Modern CQC (Close Quarter Combatives)
Close Quarter Battle was the original military term used to describe a non-armed physical confrontation between two or more combatants. It was typically taught in a no nonsense way to prepare soldiers and special operatives to survive a close range hand to hand combat situation. In more recent times the term has been replaced by Close Quarter Combatives.
Fairbairn Sykes
The pivotal figure of military unarmed combat training in World War 2 was W.E. Fairbairn, who together with a small group of other pioneering figures such as Eric Sykes and Rex Applegate developed the close quarter combat training programmes taught to British and American special operations units such as the Commandos, S.O.E. the U.S. Rangers and the O.S.S. (forerunner of the CIA).
For the military and the police training time is always limited and training is structured accordingly. To traditional martial artists who think in terms of years of training such programmes seems ridiculously short. However, the most up to date research suggests that not only is this thinking wrong, but that if you can’t teach the system in a short time it probably won’t work in the street due to the training methodology used and the potentially corrosive effects of the stress response in combat where less is generally more.
Revolutionary combat system
Fairbairn and his colleagues taught a total system, which included the use of impact weapons, edged weapons, firearms as well of hand-to hand methods. That system was forged through real life experience and was operationally proven. They also taught a mindset which was revolutionary at the time and allowed trainees to access the highest levels of body-alarm reaction, which made the fighters stronger, faster and more resistant to pain and shock. Unfortunately at the conclusion of the war many of those specialist units were reformed or disbanded and those hard earned lessons were mostly forgotten.
Modern CQC
Modern Close Quarter Combatives (MCQC) was formed as a study group by a team of highly qualified military, police and martial arts practitioners with many years experience of teaching military, police and civilians to protect themselves and others. During this time they have come to realise that martial arts is excellent for teaching technique but martial science, using many of the principles taught by Fairbairn and his team, is the best approach for teaching real life applications of self defence. MCQC is based on the latest scientific research and real life operational experience.
Self defence that works
Martial arts generally teach you to fight competitively, following a set of rules. In Combatives the only rule is to walk home safe. We teach you how to avoid the fight wherever possible. Where that is not possible we teach you to take the initiative to gain control in the opening seconds. It us easy to confuse the two disciplines as they do have many things in common and each has its place. However, in key areas they are polar opposites:
Martial Arts
Martial arts teach you how to fight, combatives teaches you how to survive. A fight is generally a two sided affair that can potentially last a minute or more. The fighter who is bigger, better trained and fitter is almost certain to win. A martial artist is taught to fight with a particular style and to a set of rules which govern how they fight and compete. A martial artist is taught to outfight and out think their opponent to gain advantage and the primary training tool is sparring.
Combat Survival
Combat survival teaches you strategies for avoiding the fight wherever possible. If force cannot be avoided students are conditioned to react instinctively with little or no conscious thought. The skills are designed to create surprise and confusion for the opponent, enabling you to achieve dominance in the first few seconds. During this time you will be operating off your stored energy which means you are not required to be a superbly conditioned athlete. There are no styles or rules and you are trained to operate at three levels (low level, physically assertive and maximum aggression).
You need to practice control under stress in order to exercise control under stress
There are no rules or styles and operant conditioning drills are the primary training tool.
IKF (International Kapap Federation)
MCQC is affiliated with the IKF. All MCQC Level 3 trainers are required to complete both the level 1 and level 2 MCQC instructors syllabus and the IKF Close Quarter Battle Syllabus which is normally hosted at least one a year in the UK.