LINE (combat System) - Design

Design

The system was designed to be executed within specific and stringent combat-oriented conditions:

• (a.) all techniques must not be vision dominant; techniques may be executed effectively in low-light conditions, or other impaired visibility conditions (i.e., smoke or gas)
• (b.) extreme mental and physical fatigue
• (c.) usable by the Marine / soldier while wearing full combat gear
• (d.) proper execution of the techniques must cause death to the opponent
• (e.) gender neutrality; must be usable by- and against- either gender

These parameters are viewed as the most likely conditions that a combat Marine / soldier would face in close-range combat, since most close combat engagements were likely to occur at night or under reduced visibility, while the Marine was fatigued and wearing his combat load, and when facing asymmetrical odds, such as a numerically superior force. These requirements meant that many flamboyant techniques, exotic kicks, or movements requiring extraordinary feats of strength or agility were excluded from consideration under the LINE system. Techniques like classic judo "hip throws", for instance, were excluded because of the possibility of entanglement on a practitioner's war-belt.

The system's techniques were designed to be easily learned and retained through repetition. The requirement and demands that the system be drilled, repeated, and constantly revisited has led to some criticism since the primary users- military and special operations personnel- often have enormous demands upon their time, and as a consequence often lacked the ability to maintain high degrees of proficiency in the techniques.