In the parlance of fighting skills, there is a difference between martial arts and martial combat, also called "combatives." Where martial arts incorporate fighting skills into a wider course of philosophy, fitness and life skills, combatives focus on the fighting skills alone. Combatives most commonly originated as systems taught to police and soldiers, who were those most in need of fighting skills without the civilized trappings of a martial art.
Purpose
The purpose of combatives training is to learn how to defend yourself and sometimes how to effectively attack somebody. This focused purpose means that combatives courses rarely include the kata, philosophical and healing aspects of a full martial art. It also determines the kinds of fighting skills that are taught. For example, a combatives class is unlikely to include fancy or hard-to-learn techniques, and more likely to include weapons skills.
Funnel System
Fighting systems can be described as either a "wheel" or a "funnel." Wheel systems have one response for each potential attack, with a diagram of the system resembling the spokes of a wheel. Funnel systems pair a single response with as many attacks as possible. This makes the system easier to learn, and easier to apply if used in the field. Most combatives systems are funnel systems for that reason.
Pros
The advantages of a combatives system includes ease of learning, ease of use and customization. The simplicity of the techniques, paired with a funnel structure, means it takes far less time to learn a combatives system than a more esoteric martial arts. These same factors make them easier to remember and apply on the street. The simplicity also makes a combatives system easier to alter for specific purposes -- for example, the difference between appropriate force for a police officer and appropriate force for a soldier in combat.
Cons
Many martial artists would call combatives systems incomplete. Without the philosophical and personal growth components, those who learn a combatives system are less likely to evolve as people than those who participate in more traditional martial arts systems. Kenpo karate teacher Dave Coffman points out that those attracted to combatives training are often the ones in most dire need of the more centered approach of martial arts.
Examples
Combatives systems that originated in military training include krav maga, haganah, systema and Fairbairn close combat. Jeet Kune Do master Paul Vunak's rapid assault tactics and the Last Resort Tactics program of New Jersey's Tom Patire are combatives programs that originated from traditional martial arts.
References
- Dave Coffman; Martial Arts Instructor; Hillsboro, OR
- "Personal Protection Handbook"; Tom Patire; 2005
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