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Hand-to-hand training World War II
In the wake of terrible hand-to-hand fighting in the trenches of World War I, armies sought to better prepare their troops. This led to the development of unarmed combat systems, also known as "combatives" or 'hand to hand combat." Borrowing from wrestling, boxing and Japanese Judo, a variety of simple and effective technqiues were developed.
Both Allied and Axis armies used Judo and Jujitsu techniques in their close combat training. Both sides invented systems that used a variety of simple, effective fighting tricks. The German Army went so far as to teach defenses against specific attacks in the Allied repertoire. More amusing: the German text's title: Abwehr Englisher Gangster-Methoden "Against the English Ganster Methods."
The Allied systems received a boost thanks to W. E. Fairbairn, who develoepd a practical syste mfor the Shanghai Municipal Police. Fairbairn's method was eventuially taught to US and British forces. Another former Shanghai member, Pat O'Neill, taught a system of his own. In 19542, Fairbairn was connected with Rex Applegate, an American speciality in close combat. Vestiges fo their work still hang heavily in the American close combat curriculum. O'Neill's influence is still felt, too. He remained in the U.S. afetr World War II and instructed special units and the CIA.
In another area, Major Biddle of the U. S. Marine Corps developed a close combat system that blended Jujitsu with illegal boxing tricks. He also devised their unique bayonet system. John Styers, a student of Biddle, refined and perpetuated the system during the 1950s.
Systems based on Judo and Jujitsu dominated military combatives until the late 1970s. Karate and Chinese Boxing (Kung Fu) took top billing, making their way into the miltiary manuals in the 1980s. The latest manuals have blended a few Judo and Jujitsu tricks with technqiues of full-contact karate and other exotic arts. In spite of this, there are still those who prefer the pre-1975 methods
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The techniques depicted here are dangerous. Their practice can result in serious bodily harm. They are displayed here strictly for discussion of military history. They are not here for the instruction of close combat. Anyone who uses them does so at their own risk. We take no responsibility for any harm that may result from showing these methods.
If you wish to learn unarmed combat, seek a qualified instructor. Do not attempt to learn on your own.
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