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Martial arts expert trains military
1/14/2003 5:00 AM
By: John Hygh
When you think of war, you normally think of guns, tanks, and bombs, but what happens when troops are in a war and they can't use those type of weapons? One martial arts instructor helps Marines prepare themselves for such scenarios.
As the U.S. Marines train to fight the war on terrorism in the southern Philippines, one guy who helps them get ready for their close encounters is martial arts instructor, Leslie Buck. He teaches them the Kali technique.
"There's tight jungle trails. Somebody will jump out, and mind you, these people that live in the Southern Philippines, not all of them are driving their BMW's or what not. They're using their farm implements, they're using machetes and they jump out and cut off the heads. And the Marines experienced no matter how highly technical their weapons are, they're automatically at close range. There's no preparation," Buck said.
Because in the jungles of the Philippines, someone could be close to you and you wouldn't even know it.
"The main consideration for law enforcement, for military is, 'I have a gun. What do I need anything else for?' But what happens when somebody else has the gun? You just don't have the opportunity to always have a gun in a knife fight, or vice-versa. So you have to be prepared for any circumstance.
"You'll have somebody using a traditional weapon. A sword, a machete that's been around for thousands of years. It's more effective than their M-16s, M-4s, their modern weaponry. So they had to find a way to deal with that. I'm the lucky one. I get to
stay on the base and be treated kind of like a king, but help these guys be prepared for what they have to do. Those guys are the real heroes going in there. And it's their job to go in there and risk their lives," Buck said.
While Buck won't see the front lines, the techniques he teaches the Marines play a critical role in protecting them.
Buck will make his second trip back to the Philippines at the end of the month to teach 500 Marines the Kali technique.
http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=58050&SecID=2
1/14/2003 5:00 AM
By: John Hygh
When you think of war, you normally think of guns, tanks, and bombs, but what happens when troops are in a war and they can't use those type of weapons? One martial arts instructor helps Marines prepare themselves for such scenarios.
As the U.S. Marines train to fight the war on terrorism in the southern Philippines, one guy who helps them get ready for their close encounters is martial arts instructor, Leslie Buck. He teaches them the Kali technique.
"There's tight jungle trails. Somebody will jump out, and mind you, these people that live in the Southern Philippines, not all of them are driving their BMW's or what not. They're using their farm implements, they're using machetes and they jump out and cut off the heads. And the Marines experienced no matter how highly technical their weapons are, they're automatically at close range. There's no preparation," Buck said.
Because in the jungles of the Philippines, someone could be close to you and you wouldn't even know it.
"The main consideration for law enforcement, for military is, 'I have a gun. What do I need anything else for?' But what happens when somebody else has the gun? You just don't have the opportunity to always have a gun in a knife fight, or vice-versa. So you have to be prepared for any circumstance.
"You'll have somebody using a traditional weapon. A sword, a machete that's been around for thousands of years. It's more effective than their M-16s, M-4s, their modern weaponry. So they had to find a way to deal with that. I'm the lucky one. I get to
stay on the base and be treated kind of like a king, but help these guys be prepared for what they have to do. Those guys are the real heroes going in there. And it's their job to go in there and risk their lives," Buck said.
While Buck won't see the front lines, the techniques he teaches the Marines play a critical role in protecting them.
Buck will make his second trip back to the Philippines at the end of the month to teach 500 Marines the Kali technique.
http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=58050&SecID=2