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DEFENSIVE HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT
Part 5
Chapters 8 & 9
Standing Defences Against
Firearms
This chapter contains the complete text and some
of the graphics from a US Navy Aviation Bureau training film dated 1942. The
presenter of this film is Lt. Commander Wesley Brown jr.
CHAPTER
8
DISARMING ASSAILANTS ARMED WITH RIFLES
8-1. Disarming Assailant With
Bayoneted Rifle – Frontal Approach
First move in to deflect the bayonet with a quick
inside blow.
Then seize the rifle with one hand under the
barrel and the other hand at the breach.
Twist the rifle overhead, then as the assailant
resists, reverse the twist.
Wrest the rifle from his hands.
Points to note.
Deflect the rifle.
Secure weapon.
Twist from grasp.
Complete with backstroke.
8-2. Disarming Assailant With
Bayoneted Rifle – Rear Approach
In a counter against a rifle or bayonet at your
back, the first sweep knocks the barrel out of the line of fire or thrust.
The hands are then shifted to the breech and
barrel and the rifle twisted to the left.
In a quick reverse twist, step across the front of
the assailant, throw him off balance, crossing his arms to break the grip[.
The leg actions are very important in this
maneuver.
Points to note.
Turn and block.
Secure weapon.
Twist out.
Counter if you wish.
CHAPTER
9
9-1. Disarming Assailant With
Gun In Shoulder Holster
As the assailant starts to reach for the shoulder
holster, knock his elbow up and outward with your hand.
This action does not prevent the draw, but it will
throw him off balance and position his arm for you to slip your arms through
and under to apply a reverse wrist lock.
Pulling down and swinging backward with twisting
pressure on the wrist forces the elbow and shoulder joints and keeps the gun
pointed constantly away from you.
Inward pressure on the gun wrist breaks the hold
and makes disarming easy.
By maintaining the wrist lock, the assailant can
be disposed of with the captured weapon or taken prisoner.
Points to note.
Knock elbow up and out.
Apply reverse wrist lock.
Break the gun hold.
Disarm.
9-2. Disarming Assailant With
Gun In Side Holster
When the assailant attempts to draw a gun from a
side holster, your initial move is to block this movement by seizing the gun
arm at the bend in the elbow. Step to the side of the assailant and slightly to
the rear.
Then force the assailants arm up and over into a
twisting hammer lock.
Your other hand applies additional force, pressing
the shoulder downward.
Your elbow and body lock the assailant’s gun arm.
Your right hand is free to twist the gun from the opponents grip.
Points to note.
Seize the gun arm.
Apply the hammer hold.
Disarm.
9-3. Disarming An
Assailant With Pistol In Back – Outside Turn
Preparing to counter gives your assailant the
impression of surrender. But by raising your arms and turning your head enough
to see which of the assailant’s hands actually holds the gun.
Strike with the corresponding arm, deflecting the
gun and turning out of the line of fire.
Follow through to apply a bar hammer lock from
which the opponent can neither escape nor use the gun against you.
Reaching over, immediately twist the gun free and
step out of reach.
Points to note.
Give the impression of surrender.
Turn and deflect the gun.
Lock the arm.
Twist the gun from his grasp.
9-4. Disarming Assailant With Pistol In Back –
Inside Turn
An effective defence against a gun in your back is the inside turn.
By turning into
your assailant, you are again turning out of the line of fire and clamp the gun
hand under your arm with an elbow lock.
From this
position, counterattack with hands to face and knees to groin, forcing him back
and causing him to loose his grip on the gun.
Points to note.
Turn in.
Clamp gun arm.
Frontal
counterattack.
Retrieve firearm.
Liquidate.
9-5. Disarming
Assailant With A Pistol At Your Head
In this surprise
counterattack, it is important not to betray your intentions.
Notice that the
eyes should be steady ahead, even though the counterattack has already started.
The upward throw
of the arm breaks the gun grip and places you in a position to deliver a
punishing kick to the groin.
No further action
is necessary.
Points to note.
Bring arm up
quickly.
Kick to groin.
CONCLUSIONS
In this analyses of hand-to-hand combat tactics, basic manoeuvres were illustrated as applied to certain specific
combat situations.
Obviously
however, there can be no predetermined procedures to fit all circumstances.
You must master
the basic techniques so thoroughly as to be able to improvise the best
counterattack as required.
And such
flexibility of adaptation means practice, practice and more practice.
