Close Quarter Combat training gaining momentum within 3rd Canadian Division
February 14, 2025 - Lt Inna Platonova, Public Affairs Officer, Joint Task Force West
Dating back to ancient civilizations, combat sports have embodied physical and mental toughness, and have been widely used for military preparation.
Today, as global security challenges are rising, Close Quarter Combat (CQC) training provides a critical skill set to enhance resilience and readiness among soldiers and prepare them for the demands of the modern battlefield.
A staple for all infantry soldiers and officers, CQC training with focus on grappling has been gaining momentum within 3rd Canadian Division (3 Cdn Div) as a means to combine fitness with resiliency to produce readiness. With units creating their own teams, grappling—ground fighting—is now spanning all units and trades. Grappling falls under the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Sports program at the local and regional level and has been integrated into regional competitions and exercises such as Exercise STRONG CONTENDER (Ex SC), an annual exercise led by 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG) in Edmonton.
Acknowledging the far‑reaching benefits spanning multiple readiness domains, CQC training is emphasized by the 3 Cdn Div Resilience and Readiness Advisory Committee (RRAC), which aims to foster resilience and build readiness among 3 Cdn Div members.
Initiated under the umbrella of RRAC, a grappling seminar took place on Feb. 6 at the Edmonton Garrison Fitness Centre to promote grappling skills, bolster esprit de corps and strengthen the Division teams. The seminar was augmented by professional instructors from the Frontline Academy in Sherwood Park, Alta.: Professor Carlos Alexandre de Carvalho Rodrigues, a world‑class fifth‑degree Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu (BJJ) Black Belt; and Professor Hitalo Silva Machado, a world‑class third‑degree BJJ Black Belt. Both professors are well known to the military grappling community as they continue sharing their expertise, building connections with the community, and showing the importance of combat sports.
Featuring both Regular and Reserve members from across the Division, and skilled unit representatives from 1 CMBG, the seminar strengthened the CQC community and charted a path going forward.
Chief Warrant Officer Rob Clarke, 3 Cdn Div Sergeant‑Major, initiated the seminar and explained why he feels CQC training is important.
“This type of training must be considered the absolute baseline for building fitness, resiliency, readiness and fighting spirit,” he said.
CWO Clarke also discussed the Division’s guiding perspective on CQC training.
“Critical to building personal fitness, resiliency and confidence, CQC skills need to be taught to all members of the Division – to include all trades, Regular and Reserve,” he emphasized. “We are all members of the profession of arms, and it is our duty to serve our country no matter what it takes. This training instills the confidence to do so.”
An experienced grappler and a strong advocate for CQC, Captain Kyle Ho with Real Property Operations Unit (West) echoed CWO Clarke’s sentiment.
Caption
Participants in the Feb. 6 Close Quarter Combat seminar pose for a group photo. The seminar was spearheaded by Chief Warrant Officer Rob Clarke, 3rd Canadian Division Sergeant‑Major (front row, third from right), and featured instructors Professor Carlos Alexandre de Carvalho Rodrigues (front row, in white) and Professor Hitalo Silva Machado (front row, in blue). The seminar took place at the Edmonton Garrison Fitness Centre.
Photos by Robert Schwartz, 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Imaging
Caption
Professor Carlos Alexandre de Carvalho Rodrigues (in white) coaches grapplers from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment during the Close Quarter Combat seminar on Feb. 6 at the Edmonton Garrison Fitness Centre.
“Combative grappling is essential in today's dynamic battle space,” he said. “It instills discipline, resilience and an unwavering will to win in our soldiers under all circumstances. It promotes fitness and prepares our soldiers for combat. Standing toe‑to‑toe with an opponent, experiencing the nerve‑racking feeling, thirst in your throat, and butterflies in your stomach, is as close as you can get to simulating combat in a safe and controlled environment.”
Among seminar participants was Corporal Davis Yates with 1 Service Battalion, who has been involved with combat grappling for several years, including competing in Ex SC. For him, the grappling benefits extend beyond physical fitness to include a strong sense of camaraderie and improved communication, resulting from interactions with troops both within his unit and other units while engaging in sport.
“It is good for morale,” he asserted.
Major Hollich Ho, the new 3 Cdn Div Grappling Representative and an avid grappler, highlighted CGC’s psychological benefits.
“Grappling helps people become comfortable with being uncomfortable, which is a huge factor in our ability to manage stress, [build] resiliency and [overcome] hardships,” he said.
He is passionate about grappling and would like to see the sport being elevated with events and competitions taking place across Division and at the national level.
Alyson Hodgson, Sports Co‑ordinator with Personnel Support Programs wants to see the grappling sport grow and be represented at the national level.
“From a CAF Sports perspective, grappling encompasses many of the key values of the Sports program such as self‑discipline, loyalty and commitment,” she said. “It also fosters relationships between members both on and off the mat as they work together to better themselves in their chosen discipline.”
Based on overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants and organizers, events like the Feb. 6 grappling seminar help advance grappling skills while strengthening the community, morale and communication. Going forward, further CQC training events across the Division will help grow a strong network of qualified and skilled practitioners, as well as expand training to those who are just starting out.
CWO Clarke is eager to see opportunities being created to allow soldiers to challenge one another with organized competitions at the unit, formation, regional and national levels, and he is optimistic it will happen soon.
“Working hand in hand with Personnel Support Programs, we will make this happen.”
Caption
Chief Warrant Officer Rob Clarke, 3rd Canadian Division Sergeant‑Major (left), addressing the participants during the Close Quarter Combat seminar on Feb. 6 at the Edmonton Garrison Fitness Centre.
Caption
Professor Carlos Alexandre de Carvalho Rodrigues (in white) and Professor Hitalo Silva Machado (in blue) demonstrate a series of moves during the Close Quarter Combat seminar on Feb. 6 at the Edmonton Garrison Fitness Centre. The two instructors both teach at the Frontline Academy in Sherwood Park, Alta.