Close Quarters Combat
CQC
Developed By Larry Klahn
Copyrighted 2005
Learning Objective
Personnel will gain the confidence and
proficiency in various unarmed defense and
offensive techniques to be able to maintain
control of themselves in a close quarters
combat situation, and in doing so controls the
fight
2
Training Goal
To gain the skills necessary to stop an attacker
Control the enemy
Apply restrains
Turn the enemy over to other personnel
3
Warrior Mindset &
Developing It:
Society’s outlook on warriors and perception
of self
What is the mental picture
Duty/mission to survive a conflict
How to train to be indomitable and develop the
attitude “never give up the fight”
Repetition of techniques
Esprit de corps
4
Recommended Reading
Lt. Col. David Grossman has written two
books
On Killing and On Combat
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The Psychology of Conflict
Ask oneself – “What am I willing to do to
survive?” The answer must be “Anything!”
Note: The words Soldier and he or his are used
in a unisex manner in this presentation and
manual. CQC is for all soldiers regardless of
gender, age or mission responsibilities.
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Importance of a
“Just Cause”
There is an old saying among warriors that “if
the cause be just.”
What the “Cause” may be?
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Anger & Fear in Combat
Fear - controlled part of the survival
mechanism
Anger – keeps you moving, fighting & brain
thinking
Failure in combat
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Anger & Fear in Combat Cont.
Berserker rage
– How is this addressed
Static and scenario based training
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Four Possible Responses to Conflict
Retreat
Surrender
Posture
Fight
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Coopers Color Codes
• Jeff Cooper
Color
Meaning
White
Unaware
Yellow
Aware & Ready to Respond
Red
Action State-Acting in a
decisive & tactical manner
Black
Blind Panic-No plan, erratic
response- hope for the best
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Mindset Goals
Mindset training - “habit”
Assess surroundings
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Verbalization
• Lose being bashful!!!
• Verbal stuns (loud command voice yell)
stuns the cerebral cortex.
• This results in the enemy blinking and or
flinching giving the soldier the tactical
advantage.
• Striking, how effected?
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Verbalization Cont…
When you yell in a loud heavy command voice
Do not fight in silence – by verbalizing/yelling
Breath Control
Conditioning
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Verbalization Cont…
• Specific Commands
– Back!
– Down!
– Stay down!
15
Stress Inoculation
• “Inoculated into the world of violence” Grossman - On Killing
• Specific types of verbalization used in
training designed to “stress”
• Mindset development
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Remember
The purpose of this training is to give the
soldier real skills which are simple and
effective and can be done in daylight or
complete darkness (tactile/feel) and in full
battle gear.
However – If the soldier has skills learned in
other areas – boxing, martial arts, wrestling,
football, law enforcement etc. Do not throw
away these skills – add CQC to them.
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Threat Assessment: Danger signs
Body Language – pre attack postures
Opening and closing the fists
Shoulder shift
Muscular tension in the face or shoulders
Boxers/fighting stance
Exaggerated motion
Danger Signs Cont…
Exaggerated Breathing
Verbal threats
Closing the distance to the soldier
Thousand yard stare
Hands suddenly disappearing behind the back
or into clothing
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Remember to
“See” and “Look”
Eyes up and Head moving.
Really “see” what is out there.
Least 100 yards out, not 25 or less.
MOVE YOUR HEAD!
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Vigilance
Be vigilant at all times and places
Know where cover is when at a FOB or any
location
Do not assume that any location is secure
“Know” where cover is
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Types of Cover
Concealment
Soft Cover
Hard Cover
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Autogenic Breathing
Square breathing, tactical breathing, breath
control or combat breathing
Responses to stress are automatic
– Heart rate
– Blood pressure
– Oxygenation of blood
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Autogenic Breathing
Autogenic breathing is this: breath in deep for
a count of 4
– Hold for a count of 4
– Exhale for a count of 4
– Be empty for a count of 4 and repeat
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Purpose/Mission of CQC
“Bring
our soldiers home alive” This
is the mandate of CQC and our
mission.
Train the soldier in the physical and
mental skills necessary to survive
and win a Close Quarters
Engagement.
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Techniques Taught
Must be simple
Easy to repeat and retain
Mass repetitions until proficient
Done and practiced in full combat gear
Done while standing, kneeling or on the
ground
See CQC Manual for the specific techniques
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Percentage of Soldiers Trained
Air Force
13%
Army Reserve
87%
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Secret Training
Techniques for Success
Amateurs train until they get it right –
professionals train until they cannot get it
wrong
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
No secrets – no ninja magic – just sound
principles applied and practiced
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