Category: Fieldcraft
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Impressive
One of the best wild survival tactics. pic.twitter.com/aT8IlXrECO
— Learn Something (@cooltechtipz) October 3, 2023
Marine Raiders practice knife-fighting techniques during World War II. US Department of Defense photo.
Whether armed with aircraft, rifles, or just their hands, Marines are renowned for being tough and capable fighters. The Corps’ lethal reputation stretches back to the days when Marines were tasked with boarding enemy ships, armed only with muskets, blades, and brawn.
The nature of their job as a naval force charged with seizing enemy vessels and conducting small amphibious landings often placed Marines in close-quarters combat. In the 246 years of the branch’s existence, the Marine Corps has worked hard to improve upon those early hand-to-hand fighting skills.
Of all the small wars and major conflicts the Marines have been involved in, few have required such a high level of proficiency in hand-to-hand fighting as the island-hopping campaigns of World War II. Marines regularly found themselves fighting for survival in the cramped quarters of their own foxholes. In order to prepare Marines for the nightmarish scenario, the Marine Corps produced instructional videos with close-quarters techniques for killing the enemy.
In one video titled “Combat Conditioning Series Part 3: Club and Knife Fighting,” Marines are taught things like how to use a fistful of dirt to win a knife fight and how to disarm an opponent using a stick. The video places a heavy emphasis on creativity and an “any means necessary” attitude for winning in hand-to-hand combat.
“To kill your enemy from as great a distance as possible is good sense — and basic to Marine Corps tactics,” text in the video’s intro states. “But a time may come when you will engage him at close quarters and you will have to destroy him hand-to-hand with a knife or a club.”
The Marines currently teach the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, which includes both knife- and club-fighting techniques, but proficiency in these “dirty fighting” skills is not as much of a priority as it once was. Watch the full video of WWII club- and knife-fighting techniques above.
Read Next: Salty Dogs: The Long and Proud Tradition of Tattoos in the Marine Corps
Mac Caltrider
Mac Caltrider is a senior staff writer for Coffee or Die Magazine. He served in the US Marine Corps and is a former police officer. Caltrider earned his bachelor’s degree in history and now reads anything he can get his hands on. He is also the creator of Pipes & Pages, a site intended to increase readership among enlisted troops. Caltrider spends most of his time reading, writing, and waging a one-man war against premature hair loss.
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Could This Save Your Life?
In the beginning there were those newly transferred in from the unwashed masses who for some reason — real or perceived — glimpsed the truth they might need to be responsible for their own well being. For some, this lesson was purchased at great price. They are the few lucky ones, lucky to have survived, but unlucky enough to have been roles players in a real life act of robbery, rape and even murder.
A student, a victim of an attempted kidnapping comes to mind, he recalled, “I shot him with my two-shot derringer and he just looked at me.” He now carries a 1911 with no prompting from me.
From another student: “He broke into my house and raped me in front of my children and it will never happen again… ever.” This female, a true warrior now, shoots a large-frame magnum revolver. And she shoots it very well.
Student three advised, “I came to school because two guys kidnapped my wife and murdered her.” Continuing, he said, “I need to be able to protect myself and my two kids now that I have to raise them by myself.”
For the novice all of this mayhem can seem somewhat overpowering. What gun should I have, what kind of ammunition should I carry? It can be truly mind-boggling.
Looking At Your Life
Review the “who, what, where and when” so to speak of your life. Break your daily life down into where you work, play and move about. By doing so you may be able to develop a plan for your training agenda. If your life revolves around kids, then dismount drills from vehicles — making sure the munchkins do not sling the vehicle doors open into oncoming traffic — is a good thought.
Too complicated you say? I just talked to a woman who carried one child inside and one outside her person while living in Rhodesia. Her driving accessories were an FN-FAL rifle on the front seat of the car and a glove box full of hand grenades. She managed to raise two good kids and is even now a grandmother. And rather an elegant one I might add.
Who you are and what you do will help you to decide how you should train.
Training
You can get formal training and it can be beneficial. Just make sure what you are getting is what you think you need. If you aren’t sure, ask questions from those you’re about to take training from. Just because somebody was in the Army or a cop for 20 years doesn’t necessarily mean you want to drop your personal protection anchor on his or her theoretical expertise.
I just had a guy sit in my house and tell me marksmanship wasn’t as important as tactics. Could be, but if you can’t hit anything when you shoot you won’t need tactical skills. If you buzz a 9mm through the head of your kid being held hostage at the end of your hallway it will probably ruin your day and Junior’s too.
Guns And Gear
If you don’t own a handgun, don’t know anything about them and are truly interested in personal defense, a solid, simple choice is a Glock. I prefer the mid-size Model 19 or 23 in 9mm or .40 caliber respectively. I would avoid vent holes in the barrel. All the latest models come with the built-in light rail so if you want to add a light to your pistol and training, the rail makes it easy.
Buy a good flashlight and consider whether or not a gun-mounted light serves any purpose for you. Buy only high quality lights and consider rechargeable types that may be kept readily available inside the home or vehicle. Streamlight, Inc. is a brand I have used successfully for both hand held and gun-mounted systems.
Blue Light Special
I had two different guns blow up on our ranges in March of 2004 because of people using reloaded and cheap, foreign made ammo. Economy is nice, but some things should not be scrimped on. Should I go on?
Buy good ammunition, Black Hills, Corbon, Federal, Remington or Winchester as examples. You can buy ball for practice and something exotic if you think you need it for personal defense. Buy, test, carry, shoot and use only good ammunition! And as always, while practicing, wear good eye and ear protection.
The Bottom Line
For those interested, a good handgun runs about $570 with night sights. The flashlights (hand-held and gun-mounted) run from $100 to $250 based on features such as recharge capability. A case of 1,000 rounds of 9mm ball is still affordable. So for around a minimal investment you can get good equipment and good ammunition to start your skills development.
Will you be one of the lucky ones? I don’t know, but I believe the harder you train the luckier you will get — and I would rather be good than lucky.
Let me see now. You go into hostile territory by yourself. You know nothing about the enemy. You then enter into a swamp with steel armor on & during a hot humid weather environment. Your fighting skills suck.
Bottom line I think that A. You are an idiot & B. Your chances of winning a Darwin Award are looking mighty good Rookie!
Grumpy
PS It still amazes me that we won the Indian Wars!!
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Works for me, work for you?
