Military Arnis, a unique form of mixed martial arts, is taking more prominent role in the training of the Norwich University corps of cadets to create greater leaders, both physically and mentally.
“Military Arnis is a leadership program designed to accelerate the development of the interpersonal skills of the students of Norwich University,” said Colonel Lisa McManus, the founder and professor of Military Arnis for the Navy ROTC battalion and the rest of the corps of cadets.
As a previously enlisted marine, Col. McManus studied hand-to-hand combat and later developed Military Arnis to incorporate different styles of fighting to better suit her smaller body. She began training at NU 11 years ago, and still teaches focused groups.
“It is more of a leadership program to help train future officers in the United States military how to interact on a one-to-one basis,” said Richard Snyder, a 21-year-old engineering and construction management junior from Ohio.
Col. McManus presented Military Arnis to Norwich University in order to teach cadets how to become better leaders.
It helps the students “teach someone else something, and builds confidence in group learning,” said Kevin McManus, 21, a junior biology major from Newport, N.H. Kevin McManus is the company commander of the Military Arnis program, and has been doing this form of martial arts since he was four years old.
Col. McManus has recruited an advanced team of dedicated cadets who are enthusiastic about Military Arnis. This team of approximately 15 cadets helps Col. McManus in leading the other cadets in the training and has additional, specialized training, according to Snyder, the executive officer of Military Arnis.
“The arnis team is probably the closest team on campus because we all abide by a higher code of honor than anybody can question and we are always watching over each other,” said Snyder. “We accept all professional cadets who are enthusiastic to become better leaders (onto the team).”
“The advanced team leads warm-ups and exercises, which can be stressful, but a good experience,” Snyder said. The team then breaks out and assists the cadets who are learning the new skills, according to Col. McManus.
The Navy battalion and sophomore cadets are the two groups that receive the most attention from Col. McManus’s team. Starting as a one-woman show, Col. McManus has been dedicated to the Navy battalion, but is looking to share her teachings with the rest of the corps.
“As a freshman in Navy ROTC, we did this martial arts leadership training nearly every military lab,” said Cortnie Williamson, a 19-year-old international studies sophomore from Nashville, Tenn.
“Looking back, I am glad that we did so much Military Arnis because it is useful knowledge, but it was difficult with such a large group of people,” Williamson said.
The training needs to be done in intimate groups to get to know each other better and have the proper cohesion, said Alex Crosby, a 19-year-old sophomore studies of war and peace major from Oysterville, Mass.
The team is able to teach more advanced exercises because they meet more frequently with the Navy battalion, according to Col. McManus.
Sophomores are now required to attend ten hours of Military Arnis throughout the year to “try to help (students) slowly accelerate up the hill so it’s not as big of a hit when you get a leadership position,” McManus said.
In the past at NU, sophomore year was known to be a year when the cadets were forgotten, but Col. McManus and her team are trying “to bring the polish back,” Snyder said.
“We train a different technique every time,” said Snyder. Regardless of the technique being taught, there is always a concentration in military customs and courtesies.
“The point of our team is to teach them leadership and to have fun,” said McManus.
Through the efforts of Col. McManus, “sophomore students of Norwich University become thoughtful, professional, well-rounded, contributing members of the NUCC.”
“Arnis is a lot more entertaining this year because I know what to expect and I get to help out those who don’t,” Crosby said.
Cadets at different levels of Military Arnis experience make it more effective, as they try to keep a stable working environment and get everyone to work together, according to McManus.
“In the military you are going to have to do training that you don’t necessarily like, so you will either have to make the best of it or it will not be tolerated” Snyder said. “We see all different kinds of attitudes, but the ones that say they don’t want to be there usually end up enjoying themselves.”
“The martial arts aspect is good, fun training, but nothing else really benefitted me,” said Alex Taupier, a 20-year-old biochemistry junior from Somers, Conn.
With a larger number of cadets taking Military Arnis, Col. McManus hopes to spread her view of, “If you’re going to teach something, live it” with the rest of the campus. NU wants to see a greater sense of professionalism and respect among all of the cadets, according to Snyder.
According to Crosby, all changes start small, and as a fairly new group, Military Arnis is still trying to find the correct target group.
When asked what is so unique about Military Arnis, without hesitation, Col. McManus answered, “We provide people opportunities to be awesome in their own right. They don’t have to be perfect; they just have to be who they are.”