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No military in the world sees more action in more places than the United States Marine Corps. The average marine has been in at least two combat engagements per year since 1775. As a result, the Marine Corps' close combat program has been incorporating techniques from the various countries they've killed people in, culminating in the "Marine Corps Martial Arts Program," or "MCMAP." The modern program also teaches the use of improvised weapons, bayonets, and parts of the gun other than the bullets.
Before MCMAP came along, the marines had something called the LINE System (Linear Infighting Neural Override Engagement) which was invented in the 1980s. MCMAP was formed in 2001 because marines were increasingly being used in situations that didn't require them to kill their opponents, and that was the only thing LINE was good for. Now, when you use a MCMAP move on somebody, each move typically has the option to utterly destroy whatever body part you have in your hands or just put it in excruciating pain...or both, thus leading to a kinder, friendlier Marine Corps that only sometimes kills you.
by Dancing with Fire June 8, 2011
Get the MCMAP mug."I mean, I've always been a Libertarian. Leave everybody alone. Let everybody else do what they want. Just stay out of everybody else's hair." - Clint Eastwood
by Dancing with Fire January 4, 2013
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Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art. Its full name is Tai Chi Chuan, a Chinese phrase which can be translated as approximately meaning supreme ultimate fist. Tai Chi is a relatively new martial art, with its concrete origins sometime around 1820, although it likely existed for some time before that. It is what is known as a soft style of martial combat, putting an emphasis on relaxed muscle positions and the use of an opponent’s momentum, as contrasted with the hard styles, which emphasize muscles in a high-state of readiness, and meeting an opponent’s force with one’s own force. In addition to the martial aspects of Tai Chi, there is a great deal of stress placed on the concepts of meditative calm, and overall physical health. Indeed, for many people living in the modern world, Tai Chi is not thought of as a martial art, but rather as a system of movement and breathing meant to be therapeutic. In much the same way that yoga in the West has become divorced from its original intent, so too has Tai Chi become something quite different. In many ways, Tai Chi is a very Taoist tradition. It teaches such things as learning to move with the world – both in a literal, physical sense in terms of martial self-defense, and in a more abstract, meditative sense. Indeed, the core of Tai Chi could be described as simply learning to react appropriately to whatever is offered.
This is one reason why many in the modern world find it so valuable as a discipline. Practitioners of Tai Chi usually find that within a relatively short period of time, they are better equipped to handle stressful situations, and find themselves less prone to being caught off balance either physically or mentally. In order to cultivate this state of mind, Tai Chi practitioners focus on two main types of formal training. In the first, the student learns a number of movement poses that they undertake on their own. These poses work on steady, healthy breathing, supple posture, and a smooth movement of the body’s joints. In the second, the student works with another practitioner to understand how these forms interact with another person’s movement. These pushing hands poses help teach a sensitivity, as well as helping to improve the solo poses through a more rigorous exercise. In addition to these poses, which one often sees Western practitioners doing in isolation in public parks, or in group classes, Tai Chi also makes use of more traditional martial art techniques. Sparring takes place between two practitioners, and is similar to sparring in many other widely-known martial art forms. Tai Chi practitioners may also make use of various weapons, including the spear or staff (chang or chiang), the broadsword or sabre (tao or dao), the straight sword (chien or jien). Other weapons like the chain or fan can be used as well.
by Dancing with Fire January 3, 2011
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Mossad launched missions, dubbed Operation Wrath of God, to track down and kill those alleged to be responsible for the murder of 11 Israeli athletes by Palestinian gunmen at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
by Dancing with Fire September 3, 2012
Get the Mossad mug.Muay Thai is usually regarded as a very hard, external style. However, especially because of its roots in heavily Buddhist Thailand, some consider it to have a spiritual aspect as well. Thai boxers typically perform some Buddhist rituals before beginning a match. Practicing Muay Thai is a vigorous workout and produces tremendous cardiovascular endurance.
Muay Thai involves boxing techniques, hard kicking, and knee and elbow strikes. Low kicks to the thighs are a very distinguishing technique used frequently in Muay Thai. Stand up grappling is also used and allowed in the ring. Muay Thai practitioners develop a very high level of physical conditioning developed by its practitioners.
by Dancing with Fire December 30, 2010
Get the Muay Thai mug.A member of the Vietnamese political and military movement led by Ho Chi Minh that challenged the Japanese and defeated the French between 1941 and 1954.
When the Japanese surrendered to the Allies, the Communist Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, reasserted independence as a democratic republic. The French moved in militarily to try to reclaim the nation, ultimately supporting the government of Bao Dai along with the United States and Britain. The Chinese began supplying Ho Chi Minh with weapons, and fighting in the country continued through the 1950s.
by Dancing with Fire September 7, 2012
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