POOR MAN'S JAMES BOND Vol. 1 ARMY HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT )/ U. S. ARMY HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FIELD MANUAL Yinp Manos] DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 57,8856 No 21-360 Waamtworon 26, D. Ca soe 58 sas 6 HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT won on Powe Pot e868 Cnirsen 1. INTRODUCTION. ns 2. FUXDAMENTALS OF $193 101 HAND-TO-HAND COM- ation 8 as 4 10-103 128 wena 134 ei Our atten 1 nei 156 fa aeia 163 aan uL iin te 303327 - 'V. Attarking tbo vulnerable pole Curren 10, ADVICE TO INSTRUC. with availble weapont....- 90-4132 ‘TORS Coarse 4. KNIFE ATTACK. Section I. The iusicuctor and safety pres nis ae cations i ago-rs2 172 8 SILENCING SENTRIES... ¢7-52 46 1 Conduct ef taiciag. "1 138-188 a © PALL POSITIONS AND I. The traning aren os 1918178 THROWS TV. Minimum tlving promamcss 289 178 estlon 1. Side fll positions ———_- 5-86 52° Aven REFERENCES. Pee 180 XE. Over sioutder throw fall pas — in CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION — 1. Purpose ond Scope ‘This manual is written to teach you hand-to-hand combat, It describes the various blows, holds, foot- ‘work, armwork, and other maneuvers used to disable or kill an enemy in hand-to-hand fighting. It also explains how to use all available objects as weapons. Hand-to-hand combat stresses simple, aggressive tactics. You can subdue an opponent only through offensive measures, 2. Necessity for Training The average soldier, if trained only in the use of his basic weapon, loses his effectiveness if his weapon fails to fire or if he should lose or break it. With 4 knowledge of hand-to-hand combat and the confi- dence end aggressiveness to fight hand-to-hand, the soldier is able to attack and dispose of his opponent. ‘Training in hand-to-hand combat is also useful for night patrols and other occasions when silence is re- quired. This type fighting is taught to soldiers in rear areas as well as those in front lines because of the threat of infiltration, airborne attacks, and guerilla warfare, CHAPTER 2 FUNDAMENTALS OF HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT 3. General Five fundamentals are used as a guide in learning hand-to-hand combat, ‘These fundamentals ars mak- ing full use of any available weapon; attacking ag- gressively by using your maximum strength against Your enemy's weakest point; maintaining your balPOOR MAN'S JAMES BOND 1 vol. ance and destroying your opponent's; using your opponent's momentum to advantage; und learning each phase of all the movements precisely and aceu- rately before attaining speed through constant practice. 4. Using Available Weapons a, When fighting hand-to-hand, your life is al- ways at stake, ‘The use of any object as a weapon, therefore, is necessary to help subdue your enemy. ‘You can make your opponent duck or turn aside by throwing sand or dirt in his face or by striking at him with an entrenching tool, a steel helmet, or « web belt. When no object is available, just the pre- tense of throwing something may cause an enemy to flinch and cover up. When he does this, you must take advantage of his distraction to attack aggres- sively with but one purpose in mind—TO KILL. 5 2}. If no objects are available to use as a weapon, you must make full use of your natural weapons. These are— (1) The knife edge of your hand, Extend your fingers rigidly so the little finger edge of your hand is as hard as possible (fig. 1). Keep your thumb alongside your forefinger. Figare 1 With the knife edge of pour Rand, you can strike many Killing and disabling Bows (2) The fingers folded ct the second knuckles, ‘The average fist covers an area of about eight square inches. ‘The fingers folded at the second inuelles gives & striking surface of about two square inches, producing sharper, more penetrating blow. Keep your thumb tightly against the forefinger to stif- fen your hand and keep your wrist straight (fig. 2). The protruding second knuckle of your middle finger. Fold the middle finger at 8) 363 ARMY HAND-TO-4AND COMBAT the second knuckle and wedge the second knuckles of your two adjacent fingers i “ nto Figure 2. Biows delicored swith *hs fingers folded at ihe ‘second knuckler produce sharp penetration. its sides. Keep the end of the thumb over the fingernail of your middle finger end keep your wrist straight (Ag. 3). The heel of your hand. Fold your fingers at the second knuckles and force the back of your hand toward the wrist to make the heel of your hand as solid as possibl (fig.4). "You can delivor a more damaging blow with the heal of your hand than with your fist The little finger edge of your jist. Form a fist. When using the little finger edge of your fist a3 a weapon, strike blows in the ‘samo motion as when using an ice pick (fig. 5). @ (5) Dangerous blows can be detivcred to vulnerable ‘Points swith the protruding second knuckle of the middle ‘finger. Figaro 8.POOR MAN'S BOKD Vol. JAMES Figure 4. ‘The heel of the hand #8 partioutariy effective when attacking parte of the fave, Figure &. Poserfut Dorey sith tho dite Anger edge of the ‘ft con easily Kill an opponents (8) Your boot. For most kicks, use the outside or inside edge of your boot rather than the toe. This provides a much larger striking surface with which to attack small, exposed bony areas (fig. 6). (7) In addition to the natural weapons elready mentioned, you ean use your elbows, knees, head, shoulders, and teeth to disable an opponent. 5. Maximum Strength Against Weakest Point Using maximum strength sguinst your enemy's weakest point is an axiom of war that equally applies to combat between two individuals, In every situ- 364 ARMY Hand—TO-HAND COMPAT ation, some extremely vulnerable area of your ‘opponent is open for attack. By aggressiv The inside or ote ide eige of the Dont ix more effective than the foe, whioh may slip off smatt arces. Pioure 6. saulting these vulnerable areas, using the maximum strength offered by your position, you can gain « quick victory. Attacking rather than defending is the keynote because only through the use of offensive {ncgies aro you able to dispose of your enemy. 5. Balance e. Keeping your own balance, while causing your ‘opponent to lose his, is an important essentiul of aue- cessful fighting. Assume the guard position when engaging your opponent (fig. 7). ‘This position is similar to's boxer’s erouch and enables you to react rapidly and move in any direction. Spread your feet about shoulder’s sridth apart, with your left hesl generally on line with your right toe. If you are Joft handed, reverse this position and bring your left foot behind your right foot. Bend your body for- 10 ward at the waist and at the knees slightly. Hold the hands at face level and slightly in front of Extend and join your fingers, with the thumbs along the forefingors and the palms facing inward. Face your opponent squarely. ‘The guard position offers you the best balaneed position you can ebtain before closing with your opponent. You will improvo your sense of balance and learn to destroy your opponent's balance after closing with him by practicing the maneuvers presented in this manual. 3, When fighting, keep your feet spread laterally to maintain balance. Destroy your opponent's men= tal balance by growling and yelling as you strike at him,