Interview with Joe Green

1) What is the name of your art? 

ACI (American Combatives Inc.) WWII Combatives 

2) How do your students address you? 

By name – Joe. 

3) What initially drew you to the edged weapons arts? 

I have always loved edged weapons and they are tools used in my profession. 

4) In what edged weapons art(s) are you formally credentialed, and by whom? 

 I am certified in ACI under John Kary. I studied Kni-com under Bob Kasper 

5) Who among your instructors most influenced you, and why? 

 John Kary, Because of Johns positive attitude showed me you can defend yourself with simple tactics no matter what your handicaps might be. I was transitioning from military to law enforcement and the techniques made sense to me. 

 6) What predominant art did he/she practice? 

 Earlier John was a practitioner of several arts holding black belts in them. He predominately studied CQC techniques from WWII by Fairbairn and Sykes among others. 

7) What is the history of your art? 

Without going into a whole history lesson it’s based on the syllabus from WWII used by the O.S.S. and S.O.E. Much like Col. Fairbairn’s instruction after the war, ACI teaches on 3 levels (military/law enforcement/ civilian). Initially everyone starts with the basics but depending on your profession or intention the ending would change. If you’re a civilian, you would want techniques that allow you to disarm and disengage with threat rather than military techniques to eliminate the threat or sentry removal. 

 8) Is the art you teach a “pure” art or a blended method? 

 Blended from military syllabus’s and techniques used in prisons and law enforcement case studies/reports. 

 9) What edged weapon do you primarily specialize in? 

 Knives – Fixed blade or folders 

10) What additional weapons are taught in your art? 

Beside knife – stick/handgun and long gun 

11) Does your art specialize in any particular combat range or type of techniques? 

Because we’re talking about knives it’ll obviously be close range 

12) Is competition or sparring a component of training? 

Competition is not a part of the system. The system is a self protection system. Sparring is used in training to help the student learn timing and distance. 

13) Are there any training methodologies which you feel are unique to your art? 

The system is designed to eliminate a threat in the most practical and direct manner possible. The system is unique in the sense that it is concise by design. It is meant to be learned and used quickly. 

14) What do you feel is the strength of your art? 

The simplicity of the techniques and how easily they are to adapt to you as an individual and your needs/intention. 

15) Is this blade work intended for use against similar or dissimilar weapons? 

Yes- offensively you want a knife or edged weapon system to give you the advantage of your aggressor, whether it’s to disengage or obtain better options. Defensively – knife attacks are not typical of those in the movies. The knife historically was an ambush weapon, today knifes are used in a blitzkrieg attack and most people don’t realize they’ve been stabbed until after the fact. The perpetrator wants to get in do as much damage as possible and get away. 

16) How do you believe your blade stacks up against similarly sized blades? Our system is not designed around any particular blade design. 

 17) What are you main training methodologies? (Drills? Sparring? Techniques?) 

Techniques broken down and learned (offensive / defensive), we repeat the techniques until it’s an instinctive response and work drills/spar to work timing and distance. We work to develop the student’s situational awareness along with looking for routes of egress, what’s in the surrounding environment that could be used to our advantage. 

18) On average, how many hours of training do students engage in per week? 

It varies per student. 

19) Do you teach and practice strategies for avoiding contentious encounters? 

Yes – We work to develop the student’s situational awareness along with looking for routes of egress, what’s in the surrounding environment that could be used to our advantage. 

20) Do you include a formalized component of unarmed hand vs. blade defense in your art? If so, how do you validate its efficacy?

Yes, ACI teaches defensive techniques against knives. I gauge its efficacy from personal experience and feedback from students who work in hostile professions or environments. 

21) Do you have a carry strategy, or is weapon training just for art? 

Yes- carry one. Depending on my activity I always have some sort of edged weapon as a primary or secondary weapon. 

22) Is your art culturally relevant to modern self defense needs? 

Yes, absolutely. Our system is a modern system with its origins in police and military techniques and tactics. 

23) Have you ever used your art for self-defense? 

Yes – both in the United States, Afghanistan and Iraq. 

24) Do you include the legal statutes of your state regarding edged weapons in your scope of training? 

Depends on who the client base is (rules concerning the use of force vary on intent/profession) – civilians – you should know when you become the aggressor instead of victim. Most of ACI’s clients are current or prior military working as PMC’s or in Diplomatic Security in hostile countries. Their primary question is how to eliminate the threat in the quickest way available. 

25) Who are some of the most influential practitioners or instructors of your art? 

Besides ACI I recommend: Fred Bauer- Gung Ho Chuan Association Bob Spiegel – Charles Nelson Self Defense System 

26) What do you hope for the future of your art? 

I believe with current political and social unrest going on today and people look for better ways to protect themselves and family, they will realize the value of battle proven systems. 

27) What is your personal favorite blade? 

Emerson CQC7 

28) Where can people learn more about your art? 

Email to jgreen@americancombatives.com