What are Combatives?
Most people have never heard the term “combatives,” and so I thought that it would be helpful to provide a brief explanation of our version.
Introduction
Decades of decadence in America have produced generations with little value for human life. As a result, the moral depravity that America is experiencing is far worse than before and often a much larger problem than people admit to.
Accordingly, God’s people need to adapt in order to live everyday life safely, confidently, and purposefully while remaining in union with Him and fulfilling His plans and purposes. The Kingdom Of God Alliance helps to meet that need by empowering God’s people to avoid violence and, when necessary, protect life against aggression, including a-social violence. To accomplish this, students are empowered spiritually, mentally, and physically, in accordance with Biblical principles and instruction.
Part of our training involves the use of “Combatives”. “Combatives is a time-tested and proven form of physical personal protection, rooted in real-world combat and survival, that helps mitigate aggression and antisocial violence to preserve life.
With respect to my brothers in arms who practice traditional martial arts, it is my view that, for most people, Combatives is a better choice for personal protection. In this article, I will explain the difference between Combatives and traditional martial arts. I will then address the necessity of preventing and avoiding physical violence, followed by a discussion of Combatives in general. Finally, I will address KOGA Combatives specifically.
First – A little about “martial arts”
The basic definition of the word “martial” simply refers to something having to do with war. However, in this context, the modern usage of the word (martial) has deviated from its original intent, and so have most modern “martial arts”.
Most Asian-style martial arts, such as Karate and Muay Thai, actually did originate as forms of combat arts and still retain many of those elements. However, for various reasons, much of their authentic “martial” aspect has been obscured or lost, and much of the remainder has significantly strayed from its origins. Like almost everything, there are exceptions. However, these days, what most people call a “martial art” is usually just a sport in which two people compete, often to score points and win a match or tournament. As a result, they are light on the “martial” and heavy on the “art” aspect. Although they may appear applicable, modern “martial arts” often have very little practical, real-world application to unchecked, real-world violence. The false sense of security that they bring, in combination with the repetitious mental conditioning and muscle memory that they require, can even be very detrimental in a violent altercation.
To add to the perplexity of the situation, “martial arts” in America used to be different, more “hardcore”. During that same time frame, street “violence” was usually not as vicious and ruthless as it is now. Back then, the combination of these factors made “martial arts” a more viable option to mitigate violence than it is today. The point is that in some ways, as a whole, “martial arts” are living on the glory days of their past. With all of this combined, the confusion and devastating that occurs when naive students try to apply the rules and principles of a sport to unrestrained, vicious, real-world, modern violence are unfortunate, sad, and sometimes devastating: But also very understandable.
I should point out that there are still a few martial art dojos that have retained their original principles and remain combat-oriented. However, they can be difficult to “break” into; they are few and far between, very difficult to locate, and disappearing with time. Also, if you DO find one, you can expect to take years to become proficient at what they teach. Still, if this is what you are interested in, there is nothing wrong with this approach.
I should also mention that there is absolutely nothing wrong with practicing “martial arts” as a sport. I have no particular objection to these sports or the people involved with them. It is just critically important to understand that if your goal is personal protection, many, or most, “martial arts” that you find in America today are more likely to get you hurt than to help you.
Combatives VS. “martial arts”
Before I address the specifics of Combatives, I would like to address some other differences between “combatives” and what most people think of when they hear the words “martial arts”.
Most people have had some exposure to “martial arts,” even if it is only driving past a dojo or seeing them on television or in videos. However, relatively few people are familiar with “Combatives.” Combatives is a form or “style” of personal protection, rooted in real-world combat and survival, that helps mitigate aggression and antisocial violence to preserve life. Unlike martial arts, Combatives is not ceremonial in nature; there is no ranking system, and if “uniforms” exist at all, they are typically just sweatpants with the group T-shirt. In Combatives, there are no points, tournaments, or regulated reciprocal exchanges of blows (other than practice): There is no showmanship, and there are no referees.
A well-known security expert, Kelly McCann, put it this way:
“The difference between martial arts and Combatives is that a martial art is something that you do withsomeone; in other words, there is this reciprocal exchange of movement going on where he does this, and I react by doing that, whereas Combatives are something that you do TO someone or on someone. In other words, I am going to take this sack of potatoes and just beat on it!”
Combatives
Technically speaking, Combatives is a “martial art”. However, I often refrain from referring to it that way to avoid confusion. As you can see, Combatives are very different from traditional martial arts. Combatives began to be developed in the early 1900’s, gained an identity in the trenches of World War II, have been used in every U.S. war since then, and are continually being improved to reflect real-world, modern violence. Police departments also use a modified version of them.
As their name suggests and their history demonstrates, Combatives have nothing to do with sport. Rather than focusing on perfect form, the sole mindset, purpose, approach, and goal of combatives is to protect life when life is threatened by real-world violence.
KOGA Combatives
The ultimate purpose of Combatives at the KOGA is to help you stay safe and live in inner peace, wholeness, and union with God so that you can fulfill your calling with focused confidence, rather than being unnecessarily distracted, disrupted, or marked by injury, trauma, uncertainty, anxiety, and/or fear. First and foremost, KOGA Combatives incorporates and teaches techniques and principles that emphasize avoiding physical violence whenever possible and engaging in it only when absolutely no other option remains.
When one part is trained for battle, and others are neglected, ALL suffer. That is why at the KOGA, we include much more than isolated physical techniques. As part of Combatives training, we incorporate spiritual, mental, and physical principles and disciplines. They are not an add-on; they are built into the process.
By not treating the various aspects of personal protection as peripheral burdens and incorporating the whole person into the process, through Combatives training, the KOGA helps God’s people integrate union with God, confidence, safety, security, and the preservation of life into every aspect of life so that the plans and purposes of God can be fulfilled. Accordingly, there is a strong focus on spiritual disciplines, discernment, awareness, avoidance, and de-escalation in order to prevent conflict or physical violence before it occurs. These life skills can benefit you whether you are at rest or in conflict, whether in the workplace, at home, away, or God forbid, facing real-world violence.
Put on the whole armor of God , that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. – Apostle Paul
Like everything, the more, better, and longer all of these disciplines are practiced, the more proficient you will become at both combatives, avoiding the need to use them, AND life itself. However, if needed, Combatives were designed to stop a threat to enable escape. They are also easy to learn, retain, and use under stress. So unlike traditional “martial arts” that rely on fine motor skills and years of dedicated practice, Combatives utilize gross motor skills. This means that once learned, they are MUCH easier to retain, and they could be implemented almost immediately if, God forbid, the need arose.
Again, quoting Security Expert Kelly McCann regarding Combatives,
‘‘What you learn in the afternoon must work for you that evening in the parking lot.”
Through Combatives, the KOGA works to equip the whole person, spirit, soul, and body for union with God and fulfilling His plans and purposes. Courses are available locally and online. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, feel free to contact me here for more information. Click here to go to KOGA Combatives.
Parson Rayphe, Amb.
KOG Alliance