About Our CQC Program

The Modern Defense Institute has developed a Close Quarters Combatives (CQC) program that incorporates a comprehensive course of study for modern, practical self-defense. Our CQC program uses both modern and traditional training methods and tactics to cover virtually all modern street encounters. We cover unarmed, hand-to-hand combat as well as knife, stick (impact weapons), and gun defense.

CQC is a no-nonsense, down and dirty approach to self-defense.

Close Quarters Combatives is the essence of fighting and combat as defined by the realities of actual physical confrontation. Our CQC program is based on "Hock" Hochheim's Scientific Fighting Congress' (SFC) Close Quarters combatives curriculum. It emphasizes tactics and strategies that have both statistical probabilities of success and medical feasibility. The CQC approach is not to be artististic in a conflict, but rather to be effective and more importantly, to prevail. MDI CQC is based on the most effective, battle proven, and easily retained tactics and strategies gathered from a variety of martial arts (including Boxing, Jujitsu, Karate, Kung fu, Eskrima, Silat and Muay Thai) and police and military training from around the world. The SFC CQC course is taught around the world to citizens, martial artists, police and military personnel.

Course Description

MDI's CQC program is baed on the Scientific Fighting Congress CQC Group and is based on four major areas of study:

  • Unarmed Combatives
  • Knife Combatives
  • Impact Weapon Combatives
  • Gun Combatives
The Unarmed Combatives Course

The Unarmed Combatives is the foundation of the other three courses and as such requires a more extensive curriculum. The major components of the Unarmed Combatives are:

  • Strikes
  • Kicks
  • Takedown and Throws (including Joint Locks/Cranks and Chokes)
  • Invading/Trapping Hands
  • Unarmed vs. Weapon Attacks

Each of the above categories contain up to ten training modules per component.

All components are practiced standing, kneeling and on the ground. The program focuses on effective techniques that minimize potential risk for the defender and maximize the potential for damage to the assailant. There is an emphasis on attacking the weakest and most accessible vital targets on the opponent as they present themselves. This program is based on the realities of conflict and uses exercises and skill building drills to lead to simulated combat scenarios of increasing complexity. Street clothes are used in training as much as possible to simulate the most probable conditions of a real world confrontation.

The Knife Combatives Course

This course covers the following component areas:

  • Use and Application of the Forward or Sabre Grip
  • Use and Application of the Reverse Grip
  • Use and Application of the Pommel strike
  • Knife Quick Draws/Presentation
  • Close Quarters Threat Response
  • Unarmed vs. the Knife
  • "In the Clutches of" or "Stalemate"
  • Knife combinations and Knife/Counter-Knife Combat

For those interested in Defense Edge work only, we offer a separate Defense Edge Knife/Counter-Knife course. More

The Impact Weapon Combatives

This course covers the major components:

  • Use and Application of the Single Hand Grip
  • Use and Application of the Double Hand Grip
  • Blocking Applications
  • Impact Weapon Quick Draw/Presentation
  • Impact Weapon Disarms and Retention
  • Grappling Applications of the Impact Weapon
  • Unarmed vs. Impact Weapons
  • Impact Weapon vs. Impact or Other Weapons

The Gun Combatives Course

The Gun Combatives course concerns itself with tactics and strategies that deal with close range (under 20 ft) firearms threats and applications. The major components are:

  • Quick Draw/Presentation of Pistols and Long Guns
  • Gun Disarms
  • Gun Retention
  • Shoot/Move/Cover
  • Control and Contain/Arrest and Capture Using Fireams
  • Search Tactics
  • Gun Combat Scenarios
See our class schedule for times.