c. Recovery to the Guard Position

(1) Bend the left arm, pivoting the rifle in the right hand.

(2) Take a step forward with the right foot.

(3) Rotate the body slightly to the front.

303. THE VERTICAL BUTT STROKE

a. Execution.—The vertical butt stroke is executed in the following manner:

(1) Assume the guard position.

(2) Step forward with the right foot about 15 inches. (See fig. 8.)

(3) Using the left hand as a pivot for the rifle, drive the right hand forward and upward in an uppercut type motion. Aim the butt of the rifle at the groin. If the opponent bends to avoid being hit in the groin, his midsection and chin will protrude. In this event, carry the stroke upward until contact is made with his midsection or chin along the centerline of his body.

(4) Execute the step and uppercut motion at the same time to add force to the blow. (See figs. 9 and 10.)

b. Recovery to the Guard Position.

(1) Pull the right hand back and down until the right elbow is again slightly forward of the right hip in a relaxed, natural position.

(2) Step forward with the left foot and assume the guard position.

304. THE SMASH

a. Execution.—The smash, frequently used as a followup to the vertical or horizontal butt stroke, is executed as follows:

(1) Assume the guard position.

(2) Draw the left arm back to the neck area. The rifle is held with sling up. The rifle is now over the left shoulder, parallel to the deck. (See fig. 11.)

(3) Step toward the opponent about 15 inches with the right foot, slamming the rifle butt into the opponent’s face by extending the arms about 6 inches toward the target, the rifle remains parallel to the deck. (See fig. 12.)

(4) Follow with the left foot after the blow has been struck. If further extension of the arms is necessary, the bayonet fighter should shuffle forward and again execute the smash.

b. Recovery to the Guard Position.—Step forward with the left foot about 15 inches, assuming the guard position.

305. THE HORIZONTAL BUTT STROKE

a. Execution.—The horizontal butt stroke is executed as follows:

(1) Assume the guard position.

(2) Step forward approximately 20 inches forward with the right foot, using the left foot as a pivot point. (See fig. 13.)

(3) Simultaneously, bring the rifle butt across in a horizontal arc, using the left hand as a pivot point. The right arm is almost completely extended. This is a fast hooking action.

(4) During delivery the rifle is held flat on its side so the toe of the rifle and the sling are pointed toward the target. If the rifle is not held flat, it is possible that the stock will be broken by the force of an aggressive butt stroke. (See figs. 14 and 15.)

(5) Aim the toe of the butt plate at the opponent’s head, neck, or side.

(6) The step, pivot, and blow should all occur simultaneously in order to add force to the blow.

b. Recovery to the Guard Position.

(1) Step forward with the left foot.

(2) Bend the right arm, lowering the right hand to assume the guard position.

306. THE JAB

a. Execution.—The jab is executed as follows:

(1) Assume the guard position.

(2) Move the left hand downward diagonally across the body, extending the left arm fully. At this point the blade of the bayonet should be flat, pointed toward the opponent. At the same time, pull the small of the stock to the rear with the right hand until the cone of the stock is opposite the hip bone and the right forearm is resting along the flat of the stock with the sling turned out. (See fig. 16.)

(3) Aim the blade at the opponents midsection from the stomach to the throat.

(4) Step forward about 15 inches with the left foot, pushing forward with the shoulders, and thrusting the blade into the opponent. (See figs. 17 and 18.)

b. Recovery to the Guard Position.

(1) Withdraw the blade and bring the right hand down and forward while bringing the left hand back.

(2) Step forward with the right foot and assume the guard position.

SECTION 4: INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE

401. GENERAL

At times the bayonet fighter may lose the initiative and the opponent may move into the attack. Some defensive measures are therefore necessary for protection and in order to permit the bayonet fighter to regain the initiative. The basic defensive moves are the block and parry. The parry is effective against the jab, while the block is used against the slash and the vertical butt stroke. Timing, speed, and judgment are key factors in handling defensive moves. The parry is done either to the right or left, depending on the position of the incoming blade. If the opponent’s blade comes in above the bayonet fighter’s piece, the parry should be to the right. If it comes in below the bayonet fighter’s piece, the parry should be to the left.

402. PARRY RIGHT

a. Execution

(1) If the opponent’s blade is thrust toward the bayonet fighter in a position above the piece of the bayonet fighter, the parry will be to the right.

(2) From the guard position, step forward about 7 inches with the left foot, keeping the right foot as a base.

(3) Extend the left arm outward, to the right and down, engaging the opponent’s weapon and forcing it to the right and down. This is done by pulling the right hand back along the right hip. Ideally, the opponent’s weapon is engaged at the balance of the bayonet fighter’s weapon. The operating handle is pointed toward the deck after the opponent’s weapon is engaged. (See fig. 19.)

b. Move into the Attack and Recovery.

(1) Move directly into the attack rather than returning to the guard position.

(2) Deliver a jab, or step forward with the right foot and deliver a vertical butt stroke.

(3) Recover to the guard position as prescribed in section 3.

403. PARRY LEFT

a. Execution.

(1) If the opponent’s blade is thrust toward the bayonet fighter in a position below the piece of the bayonet fighter, the parry will be to the left.

(2) From the guard position, step forward about 7 inches with the left foot, using the right foot as a base. Bring the rifle to a vertical position with the right forearm nearly parallel to the deck.

(3) Snap the left hand forward to the left and down engaging the opponent’s weapon anywhere between the back of the bayonet and the balance of the bayonet fighter’s piece. The rifle will be nearly horizontal with the operating handle up and the sling pointing toward the opponent. (See fig. 20.)

b. Move into the Attack and Recovery.

(1) After the parry left, a slash can be delivered by stepping forward with the left foot. A horizontal or vertical butt stroke can be delivered by stepping forward with the right foot.

(2) Recover to the guard position as prescribed in section 3.

404. BLOCK AGAINST SLASH

a. Execution.

(1) From the guard position, thrust the rifle out and up. The weapon stays in the same general position as in the guard position, but the arms are now nearly at full extension.

(2) Push the balance of the rifle into the opponent’s rifle. (See fig. 21.)

b. Move Into the Attack and Recovery.

(1) After the opponent’s slash is blocked he is overextended and off balance.

(2) Counter with a slash or horizontal butt stroke.

(3) Recover to the guard position in the same manner as outlined in section 3.

405. BLOCK AGAINST VERTICAL BUTT STROKE

a. Execution

(1) From the guard position, extend the arms out and down.

(2) The rifle is now nearly horizontal to the deck, and the arms fully extended.

(3) Engage the opponent’s stock near the balance of the rifle. (See fig. 22.)

b. Move into the Attack and Recovery

(1) Counter with a horizontal slash or horizontal butt stroke.

(2) Recover to the guard position in the same manner prescribed in section 3.

SECTION 5: COMBINATION MOVEMENTS

501. GENERAL

Followup movements are attack movements which naturally and harmoniously follow other attack movements. The followup movement is executed from the completed position of the previous movement, rather than after recovery to the guard position. To ensure a successful attack a bayonet fighter follows each movement with another attack movement until he has killed his opponent. All attack movements are designed so that the attacker is in position to deliver another attack movement should his initial attack not be successful. For example, if the attacker delivers a slash which is blocked, he is in excellent position to followup with a vertical butt stroke. Ideally, the followup movement is executed in the same plane as the previous movement, and it is in keeping with this principle that the followup movements listed in the following paragraph are designed. The most important principle is to follow the initial attack with another offensive action so that the initiative is not lost. The key principle here is aggressiveness rather than a memorized technique. Aggressiveness is the real spirit of the followup attack. Show no mercy, for the enemy will show none.

502. LIST OF MOVEMENTS

The below listed combinations allow the best transition from one attack movement to another with the least amount of wasted motion. This enables the bayonet fighter to stay on the attack without having to return to the guard position after an unsuccessful initial attack, thus risking loss of the initiative.

a. Guard, slash, vertical butt stroke or horizontal butt stroke, recover to guard position.

b. Guard, parry left, vertical butt stroke or horizontal butt stroke, smash, slash, recover to guard position.