FARK.com: (151533) Marine Corps fulfilling its initiative to have every Marine earn at least a tan belt in karate by October.

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(news&observer)		Marine Corps fulfilling its initiative to have every Marine earn at least a tan belt in karate by October. (newsobserver.com)		73
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3457 clicks; posted to Main » on 06 Apr 2002 at 7:45 PM | Favorite | share:

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Prinzeugen		2002-04-06 07:47:58 PM

reil		2002-04-06 07:48:04 PM

meow

feles		2002-04-06 07:48:42 PM

youre dragon style is good but my tiger style is better (mouth continues moving)

Obsolete		2002-04-06 07:48:59 PM

They are also distributing obsolete and inoperable water cooled machine guns.

andonbray		2002-04-06 07:49:45 PM

Hamster style rules

Dick Fitzwell		2002-04-06 07:50:18 PM

Ah yes, it's from the New sob server.

shanrick		2002-04-06 07:51:47 PM

Ben Chi tells me your styles are deadly.

But then you would know that.

NewBuhhhrito		2002-04-06 07:52:28 PM

"It's better to be armed with anything than nothing," said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Young, martial arts instructor.

For being the insructor he sure is stupid. Karate means open hand, meaning no weapon. Stupid Americans. No, wait, I'm American.

Hytes Xian		2002-04-06 07:52:29 PM

That was some sexy reading. I forgot for a minute that I don't have a star.

eraser8		2002-04-06 07:53:07 PM

Actually, that's pretty cool.

OBB		2002-04-06 07:54:06 PM

I thought Marines learned much better stuff than Tan-belt level karate stuff. Hell, Marines yelping in pain from being thrown? I've been thrown around for a long time in karate (training for 13 years) and I haven't yelped in pain since I was like 14. It's amazing that someone can become a black belt in what, seven weeks? I know it's intensive, but I mean geez, that's still a little rushed.

OBB		2002-04-06 07:56:10 PM

Most people by the time they earn tan/yellow belt (depends on whether you use the Okinawan belt system or the Japanese belt system) only know a few blocks, punches and kicks. I think Marines should be past that point!

5%Nation		2002-04-06 07:57:23 PM

I think there yelps of pain come from a hell of a lot harder training then you go through.

Tecknopagan		2002-04-06 07:58:07 PM

martial art = art of war, by definition. so this should get an obvious tag...

Christian Bale		2002-04-06 07:58:14 PM

Obsolete

You're right:

To pass, students have to know techniques using a bayonet, rifle, knife, and obsolete and inoperable water cooled machine gun.

CappyGoat		2002-04-06 07:58:52 PM

I don't know about the rumor in Korea that "every Marine had a black belt," but they certainly deserved their reputation regardless.

I highly recommend to anyone to check out a book by Martin Russ called "Breakout: The Chosin Reservoir Campaign." Those guys were fighting in minus-50 degree weather.

5%Nation		2002-04-06 07:58:58 PM

Well in a short period of time that is: Training lasts an average of nine to 10 hours a day I would yelp in pain after a full day of getting throw too.

LawnJockey		2002-04-06 08:00:02 PM

[b]-- Move over Jackie Chan -- the Marines are coming.[/b]

Am I the only one who found this opening line dirty? :-}

kolacky		2002-04-06 08:01:01 PM

I never yelp in pain either. My opponent does. Oo-rah!

Nick Dark		2002-04-06 08:01:02 PM

One day, they hope to finally become Black Belts.

Christian Bale		2002-04-06 08:01:20 PM

They're also taught how to use what are known as weapons of opportunity, which can be anything from a broken broom handle to a handful of dirt.

The old handful-of-dirt trick is always the tide-turner in any good fight sequence.

Sidi		2002-04-06 08:01:39 PM

NewBuhhhrito, I think what he was trying to say with the comment about being better off with a weapon is that someone unarmed, even with karate, is at a disadvantage to someone with a gun...which would especially be true in the case of marines only partially trained in martial arts.

Nick Dark		2002-04-06 08:02:53 PM

Sidi: Dingdingdingdingding you win a pony

Christian Bale		2002-04-06 08:08:02 PM

Sidi

Really? I took it to mean that to be "armed" with karate is better than to know nothing at all about hand-to-hand combat.

i.e. if caught without a weapon, they will have their karate training.

l33t_Hax0r		2002-04-06 08:08:28 PM

Christian Bale:

Yeah, like in that movie where Ashton Kutcher throws dirt all over Brad Pitt's face.

Sprack		2002-04-06 08:09:30 PM

Well it's about time. I wish they had done this when I was in.

b0rg9		2002-04-06 08:16:17 PM

That's pronounced, Kara-TAY...

13ItemsInA12ItemOrLessLane		2002-04-06 08:16:46 PM

Grunting sounds spurt from students as they're thrown to the ground. Some students yelp with pain as they get ready for the next round.

In general, I try and not use the word spurt in my sentences unless the subject specifically calls for it.

Half		2002-04-06 08:17:38 PM

And when they run out of options they will cry for us doggies to pull them out!

LawnJockey		2002-04-06 08:18:19 PM

Marines do get a basic training in hand to hand combat, right?

Crotchrocket Slim		2002-04-06 08:28:34 PM

Anyone remember that craptastic Ninja Force from later/crappy GI Joe? Yeah, it had Snake Eyes and Stormshadow, but it was lame lame lame. Not a single one carried a gun. Did I mention it was lame?

PeterNorth		2002-04-06 08:29:12 PM

I don't know Karate - I know ka - ray - zaa!

- James Brown

RandyJohnson		2002-04-06 08:40:00 PM

Wax on. Wax off.

Clarence13X		2002-04-06 08:45:46 PM

It was a little bit frightening.

fontman		2002-04-06 08:49:53 PM

Who was the first force to get in Afghanistan? The Marines, dipshiats! And, yes, we get training in hand-to-hand combat as well as kicking arses of some of the fools that post crap here! Doggies? Ha, we get the crap ready for them because they are untrained for the task!

Half Tard		2002-04-06 08:53:23 PM

It's true. Marines are the best.

Half Tard		2002-04-06 09:02:35 PM

As one great person said: "Army occupies but the Marines Invade." Friggin Army sacks of potatoes.

destructicon		2002-04-06 09:06:18 PM

1. Since when is there a "tan" belt?

2. I hate how martial arts work in America. I'm a deputy black belt in Tae Kwon Do and have been for two years. You're supposed to become a first degree black belt after 8 months of deputy. I haven't got the first degree because my instructor (who is a complete culture-destroying bastard) makes you PAY to test for a higher belt. Testing for a first degree is $250. If it was based on time (and skill) rather than whoever has the most cash is highest, I'd be a second degree by now, assuming there wasn't some other delay. It's even more surprising when you consider that my instructor won the world championships twice and is the MOTHERfarkING PRESIDENT OF THE USA TAE KWON DO FEDERATION. Is that farked up or what?

l33t_Hax0r		2002-04-06 09:11:26 PM

Destructicon:
Stop whining and do something about it then.
Pay to play, baby.
Or better yet, join the USMC and do it for free, if you have the minerals.

LawnJockey		2002-04-06 09:14:05 PM

My point was: If they have hand to hand combat training, doesn't this give them all the necessary fighting skills that they would need? That is all, sir!

Half Tard		2002-04-06 09:23:00 PM

Destruction-

Saulo Ribero would wipe the floor with your instructor or any other Brazilian Jui-Jitsu fighter. Not too many Tae Kwon Do people win NHB tournaments.

lindseyp		2002-04-06 09:54:40 PM

The Gracies kick ass.

Bow before Gracie jyujitsu you puny karate 'tan' belt marines!

Mocker		2002-04-06 09:56:32 PM

Destructicon:

I was wondering the same thing... I was surfing the web a while ago and came across all sorts of lame belt "colors" like a "cammo" belt. WTF? Maybe the strip-mall martial arts chain stores had to change their belt colors because snot-nosed 13 year-olds don't want to put on a purple or orange belt.

I know different disciplines use different belts (Tai Kwon Do was completely different from the Kempo karate I studied when I was a teenager, except they both started at white and went up to black). I've never heard of a tan belt, however.

Then again, it's the military. Maybe they had to standardize on belts that matched their uniforms or something.

Half Tard		2002-04-06 09:59:46 PM

the gracies are nothing more than money grubbing has-beens. They are not evolving, and thus they are losing more and more. Bow to Saulo Ribero

stubblyhead		2002-04-06 10:12:55 PM

"She said she isn't ready to think about enduring the seven-week course to earn a black belt."
yeah, a black belt is seven weeks... right...

it says in the article that it's a service-based style, and it implies that tan is the first belt you'd earn, so i guess it would be equivalent to yellow or orange in other styles, depending.

and Destruction, it's what you know about your style and how you can use it that makes you a good practitioner, not what color your belt is. so you could be a 2d degree black belt now. big deal, is that going to magically make you better at tae kwon do?

hubiestubert		2002-04-06 10:14:13 PM

My Dad was an instructor during Reforger--he taught 101st and 82nd all sorts of stuff while they were training and scaring the bejeezus out of the Eastern Block during '78-'81--and I got to learn a lot from him, and his boys during those years. I think that the goal here is to have ALL Marines get hand-to-hand training, even the desk jockeys, the supply drones, and the rest. Not every Marine is jump trained, not every fella who joins the Army is quick-death with his hands. I would have thought that the Marines would have chosen something other than Karate for their boys--the Army has chosen a mix of modern styles as well as classic juijitsu for the quick blows, vital point strikes, and the locks and grabs. Karate seems a bit limited...

Befor we get into a pissing contest about styles--any sufficiently skilled person can kick a lot of ass-as long as they are trained well, and have EXPERIENCE. A skilled boxer can take you to school--they are trained to get hit, a lot. Not so good at locks or grabs, but get them at a distance, or don't get a hold of them, and you're ribs are going to look like over-ripe bananas. Karate is essentially a stand up art, good with strikes and kicks. Tae Kwan Do is a another good hard style, ideal for the stand up fighter, and both cover a little for throws and locks, and how to avoid them, and either train people to focus past pain, and produce an ax-kick from nowhere. Juijitsu covers a wide variety of styles, from straight up punches to sweeps, locks, throws, vital points, and how to ground fight, and being as varied, it is ideal for the modern soldier--teaching fast take downs, how to disable an opponent in seconds. The Marines have their own training systems--a mix of modern styles--and their hand-to-hand is excellent, on par with anything that the Army's Special Forces use--having seen enough fights between 101st and 82nd boys, it can get ugly fast. I suspect that this focus on karate is for the desk jockies, as opposed to the fellas going to jump school. Those units have their own programs, and they will teach much more than karate. I can only vouch for what the Army does, and most folks who go in, get an introductory hand to hand course in basic, and that's it. Any Marines or ex-Marines care to comment?

Having seen what my sister and my Dad came back from training in Israel, the US has a long way to go before we get as dag nasty as these folks. The Israeli military's focus is entirely modern, guaged for maximum damage, and maximum efficiency. Lot's of fast, hard strikes, very nasty throws, and brutal locks and breaks. My Dad went on to teach our Special Forces boys these techniques, and it's ugly, but then again, these fellas are supposed to be. Maybe that's the reason to teach our desk jockeys something to keep them in shape, give them confidence, but keeping them from being fast death at a moment's notice...

Again, no disrespect to the folks who are studying karate--again, someone with sufficient experience and skill is an equal, it's just that I'm surprised at the skill set that the Marines are emphasizing.

Halpas		2002-04-06 10:43:04 PM

If this makes the marines meaner & scarier wouldn't that make the enemy less inclined to take them prisoner & just shoot them for being a security risk?

Suho1004		2002-04-06 10:55:50 PM

Reading through the comments above, it doesn't seem like I'm going to say anything new, but here's my two cents anyway.

Tan belt? Grey belt? When I studied (Kyokushin style), the belt colors were white, blue, yellow, orange, green, brown first degree, brown second degree, and black. How many friggin belt colors are there now?

And what's this seven-week black belt course? As OBB said, it may be intensive, but give me a break. I studied for five years and I only reached brown first degree. Seven weeks, feh. Try seven years. I know my school used to have an absolute minimum number of years of study before you could become a black belt, and you had to be at least 16 before you could get a black belt. I remember going to tournaments and seeing 8 year-old black belts. Disgusting.

Well, I suppose I do have something new to say, about the following:

His idea sprang from a wide misconception during the Korean War -- that all Koreans fighting the U.S. military obtained the highest level of karate, the black belt.

First of all, Koreans do not study karate. Hapgido (sorry, don't know the Japanese rendering) maybe, but usually not karate. As most everyone knows by now, the Korean national martial art is Taekwondo. As for the part about every Korean fighting against the US in the Korean War, it probably was a misconception, because most of the North Korean troops were conscripts who received little to no training. Today, however, I can tell you that South Korean soldiers all receive daily training in Taekwondo (not to mention the fact that a majority of Korean males--and a good number of females--study Taekwondo from their youth), and they are considered to have skills at the black belt level.

Yet in spite of the training South Korean soldiers receive, there are rumors (most likely planted by North Korean spies and agitators) that North Korean special forces soldiers are all Rambo copies. I heard one of my Korean friends say that one North Korean soldier is supposed to be equal to eight south Korean soldiers in terms of fighting capability, which basically means that one North Korean will take out eight South Koreans before he goes down. I take that with a grain of salt, but you can't ignore the fact that the special forces and spies that inflitrate the South (probably on nearly a daily basis) are very well trained and very experienced.

So, yes, to make a long story short, I think it's a good idea, even if it is a bit rushed.

juandoh		2002-04-06 11:02:00 PM

Im a nidan in traditional japanese karate, as well as shodan ho (that means probationary, lets try to keep the "ho" jokes to minimum) in okinawan kobudo (weapons). Earning these ranks took a long time and alot of pain. In the end, the individual techniques are worth far less than the attitude gained. So I have a couple of comments about this article.

1. They aren't really learning karate, why call it that. The hurried training and whatnot (and whathaveyou of course) kind of sheds a bad light on karate. i know the word carries alot of weight to some, but why not make up a new word, like whoflungpoo, or something.

2. Marines are tough, we all know that, and I wouldn't mess with them. Karate, or traditional taekwan do, kung fu, etc, teach control, attitude, toughness, whatever, over long periods of time. I would contend more of this is learned by 1 hour of hard daily training over 10 years than 10 hours for seven weeks. I know they don't have that long. My point is that they are kidding themselves if they think they are a "black belt" after seven weeks. Maybe the can even kick my ass, I don't care. Even if they are stronger and faster and have better personal hygiene, they still won't have the attitude that is obtained by years of training. also, i don't like honey, or cheerios, but I love honey nut cheerios, must be the honeynuts.