Hand-to-Hand Fighting [Karate/Tae-Kwon-Do]

US Army Special Forces Only: Hand-to-Hand Fighting [Karate/Tae-Kwon-Do]

by The United States Army

Hand-to-Hand Fighting Training Manual Guidebook Overview & Contents:

Introduction

• Preface
• Purpose
• Rationale for this Manual
• History of Hand-to-Hand Combat

Hand-to-Hand Fighting

• Introduction
• Principles and Conduct of TNG
• Techniques

Principles and Conduct of TNG

• Principles and Conduct of Hand-to-Hand Fighting
• Hand-to-Hand Fighting Techniques
  
• Training

Book Description:

Section I

• Preface:
  • One of the major goals of Special Forces training is the development and maintenance of skills required to insure maximum chance of survival and mission accomplishment. Many of our missions require operating deep within enemy territory where the possibility of engaging in hand-to-hand combat increases. The soldier trained only in the use of his basic weapon loses his effectiveness if his weapon fails to fire or breaks. The soldier skilled in hand-to-hand fighting can continue to defend himself, engage the enemy, and accomplish the mission.
    
• Purpose: This manual provides --

• 1. Commanders and staffs with a basic reference for training Special Forces soldiers in hand-to-hand fighting techniques.

  2. Instructors with basic techniques, programs of instruction, and methods for certifying student proficiency.

  3. The individual soldier with a reference from which he can continue to develop and practice his hand-to-hand fighting skills on his own.

• Rationale for this Manual:

  1. The particular hand-to-hand techniques and programs of instruction described in this manual were selected according to the following criteria. The program --
     (1) Should develop an effective hand-to-hand fighter.
     (2) Should be relatively easy to train and learn.
     (3) Should utilize the most effective techniques currently available.
     (4) And finally, should provide the soldier with a training program through which he could progress to an effective fighting level, and if he desired, be able to continue his training at specialized nonmilitary schools to attain expert capabilities.
     
     
  2. Hand-to-hand combat training not only develops a proficient hand-to-hand fighter, but also - -
     (1) Develops the individual's self-confidence and aggressiveness and instills the will to fight.
     (2) Increases unit confidence, cohesiveness, and morale.
     
     
• History of Hand-to-Hand Combat:

a. The origin of hand-to-hand combat probably dates back to the beginnings of man. Throughout the centuries, soldiers and civilians have had to use their bodies to defend themselves against attack when weapons were not readily available.

b. The first attempt at organizing and developing the techniques of hand-to-hand combat is believed to have originated in China as a means of unarmed defense against outside invaders. Not much is known about subsequent development; however, historians believe similar systems of fighting were developed by Buddhist Monks around A.D. 1000 as a defense against the numerous robber bands of that time. Judo and Karate are modern forms of these ancient self-defense systems.

c. Judo is basically a form of wrestling, and the history of its development is clouded.

d. Karate is basically a form of boxing and evolved from the Okinawa technique (Okinawa-Te or Okinawa Hands) of unarmed combat. Okinawa-Te, in turn, is believed to have developed from the Chinese art of Kempo (fist way).

(1) According to Chinese legend, Kempo was originated by an Indian Buddhist monk. The monk had traveled from India to teach Buddhism to Chinese monks at a monastery called Shaolin-szu; however, the pace and discipline set by the monk was so physically demanding that his students fainted from exhaustion. The Indian monk recognized that the objective of Buddhism was salvation of the soul; but his students were in such poor physical condition, they were not able to perform the mental practices necessary to attain spiritual enlightenment. So he developed a set of exercises designed to improve the physical and mental condition of his students. In time, the discipline they practiced evolved into Kempo and the Shaolin-szu monks became the most feared fighters in China.

Section II

1. Science:

   1. Karate and Tae-kwon-do techniques are generally regarded by the American public as being mysterious and very difficult to learn. This is not true! These techniques are none other than applications of well known scientific principles of physics and anatomy. Let us discuss the basic physical principles:

a) Striking Power:

The hitting force of a fist or foot is inversely proportionate to the time required to apply the force. This means, then, the force developed by the punch is primarily dependent on the speed at which the punch lands. The scientific formula reads: force equals mass times velocity squared. The techniques described in this manual will show you how to use your muscles to develop maximum speed without loss of power.

b) Focus of Power:

1. 1. 1. 1. First:

The essence of an effective strike (punch, kick) is the concentration of maximum force at the right place and at the right time. We all know that a punch delivered with a bare fist is more devastating than with 16-ounce boxing gloves. The primary reason for this is because the force is concentrated in the small area of the knuckles rather than dissipated over the larger area of the glove. FOCUS.

1. 1. 1. 1. Second:

The more effective use we make of our muscles, the more force will be delivered by the strike; therefore, the muscles of the entire body are used to focus the power in the knuckles at the instant of the strike. The techniques described in this manual will show you how to use your muscles in proper order to develop greater power, speed, and concentration of force. FOCUS.

Background:

Okinawa is located near mainland China, and much of its early cultural development can probably be traced to Chinese influences to include the introduction of Kempo. The early adaptation of Kempo to Okinawa-Te has not been accurately documented, but old stories generally say it began about 400 years ago.

At that time, so the stories go, the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) were conquered and united into one kingdom. To ensure his rule, the king confiscated and banned possession of weapons by people other than his troops. A second ban on weapons was instituted by Japanese conquerors approximately 200 years later. These two incidents are generally credited as the cause for the intense development of the emptyhanded fighting techniques of Okinawa-Te. In the early 1900's, an Okinawan demonstrated Okinawa-Te techniques in formal exhibitions in Japan as part of a Japanese-sponsored exposition on physical training.

From there, modern karate was born, became popular and eventually was introduced to the Western World. Karate, meaning empty hands, is a term that has been adopted to generally cover the various Okinawan and Japanese fighting styles. Tae-kwon-do, meaning the way of fist and feet, is Korean and covers the various Korean styles.

The basic techniques of Okinawan, Japanese, and Korean styles are the same and are the techniques presented in this manual.

Book Data:

• The proponent of this publication is the US Army Institute for Military Assistance, ATTN: ATSU-TD-TAD, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28307.
• This publication is provided for resident and nonresident instruction at the US Army Institute for Military Assistance only. It reflects the current thought of this Institute and conforms as closely as possible to published Department of the Army doctrine.
• The use of the words "he," "his," "himself," etc., in this manual is intended to include both masculine and feminine genders.

US Army Special Forces Only: Hand-to-Hand Fighting [Karate/Tae-Kwon-Do] ST 31-204

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