Page 36 - Martial Science Magazine Jun/2016 #15

60’S AND 70’S

HOW HAS HAND TO HAND

COMBAT EVOLVED!

BY: JIM DARTT

opportunity to fight, student on student, was a new expe-
rience for many and a real challenge. What was learned?
Do not get hurt! Many in the military did not receive this
training. A medical chit was issued to limit physical training
with a simple justification as an out.

The pugil stick is a heavily padded rod that is a simulated
weapon for training similar to the Japanese bo or staff. It
may be marked to indicate which end represents the ba-
yonet and which end represents the rifle butt. The length
was supposed to be the size of the combat rifle of the time.
To execute bayonet techniques, Soldiers and Marines
would hold the rifle in a modified basic warrior stance or
ready stance. Left foot forward and right foot back in a
fairly wide and long stance. The bayonet blade at the end of
the rifle is pointed toward the opponent at all times ready
for attack or blocking. All movements always began and
LtCol Jim Dartt 1988 ended with this basic stance. Very Structured! The rifle was
held with the basic overhanded grasp to the small of the

he 60’s training, as I remember, was close combat rifle’s stock and an underhanded grasp to the hand guards.
training with a rifle and bayonet. At that time I was The rifle was locked next to hip by the forearm. This techni-
Tyoung, strong, and eager to fight. At age 69 and que maintained control of the weapon which prepared the
almost 70, I look back at the training through a different combatant for hand to hand winning techniques.
window. The primary moves were thrusting, slashing,
blocking, and rifle butt strikes! We used bayonet dummies, To win, stay alive, the hand to hand fighter using the ri-
straw bags or stuffed “scare crows” to practice the ba- fle and bayonet must be physically fit and mentally alert.
yonet techniques. Problem, they were static and did not Physical training was a constant. Hand-to-hand combat
have true movement as an attacker to counter. To prac- with the bayonet as the primary weapon or tool demanded
tice near real world offensive and defensive bayonet te- a strong body that is alert and ready to detect and meet
chniques, student on student, pugil sticks were used. The an opponent’s attack from any direction. The combatant
pugil stick training was limited and not very aggressive. We training developed aggressiveness, accuracy, balance and
were matched by size, skills, and attitude. Techniques and speed for hand to hand combat situations. The aggressive
moves were to be practiced to represent close combat. My attack, without hesitation, was directed at vulnerable parts
goal was to not get hit hard and knock my opponent down of the body which are the face, throat, chest, abdomen, or
or out of the sawdust ring. The pugil stick is padded, and groin. Yelling and screaming during the attack were stres-
much longer with grips much different than the rifle. The sed.

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