MACHETE
Machete Fighting in Armed Combat & Tactics
The machete is a short, single-edged cutting weapon with a forward-weighted blade, commonly used as a tool in agricultural and tropical regions. While originally intended for utility, its form—a compact blade with considerable cutting power—makes it a serious weapon in close combat.
Blades vary in length, typically between 32 and 60 cm. Widespread across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe, the machete remains common in many parts of the world—both as a tool and, at times, as a weapon used in conflict.
In ACT, we train with the machete as a dedicated combat weapon. Its weight distribution favors slashing and hacking, but it can also be used to thrust. Unlike balanced weapons designed for fencing, the machete requires a different tactical rhythm. Fast footwork, body evasion, and positional control replace static blocking as the primary means of defense. Parrying has its place, but avoidance is prioritized.
Training includes work across all fighting ranges: long, medium, close, and clinch, each with its own tactical requirements. At closer distances, the support hand becomes essential for control, framing, and manipulation.
Machete practice also builds transferable skills for other tools with similar weight and handling characteristics, such as tactical batons, tire irons, or wooden clubs. Through full-contact sparring with realistic simulators, practitioners gain functional understanding of both how to fight with such tools and how to fight against them.