Hand-to-hand army combat is nothing more than a universal system of skills for applying the methods of attack and defense in practice, which has incorporated the best of the arsenal of the most famous martial arts in the world. Thanks to his entertainment, he managed to win a huge number of fans not only in our country, but also abroad.
Origin
Hand-to-hand army combat is believed to have appeared in the Soviet Union in 1979, when the first championship involving airborne troops took place at a sports base assigned to the 7th Guards Airborne Division, located in Lithuanian Kaunas. This type of martial arts has become the product of many years of cooperation between specialists in the field of sports and physical training of both landing and other military branches.
A huge work has been done in this direction: from among the recruits, sportsmen-dischargers and prize-winners of competitions in sambo, judo, wrestling, boxing, etc. were carefully selected. In the end, the joint efforts of the fighters and commanders gave an excellent result - a new system was born, which is now commonly known as army hand-to-hand combat.
Techniques borrowed from various techniques are a harmonious combination of wrestling skills with kicks, arms and head. By the way, in the 1970s they had already begun to conduct similar training for conscripts called up for military service in the Airborne Forces, but it did not go beyond the scope of special physical and tactical training . Moreover, any use of hand-to-hand combat for unofficial purposes was unlawful and entailed, at best, disciplinary and, at worst, criminal liability. About this, the servicemen were constantly reminded of posters placed in parts of the airborne forces. At that time, hand-to-hand army combat could be used only during special operations.
Out of the shadows
As mentioned above, in the USSR until the end of the 80s of the last century there was a ban on the teaching and use of karate and other martial arts. After its removal, there was a rapid commercialization of this sports sector. In this regard, one after another, numerous schools, clubs, and sections began to appear, where mainly oriental martial arts were taught.
Until 1994, hand-to-hand fighting skills were considered one of the types of military-applied sports. It was cultivated exclusively in military units. Gradually, the widest range of technical techniques and applied opportunities, as well as the highest qualification of the coaching staff and a fairly tight schedule of competitions began to cause increased interest from both athletes who possess the skills of various types of martial arts and the younger generation.
Given the interest of a huge number of people, it became possible in 1995 to create a Russian public organization called the “Army Hand-to-Hand Combat Federation” (FABR), which is officially registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Thus, she received permission to develop this type of martial arts, as well as the right to use his methods for the purpose of self-defense and training of people not related to military service.
Further development
The extraordinary entertainment of the fights, the universal training of the fighters, the reliability of the protective equipment, as well as the clear refereeing greatly contributed to the popularization of the new sport among the military. Thanks to this, it became possible in 1991 in Leningrad to hold the first army hand-to-hand fighting championship, which determined the ways for its further development.
Initially, the Military Institute of Physical Culture was determined by its teaching and methodological base. A new department of hand-to-hand combat was opened here, where classes were held to train future specialists in sports and physical training both for the army of the Russian Federation and for various power structures. The Institute trains instructors, referees and trainers, and also is engaged in the formation and development of various methodological manuals and hand-to-hand textbooks.
Protective equipment: helmet
As you know, this sport is one of the most rigid and effective categories of martial arts. That is why army hand-to-hand combat competitions require certain means of defense with which each athlete participating in the tournament should be equipped.
First of all, the protesting fighter must have well-trained neck muscles, since during fights his head wears a special helmet, which has certain requirements. One of the main conditions - the protective grill should not fit or in any other way come into contact with the face of the athlete. The fact is that several cases were recorded when, during an accented blow right on the helmet, she literally cut through the fighter’s skin, causing heavy bleeding, which could only be stopped with the help of urgent surgical intervention.
The panel of judges when analyzing such incidents usually came to the same conclusion: the protective grilles were made without observing any safety requirements, and also in a handicraft way. To prevent such injuries, the rods of the grating should be fastened together only using argon welding.
The next requirement is that each athlete must have an individual helmet for army hand-to-hand combat. This means that it is adjusted to the structure of the fighter’s head in order to avoid the so-called hanging effect at the moment of impact. For this, special foam pads are installed inside the helmet.
The rest of the equipment
Given the rigidity of the fighting, not only the athlete’s head, but also some other parts of the body also need protection. To prevent serious leg injuries, use special pads for the lower legs and knees, and wrestling feet to lift the feet and heels. Protection is also used for elbows and forearms.
The brushes must be bandaged with boxing bandages, since the gaiters themselves cannot guarantee the safety of the bones of the hands in contact with a metal helmet. In addition, a fighter’s equipment includes a protective vest, called a tread, and a groin sink. All of the above uniforms, except for a metal helmet and gloves, are worn under a kimono.
The basic rules of army hand-to-hand combat
● All fighters are mandatory to be divided into age groups: up to 18 years, and then - depending on the Regulations on the competition. There is also a division into weight categories: athletes up to 60 kg and over 90 kg in increments of 5 kg. But it happens that at local tournaments for adults tentatively agree on only two - up to and over 75 kg.
● Athletes fight on tatami (square carpet) with a size of at least 14x14 m. At the same time, the fight itself takes place inside above the designated space. Its size is either 8x8 or 10x10 m, and the remaining external zone, at least 3 m wide, ensures the safety of fighters.
● The fight takes place in one round and lasts differently: for boys and young men - 2 minutes each. pure time, and in men - 3 minutes. As for girls, as well as girls and women, the duration of fights can be reduced by the results of the pre-tournament meeting and by mutual agreement of the representatives of their teams.
● Each athlete is assigned a second responsible for his ammunition during the fights. For example, it is his responsibility to fix special protective pads and a tread, as well as to gird a kimono, bandage his helmet and the like, which the fighter himself is unable to perform in the time allotted for this purpose. When a duel occurs, the second sits on a chair located behind the competitor. However, he cannot communicate with the fighter, giving him advice or any commands. For such a violation, the athlete is first made a remark, and for repeated failure to comply with this requirement - a warning.
Start of battle
Athletes must appear on the tatami within 1 minute from the moment their names were announced. Immediately before the start of the battle, the competitors' equipment is checked for correctness, for which they stand on the edge of the carpet for examination by their judge. He is obliged to carefully check the availability of all necessary protective equipment for each of the athletes: the presence of protectors, helmets, gloves, shells, as well as overlays for the lower legs and feet.
After the inspection, the rivals go beyond the tatami, where they expect the team “Fighters in the middle”. When it sounded, the athletes go to the center of the tatami and stand in specially designated places, after which they bow with a bow to the audience, the judge and their opponent. And finally, after the appropriate team, the fight itself begins.
Battles rating: tournament
Army hand-to-hand combat, however, like other sports, has its own criteria, which determine the result of fights. The following technical actions are counted: attacks with legs and arms, painful techniques and throws. It does not take into account only the struggle in the “stalls” and the header.
Estimates for technical actions performed:
● 1 point — punches on the body and foot on the leg, as well as stalling, that is, a throw made without breaking the opponent’s body from the carpet;
● 2 points - kicks to the body and a hand to the head, a throw with a complete separation of the opponent’s body from the tatami;
● 3 points - kicks to the head, knockdown and fast amplitude throw;
● a clear victory is a knockout or 2 knockdowns, effective painful reception, disqualification, failure to appear or failure of the opponent.
Victory in a duel
It may be awarded:
● for a clear advantage, that is, when one of the athletes ceases to resist or turns his back on his opponent;
● on points, according to the decision of the side judges;
● due to the disagreement of one of the opponents to continue the fight - the cause of this behavior may be fatigue, injury, etc.;
● surrender of the opponent against whom the pain technique was applied;
● failure to attend one of the athletes;
● in case of two knockdowns of one of the opponents during the fight (the fight is stopped in order to avoid unwanted injuries);
● by knockout;
● upon disqualification of one of the athletes. It can be caused by unsportsmanlike behavior, the receipt of three warnings, and in special cases, inflicting forbidden blows to his opponent, after which he is physically unable to continue the fight.
Prohibited Tricks
Hand-to-hand army combat has restrictions on the use of certain strikes and other technical actions, such as:
● choking grips and painful techniques regarding the neck, hand and spine;
● stomping kicks and jumping over a fallen opponent;
● painful techniques made in the rack;
● strokes in the neck and groin, on the joints of the arms and legs, the spine and back of the head, and also on the inside of the thigh;
● a grip made on a helmet or on its grate.
Sections for the younger generation
As for adult athletes, army hand-to-hand combat for children is taught by experienced professional trainers not only in Moscow, but also in many large cities of Russia. In the sections, classes on self-defense, personal safety techniques are held, special attention is paid to psychological preparation. In addition, children learn the basic methods of both defense and attack, which includes wrestling equipment, kicks and hands, as well as painful techniques.
Reading this article, some may be outraged: why teach children such a tough kind of martial arts, like army hand-to-hand combat? The section in which the child will be engaged will help him find true friends, gain self-confidence, not be afraid of conflicts with hooligans and act effectively, winning in almost any extreme situation.
Degree of popularity
Now in the country more than 500 thousand citizens are actively practicing army hand-to-hand combat. Russia ranks first in the number of prize-winners in this sport. Due to the fact that the FABR is officially registered with the Ministry of Justice, it received the legal right to independent development, as well as the spread of this type of martial arts in the regions of the Russian Federation. Therefore, it is successfully developing both in various sports societies and in power structures.