US, Indonesian Marines, sailors train in martial arts

Photo By Sgt. Aaron Hostutler | Lance Cpl. Andy Rivera, a rifleman from 2nd Platoon, Landing Force Company, grapples with an Indonesian Marine from 6th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Korps Marinir, during martial arts training. Landing Force Company, comprised primarily of Marines from 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment and 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, is participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2011. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral exercises held between the U.S. and Southeast Asian nations with the goals of enhancing regional cooperation, promoting mutual trust and understanding, and increasing operational readiness. While in Indonesia, the service members from both nations will train together on martial arts, military operations on urban terrain, jungle warfare, combat marksmanship and combat lifesaving.  

ANTRA LINA TRAINING AREA, INDONESIA

05.27.2011

Story by Cpl. Aaron Hostutler 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

ANTRA LINA TRAINING AREA, Indonesia — Landing Force Company trained with Indonesian partners as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2011, a series of bilateral exercises held between the U.S and partner nations in Southeast Asia.

The company is comprised mostly of reserve Marines with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, with individual augments from III Marine Expeditionary Force.

The training began with Indonesian Marines demonstrating their martial arts techniques that focused on a variety of strikes from the standing position.

“Learning their martial arts was awesome,” said Lance Cpl. Andy Rivera, a rifleman with 2nd Platoon, Landing Force Company. “They had some crazy kicks I have never seen before.”

Unlike the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program’s emphasis on ground fighting, the majority of the Indonesians’ martial arts focused on fighting while upright.

After the Indonesians finished their instruction portion, the U.S. Marines taught them basic ground fighting techniques from the MCMAP.

“I never thought I would be in Indonesia teaching a foreign military how to ground fight,” said Lance Cpl. Chad Brooks, the lead martial arts instructor in Indonesia from 3rd Platoon, Landing Force Company.

Brooks and his fellow instructors taught Indonesians the martial arts positions of the guard, full mount, side mount, arm bar, triangle choke and kimura.

“My guys were really happy to train with the Marines,” said Indonesian Marine Capt. Rowin Simarmata, a logistics officer with 6th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Korps Marinir.

After the instruction and practical application portion was over, it was time for the Marines from different nations to put their knowledge to use.

First, two U.S. Marines faced each other in a grappling match to show the Indonesians how the match works. Then, the two Marines from different nations faced each other.

The U.S. Marines’ experience in grappling showed, but the Indonesians did not give away any matches.

The Marines from the two nations, both out of breath, who moments ago were trying their hardest to put one another into submission, stood, shook hands and congratulated each other on the competition at the end of each match.

“They all did really well,” Brooks said. “They learned the moves quickly and were able to effectively demonstrate them during the grappling.”

• Date Taken: 05.27.2011
• Date Posted: 06.09.2011 19:30
• Story ID: 71876
• Location: ANTRA LINA TRAINING AREA, ID