Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP)

While at School of Infantry (SOI), your Marine may receive sustainment or advanced training of Marine Corps Marital Arts. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) is a combat-oriented martial arts program created by the Marine Corps. It focuses on hand-to-hand combat, the combat mindset, combat conditioning, and close quarters fighting. MCMAP training teaches Marines the skills required in unarmed combat, weapons of opportunity, rifle and bayonet tactics, and edged weapon techniques. Mental, character, and physical aspects are three disciplines emphasized in the martial arts program.

The program also incorporates warrior ethos training with focuses on past warriors of world history, such as the Spartans, Zulu and Apache warriors, and the Marine Raiders from World War II. Studying these warriors and their tactics, Marines learn basic fundamentals of the past to connect with during the present.

MCMAP incorporates techniques from several other widely known martial arts programs such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling, karate, muay thai, krav maga, taekwondo, kung fu, and kick-boxing.

Progress in the MCMAP is measured by achieving colored belts that indicate a Marine's MCMAP ability. The five levels of belts are, in increasing level of difficulty to achieve,:

• Tan Belt
• Gray Belt
• Green Belt
• Brown Belt
• Black Belt (1st degree-6th degree)

Reviewed by CH

March 3, 2015: Lance Cpl. Bryan Polonia, class participant and a Stamford, Conn., native, executes a hip throw on Lance Cpl. Zachary Acevedo, class participant and a Chicago native, during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.
—Marine Corps photograph by Cpl. Melissa Wenger