Editing Hand-to-hand combat

{{Short description|Fighting without ranged weapons}}
{{Globalize|article|USA|2name=the United States|date=July 2009}}
{{history of war}}
[[File:Xfrese.jpg|thumb|[[Pankration|Pankratiasts]] portrayed on a Roman relief. 2nd or 3rd century A.D.]]
'''Hand-to-hand combat''' is a physical confrontation between two or more persons at short range ([[grappling]] distance or within the physical reach of a handheld weapon) that does not involve the use of ranged weapons.<ref name="HUN">Hunsicker, A., ''Advanced Skills in Executive Protection'', Boca Raton FL: Universal Publishers, {{ISBN|1-59942-849-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-59942-849-9}}, p. 51</ref> The phrase "hand-to-hand" sometimes includes use of melee weapons such as [[knives]], [[sword]]s, [[Club (weapon)|clubs]], [[spears]], [[axe]]s, or [[improvised weapons]] such as [[entrenching tool]]s.<ref name="HUN"/> While the term "hand-to-hand combat" originally referred principally to engagements by [[combatant]]s on the [[battle]]field, it can also refer to any personal physical engagement by two or more people, including [[law enforcement officer]]s, [[civilian]]s, and [[criminal]]s.<ref name="HUN"/>

[[Combat]] within close quarters, to a range just beyond grappling distance, is commonly termed [[close combat]] or close-quarters combat. It may include lethal and [[non-lethal weapons]] and methods depending upon the restrictions imposed by [[civilian law]], [[military]] [[rules of engagement]], or [[ethical codes]]. Close combat using firearms or other distance weapons by military combatants at the [[tactical level]] is referred to in contemporary parlance as [[close-quarters battle]]. The [[United States Army]] uses the term ''[[combatives]]'' to describe various military fighting systems used in hand-to-hand combat training, systems which may incorporate [[Eclecticism#Martial arts|eclectic]] techniques from several different [[martial arts]] and [[combat sport]]s.

==History==
{{See also|History of physical training and fitness}}
Hand-to-hand combat is the most ancient form of fighting known. A majority of cultures have their own particular histories related to close combat, and their own methods of practice. The [[pankration]], which was practiced in [[Ancient Greece]] and [[Rome]], is an example of a form which involved nearly all strikes and holds, with biting and gouging being the only exceptions (although allowed in [[Sparta]]).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gardiner |first1=E. Norman |title=Greek Athletic Sports and Festivals |date=1910 |publisher=MacMillan |location=London |page=438}}</ref> Many modern varieties of [[martial arts]] and combat sports, such as some boxing styles, [[wrestling]] and [[Mixed martial arts|MMA]], were also practiced historically. For example, Celtic wrestling is mentioned in the [[Tailteann Games (ancient)|Tailteann Games]] dating back from somewhere between 1839 BC to 632 BC (academics disagree) to the 12th century AD when the Normans invaded. Other historical forms of close combat include the [[gladiator]] spectacles of ancient Rome and [[Tournament (medieval)|medieval tournament]] events such as [[jousting]] or [[Historical European martial arts|medieval martial arts]].

[[Military]] organizations have always taught some sort of unarmed combat for conditioning and as a supplement to armed combat. Soldiers in [[China]] were trained in unarmed combat as early as the [[Zhou dynasty]] (1022 BCE to 256 BCE).

Despite major technological changes such as the use of gunpowder, the machine gun in the [[Russo-Japanese War]] and the [[trench warfare]] of [[World War I]], hand-to-hand fighting methods with the [[knife]] and [[bayonet]] remain common in modern military training, though the importance of formal training declined after 1918. By 1944 some [[Germany|German]] rifles were being produced without bayonet lugs.

===Modern hand-to-hand combat techniques===
[[File:USMC-00949.jpg|thumb|Corporal Alvin "Tony" Ghazlo, the senior bayonet and unarmed combat instructor at [[Montford Point]], demonstrates a disarming technique on his assistant, Private Ernest "Judo" Jones.]]

[[Close Quarters Combat]] (CQC), or [[World War II combatives]], was largely codified by [[William E. Fairbairn|William Ewart Fairbairn]] and [[Eric A. Sykes|Eric Anthony Sykes]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lett|first=Brian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3JO0DAAAQBAJ&pg=PT168|title=SOE's Mastermind: The Authorised Biography of Major General Sir Colin Gubbins KCMG, DSO, MC|date=2016-09-30|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-4738-6382-8|pages=168|language=en}}</ref> Also known for their eponymous [[Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife]], Fairbairn and Sykes had worked in the [[Shanghai Municipal Police]] of the [[Shanghai International Settlement|International Settlement]] (1854–1943) of [[Shanghai]] in the 1920s, widely acknowledged as the most dangerous port city in the world due to a heavy [[History of opium in China|opium trade]] run by organized crime (the Chinese [[Triad (underground society)|Triad]]s). CQC was derived from a mixture of [[judo]], [[jujutsu]], [[boxing]], [[savate]], [[wrestling]] and [[street fighting]].

After the [[May Thirtieth Movement]], Fairbairn was charged with developing an auxiliary squad for [[riot control]]. After absorbing the most appropriate elements from a variety of [[martial arts]] experts, [[Chinese martial arts|from China]], [[Japanese martial arts|Japan]] and elsewhere, he condensed these arts into a practical combat system he called [[Defendu]]. He and his police team went on to field test these skills on the streets of Shanghai; Fairbairn himself used his combat system effectively in over 2,000 documented encounters, including over 600 lethal-force engagements.<ref name="CHAM">Chambers, John W.; Fairbairn, W. E. ''[https://irma.nps.gov/Datastore/DownloadFile/486417 OSS Training in the National Parks and Service Abroad in World War II]'', Washington, D.C., U.S. National Park Service (2008), p. 191 (PDF), [https://web.archive.org/web/20140413205748/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/oss/index.htm Archived] from the original on April 13, 2014</ref>
The aim of his combat system was simply to be as brutally effective as possible. It was also a system that, unlike traditional Eastern martial-arts that required years of intensive training, could be digested by recruits relatively quickly. The method incorporated training in [[point shooting]] and gun combat techniques, as well as the effective use of more [[ad hoc]] weapons such as chairs or table legs.

[[File:Учебные сборы 1976 год.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Hand-to-hand combat training in the [[Soviet Army]], 1976]]

During the [[Second World War]], Fairbairn was brought back to Britain, and, after demonstrating the effectiveness of his techniques, was recruited to train the [[British commandos]] in his combat method. During this period, he expanded his 'Shanghai Method' into the 'Silent Killing Close Quarters Combat method' for military application. This became standard combat training for all British [[Special Operations]] personnel. He also designed the pioneering [[Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife]], which was adopted for use by British and [[United States special operations forces|American Special Forces]]. In 1942, he published a textbook for close quarters combat training called ''Get Tough''.<ref name="CHAM"/><ref name=get-tough>Fairbairn, W. E. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Vu4AAAAACAAJ&q=Get+Tough Get Tough!]'' Paladin Press, 1 December 1996. {{ISBN|978-0-87364-002-2}} Retrieved October 12, 2014</ref>

U.S. Army officers [[Rex Applegate]] and [[Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle|Anthony Biddle]] were taught Fairbairn's methods at a training facility in [[Scotland]], and adopted the program for the training of [[Office of Strategic Services|OSS]] operatives at a newly opened camp near [[Lake Ontario]] in [[Canada]]. Applegate published his work in 1943, called ''Kill or Get Killed''.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Modern Reality Self-Defense and Close-Quarter Combat Systems |author=Kevin Brett |url=http://www.aikiproductions.com/history-of-modern-self-defense/ |website=www.aikiproductions.com |access-date=October 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015133818/http://www.aikiproductions.com/history-of-modern-self-defense/ |archive-date=October 15, 2014 }}</ref> During the war, training was provided to British [[Commando]]s, the [[Devil's Brigade]], [[Office of Strategic Services|OSS]], [[U.S. Army Rangers]] and [[Marine Raiders]].

[[File:Rangers in Action 10-African Land Forces Summit-US Army Africa-13 MAY 2010.jpg|thumb|250px|Rangers in Action 10-African Land Forces Summit, [[US Army Africa]], 2010]]
Other combat systems designed for military combat were introduced elsewhere, including European [[Unifight]], Soviet/Russian [[Sambo (martial art)|Sambo]], [[Army hand-to-hand fight]], Chinese military [[Sanshou]]/[[Sanshou|Sanda]], Israeli [[Kapap]] and [[Krav Maga]]. The prevalence and style of hand-to-hand combat training often changes based on perceived need. Elite units such as [[special forces]] and [[commando]] units tend to place higher emphasis on hand-to-hand combat training.

Although hand-to-hand fighting was accorded less importance in major militaries after [[World War II]], [[insurgency]] conflicts such as the [[Vietnam War]], [[low intensity conflict]] and [[urban warfare]] have prompted many armies to pay more attention to this form of combat. When such fighting includes firearms designed for close-in fighting, it is often referred to as [[CQB|Close Quarters Battle]] (CQB) at the platoon or squad level, or [[Urban warfare|Military Operations on Urban Terrain]] (MOUT) at higher tactical levels. A 2023 study using data from the [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan wars]] found that the majority of hand-to-hand combat involved grappling techniques instead of striking.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Phil |title=Study Shows That Most US Army Hand-To-Hand Combat Is Grappling |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/study-shows-that-most-us-army-hand-to-hand-combat-is-grappling/ |website=JitsMagazine |access-date=27 April 2023}}</ref>

=== Sport ===
{{Main|Combat sport}}
Most combat sports involve hand-to-hand combat. Hand-to-hand is also a sport that involve striking, throw, ground control and submission. It is used with kimono and with gloves of 12 once.

==Modern usage==
A 2014 study found that, amongst US soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan between 2004 and 2008, 19% reported the use of hand-to-hand techniques in at least one encounter, in a variety of circumstances and contexts (such as close combat, prisoner handling, crowd control and security checkpoints), supporting prior research that indicated that, despite advances in technology, hand-to-hand combat remained a persistent aspect of modern warfare.<ref>Jensen, Peter R. Hand-to-Hand Combat and the Use of Combatives Skills: An Analysis of United States Army Post Combat Surveys from 2004-2008. MILITARY ACADEMY WEST POINT NY CENTER FOR ENHANCED PERFORMANCE, 2014.</ref>

Hand-to-hand combat is the principal form of combat during skirmishes between [[Indian Army]] and Chinese [[People's Liberation Army]] soldiers along the disputed Himalayan border between India and the People's Republic of China.  While Chinese and Indian soldiers carry firearms, due to decades of tradition designed to reduce the possibility of an escalation, agreements disallow usage of firearms along this border.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 June 2020|editor-last=Tripathi|editor-first=Ashutosh|title='All border troops carry arms': Jaishankar responds to Rahul Gandhi on Ladakh standoff|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/get-facts-straight-s-jaishankar-on-soldiers-without-arms-in-china-clash/story-73VYyqeWNdFMNMJrX6PWUI.html|access-date=19 June 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>  In the [[2020 China–India skirmishes]], hand-to-hand combat involving stones, batons, iron rods, and other makeshift weapons resulted in the deaths of over 50 soldiers on both sides over six hours of fighting.<ref name="guardian">{{Cite news|last1=Safi|first1=Michael|last2=Ellis-Petersen|first2=Hannah|last3=Davidson|first3=Helen|date=17 June 2020|title=Soldiers fell to their deaths as India and China's troops fought with rocks|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/17/shock-and-anger-in-india-after-worst-attack-on-china-border-in-decades|access-date=17 June 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=China declines to react to VK Singh's remark that 40 PLA soldiers killed in Galwan Valley clash|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/china-declines-to-react-to-vk-singhs-remarks-that-40-pla-soldiers-killed-in-galwan-valley-clash-102651|access-date=2020-06-22|website=The Tribune|language=en}}</ref>

===Military systems===
* In the [[Soviet Union]], [[Sambo (martial art)|sambo]] (self-defence without weapons) began development in the 1920s for the [[Soviet Armed Forces|military]] and [[NKVD|secret police]] as a fighting system based on indigenous and foreign martial arts. It has since become a [[combat sport]], an international style of [[wrestling]], and foundation for many [[List of Sambo practitioners|MMA fighters]].
**[[ARB (martial art)|ARB]] (Army Hand-to-Hand Combat) is a Soviet martial art based on sambo that began development for the military in 1979. It has since become a popular combat sport in [[Russia]].

* [[Krav Maga]] is an Israeli martial art that was used by [[Haganah|Zionist paramilitary groups]] and subsequently adopted by the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli military]] when it was founded in 1948.
* [[Jieitaikakutōjutsu]] is a military self-defence and fighting system developed for [[JSDF]] personnel. The system primarily consists of hand-to-hand combat, [[bayonet]] and [[knife fighting]] principles.
* In 2002, the [[U.S. Army]] adopted the [[Modern Army Combatives]] (MAC) hand-to-hand combat training program with the publishing of U.S. Army field manual (FM 3-25.150) and the establishment of the U.S. Army Combatives School at [[Ft Benning]], Georgia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/army_combativesbrief_050108w/ |title=Combatives Program wrestles toward permanency |work=Army Times|date=May 1, 2008  |author=Michelle Tan |access-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref>
**The [[U.S. Air Force]] adopted MAC as its hand-to-hand combat system in early 2008.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Michelle Tan |author2=Erik Holmes |date=January 28, 2008|title=Combatives training inspires Air Force Service to start program like Army's|work=Air Force Times|url=https://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x10533|access-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref>

* In the [[U.S. Marine Corps]], [[Marine Corps Martial Arts Program]] (MCMAP) replaced the [[Marine Corps LINE combat system]] in 2002. Each Marine keeps a record book that records their training, and a colored belt system (tan, gray, green, brown, and black in order of precedence) is used to denote experience and skill level, similar to many Asian martial arts.

==See also==
* [[Boxing (disambiguation)]]
* [[Knife fight]]
* [[Melee]]
* [[Combatives]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Further reading===
* ''[[iarchive:milmanual-mcrp-3-02b-close-combat|MCRP 3-02B Close Combat]]'', [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]], February 1999. Commercial reprint: {{ISBN|1-58160-073-9}}.
* ''[[iarchive:WilliamE.FairbairnGetTough/|Get Tough!]]'' by [[William E. Fairbairn]], 1942. Details basic [[commando]] techniques. Reprint: {{ISBN|0-87364-002-0}}.
* ''[[iarchive:all-in-fighting-1942-paladin-press|All-In Fighting]]'' by William E. Fairbairn, 1942. Commercial reprint of 2007: {{ISBN|978-1-58160-506-8}}
* ''[[iarchive:Kill_or_Get_Killed_1943_Rex_Applegate|Kill or Get Killed]]'' by [[Rex Applegate]], 1943. Widely redistributed within the USMC from 1991 as ''[[iarchive:Kill_or_Get_Killed_1991_Rex_Applegate_FMFRP_12-80_Paladin_Press/|FMFRP 12-80]]''. Reprint: {{ISBN|0-87364-084-5}}.
* ''[[iarchive:isbn_9781556431166|In Search of the Warrior Spirit: Teaching Awareness Disciplines to the Green Berets]]'' by [[Richard Strozzi-Heckler]]. 3rd edition: {{ISBN|1-55643-425-1}}.
* ''[[iarchive:fmfm-0-7-closecombat-line/|FMFM 0-7 Close Combat and Hand to Hand Fighting]]'', USMC, July 1993.
* ''[[iarchive:FM_3-25.150_Combatives/|FM 3-25.150 (FM 21-150) Combatives]]''. U.S. Army manual incorporating [[Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu]]. Commercial reprint of 2002: {{ISBN|1-58160-448-3}}.

{{martial arts}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hand-To-Hand Combat}}
[[Category:Hybrid martial arts]]
[[Category:Hand to hand tactics|Combat]]
[[Category:Law enforcement techniques]]