SEAL Fighting Techniques

The U.S. Navy SEALs are the U.S. Navy's special operations force, among the most elite and highly trained in the world. The term "SEAL" is an acronym that stands for operations conducted on "SEa, Air and Land." The men that make up a SEAL team are highly trained in marksmanship skills and in several hand-to-hand combat techniques. Techniques from over 50 martial arts styles are incorporated into what is referred to as Navy SEAL Close-Quarters Combat or CQC.

  1. Combat Jujitsu

    • Combat jujjitsu is the primary martial art style incorporated into Navy SEAL training. Combat jujitsu is utilized to maximize injury to an opponent, resulting in death or complete incapacitation. Such techniques incorporate causing severe nerve trauma through closing in on an opponent and striking specific points on the body, typically pressure points near major nerve centers. Other techniques include joint locks, grappling holds and throws that can result in breaking of bones at the joints such as the neck, elbow and knee.

    Krav Maga

    • Krav maga is derived from the Hebrew term meaning "hand-to-hand combat." This fighting style is primarily utilized by the Israeli defense forces as well as several elite U.S. forces, including the Navy SEALs, Marine Corps Recon personnel and Army Green Berets. This fighting style is essentially a no-holds-barred style. Any available part of the body is exploited brutally when performing krav maga, such as the throat, eyes, jaw, groin, fingers and knees. This style incorporates fast striking, taking the enemy down as quickly as possible, while simultaneously maintaining awareness of surroundings and looking for escape routes.

    Silat Techniques

    • Silat is a general term that describes a variety of martial arts that originated in the Malay region. Such techniques used by the U.S. Navy SEALs are those incorporated in modern mixed martial arts--MMA. These techniques include the guillotine choke, arm bars and other submission techniques. The most common silat instruction SEALs incorporate is silat knife fighting techniques. This style enables a SEAL to strip a knife from an opponent, grapple an opponent with a knife and includes several quick and lethal knife striking moves.

    Muay Thai

    • Muay Thai originated in Thailand and is incorporated into Navy SEAL fighting techniques. This style involves stand-up striking and grappling, typically utilizing the elbows and knees. The art of Muay Thai itself is based on "The Art of Eight Limbs." This is because in traditional fighting only fists and feet are used. In Muay Thai, the strikes come in succession of the most available limb, whether it be the fist, elbow, knee or foot. SEALs execute this style extremely fast, and targets are sensitive areas of the body.