Emerson Combat Systems
Encyclopedia
Emerson Combat Systems is a form of modern combatives
designed by Ernest Emerson
. The system is based on Emerson's accumulated 35 years of study of martial arts and combat and incorporates empty hand training as well as use of weapons from knives and sticks to rifles and pistols. This system is taught to military, law enforcement, and civilians.
, jiujitsu, boxing
, and escrima; Emerson took elements that he thought were useful from those arts and presented them as part of a system.
, and authorities on legal aspects such as attorneys and judges. These speakers go into greater depth on the realities of the use of deadly force.
The techniques taught are based on two factors: the human body's physiological
response to stress
and its reduction to the use of gross motor skills. According to Emerson, the techniques are based upon the physical and instinctual laws that govern the survival instincts and physical function of a human being. For example, when unarmed and attacked with a knife or a stick, the student will drive forward into the attacker's zone, using the outer edges of the arms to protect the body and force the attacker off balance to where the student can gain an advantage.
This system is characterized by training "realistically": protective equipment is worn, and students wear street clothing as opposed to uniforms. Weapon transition skills are taught in advanced classes, including drills where a primary weapon might fail and the student falls back to a secondary weapon. There is a strong emphasis placed on overall physical fitness. Emerson maintains he does not teach a "martial art" encumbered by ritual or sporting aspects but a combatives system where the goal is more than simple self defense.
Emerson's presumption is to treat all attackers as if they are armed. He breaks down attackers into three such as sociopaths, opportunistic predators, mentally disturbed, etc.
A course in the Emerson Combat Systems begins with various boxing drills. The student will hit a heavy bag while constantly moving for 5 minutes. The goal is to completely exhaust the body of oxygen. At the 5 minute mark, the student hits the heavy bag more aggressively without stopping, the body, depleted of oxygen works off of adrenaline. From there the student will perform a similar drill on an MMA Dummy or a heavy bag laying on the ground, followed by picking up and slamming the dummy/heavy bag repeatedly for 5 minutes in various jiujitsu throws.
The coursework contains sparring, both armed and unarmed with various partners to give the student exposure to opponents of various skill and strength levels.
New York Times
bestselling author David Morrell
underwent training in Emerson Combat Systems as research for several of his books about Special Operations and Close Quarters Combat. The author claims Emerson is "the best manufacturer of tactical knives" as well as a "top level blade instructor for elite military and law-enforcement units". In an interview, Morrell indicated that he injured his collarbone during the training.
Combatives
Combatives is a United States Army term for hand-to-hand combat training and techniques.-History:Militaries have long taught unarmed combat, both as physical conditioning and as a supplement to armed combat. Among the samurai of Japan, such combatives were known as Bujutsu...
designed by Ernest Emerson
Ernest Emerson
Ernest R. Emerson is an American custom knifemaker, martial artist, and edged-weapons expert. Originally an engineer and machinist in the aerospace industry, Emerson became a knifemaker known for making decorative knives but later became better known for his combat knives, eventually founding a...
. The system is based on Emerson's accumulated 35 years of study of martial arts and combat and incorporates empty hand training as well as use of weapons from knives and sticks to rifles and pistols. This system is taught to military, law enforcement, and civilians.
History
Emerson Combat Systems was developed as one of numerous ecclectic martial systems that arose in the 1980s. Rather than teach individual philosophies and parameters of different fighting styles that he studied such as jeet kune doJeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
, jiujitsu, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, and escrima; Emerson took elements that he thought were useful from those arts and presented them as part of a system.
Philosophy
An important component of Emerson Combat Systems is developing what Emerson calls "the combat mindset". Emerson's courses feature guest speakers from various walks of life such as active and former members of the US Military, former teachers of his such as Richard BustilloRichard Bustillo
Richard S Bustillo is an Filipino-American martial arts instructor from Hawaii who was a student of the late Bruce Lee and an authority on Jeet Kune Do Concepts and Filipino Martial Arts.-Martial arts:...
, and authorities on legal aspects such as attorneys and judges. These speakers go into greater depth on the realities of the use of deadly force.
The techniques taught are based on two factors: the human body's physiological
Human physiology
Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. Physiology focuses principally at the level of organs and systems...
response to stress
Stress (medicine)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
and its reduction to the use of gross motor skills. According to Emerson, the techniques are based upon the physical and instinctual laws that govern the survival instincts and physical function of a human being. For example, when unarmed and attacked with a knife or a stick, the student will drive forward into the attacker's zone, using the outer edges of the arms to protect the body and force the attacker off balance to where the student can gain an advantage.
This system is characterized by training "realistically": protective equipment is worn, and students wear street clothing as opposed to uniforms. Weapon transition skills are taught in advanced classes, including drills where a primary weapon might fail and the student falls back to a secondary weapon. There is a strong emphasis placed on overall physical fitness. Emerson maintains he does not teach a "martial art" encumbered by ritual or sporting aspects but a combatives system where the goal is more than simple self defense.
Emerson's presumption is to treat all attackers as if they are armed. He breaks down attackers into three such as sociopaths, opportunistic predators, mentally disturbed, etc.
Regimen
The coursework contains sparring, both armed and unarmed with various partners to give the student exposure to opponents of various skill and strength levels.
New York Times
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
bestselling author David Morrell
David Morrell
David Morrell is a Canadian-American novelist, best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become the successful Rambo film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. He has written 28 novels, and his work has been translated into 26 languages...
underwent training in Emerson Combat Systems as research for several of his books about Special Operations and Close Quarters Combat. The author claims Emerson is "the best manufacturer of tactical knives" as well as a "top level blade instructor for elite military and law-enforcement units". In an interview, Morrell indicated that he injured his collarbone during the training.
Training videos
- Emerson Combat Systems-Unconventional Edged Weapons Combat I-V DVD
- Ernest Emerson Complete Combat Karambit Knife DVD
External links
- Emerson Combat Systems
- Ernest Emerson is a Martial artist and that is what he started off doing by James Huff at Martial Arts Studies