Confidence course stand one means of stability and movement enhancement training
This file is to provide information in regards to the execution of close combat skills on a downward slope.
The focus is not on the positive or negative gradients/slopes mathematics but is focused on tactics and skills to enable the maintaining of balance and stability and the execution of expedient action groundcover as part of the employment of close quarters combat skills.
There are situational specifics that need to be factored in like steepness of the slope, footwear, load bearing, weight of carried kit and dimensions, hands free or weapon/kit holding as well as light and vision.
In our mil CQB/CQC there are specific tradecraft tactics and skills for roles, duties and varied terrain types.
Such training includes packages/tactics and skills for urban environments and obstacles like staircases and for blue roles, foreshore and seabed amphib water and shoreline basics for CQB/CQC skills employments.
There are tactics and skills specific to roles and objectives for urban operator’s law-enforcement defensive tactics as well as military close combat green and black role specific basic principles tactics and skills.
Once the combatant is competent in the principles, tactics and skills required to cover ground/make range on downhill slopes as much practice as possible should be undertaken.
While using stands and equipment such as previously depicted is positive for practical balance and stability enhancement to get out on the hill on various downhill terrains ranging from low to high sloping with varied surfaces and land forms and types that include:
- Urban environments and hard surfaces including winter ice/artificial surfaces
- Forest environments that include felled forests
- Grass and scrubland
- Bush land under the tree canopy on soil clay and leaf litter surfaces
- Wetlands and waterbodies
- Streams and creek beds including dry rock and stones beds
- Rockland/rock and gravel
- Bare smooth and uneven surfaces including clay soil leaf litter when wet and dry
- Dry/wet clay, loose soil, leaf litter, smooth surface or undulating terrain
- Artificial surfaces
We use to have a satellite area that was steep with smooth clay/soil surfaces that we would run water flow down for downhill slope ground cover and engagement training.
We are fortunate now with having a camp that includes open grassland as well as bush scrub and high canopy trees along with several waterways in creeks and ponds. This enables us to familiarise exponents on such land forms and surfaces in day light and darkness.
Another substitute we used for slippery wet surface downhill slope training was a 12 metre long water slide mat.
This type of training developed confidence and competency in controlled actions executions on such slopes and surfaces which developed loss of balance preventative capabilities as well as counter decentralisation when stability was compromised.
Familiarisation with tree scrub and grasses utilisation as means of grasping and preventing slipping or falling was also included in extended uphill and downhill stability training so exponents were familiar with well rooted robust plants that would hold their weight as a preventative or counter slide or fall means.
Low light and dark of night training such as creeper courses were also included so capabilities can be developed to cover ground/close on a target silently with sneaky boots maintaining stability without compromising oneself.
Downhill slopes, even though the combatant is aided by gravity, can present risks and dangers through downhill expedient action loss of control/ground affinity and high intensity loss of stability falling or slipping.
High intensity downhill entry actions require constant control and the ability to stop or change tact.
Just like in uphill combative skills executions downhill slopes skills employments require a squat crouch status with hips back and down and torso bent forward and your boots in a front stance footing position. Your stance and bodily positioning should be similar to uphill gradient stance and bodily positioning and should be commensurate with the downward slope. Matching the gradient/ slope with your stance squat crouch is very important.
Standing upright or rearward leaning can increase balance loss and slipping including ground contact impact.
The Orthodox front stance will be with the non-master boot forward and the rear master boot approximate shoulder width apart with the boot toes in line with the heel of the lead non-master boot.
The torso should be straight and bent forward at the hips/waist and the back should be straight and diagonally upward/forward pointing.
The unorthodox version is simply when the master boot is forward and the non-master boot is rearward positioned.
This downward slope ground cover squat crouch position provides closer to the ground balance and stability maintenance and in the event of decentralisation reduces the fall distance to the ground.
To maintain a definite ground affinity toe and heel braking can easily be employed.
Toe braking is the use of the toes and ball of the foot to push into the ground in a backward uphill pushing/braking direction to maintain position or regain control under slipping or when forward momentum needs to be reduced.
Heel braking is the use of the heel of the boot to push into the ground surface in a backward uphill direction to prevent out-of-control movement or decentralisation.
Toe/heel braking uphill rearward pushing action range of motion from starting in a bent knee position can transition to a more straight resistance leg position and status.
Braking can transition from toe/ball of foot to heel braking to prevent stability loss and decentralisation.
In the event that balance and stability is compromised an uphill rearward pivoting boots action and combined lead boot uphill propping action towards the combatants rear flanks in a uphill direction can act as a slide or fall prevention means or an increase safety low point positioning in a ground fall and footing recovery requirement.
Downhill footwork as part of stalking into skills execution range can include terrain contouring and crosscutting as well as utilising terrain features to maximise footing stability and safety.
Taking advantage of trails, indentations, banks and protruding rocks, roots and trees and vegetation as braking blocks to control/stop movement momentum. Hard boots ground affinity is very important in downhill CQC skills employments.
The enemy downhill with the smarts will realise the down slope assaulting combatant has to cover ground with commitment and can be countered by well-timed evasion clearing the kill zone and side or rear flank counter engagement.
Utilising lateral/diagonal pivot and slide positive boots cross cutting ground cover entry skills footwork reduces the likelihood of downhill slipping, sliding or falling.
Cross cutting/contouring should be small hard boots movements with enemy orientation adjustments to maintain hard targeting capabilities in close range to point blank range.
CQC footwork like sneaky boots CQB footwork is very different from running or walking footwork and a competent operator must know how to maximise balance and stability in difficult terrain environments that include downhill unarmed offensive assaults employments.
