Martial Art is integral to the Navy SEALs training. Martial Art training prepares the SEALs to conduct their covert operations in enemy territory without compromising their positions and missions. Navy SEALs take a lot of pride in close quarter combat and are nothing less of being lethal. But if you are wondering what is the specific martial art style that SEALs learn then the answer is that there is no specific style. SEALs are required to learn as many different martial arts styles as possible.
The Navy SEALs combat style is normally known as CQC (Close Quarters Combat) or CQB (Close Quarters Battle). This is considered as the perfect fighting style of small units like the SEAL Units. SEAL units at times engage their enemy using personal weapons within a short range including hand-to-hand combat. CQC or CQB normally includes very fast moves with lethal results.
The martial art techniques learned by SEALs are a part of the Close Quarters Combat course that includes crucial moves from over 50 different types of martial arts. Some of the martial art techniques learnt and used by Navy SEALs comes from Jujitsu, Ninjitsu, Kung Fu, Karate, Judo, Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Sylat Knife Techniques, Western Boxing, and much more. Since there is more than one form of martial arts hence it is known as mixed martial arts. The most common mixed martial art forms used by SEALs include Muay Thai, Brazilian Jujitsu, and Krav Maga, the latter is the martial arts technique adopted by Israeli Commandoes as well.
The most popular of all mixed martial art techniques taught to Navy SEALs is the combat Jujitsu. Classified as an extreme martial art, it is used by SEALs as well as other Special Operation Units of the US Military like the Green Berets. Combat Jujitsu is a hand-to-hand combat training but is far different from the techniques used for self defense. The techniques of combat Jujitsu are used for closing on to your opponent and causing severe damage leading to death. The techniques make the SEALs extremely lethal in hand-to-hand combat as well.
Here’s what the US Navy SEALs Combat Manual says:
If it is absolutely necessary to take out a sentry then there are 2 important factors that have to be considered:
a) Get as close to the sentry as is possible without being detected
b) Kill him swiftly and silently
Silence and speed are essential for all Navy SEAL operations. When a Navy SEAL is operating in enemy territory and have to free POWs (Prisoner of War) then the initial assault will be hand-to-hand combat. They will ensure that they are in control of all key sentry points including overhead watchtowers. If they have to conduct this mission in silence then the SEALs will use combat jujitsu techniques and the only weapon they may use is a knife. They can’t use guns with silencers all the time as a sentry falling down on the ground can also make a sound and this may alert the enemy!
Everything in Navy SEALs mixed martial art techniques revolves around one point – stealth!
This Article is written by James Kara Murat