Pugil Sticks are foam-padded plastic pipes used to teach bayonet techniques to Marines, as well as other branches.
The users don helmets and other protective equipment to try and make killing strikes to disable and disrupt their opponents.
Of course, often times a simple training exercise can be turned into a friendly competition, and that competition can get out of hand, as you will see in the video below.
Marines probably use Pugil Sticks more than any other branch, and it is a key training feature not only at basic training but throughout the Marine Corps Mixed Martial Arts Program, otherwise known as MCMAP.
Marines battle Airmen with pugil sticks (YouTube)
Marines train bayonet techniques and tactics at all levels of their martial arts program, making them elite fighters
However, in certain personal skill competitions, it’s easy to be mismatched and get carried away, and that’s exactly what happened here.
Marines battle Airmen with pugil sticks (YouTube)
It was probably a little more than the Airman bargained for, but at the end of the day, it was great training for both branches, with each learning some valuable lessons, and everyone having a little boost in morale.
Check out the competition for yourself in the video below:
Pugil sticks have been used in the United States military since the 1940’s to train for rifle and bayonet combat.
Protective gear such as football helmets, groin protectors, gloves, chest protectors and other protective gear is often worn to prevent injury from hard contact.
Both the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps practice pugil stick bouts.
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program was developed by the United States Marine Corps to train Marines in hand-to-hand and close quarters combat techniques as well as provide morale and team-building functions.
The program began in 2001 and replaced all other close-combat systems that came before it.
A belt system similar to that of most mixed martial arts programs was implemented into the program.
According to rank:
- Tan belt is acquired during entry level training and signifies the basic of the mental, physical, and character disciplines.
- Gray belt signifies an intermediate understanding of the basic disciplines. The Marine is required to complete the”Leading Marines” course from the Marine Corps Institute.
- Green belt signifies an understanding of the intermediate fundamentals of the different disciplines. This is the lowest level at which a Marine can become an instructor on lower level belts. A recommendation from a reporting senior is required to receive this belt.
- Brown belt introduces Marines to the advanced fundamentals of each discipline.
- Black belt signifies knowledge of the advanced fundamentals of the different disciplines. A black belt can become an instructor-trainer and teach and certify instructors. There are six degrees of black belt.
