Hand-To-Hand Lessons from the U.S. Navy

Many today want to reinvent the wheel. This is especially true in martial art and self-defense circles. People want to create their own styles, systems, and martial arts. And while there have definitely been advancements and improvements when it comes to training, nutrition, and equipment, there is still much to be gained by studying the tried and true principles, concepts, and techniques that have been around not only for decades, but sometimes centuries.

In 1943, the United States Naval Institute put out a series of training manuals, including one on hand-to-hand combat prepared by the officers in charge of the instruction of Hand-To-Hand Combat in Naval Aviation. This manual might be dismissed as old and archaic by some, but in fact there are many truths found in this classic text that are still relevant today. The manual starts out by saying there is nothing glamorous or adventurous about hand-to-hand combat, but rather it is simply a cold, efficient method of overcoming your enemy in a manner most suitable to the performance of your mission or the saving of your life. Seems pretty accurate and practical doesn’t it? It was deemed necessary for Naval personnel to be trained in hand-to-hand combat, and there was one simple objective: to WIN!

Today’s self-defense encounters have the same objective. When it is between living or drying, or even being seriously wounded, you must win. In a real self-defense situation, there are no rules, there is nothing sporting about it, there are not referees and no fouls are considered. It’s exactly like the U.S. Navy taught decades ago, “You do to the enemy exactly what he would like to do to you – only, you do it first!”

I teach people how to defend themselves for the same reason the U.S. Navy taught hand-to-hand combat. It provides an additional and vital means of self preservation and increases your chances of surviving a life-and-death struggle. It also increases your chances of escaping a would-be-assailant. A lot can be learned from studying the older manuals and guides to unarmed combat. And as I’ve illustrated, much can be applied to modern self-defense situations. While there are many lessons and techniques found in this text, I’d like to share two important lessons from the U.S. Navy Hand-To-Hand Combat manual.

1. “When the critical moment arrives and it is either you or the other fellow in a life and death struggle, it is up to you to use the quickest and deadliest method of liquidating your enemy. Whether you be unarmed, armed with a club, knife, wire, gun, rock, bottle or other weapon, use your feet, hands or weapons to the greatest advantage.”

Obviously, this manual was written for those going to war, where killing the enemy before he had a chance to kill you was paramount. But this principle is still important for civilians. You must do whatever it takes, with whatever you have, to keep yourself alive. Certainly, if you can stop an attacker without using lethal force, that is preferred. But in a life-or-death situation where lethal force is the only way to stop an attacker and prevent serious bodily harm or death to yourself or someone else, you must be prepared to do whatever it takes to survive, including using lethal force yourself. You must use whatever you have to your greatest advantage. You must win!

2. “A word of caution, however – don’t become too complicated with club maneuvers. Simplicity of action in most cases is far more rapid than complex maneuvers.”

This passage was found in the section on using a club, but is universally true with any form of combat, empty handed or with a weapon. Simplicity of action in most cases is far more rapid than complex maneuvers. Simple gross movements are most often the best for defending yourself. This is true regardless of the weapon or empty handed technique used. This is why the core of most effective means of defending yourself consist of simple techniques and actions. We don’t need to complicate things. In fact, we shouldn’t complicate things. We should strive for simplicity and effectiveness. These really are keys to defending yourself. Keep things simple and keep things effective.

I’m not against the progression of styles and systems, nor do I deny the advancements I mentioned at the beginning of this article. However, I do believe we mustn’t forget the lessons of the past, because many of them are just as applicable today as they were when taught years ago.

U.S. Navy Training Film

Here is a video I found that is an old U.S. Navy Training film from the same time frame of the manual I quoted above.