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. Thishand 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." Offersome 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 hisintroduction to O'Neill's method was through a Sgt. Kelly who learned this method from O'Neill during Kelly'stour of duty in China. Since we know that O'Neill left for Japan in 1938, the "training" between Kelly andO'Neill must have occurred prior to that. So we can presume that the O'Neill method came into it's ownsometime during the mid 1930's.

Many reference sources containing information on O'Neills method as recalled by Forcemen of the 1st SSFrefer to similar phrases as the one quoted above. Terms like "jab and kick", "gouge and kick", "poke andkick" 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 todescribe WEF's approach as "kick and poke".

Though the O'Neill method may have included elements of Fairbairn's system(though there is documentationto the contrary), it is clear that the O'Neill method is materially different. The difference in "needs" as itrelates to close combat between front line rapid assault "shock" troops like the "Devil's Brigade" and thenature of clandestine special operations as waged by the OSS and SOE explains to great degree thedis-similarity in choice of method.

By Carl Cestari

Dermot O'Neill looks on as traineesmaster the "O'Neill to the Nuts"

The "O'Neill" method is a consistent source of debate and speculation.

Owing to the fact that most people have only been exposed to limitedinformation concerning this method many "false" opinions have beenexpressed concerning it's value and/or effectiveness.

The Army 21-150 manuals offer little in the way of a "complete" methodand the USMC "proposed" manual adds some info but certainly notanywhere near the whole "picture".

Aside from non-fictional works on the First Special Service Force thatadd bits and pieces to the puzzle, there exist other "technical" sources.

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O'Neill to the nuts http://www.gutterfighting.org/oneilltothenuts.html

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Chinese foot-fighting or Chinese Boxing is mentioned in various manuals attributed to O'Neill. CHI-CHI SHUanother reference to Chinese combatives is also mentioned in the AID/IPA manual. Material extant from theWWII era mentions this specifically. Charlie Nelson always said that this method was based on ChineseGuerilla 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 completeoriginal syllabus of this method.

We will begin to discuss that aspect in Part II. Hopefully, we will also dispel "mis-informed" opinionsconcerning the combat validity and effectiveness of the O'Neill "method".

O'Neill to the nuts http://www.gutterfighting.org/oneilltothenuts.html

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