| A Brief History of Hand-To-Hand Combat/Defensive Tactics |
| In America |
| By |
| Russ St. Hilaire |
Unarmed Self Defense in the U.S. Military consisted of boxing and wrestling techniques, along with a few rudimentary weapon disarms
before the 20th century. Most H2H was concerned with Bayonet use and defense, and rudimentary knife fighting techniques.
before the 20th century. Most H2H was concerned with Bayonet use and defense, and rudimentary knife fighting techniques.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a man by the name of John J. O'Brien, who was a police officer in NagasakiJapan came to the
United States. He began to teach the unarmed self defense art of Ju-Jitsu and was soon noticed by the U.S. Army. He was made a
captain and assigned to work with others in the military to begin a formal hand-to-hand combat program during WWI. This was the
beginning of the use of Ju-Jitsu as the Hand-to-Hand combat method of the U.S. Military.
United States. He began to teach the unarmed self defense art of Ju-Jitsu and was soon noticed by the U.S. Army. He was made a
captain and assigned to work with others in the military to begin a formal hand-to-hand combat program during WWI. This was the
beginning of the use of Ju-Jitsu as the Hand-to-Hand combat method of the U.S. Military.
The first U.S. Hand-to-Hand combat "manual" was written by Captain Allen Corstorphin Smith, who was a contemporary of Captain
O'Brien. Captain Smith was brought into the military H2H program by O'Brien because of his prior martial art experience as a Judo
Blackbelt, which he received at the Kodokan in Japan.
O'Brien. Captain Smith was brought into the military H2H program by O'Brien because of his prior martial art experience as a Judo
Blackbelt, which he received at the Kodokan in Japan.
Between WWI and WWII several individuals influenced the H2H training of the Military. Risher Thornberry and Samuel Linck were
influential in the development of Ju-Jitsu into Army combatives, as was Anthony Biddle in the Marine Corps. William Fairbairn and
Dermot O'Neill were British military officers who trained in Japanese Ju-Jitsu, and developed their martial art knowledge into unarmed
combat techniques for the British and US military. They were also instrumental in training the OSS and Special Ops units during WWII.
influential in the development of Ju-Jitsu into Army combatives, as was Anthony Biddle in the Marine Corps. William Fairbairn and
Dermot O'Neill were British military officers who trained in Japanese Ju-Jitsu, and developed their martial art knowledge into unarmed
combat techniques for the British and US military. They were also instrumental in training the OSS and Special Ops units during WWII.
The next major influence upon Military H2H techniques came when the U.S. Army decided to make a uniformly distributed Field
Manual on unarmed combat techniques in 1942. The Army enlisted the help of students of Danzan-RyuJu-Jitsu master Seishiro
Okazaki of Hawaii.
Manual on unarmed combat techniques in 1942. The Army enlisted the help of students of Danzan-RyuJu-Jitsu master Seishiro
Okazaki of Hawaii.
The 1942 Manual - FM 21-150a 1942 US ARMY Unarmed Defense for the American Soldier mentions in the background section of the
manual A group of young Americans, disgusted with this procedure, (referring to the sportive aspects of Judo and Ju-Jitsu in the U.S.)
set out to develop a system of self-defense suited to the American temperament and needs. They called their organization "The
American Judo Club" and dedicated themselves to removing Oriental terminology from the new system. [see footnote below] They
produced as good a system as the Japanese and far outstripped it in the effectiveness of method. With a knowledge of American
unarmed defense the American soldier will be equipped to meet the Judo men in the game which they have chosen to claim as their
own.
manual A group of young Americans, disgusted with this procedure, (referring to the sportive aspects of Judo and Ju-Jitsu in the U.S.)
set out to develop a system of self-defense suited to the American temperament and needs. They called their organization "The
American Judo Club" and dedicated themselves to removing Oriental terminology from the new system. [see footnote below] They
produced as good a system as the Japanese and far outstripped it in the effectiveness of method. With a knowledge of American
unarmed defense the American soldier will be equipped to meet the Judo men in the game which they have chosen to claim as their
own.
Footnote:
EN2. What was meant was actually Henry Okazaki's American Jujitsu, or what is today known as DanzanRyu jujutsu. A Hawaiian system influenced by Kodokan judo, Kito-ryu jujutsu,
boxing, sumo, and even lua, students who contributed to the production of FM 21-150, June 1942, probably included SigKufferath.
boxing, sumo, and even lua, students who contributed to the production of FM 21-150, June 1942, probably included SigKufferath.
(from Electronic Journal of the Martial Arts- Joseph Svinth)
Most of the military's Hand-to-Hand combat techniques going forward from this manual remained relatively the same until the Vietnam
War in the 1960's and 70's, when the influence of Southeast Asian arts such as Tae-Kwon-Do, and Hwarang-do came into play. Over
time, however, these methods proved too complicated to learn quickly and were difficult to execute, except by the most highly
trained military individuals. The old standby techniques were still viable and taught.
War in the 1960's and 70's, when the influence of Southeast Asian arts such as Tae-Kwon-Do, and Hwarang-do came into play. Over
time, however, these methods proved too complicated to learn quickly and were difficult to execute, except by the most highly
trained military individuals. The old standby techniques were still viable and taught.
Now, it must be realized that unarmed H2H training is but a small part of a larger training program of the U.S. soldier. Even elite forces
such as Special Forces, Army Rangers, and Navy SEALs spend very little time training in unarmed combat. There were pockets of
serious training throughout the military, but these programs were not standard. Individual teachers, often soldiers with a previously
learned talent in the martial arts ran these programs and often were assigned as Hand-to-Hand combat instructors in their units. Still,
for those soldiers who must maintain operational readiness, training had to be very concentrated, using techniques that were easily
learned, remembered and executable. Total effectiveness was a must. And injuries during training had to be reduced to a minimum in
order to maintain a physical state of operational readiness.
such as Special Forces, Army Rangers, and Navy SEALs spend very little time training in unarmed combat. There were pockets of
serious training throughout the military, but these programs were not standard. Individual teachers, often soldiers with a previously
learned talent in the martial arts ran these programs and often were assigned as Hand-to-Hand combat instructors in their units. Still,
for those soldiers who must maintain operational readiness, training had to be very concentrated, using techniques that were easily
learned, remembered and executable. Total effectiveness was a must. And injuries during training had to be reduced to a minimum in
order to maintain a physical state of operational readiness.
It was not until the late 1990's that the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps decided to begin a formal Hand-to-Hand combat program that
would be standard across their branch. They began to research the old H2H manuals, as well as get modern Ju-Jitsu training,
combined with techniques from striking arts, wrestling and Judo.
would be standard across their branch. They began to research the old H2H manuals, as well as get modern Ju-Jitsu training,
combined with techniques from striking arts, wrestling and Judo.
The U.S. Army developed FM 3-25.150 to address the modern unarmed self defense needs of the soldier. About 1995 LTC McCrystal
took command of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Ft. Lewis WA. He was ordered to reinvigorate the Army Combatives training. Working
with SFC Larson, LTC McCrystal reviewed the 1942 and 1992 Combatives manuals and decided some updating needed to be done in
response to the realities of the modern battlefield. His review committee looked at techniques from Ninjutsu, Judo, Karate, JKD,
Wrestling, Boxing, Japanese JuJitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well as formerly accepted military combatives.
took command of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Ft. Lewis WA. He was ordered to reinvigorate the Army Combatives training. Working
with SFC Larson, LTC McCrystal reviewed the 1942 and 1992 Combatives manuals and decided some updating needed to be done in
response to the realities of the modern battlefield. His review committee looked at techniques from Ninjutsu, Judo, Karate, JKD,
Wrestling, Boxing, Japanese JuJitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well as formerly accepted military combatives.
The committee came to the decision that techniques from Japanese JuJitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, and Judo, combined with
strikes and weapons defenses would make the most rounded hand-to-hand combat repitoire. The committee also decided to institute
competitive grappling and unrehearsed self defense scenarios into training in order to give the soldiers real life experience with
hand-to-hand combat before it was required on the battlefield.
strikes and weapons defenses would make the most rounded hand-to-hand combat repitoire. The committee also decided to institute
competitive grappling and unrehearsed self defense scenarios into training in order to give the soldiers real life experience with
hand-to-hand combat before it was required on the battlefield.
The Marine Corps developed H2H programs as early as WWI. Before WWII Maj. Anthony Biddle, along with Captains Green and Smith
put together rudimenatary Hand to Hand techniques. In 1956 Gunnery Sgt Miller was assigned to put together H2H techniquews for the
Marines based on his extensive martial arts experience. He is considered the "father" of Marine Corps H2H systems. The Marine
Corps Martial Arts Training Program began to develop at the end of the 1990's under the direction of General James Jones. He
assigned Lt Col Bristol and Master Gunnery Sgt Urso, both of who had extensive martial arts experience to take what the Marine Corps
already had (the LINE system), and to formulate an updated Hand-to-Hand combat program. This was completed in 2000. The system
uses a belt system like a traditional martial arts system, and encourages ongoing H2H training throughout the career of a Marine.
put together rudimenatary Hand to Hand techniques. In 1956 Gunnery Sgt Miller was assigned to put together H2H techniquews for the
Marines based on his extensive martial arts experience. He is considered the "father" of Marine Corps H2H systems. The Marine
Corps Martial Arts Training Program began to develop at the end of the 1990's under the direction of General James Jones. He
assigned Lt Col Bristol and Master Gunnery Sgt Urso, both of who had extensive martial arts experience to take what the Marine Corps
already had (the LINE system), and to formulate an updated Hand-to-Hand combat program. This was completed in 2000. The system
uses a belt system like a traditional martial arts system, and encourages ongoing H2H training throughout the career of a Marine.
What is important about military unarmed combat is the criteria for techniques. Soldiers do not have the luxury of going to a martial
arts class 3 or 4 nights a week for 4 or 5 years in order to learn how to defend themselves. They must learn quickly often within the
first year as a soldier. Therefore techniques must be easy to learn, consisting of no more than one or two movements. The
techniques must be easy to assimilate into a human being's natural response to aggressive encounters, and must be easily
remembered under stress. Most of all, the techniques must work on almost every attacker when executed correctly by almost any
soldier.
arts class 3 or 4 nights a week for 4 or 5 years in order to learn how to defend themselves. They must learn quickly often within the
first year as a soldier. Therefore techniques must be easy to learn, consisting of no more than one or two movements. The
techniques must be easy to assimilate into a human being's natural response to aggressive encounters, and must be easily
remembered under stress. Most of all, the techniques must work on almost every attacker when executed correctly by almost any
soldier.
| SENSEI ST. HILAIRE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT INSTRUCTOR, AND RIOT CONTROL INSTRUCTOR FOR THE US ARMY. THE H2H CURRICULUM HE TAUGHT IN THE U.S. ARMY IS AVAILABLE ON DVD. LEARN H2H TECHNIQUES THE WAY THEY ARE REALLY TAUGHT - FROM A MASTER INSTRUCTOR IN JUJITSU - AND AN H2H INSTRUCTOR WHO STILL TEACHES MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT UNITS. JUST $24.99 (+ S/H) |
