Cage Rage Link Up With Royal Marines

A UK promotion has been helping the Royal Marines.

Colour Sergeant Damian Todd, has teamed up with Mixed Martial Artists from Cage Rage to teach his recruits life saving moves.

US Army recruits are now given instruction on the fast growing sporting sensation before they are considered battle ready.

“We need to be teaching everyone going in to urban war zones these skills,” said CS Todd.

“Mixed Martial Arts techniques will save British lives! They are more dynamic and contemporary than some of the outmoded methods we teach our troops. When these men and women find themselves clearing buildings in Iraq or Afghanistan I know they will be called upon to fight at close quarters – we need to equip them with the appropriate skills to give them a fighting chance.”

British boys are anxious to follow in their American counterparts footsteps – and master Mixed Martial Arts to make them the ultimate fighting force. More than 50 have signed up to a new scheme to learn the secrets to become the kings of the cage.

Cage Rage Promoter and MMA trainer Dave O’Donnell along with Grant Waterman met up with the group at Bordon Barracks in Hampshire this week for a behind closed doors master class.

“These people make me so proud” said Dave. “They have the ba**s to put their lives on the line for our country – and we need to ensure that they have the ability to do the job and get home safely.

“Mixed Martial Arts is the ultimate form of combat – fusing four different Olympic combat disciplines – it is the perfect training programme for anyone likely to face a deadly enemy at close range.

“They really impressed me with their physical prowess and mental agility – they really picked up the tips and techniques very quickly.

“I would like to think that more troops get the chance to follow in their footsteps and learn how to protect themselves.

“Cage Rage is here to help.”

The recruits and their instructor have been invited to Wembley Arena on Saturday July 12th to see Cage Rage 27: Step Up – where top professionals will put their skills to the test.

The armed forces in the UK have lagged behind some of their allies when it comes to embracing Mixed Martial Arts. The US Army introduced the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP) over a decade ago. The new hand to hand combat system was devised by a committee headed by Sergeant Matt Larsen.

MACP has Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at its core - but also has elements of Judo and Muay Thai. What sets MACP apart from other systems of self defence is the way it is taught. There is less emphasis on teaching technique than with conventional martial arts training. Instead - competition is the driving force. The focus is on teaching recruits how to act and think like a fighter - rather than teaching a specific style of fighting.

Matt Larsen’s ideas have been implemented so successfully, it is not surprising that some in the UK armed forces are now looking to include elements of MMA in their training.