Training to Fight a Marine

[E.C. Valdimar]

How's everyone doing? Glad to be a member of this Forum.

Well, let's get to it. In a few months I may have to go toe-to-toe w/ a young guy getting out of the Marines. I'm 25; he's maybe 21 at the most. But he his taller then me and to be honest the fact that he his in the Marines does make me think he maybe a tough guy to put down. I know that Marines are JUST HUMAN like me ... but...

Now I don't want anyone to get the idea that I'm gunning for this guy for no good reason or anything like. It's not like that at all. Trust me when I say that he is not a good person. He's got a power trip from being in the Marines. He's a criminal {just never been arrested} and has messed w/ my ex.girlfriend. And if things get ugly again I'm not going to back down.

That's why I'm here to hear ideas about how to train better for a possible fight w/ a punk Marine. I'm not w/ out my own training. In my teens I did Jeet Kune Do and Kickboxing for almost two years and for the past 3 months have been doing Krav Maga and gained about 10 pounds of Muscle.

All that being said I'd still like to hear any advice, words of wisdom, training tips and maybe ever personal stories of when you fought a bigger, stronger guy and won.

Thanx everyone!
~R.R.

P.S.
Please no comments about how it's better to not fight. Believe me I know that. But I just think that it might really come to that.

[leviethain]

alright well at the risk of having someone criticizing me for whatever.

also assuming you don't want any 'don't fight' posts

a marine is going to be in great shape, theres no doubting that(and not just big muscle type of shape either- a marine is bound to have a ton of functional muscle)
solution: get into the same shape yourself

o, and find an art/sport whatever you'd like to call it, that you like allot -and stick with it, since i dont really think 2 years of something is enough to be, dare i say it
'uber' proficient

anyway its late and iev been pretty much rambling this entire time, so dont take any of it to heart

[E.C. Valdimar]

Hey thanx a lot "Leviethain". That advice does make a lot of sense. I will keep it mind.

You are right. 2 years of Kickboxing doesn't make me "uber proficient". I've also done 2 years of Ninjutsu {Over rated art really}. And studied all kinds of Self-Defense videos like Vee Arnis and Jim Grover's Combatives {2 of the best}. Now I'm doing Krav and I think I've really found my art.

There are a couple of things that get me. 1 that since he's in the Marines he'll be able to push himself more then me. 2 that he'll be able to take a lot of punishment. And 3 that he might be able to turn on the Agression faster then me.

[Maxx]

my suggestion is to train as a fighter. Do several rounds of bag work, several rounds of pad work and then spar your various ranges (kickboxing, clinch and wrestling) intensely.

While marines are generally speaking in excellent shape, they are not generally in what you would call "fight shape". I'm by no means an expert in military tactics or training, but most of military people that I have worked with have not been specifically conditioned for hand to hand combat unless they have pursued that on their own. They generally have highly developed aerobic capacity and a generally high level of strength... different from power. Important elements of general fitness but fighting is a highly intense anaerobic activity. Get yourself if shape specifically for that and you probably won't have too many problems.

[E.C. Valdimar]

my suggestion is to train as a fighter. Do several rounds of bag work, several rounds of pad work and then spar your various ranges (kickboxing, clinch and wrestling) intensely.

While marines are generally speaking in excellent shape, they are not generally in what you would call "fight shape". I'm by no means an expert in military tactics or training, but most of military people that I have worked with have not been specifically conditioned for hand to hand combat unless they have pursued that on their own. They generally have highly developed aerobic capacity and a generally high level of strength... different from power. Important elements of general fitness but fighting is a highly intense anaerobic activity. Get yourself if shape specifically for that and you probably won't have too many problems.

Maxx that is a exellent post! Thanx a lot. What you said about Power and Strength made a lot of sense to me. I don't think of myself as all that strong but guys in my class do say I've got soem strong hooks and crosses. That was really some good stuff. Thanx a lot!

[ODENE]

You shouldnt be too worried that he was a Marine. What was his mos? That is a big part of it. Most poges I have delt with are fat, real lazy or just plain pathetic. Granted some grunts are the same but not as many as poges. Dont get me wrong, 1 out of 20 poges are good to go but thats about it. Btw, I am speaking of personal experience... I am in the Marine Corps now as an 0311/ infantry/ rifleman.

[JasonE]

Seriously, if he wants to fight you, the only way to win is to deny him the fight.

Otherwise, you beat him, he can have you prosecuted. Your posts on this forum are sufficient evidence of premeditation to commit bodily harm, and would help put you away. That would make you the criminal (convicted) with him free to mess around. If he is seriously injured, you may also have to pony up for damages in addition to facing more serious charges. Ultimately, he wins.

Otherwise, he beats you, and you get to live with whatever injuries are incurred, plus he'll be more aggressive in the future. You can try to sue him, but that's a crap shoot and hardly worth the pain and risk. Ultimately, he wins.

If you avoid the fight and find alternative ways of dealing with the situation, you will eliminate the risks noted above and have a greater chance of long-term success. You might start by anonymously providing evidence of his prior criminal activities to the police...

[JasonE]

Side note:

I've trained martial arts for a long time and can deal with guys of all sizes. Though it's occasionally tempting to take someone down, I have ALWAYS found that alternative solutions are superior. Sun Tzu said that the highest level of skill was winning battles without fighting, and I agree.

Be smart. Train hard, but make fighting your LAST resort, not your first.

[Timberwolf]

Train his weaknesses into your style.

I am an Army Soldier, But at the risk of causeing a disturbance in thought processes i decided to maybe give some advice. I have taken on marines before. They like myself are trained in a combative style functional for a quick kill and not a long lasting fight. Capitalize on this. The marine Corps Martial Arts program emphasizes a form of combative Juijitsu, Train up on your brazilian style and japanese styles, Emphasize grappling and train most of all for stamina. Train escapes from even the most impossible grapples. This is your ammo. Start by studying their style and and train to go the distance. Wear him down before he can get his quick kill. Make him exhaust himself and then release what you have on his person. Quick hint 98% of long fights end on the ground. utilize this. Good Luck!

[Timberwolf]

oops I forgot!

Stop psyching yourself out. He is human. He bleeds and hurts just like you or me. Let him initiate the fight and then you have legitamacy in self defense.

[mtc_dave]

You shouldnt be too worried that he was a Marine. What was his mos? That is a big part of it. Most poges I have delt with are fat, real lazy or just plain pathetic. Granted some grunts are the same but not as many as poges. Dont get me wrong, 1 out of 20 poges are good to go but thats about it. Btw, I am speaking of personal experience... I am in the Marine Corps now as an 0311/ infantry/ rifleman.

I agree with this. It's just his attitude. Most of his hand to hand combat training probably in bootcamp. It's like any other Martial Art, if you don't train regularly you won't be very proficient with it.I too was in the Corp, Golf 2/8, from '87-'91. there were some tough guys but I never backed down. There are alot "poges". As someone posted earlier, train as a fighter and don't worry about this guy.

Semper Fi

[freefighter2010]

I dont know where in USA you living but i believe certain weapons are legal so u can carry a weapon. How about stun guns ? batons ?

[vg7z]

Just because he is a Marine doesnt mean he can fight. Im in the military as well and most guys dont really know how to fight, just think they do. He'll know some basic hand to hand but unless he pursued advanced training, If you are proficient at some sort of hand to hand you should take him easily.

[freefighter2010]

I would never take on someone hand to hand. These days people carry weapons so be sneaky and carry a baton hidden in your trousers or a blade to scare him away. Its better to however walk away from trouble if you can