 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".
Aside
from non-fictional works on the First Special Service Force that 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.
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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