O'Neill to the nuts

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By Carl Cestari
The "O'Neill" method is a consistent source of debate and speculation. Owing to the fact that most people have only been exposed to limited information concerning this method many "false" opinions have been expressed concerning it's value and/or effectiveness. The Army 21-150 manuals offer little in the way of a "complete" method and the USMC "proposed" manual adds some info but certainly not anywhere near the whole "picture". Dermot O'Neill looks on as trainees Aside from non-fictional works on the First Special Service Force that master the "O'Neill to the Nuts" add bits and pieces to the puzzle, there exist other "technical" sources. Besides the fairly well-documented Judo background of D.M. O'Neill and his service with the SMP and as a "protege" of WEF, little else is really known about the elements that comprise his method. Quotes like this: ".........the Office of Strategic Services(OSS) improved version of kick and poke judo. This hand to hand unarmed combat method was developed and taught by a former Shanghai police inspector, British embassy security expert, and OSS contract employee named Dermot Michael "Pat" O'Neill." Offer some more insights into the man and the method. The system that O'Neill "developed" was born during his time in Shanghai. Charlie Nelson relates that his introduction to O'Neill's method was through a Sgt. Kelly who learned this method from O'Neill during Kelly's tour of duty in China. Since we know that O'Neill left for Japan in 1938, the "training" between Kelly and O'Neill must have occurred prior to that. So we can presume that the O'Neill method came into it's own sometime during the mid 1930's. Many reference sources containing information on O'Neills method as recalled by Forcemen of the 1st SSF refer to similar phrases as the one quoted above. Terms like "jab and kick", "gouge and kick", "poke and kick" are constantly used when describing this method. Now we KNOW what the elements of the "Fairbairn" system are(though even here there is much misconception as well) and when would be hard pressed to describe WEF's approach as "kick and poke". Though the O'Neill method may have included elements of Fairbairn's system(though there is documentation to the contrary), it is clear that the O'Neill method is materially different. The difference in "needs" as it relates to close combat between front line rapid assault "shock" troops like the "Devil's Brigade" and the nature of clandestine special operations as waged by the OSS and SOE explains to great degree the dis-similarity in choice of method.

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4/17/2012 4:29 PM

O'Neill to the nuts

http://www.gutterfighting.org/oneilltothenuts.html

Chinese foot-fighting or Chinese Boxing is mentioned in various manuals attributed to O'Neill. CHI-CHI SHU another reference to Chinese combatives is also mentioned in the AID/IPA manual. Material extant from the WWII era mentions this specifically. Charlie Nelson always said that this method was based on Chinese Guerilla warfare. So where does the O'Neill method originate from? What may be the original source of this system? To fully understand the possible connections to Chinese Boxing, we must FULLY understand the complete original syllabus of this method. We will begin to discuss that aspect in Part II. Hopefully, we will also dispel "mis-informed" opinions concerning the combat validity and effectiveness of the O'Neill "method".

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4/17/2012 4:29 PM