MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- Depending on your age bracket, the headline of this article is either a chart-topping song by Carl Douglas from 1974, or what Marines have taken to calling the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. As the tactics of war fighting have changed over the years, so have the tactics for Marines in hand-to-hand combat. Many Marines believe that MCMAP evolved from the old Lineal Infighting Neurological Engagement system, but it goes much deeper than that. Our martial arts program started with the Continental Marines sharpshooters on the riggings of Navy ships. The bayonet and sword were the landing unit's tools of trade. Marines continued to hone their skills during World War I, when the bayonet was widely used in the challenges of trench warfare. During World War II, Marines were trained in Eastern martial arts systems, such as judo and karate. Eventually, the Corps developed LINE training. This system was good in theory, but not in "line" with the offensive mind-set of Marines, as it was mostly defensive in nature. In the mid 1990s, the not-yet 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones had a vision of training Marines in a more intense, realistic type of hand-to-hand combat. Jones envisioned a system that was more offensive in nature, going along with the character of Marines. After assuming command in July 1999, he instituted his vision by hiring 10 experts to create a custom-designed program for Marines and their unique mission. What evolved is a system progressive in nature, with weapons from your fists and rifle, to various knife techniques.Since the inception of MCMAP in 2001, it has gone through a myriad of changes. There is now a Martial Arts Center of Excellence at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and the Marine Corps has been considering ways to incorporate MCMAP into the promotion process. I don't know if MCMAP is here to stay, but it's a good bet that it's here for a while.