Hand-to-Hand Combat

By Wesley Brown, Lieutenant (j.g.), U.S.N.R.

Hand-to-Hand Instructor, United States Navy Pre-Flight School, Iowa City, Iowa

Formerly, Wrestling Coach, Northwestern University

 

and

 

By Joseph Begala, Lieutenant (j.g.), U.S.N.R.

Hand-to-Hand Instructor, United States Navy Pre-Flight School, Athens, Georgia

Formerly, Wrestling Coach, Kent State University

 

HAND-TO-HAND Fighting in Egypt, Hand-to-Hand Fighting in the Streets of Stalingrad, Hand-to-Hand Fighting in the Solomons.  These and other similar phrases recently appeared in the headlines of newspaper stories.  In the final analysis, battles are won eventually in close hand-to-hand struggles.  It is agreed that all hand-to-hand combat does not actually involve close physical struggle, but the term hand-to-hand is  often employed when adversaries are close enough to each other, that hand grenades and small hand weapons come into play.  There are times, nevertheless, when actual hand-to-hand encounters play an important part in the life and death roles of the fighting man.  It is in this phase of human struggle for survival that we are interested, that is, when the fighting man must depend on his strength, slyness, alertness, courage and ability, if he expects to come out alive.

 

History tells us, as recently as a few weeks ago, battles were won in Malay, the Philippines, Burma and Russia by the use of infiltration tactics, where small groups of men were able to undertake missions of greatest importance in which actual hand-to-hand fighting resulted.  The well-known commando raids of the British clearly illustrate the value of a knowledge of hand-to-hand combat.  Methods of overcoming the enemy by surprise, quick and efficient killing technique, ways and means of capturing prisoners and the ability to escape from almost every type of seemingly insurmountable obstacles are some of the things a student of hand-to-hand combat is taught.  Now the fighting man has a fighting chance for his life which he did not have before.  He cannot be considered an effective man of war, until he can meet all the emergencies which may arise in battle.  He should be able to take a bridge-head, or beach-head and should more than hold his own in street, house-to-house, or jungle fighting.

 

Hand-to-hand combat is a scientific method of close-in fighting.  It does not embody anything mysterious but is based upon facts.  Each element has been tested.  Nothing is left to chance.  All trick and ineffective manoeuvres are completely disregarded.  The popular conception that hand-to-hand combat is in effect, jiu jitsu, is far from the truth and even approaches the fantastic.  Some effective manoeuvres are taken from jiu jitsu and incorporated into this style of combat, but jiu jitsu, to be used as an effective means of physical combat in a life and death struggle, would be of as little use as ordinary catch-as-catch-can wrestling.  Jiu jitsu is Japanese wrestling.  It has the same relationship to Japan as Graeco-Roman wrestling has to Europe and catch-as-catch-can wrestling has to the United States.  Naturally, the Japanese have tried to build up a mysticism around it, setting up "degrees," brown and black belts, and using weird and mysterious terms which, after all, were expressed in simple English language when it was being taught in America.  As a matter of fact, the Japanese cannot even claim it as a native-born sport.  They took it from the Lama Monks of China, who, when travelling through wild and desolate territory unarmed, needed a means of self-protection against thieves and robbers.

 

Actually hand-to-hand combat cannot be classified as something new in combative tactics for it embodies elements from wrestling, boxing, savate, fencing, football and jiu jitsu which have been in use for hundreds, or even thousands, of years.  Only the tactics which are most advantageous in this vicious form of fighting are used.  For example, it is well known that certain holds and combinations of holds are dangerous and have been barred from the sport.  Since these tactics are desirable for hand-to-hand combat, they have been incorporated.  The double wrist lock with a simple twist can be changed to a vicious twisting hammer lock which will result in a fracture or dislocation of the elbow or shoulder.  In a like manner, other combinations varying slightly, become very effective combat manoeuvres.  Blows banned from boxing, such as the rabbit punch and the kidney blows are incorporated into hand-to-hand.  The illegal kicks from French savate, to the groin for example, are used.  Foul fencing tactics, illegal football manoeuvres (clipping) and some trips and throws from jiu jitsu are also used to their best advantage.  Foul or unsportsmanlike tactics are employed, such as the knee into the face, groin or kidneys, kicking with the feet to all vulnerable body areas and the grasping of vital areas with the hands; in fact, any tactic which might be used to overcome, subdue or kill an opponent is used.  There is nothing fair about hand-to-hand; it is not pleasant to think about; the rules of sportsmanship are forgotten, for it is kill or be killed.  American sportsmanship is often expressed in these words, "It matters not if you won or lost, but how you played the game."  Well, in warfare, it is to forget that statement and add, "No one can be a loser."  With a knowledge of hand-to-hand combat, a big powerful man becomes the most vicious fighter in the world, and even the smallest individual can use it to his advantage.  As in other sports, in order to become proficient, constant practice is necessary. It is not difficult to learn, however, simply because it is something entirely new to the majority of men.  They have not built up any ideas which may be wrong, to its application, and thus do not have to begin learning over again to do it the correct way.  It is, however, a most formalized activity.  Tactics and manoeuvres must be learned and done correctly.  There cannot be any second chances.  In football, the coach will instruct his men to make proper tackles.  In a game, the player sometimes completely disregards his coach's advice, but brings his man down.  Hand-to-hand combat tactics must be performed correctly the first time, because the life of the combatant may depend on his ability to do the job well.

 

It is the main objective of an extensive course in hand-to-hand combat to make a man proficient in all types of close physical encounters, whether he be armed or unarmed.  If the lives of one-half of a group of men can be saved by their ability to use this form of combat, such fighting is a success, for a lack of knowledge might result in a complete annihilation of the entire group.  In other words, our fighting men are given an additional means by which they may survive battle, this being of primary importance as it is the desire to save the lives of as many as is humanly possible.

 

In hand-to-hand combat, the fighting man begins to realize what powerful weap­ons he possesses within his own body, when he is unarmed.  He learns to use his fingers, hands, elbows, legs and feet in all types of attack and defence.  He also dis­covers that the human body, too, has many vulnerable areas.  If unarmed he can at­tack his adversary in the eyes, the face, the neck, the solar plexus, the groin, the kidneys, the spine, the ribs, the legs and other vulnerable areas by any of his nat­ural weapons.

 

Later he becomes proficient in the use of weapons such as the knife, the dagger, the club, the pistol and learns how to pro­tect himself against them all, when in the hands of an enemy.  He learns how best to kill an enemy silently and quickly with a knife or dagger; to disarm an enemy who has a pistol pointed at his head or body; to escape from a bayoneted or un­bayoneted rifle; to escape and parry a bayonet thrust; to completely incapaci­tate an opponent regardless of the situa­tion.

 

In the United States navy pre-flight schools all the various manoeuvres, illegal holds and blows are taught to the cadets in the form of drills which resemble com­bative conditions.  The instructors con­duct the drills in the same manner as they would coach any other sport.  Due to the danger of injury which might result from a too aggressive application of the tech­niques, the sport lacks a competitive as­pect.  Proficiency of application, however, can be obtained through constant practice.  This is especially true in those manoeuvres which depend on speed rather than on injury.  Speed is the keynote in the suc­cess of some disarming tactics.  Speed, manoeuvrability, quick reaction, self-con­fidence and courage can all be acquired through constant and diligent practice.

 

The pre-flight school drills are set up so that each cadet is presented with a given situation of close-in combat.  He must master the fundamentals in order to gain full control or fight his way out.  Drill, drill, and drill again, are required before the combatant is sure of his ability; the cadet does drill, and drill, and drill.  He realizes that here are some additional means by which his life may be saved some day in the future.  The cadet loves it, asks for more and practices it in his room.  The day may not be far off, when the cadet may be forced down behind enemy lines or in unfriendly territory.  Then he may discover that hand-to-hand tactics are the methods needed most, to come home alive.

 

Let us set up a situation!  A man is at­tacked.  By any of a series of manoeuvres, he disarms his adversary and thus, as far as weapons are concerned, they are on even terms.  He brings his knee up into his adversary's groin, throws him over his hip, twisting him so that he falls to the ground on the back of his neck.  To carry the attack further, if necessary, our fighting man now may drop on his adversary's ribs with the full weight of the body behind the knee, or use his feet to kick viciously in the vulnerable areas of the victim's body, or snap an arm at the elbow with a sudden quick jerk.  In this situation, it began from the defensive, but was quickly turned into attack.  Our man, necessarily, did not have to wait to be attacked, but might have been the aggressor from the first.  Need it be said that the hand-to-hand expert could have easily killed his opponent by dropping him on a convenient rock or against a tree trunk, if they were available.  Any of the above manoeuvres and many more are executed easily by the fighter who has the proper skilled back-ground in hand-to-hand combat.

 

The types of technique in close-in fighting, certainly will add to a combatant's poise and ability as a man of arms or an agent assigned to a dangerous mission or task.  Not only is he proficient in the ap­plication of every form of fighting tactics wherever his natural ability is concerned, but he is better able to protect himself against the tactics which may be prac­ticed by the enemy, because he knows what the enemy is going to attempt to do.  As has been stated in the explanation of some of the manoeuvres, coaches of wrestling and boxing may well point out, in those activities, the crippling features, illegal in orthodox boxing and wrestling, which are the essence of hand-to-hand combat.

 

 

 

#### PICS ####

Series A-1, 2

The proper and effective method of applying a lock stranglehold from the rear.

 

Series B-1, 2, 3

Breaking a rear stranglehold with a double reverse wristlock.

 

Series C-1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Deck manoeuvres against assailant approach­ing to kick or jump.  Illustrations 1, 2, 3 show the mule kick, the defender turning his back on the assailant, bringing him in close for a kick to the face, chest or groin.  In 4 and 5 the defender falls heavily against the assailant's knee, forcing him back to the deck manoeuvres.

 

Series D-1, 2, 3

The illustrations show a break from a double grip on the wrist, and demonstrate an application of leverage principles, so that vio­lent struggle against a hold, such as shown, is not necessary.  Note that pressure is applied against the thumbs, pressure against the joint being fundamental in hand-to-hand.

 

Series E-1, 2, 3

Shown here is one of the many disarming manoeuvres against a pistol in the shoulder holster.  Steady pressure may be applied at the elbow to prevent drawing of the pistol, or by securing the elbow and wrist, drawing action may be accelerated and controlled, to slap the gun in assailant's face as it comes from the holster.

 

Series F-1, 2, 3, 4

Two principles are demonstrated here, the effectiveness of pressure application on the wrist, combined with a duality of quick move­ments, snap and reverse.  A powerful man may resist pressure on the wrist.  He may then be controlled by a quick jerk forward, throwing him off balance, or by a reversing action forcing his arm back and up, thus plac­ing crippling pressure on the wrist, elbow and shoulder.

 

Series G-1, 2, 3

This basic wrestling hold may be worked from any position, standing or lying, from front or behind.  Illustrated is a grasp at the legs, countered by application of an orthodox double wristlock, converted to an illegal twisting hammerlock, pressing the arm up and back, and sending the assailant to the ground.  Reports from Guadalcanal at­test to the particular efficacy of this manoeuvre.

 

Series H-1, 2, 3

Shown here are two different counters to an attack with a club.  Fundamental in all defences against attack with a club is the de­fender's first move, a quick step into the attack, so that the club may be deflected, or the blow may pass over the head.  In the first two illustrations, the defender steps in and deflects the blow by a sharp movement up and against the inside of the assailant's club arm.  This simple and effective move­ment, not only breaks the blow, but places the defender in a position for a follow-up frontal attack on the opponent.  The follow­ing illustrations of this series demonstrate the technique of crossing arms to block the blow, stepping in and securing the assailant's arm with the crossed arms for a flying mare throw, still retaining the elbow lock on the opponent's arm.

 

Series I-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

This disarming manoeuvre, like many other manoeuvres in hand-to-hand combat, may be of slight practicability in school and college training programs.  If that is so, the school and college programs may still serve con­spicuously in the teaching of the realism in­herent in hand-to-hand through the medium of their wrestling and boxing classes, by pointing out, in those activities, the crippling features which are, of course, illegal when confined to orthodox boxing or wrestling.  Those illegal features, however, are the es­sence of hand-to-hand, bespeaking that train­ing's grim purpose in life-and-death competi­tions where there are no niceties of fair play and sportsmanship.  In the manoeuvre illustrated the defender's first motion, faster than the assailant can react, deflects the possible line of fire from the rifle.  The weapon is secured and twisted left, then quickly re­versed with the hip as a fulcrum.  The gun may be snapped from the assailant's grasp or the butt may be swung all the way and slapped in the assailant's face.

 

Series J-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

The side of the hand, one of the most effective of natural weapons, is typical of Japanese judo.  Judo experts toughen the knife edge of the hand by constant exercise, forming calluses, and blows with the side of the hand can break boards.  Illustrations show crippling or killing possibilities of the blow on (1) throat, (2) side neck, against carotid artery and vegas nerve endings, (3) solar plexus, (4) back of neck, (5) upper lip, and (6) bridge of nose.

 

Series K-1, 2, 3

Disarming and incapacitating an assailant with a pistol.  This sequence of actions illus­trates the component features of hand-to-hand combat: catch-as-catch-can wrestling, principally its illegal variations; savate; judo; jiu jitsu; and brawl fighting.  Any single feature of this sequence may be, in itself, a liquidating measure.

 

Series K-4

The initial movement of the defender is a spin, into the assailant, but away from the gun.  This is possible by virtue of action times as against reaction times, the defender can act more rapidly than the assailant can react to pull the trigger with the gun still in the defender's back. 

Illustration 2, climax of the spin, illustrates forms of brawl fighting, the fingers gouging the eyes after a sharp blow in the face with the palm of the hand, and a groin kick.  Es­sential to the manoeuvre is the firm grasp of the gun arm by the defender's left hand.

Illustration 3 shows an illegal wrestling hold, snapping the head back by grabbing the hair, and a boxing foul in the blow to the throat, which is a judo variation.

Illustration 4 shows the defender throwing his right leg past the assailant for a hip throw, typical of wrestling or jiu jitsu.  The assailant's head may be driven into the ground.

 

Series L-1, 2, 3, 4

This backward flip is a typical jiu jitsu manoeuvre, employed as counter to a rushing attack.  It is typical of Japanese experts to provoke an attack and, with this manoeuvre, use the opponent's momentum and speed against him.  Grasp of the clothing is of value as a control, to direct the opponent's fall against a wall or rocks, or the clothing may be held for a strangle.

 

In Series A, Lieutenant Brown is the defender and Ensign Don Clawson is the assailant.  In Series C, D, E, H, I and L, Lieutenant Brown is the defender and Lieutenant Begala the as­sailant.  In Series G Lieutenant Brown is the defender, Lieutenant Busey the assailant.  In Series J, Lieutenant Brown illustrates blows on Lieutenant Busey.  In Series K, Lieutenant Brown is the defender and Aviation Cadet Richard K. Reynolds of Royal Oak, Michigan, the assailant.

 

All illustrations are "Official United States Navy Photographs."

 

This article is presented to the readers of the Athletic Journal, not with the idea that coaches will add hand-to-hand combat to their activi­ties, but with the hope that every high school boy and college man, from the reading of this article, will know that he stands a better chance of surviving this life-and-death struggle with a knowledge of the value of hand-to-hand fighting, in which he will receive specific training after his induction into the service.