The Neuro-Combatives Belt Ranking System
MODERN COMBAT MARTIAL ARTS
From Mechanical Foundation to Complete Understanding
Modern Combat Martial Arts (MCMA) is the authorized pathway to learn the physical curriculum of the White Lotus System of Unarmed Combat. This is a structured, modular curriculum where you master Positions, Actions, and Presentations for the six core fighting skills (Guarding, Striking, Blocking, Parrying, Grappling, Throwing).
Your training follows two distinct phases. White to Orange Belts establish your solo mechanical foundation through Basic Skill Development. Green to Black Belts refine these mechanics through Intermediate Skill Development, applying them with a partner under isolated, variable, and random conditions.
By achieving an MCMA Black Belt, you will have brought all White Lotus System mechanics to completion through solo mastery and partner application. MCMA teaches the “what” and “how”—the complete physical exercises, mechanics, and two-person training methods.
The complete intellectual framework—the six elemental categories and their cause-effect science—resides within the White Lotus Digital Library, which requires separate purchase. This resource transforms mechanical skill into profound strategic understanding.
The highest level of training, Advanced Skill Development, is taught exclusively by Grand Master Brian K. Leishman.
White Belt: Guarding Skills
Core Focus: Spatial Placement & Foundational Awareness
White Belt establishes your mechanical foundation through the Spatial Placement of Guarding Positions. You will learn:
The 5 Core Guard Positions (Vertical Up, Horizontal, Diagonal Up, Diagonal Down, Vertical Down) as your primary defensive structures.
The 5 Animal Guard Positions (Dragon, Crane, Tiger, Snake, Panther) as advanced inner and outer guards.
The 3 Neutral Stances (Frontal, Semi-Leading, Leading) and 5 Formal Stances (Bow, Cat, Horse, Twisted, Kneel) as your platforms for balance, posture, and structural integrity.
Protocol: All positions are learned with Soft Muscle Tension and Slow Velocity, using the structured engagement cycle to build spatial memory.
Key Principle: “Mastering Spatial Placement. Building the structural foundation for all future skills.”
Yellow Belt: Striking Skills
Core Focus: Spatial Movement & Position Acquisition
Yellow Belt develops your capacity for Spatial Movement, mastering dynamic transitions for one skill while acquiring the foundational positions for the next. You will learn:
Guarding Actions: The complete 8-step protocol for transitioning between all five core guard positions and five animal guard positions, building dynamic, integrated movement.
Striking Positions: The primary spatial placements for upper and lower body striking tools, establishing your mechanical foundation for the attack skill.
Stance Actions: Structured transitions between the five formal stances (Bow, Cat, Horse, Twisted, Kneel) to develop footwork and weight distribution.
Striking Actions: Introduction to fundamental spatial movements for striking, connecting the positions you acquire at this level.
Key Principle: “Mastering Spatial Movement. Learning the foundations of attack while solidifying defense.”
Orange Belt: Blocking Skills
Core Focus: Full-Body Integration & Skill Synthesis
Orange Belt achieves Full-Body Integration, bringing multiple skills to Presentation-level mastery while introducing the next core fighting skill. You will learn:
Guarding Presentations: Complete, combative expressions of the Guarding skill through full-body integration of positions and actions.
Striking Actions & Presentations: Mastery of dynamic striking movement (Actions) and their complete, functional expression (Presentations).
Blocking Positions, Actions & Presentations: Full BSD-level mastery of the third core skill—learning its foundational Positions, transitional Actions, and integrated Presentations.
Self-Defense Applications: Solo-form techniques including wrist escapes, basic locks, choke counters, and close-range defensive applications that apply your integrated guarding, striking, and blocking mechanics.
Key Principle: “Mastering Full-Body Integration. Completing the solo foundation for three core skills.”
Green Belt: Parrying Skills
Core Focus: Applied Mechanics & Partner Introduction
Green Belt initiates Intermediate Skill Development, applying your first three skills against a partner while mastering the fourth skill. You will learn:
ISD Application of Guarding: Two-person guarding exercises with variable stances, movement, and distance management.
ISD Application of Striking: Striking against guarding partners with variable targets, weapons, and continuous flow.
ISD Application of Blocking: Quality obstruction drills against strikes in partner scenarios.
Parrying BSD Completion: Full solo mastery of the fourth core skill—Parrying Positions, Actions, and Presentations.
Key Principle: “Applying Mechanics Under Pressure. Introducing timing, distance, and partner resistance.”
Blue Belt: Grappling Skills
Core Focus: Expanding Application & Skill Integration
Blue Belt advances Intermediate Skill Development into more complex applications while completing the fifth core skill’s solo curriculum. You will learn:
ISD Application of Parrying: Static and kinetic parrying against partner attacks, applying deflection and control.
Grappling BSD Completion: Full solo mastery of the fifth core skill—Grappling Positions, Actions, and Presentations for close-range control.
ISD Application of Grappling: Partner application of grappling against specific targets and limited ground scenarios.
Advanced Partner Drills: Integration of parrying and grappling with previously learned skills in structured two-person exercises.
Key Principle: “Expanding Control and Close-Range Application. Integrating deflection and grappling mechanics.”
Brown Belt: Throwing Skills
Core Focus: Advanced Methods & Skill Completion
Brown Belt achieves Intermediate Skill Development mastery in the final core skill while integrating all skills into advanced applications. You will learn:
Throwing BSD Completion: Full solo mastery of the sixth and final core skill—Throwing Positions, Actions, and Presentations.
ISD Application of Throwing: Partner application of throws including limb throws (hurls), sweeps, and full-body takedowns.
Integrated Skill Application: Combined use of all six skills (Guarding, Striking, Blocking, Parrying, Grappling, Throwing) in structured partner drills and variable scenarios.
Sparring Foundation: Introduction to isolated, variable, and random two-person sparring protocols to test skill integration under pressure.
Key Principle: “Mastering Complete Skill Integration. Applying the full spectrum of mechanics in dynamic situations.”
Black Belt: Combatives
Core Focus: Total Integration & Strategic Application
Black Belt represents the culmination of Intermediate Skill Development, achieving complete integration of all six core skills and introducing structured Combative Element training. You will learn:
Integrated Skill Mastery: Fluid, adaptive application of all six fighting skills (Guarding, Striking, Blocking, Parrying, Grappling, Throwing) in combined partner scenarios.
Combative Element Exercises: Physical training drills specifically for Timing, Distance, Techniques, Tactics, and Strategies, developing your conscious understanding of these critical elements.
Variable Application: Execution of skills from fixed (BSD) to variable (ISD) contexts, demonstrating true adaptive proficiency.
System Synthesis: The ability to pressure-test the complete mechanical system against random, resisting opponents.
Key Principle: “Achieving Complete Adaptive Proficiency. Applying the full system under any condition.”
