This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Matt Larsen, known in many corners of the Army as the father of the modern combatives. He was a key figure in the Army’s effort to introduce better and more widespread training in hand-to-hand combat. Any listeners who have served in the Army during the last fifteen years or more will almost certainly have taken part in the combatives training that Matt helped create. During the conversation, he talks about why he thinks combatives training is so important. He also talks a lot about the notion of a warrior ethos—what it is and why, as he argues, it’s something that needs to exist throughout the entire Army, not just in infantry or other combat arms units.
You can listen to the entire discussion below, and if you aren’t already subscribed to the MWI Podcast, be sure to find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, or your favorite podcast app. While you’re there, please take a moment and give the podcast a rating or leave a review.
Note: This episode was originally released in 2018.
Image credit: Spc. Calab Franklin, US Army