| Most people have only been exposed to John | | | | into the opponent.Chin/Head THRUST |
| Styers work through the book "Cold Steel".It is | | | | out.WEAPON HAND EXTENDED and/or SPLAYED |
| important to remember that first and foremost | | | | OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Read THAT AGAIN!Knife LEVEL with |
| this book outlines a BASIC course of | | | | ground and NOT POINTED at opponents EYES |
| close-combat instruction. The elements covered in | | | | THROAT!Offhand SPLAYED out to side.Now the |
| this system include bayonet, knife, stick and | | | | WHY'S that make this method succeed or |
| unarmed combat. Styers developed this "system" | | | | FAIL.First, try this experiment(THIS IS |
| for BASIC training.The framework of all of these | | | | SOMETHING YOU MUST DO). Don't even talk |
| methods remains CONSISTENT through out. The | | | | about this "method" if you HAVE NOT honestly |
| fundamentals for employing the bayonet, knife, | | | | followed this example:Grab a REAL SHARP |
| unarmed combat and even the stick work are | | | | FIGHTING KNIFE. |
| ALL the same.Note in particular the "stance" used | | | | EXTEND IT at FULL arm's length with shoulder |
| for the bayonet, the knife, and for unarmed | | | | "twisted" in for added reach.Tell your training |
| engagement. SAME stance. The "body" mechanics | | | | partner to DISTANCE himself from the weapon |
| involved in all the methods presented are at their | | | | to a RANGE where he feels at a combatively |
| core foundation ALL similar. This in itself shows | | | | "SAFE" range. Have someone measure that |
| "genius".What we see in "Cold Steel" is NOT the | | | | distance.PULL your weapon arm in to a 3/4 |
| STYERS method! It is a "system" that STYERS | | | | extension and repeat. Have someone measure |
| developed for use in BASIC training. John Styers | | | | that distance.PULL in FURTHER to a half bent 90 |
| was a man of both great knowledge and SKILL in | | | | degree position and repeat.NOW pull the weapon |
| a number of man to man combatives.Those who | | | | back to the hip and do it all again.COMPARE the |
| knew Styers personally have told us about his | | | | measurements at each "distance". MOST people |
| vast interest, knowledge and proven skill in a | | | | will REMAIN quite consistent in the ACTUAL |
| number of close-combat methods. From the | | | | "measured" distance of safety from tip of |
| "French" style of bayonet fighting, to "Russian" | | | | weapon. THEY will ALMOST always MOVE in as |
| knife fighting, to boxing, wrestling, jiujitsu, and of | | | | YOUR arm moves back, BUT the "measured" |
| course "dirty" fighting.As concerns the STYERS | | | | distance remains very close between ALL the |
| knife work as shown in "Cold Steel" it must also | | | | given positions.THAT is the KEY to Styers.Extend |
| be considered that this was but a SMALL part of | | | | your arm and knife all the way OUT. Your partner |
| Styers overall skill and ability in KNIFE FIGHTING. | | | | maintains that critical safety zone FROM the tip of |
| Again this was a system of BASIC | | | | your very real and sharp blade. COULD YOU cut |
| TRAINING!Other sources show this quite | | | | or thrust him EASILY from that position? Not |
| demonstrably. The man was a MASTER of | | | | really. A committed BODY lunge or step is about |
| bladework.Now the knife sytem taught in "Cold | | | | all you could do to close the "gap". Too |
| Steel" is excellent. The "problems" that are often | | | | slow.NOW-Pull that arm ALL the way in so that it |
| cited by others has FAR MORE to do with a lack | | | | barely breaks the lateral plane of the body. |
| of understanding in the tactics and techniques as | | | | AGAIN, your training partner will have a DEFINITE |
| "they" present them, than it does any practical | | | | tendency to MAINTAIN the measured distance of |
| faults in STYERS method.ON TO THE | | | | the safety zone, but HE will MOVE in. The actual |
| METHOD.....................................First, Styers was training men | | | | measured distance between him and the tip will |
| for battlefield COMBAT! NOT for a "duel". He | | | | vary little. HIS safety zone is STILL his safety |
| assumed(rightly so) that in the so-called "fog" of | | | | zone.What HAS changed is your ABILITY to |
| war men will revert to pure "animal" instinct and | | | | REACH HIM in the fastest most NON telegraphed |
| move right in for the "kill". Think about this! During | | | | manner.FROM the PULLED IN arm position, |
| the frenzy of real combat you and your enemy | | | | SQUARED TORSO, and BALANCED stance you |
| are REDUCED to fighting with knives. Men are | | | | can execute the most rapid, cobra-like attacks or |
| killing and being killed ALL AROUND YOU. YOUR | | | | counter-attacks with a great amount of |
| natural instinct for SURVIVAL will seize you by | | | | RANGE.ANY position OTHER than this one, taken |
| the throat. You will grip that knife as strongly(your | | | | by your enemy WILL put him at a SERIOUS |
| LIFE NOW depends on THIS ONE WEAPON) as | | | | dis-advantage. He will almost ALWAYS be offering |
| possible and MOVE RIGHT IN FOR THE | | | | YOU something, whereas YOU will be offering |
| KILL!(WASTE ANY TIME and someone else is | | | | NOTHING.His range and speed will be effected by |
| going to KILL YOU) You are NOT going to "spar" | | | | HIS position. Your range and speed will be |
| or "duel", you ARE going to KILL, survive and | | | | ENHANCED by YOURS.IMPORTANCE of BLADE |
| move on to your next threat or objective. Styers | | | | POSITION: Keep that blade tip POINTED at the |
| KNEW what real "kill or be killed" combat was like. | | | | angle stated. WHY? At that angle it is MUCH more |
| He realized that MOST men in this dire situation | | | | difficult for the opponent to gauge the size and |
| will instinctively SEIZE their knife either in an | | | | length of your blade. May seem like a MINOR |
| "overhand" or "ice-pick" grip or an "underhanded" | | | | "point", but in a real KNIFE fight I'll USE anything |
| type "hammergrip". They will ATTACK with a | | | | that MAY give me an edge.TECHNIQUE:ALL you |
| determined KILLING intent. THAT IS THE BASIS | | | | REALLY need is a thrust, a snap-slash(DO NOT |
| for the Styers method!Now the "elements" of | | | | use the back snap cut with this!), a "stop-hit", and |
| Styers method rest on BODY position, ARM | | | | the "hand-cut". The step over and stab is also |
| position, and KNIFE position.Here is where so | | | | useful.If "In-Quartata and Passata-soto" are NOT |
| many "experts" go right OFF TRACK. Forget any | | | | comfortable for you, DON'T use them! Since |
| "technique", thrust, slash or "whatever". WITHOUT | | | | BOTH of these moves are MEANT as "defensive" |
| the FOUNDATION of proper BODY, ARM, and | | | | counter-attacks against an OVERLY committed |
| KNIFE position all the "technique" in the world is | | | | assault they are NOT mandatory.The FIVE |
| MEANINGLESS!Without a REAL understanding of | | | | moves stated above are MORE than enough. |
| Styers FUNDAMENTAL tactic and what MUST be | | | | PRACTICE THEM moving forward, backward and |
| done to make it EFFECTIVE, all THIS becomes | | | | flanking left and right. I personally DO NOT train |
| NO MORE than two guys trying to cut and stab | | | | the "back" snap cut on the "snap-slash" because I |
| each other. THIS IS NOT what Styers | | | | know of an incident in a real fight where the knife |
| envisioned.On to the "meat & potatoes":1. | | | | was dislodged from the grip on the "return" when |
| Stance-Whether you assume the "Styers" position | | | | the target reflexively pulled his shoulder up after |
| from a "classic" fencer's pose, as Styers | | | | taking the first slash across the right temple and |
| demonstrates(for continuity) or simply | | | | eyes. This is the story I have heard so I won't |
| advance(lead leg) retreat(real leg) one pace, as | | | | comment further.TARGETS: As far as "targets" |
| long as your UPPER torso remains square and you | | | | go...............well the BEST real world advice I can offer |
| body rests "springlike" on your legs you're doing | | | | is just GO for FLESH! If you see skin, GO FOR |
| OK. BALANCE must be rested on your center | | | | IT!Fingers, hands, wrists, throat/neck and face. |
| point and the rear heel RAISED. Toes and KNEES | | | | The "step over and stab" SHOULD be saved for |
| pointed FORWARD!KEY POINT: Body SQUARED. | | | | the coup d' grace.John Styer's influence was really |
| Torso ERECT. Chin PULLED IN. BALANCE | | | | BROUGHT to bear AFTER WWII. His methods |
| centered. Rear HEEL RAISED.2. Arm | | | | were developed during the Korean War era, long |
| Position-Gripping the KNIFE: Blade vertical to | | | | after his discharge from the USMC.AND........................His |
| ground. Thumb EXTENDED down backstrap. Slight | | | | job as a FLAG salesman is what brought him into |
| upward CANT or "cocking" of blade.Weapon | | | | contact with military bases and servicemen |
| bearing hand and arm: Pulled IN. Upper arm slightly | | | | ACROSS the country!There are more anecdotes |
| BACK from vertical. Elbow tucked into, not away | | | | and more info but this is enough for now.I always |
| from side. LOWER ARM raised on a plane EVEN | | | | get a "kick" when guys dismiss different methods |
| with opponents THROAT/EYES. Weapon hand | | | | and/or ideas out of hand. Then when I ask them |
| SHOULD NOT break the latreral plane of the | | | | to "show me", they get the WHOLE GODDAMN |
| upper torso! THIS IS KEY!Offhand hand: Pulled in | | | | thing WRONG! Of course it looks like SHIT. |
| just like weapon bearing hand.COMMON | | | | BECAUSE YOU"RE DOING IT LIKE SHIT!Ok, hope |
| ERRORS:Wrong foot placement.Leanining over or | | | | some of you got some useful insight. |