S.C.A.R.S. (military)
Encyclopedia
Special Combat Aggressive Reactionary Systems (SCARS) is an American combat fighting system created by Jerry L. Peterson based on sciences of psychology, physiology, physical movement as well as research on the nervous system
; the company website claims "It does not stem from any martial arts nor is it a combination of martial arts or any other fighting system." SCARS was developed by Peterson after serving two tours in the US Army 173rd Airborne Brigade
during the Vietnam War
. SCARS began to be taught to various military, law enforcement, and security units in 1987, such as the Arizona
State police
. Currently, SCARS is taught through private seminars, online training and DVD
s. It contains no defensive actions, as all checks against the enemy's kicks or punches are delivered as strikes to vulnerable nerves.
SCARS was initially presented to the Department of the Navy in 1988.SCARS Institute of Combat Sciences has developed training courses for the US Army, Air Force as well as foreign governments and various law enforcement agencies
.
Due to its length (taking men out of the field for 30 days), cancellation of the SCARS course was approved on April 17, 1998 by the Naval Special Warfare Commander, G.M. Moy, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations.
Within the martial arts
community, Peterson and SCARS have been subject to controversy, and his various claims have been described as "semi-true": His website claims "SCARS is 100% effective in all CQB actions." Some commentators have described SCARS as re-branded
Kung Foo San Soo. Navy SEAL LCDR Mark D. Divine called SCARS "a very effective offensive fighting system," but also criticized Peterson for "his ego
and inflexibility." Journalist
Herb Borkland called it "the world's most expensive self defense training" because a 40-hour workshop costs $5,000 USD
.
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
; the company website claims "It does not stem from any martial arts nor is it a combination of martial arts or any other fighting system." SCARS was developed by Peterson after serving two tours in the US Army 173rd Airborne Brigade
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. SCARS began to be taught to various military, law enforcement, and security units in 1987, such as the Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
State police
State police
State police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
. Currently, SCARS is taught through private seminars, online training and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s. It contains no defensive actions, as all checks against the enemy's kicks or punches are delivered as strikes to vulnerable nerves.
SCARS was initially presented to the Department of the Navy in 1988.SCARS Institute of Combat Sciences has developed training courses for the US Army, Air Force as well as foreign governments and various law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
.
Due to its length (taking men out of the field for 30 days), cancellation of the SCARS course was approved on April 17, 1998 by the Naval Special Warfare Commander, G.M. Moy, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations.
Within the martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
community, Peterson and SCARS have been subject to controversy, and his various claims have been described as "semi-true": His website claims "SCARS is 100% effective in all CQB actions." Some commentators have described SCARS as re-branded
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
Kung Foo San Soo. Navy SEAL LCDR Mark D. Divine called SCARS "a very effective offensive fighting system," but also criticized Peterson for "his ego
Egotism
Egotism is "characterized by an exaggerated estimate of one's intellect, ability, importance, appearance, wit, or other valued personal characteristics" – the drive to maintain and enhance favorable views of oneself....
and inflexibility." Journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Herb Borkland called it "the world's most expensive self defense training" because a 40-hour workshop costs $5,000 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
.