by CPL Tim Oberle

CAMP CARROLL, South Korea – The world of Mixed Martial Arts exploded onto the American television landscape during the early 1990’s with the advent of a new mainstream sporting event called the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Around this same time, leaders from Fort Benning, Ga., began to take notice of the sport’s superiority over other forms of hand-to-hand combat. Finally in 1995, the fighting styles effectiveness coupled with the need for an Army-wide unified hand-to-hand combat fighting style, led to the creation of the Army’s own form of mixed martial arts called the Modern Army Combatives Program.

Since its beginnings at Fort Benning, MACP has spread like wildfire across the rest of the Army and most recently took root at U.S. Army Garrisons across the Korean Peninsula.

“The Modern Army Combatives Program started in 1995 with Sergeant First Class Matt Larsen at Fort Benning and spread throughout the Army,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony J. Wikstrom, the host of the tournament from the 498th Combat Service Support Battalion at Camp Carroll. “There are fights at major bases all around the globe and we are trying to mirror what the rest of the Army is doing.”

Since the sport’s induction here in Korea, the Camp Carroll Fitness Center has played host to the peninsula-wide MACP tournaments and the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, MACP team from Camp Humphreys has taken the overall team championship in the last two tournaments with the most recent win during a tournament Nov. 11-13.

On the first day of the three-day event, competitors weighed-in to determine their weight class. Competitors then engaged in three rounds of fighting.

“You have to beat your opponent on the ground to make it to the finals and to do that it requires all aspects of fighting and a well-rounded fighter,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Craig, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd CAB. “To be a well-rounded fighter, you need to close the distance, gain dominant position, and finish the fight.”

At the completion of the tournament, judges presented trophies to the best individual competitors and the best overall team. There was a sense of déjà vu when the 2nd CAB MACP team walked away from the tournament with the top honors.

“We went in with fewer fighters this time than we did in August, but our Soldiers really came through and placed, giving us the lead going into the final rounds,” said Craig. “I think that the win just puts the icing on the cake because our Soldiers work so hard in training.”

Soldiers stationed at Camp Humphreys interested in joining the 2nd CAB MACP team can stop in at the Camp Humphreys Super Gym for more information.

“We take people, from all the units, with any type of experience,” said Capt. Nicholas A. Lucchetti, from HHC, 2nd CAB. “Anyone can come down to learn how to defend oneself and combatives can really help one gain confidence and it is one of the best types of physical training you can get.”

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