John Styers
Most people have only been exposed to the work of John Styers through the book “Cold Steel”.
It is important to remember that, first and foremost, this book describes a BASIC course in hand-to-hand combat instruction. Items covered in this system include bayonet, knife, club, and unarmed combat. Styers developed this “system” for BASIC training.
The framework of all these methods remains CONSISTENT at all times. The basics for using the bayonet, the knife, unarmed combat, and even stick work are ALL the same.
Note in particular the “stance” used for the bayonet, the knife, and for unarmed engagement. SAME posture. The “body” mechanics involved in all the methods presented are, in their fundamental basis, ALL similar. This in itself shows “genius”.
What we see in “Cold Steel” is NOT the STYERS method! It is a “system” that STYERS developed for use in BASIC training. John Styers was a man of great knowledge and SKILL in various man to man matches.
Those who knew Styers personally have told us of his keen interest, knowledge, and proven skill in various methods of close combat. From the “French” style of bayonet fighting, to “Russian” knife fighting, through boxing, wrestling, jiujitsu and of course “dirty” fighting.
In regards to STYERS’ knife work as shown in “Cold Steel”, it should also be considered that this was only a SMALL part of Styers’ overall skill and ability in KNIFE FIGHTING. Again, this was a BASIC TRAINING system!
Other sources show this quite demonstrably. The man was a MASTER at swordsmanship.
Now the knife system taught in “Cold Steel” is excellent. The “problems” that are often cited by others have MUCH MORE to do with a lack of understanding of the tactics and techniques as “they” present them, than with any practical flaws in the STYERS method.
IN THE METHOD …………………………………………
First, Styers was training men for COMBAT on the battlefield! NOT for a “duel”. He assumed (rightly so) that in the so-called “fog” of war, men will revert to pure “animal” instinct and move directly to “kill”. Think about this! During the frenzy of actual combat, you and your enemy are REDUCED into knife fights. Men are killing and being killed ALL AROUND THEM. YOUR natural SURVIVAL instinct will grab you by the throat. You will grab that knife as hard as possible (your LIFE NOW depends on THIS UNIQUE WEAPON) and MOVE STRAIGHT FOR THE KILL! duel”, you are going to KILL, survive and move on to your next threat or target. Styers KNEW what real “kill or be killed” combat looked like. He realized that MOST men in this desperate situation will instinctively grab their knife, either with a “snap” or “ice pick” grip or a “soft” type “hammer grip” They WILL ATTACK with a certain KILLING intent.THAT IS THE BASIS of the Styers method!
Now the “elements” of the Styers method are based on the BODY position, the ARM position, and the KNIFE position.
This is where so many “experts” go astray. Forget any “technique”, lunge, slash or “whatever”. WITHOUT the BASIS of proper BODY, ARM, and KNIFE positioning, all the “technique” in the world is meaningless!
Without a REAL understanding of Styers’ FUNDAMENTAL tactic and what MUST be done to make it EFFECTIVE, the whole thing turns into NO MORE than two guys trying to slash and stab each other. THIS IS NOT what Styers envisioned.
As for the “meat and potatoes”:
1. Posture-
Whether you assume the “Styers” position from a “classic” fencer’s pose, as demonstrated by Styers (for continuity) or simply step forward (front leg) back (real leg), as long as your UPPER torso remains square and your body rest “spring” on your legs, you’re fine. BALANCE should rest on your center point and rear heel RAISED. TOES AND KNEES POINTED FORWARD!
KEY POINT: SQUARE body. ERECT torso. Chin PULL. BALANCE centered. RAISED BACK HEEL.
2. Arm position-
Grab the KNIFE: Blade vertical to the ground. Thumb EXTENDED down the back strap. Slight upward tilt or “cocking” of the blade.
Hand and arm with weapon: Pulled INWARDS. Upper arm slightly BACK from vertical. Elbow tucked in, not far from the side. LOWER ARM raised in one plane EVEN with the opponent’s THROAT/EYES. The gun hand MUST NOT break the lateral plane of the upper torso! THIS IS KEY!
Left hand: pulled inward like a hand with a gun.
COMMON MISTAKES:
Incorrect foot placement.
Leaning over or towards the opponent.
Chin/Head PUSHED out.
GUN HAND EXTENDED and/or OPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read THAT AGAIN!
Knife LEVEL with the ground and NOT AIMED at the opponent’s EYES/THROAT!
Offhand OPEN to the side.
Now the WHY’S make this method SUCCESSFUL or FAIL.
First, try this experiment (THIS IS A MUST DO). Don’t even talk about this “method” if you HAVEN’T honestly followed this example:
Take a REALLY SHARP COMBAT KNIFE.
EXTEND it to the FULL arm’s length with the shoulder “crooked” in for more reach.
Tell your sparring partner to STAND AWAY from the weapon to a RANGE where you feel in “SAFE” combat range. Someone measure that distance.
BRING your weapon arm to 3/4 extension and repeat. Someone measure that distance.
PULL FURTHER IN to a 90-degree half-bent position and repeat.
NOW pull the gun back to your hip and do it all over again.
COMPARE the measurements at each “distance”. MOST people WILL STAY fairly consistent on the ACTUAL “measured” safe distance from the nose of the gun. THEY WILL ALMOST always MOVE as YOUR arm moves back, BUT the “measured” distance remains very close between ALL given positions.
THAT is the KEY for Styers.
Extend arm and knife all the way OUTWARD. Your partner keeps that critical zone of safety FROM the tip of your blade very real and sharp. COULD YOU EASILY cut or push it from that position? Not really. An engaged BODY lunge or step is all you could do to close the “gap.” Too slow.
NOW-Push that arm ALL the way in so that it just barely breaks the lateral plane of the body. AGAIN, your training partner will have a DEFINITE tendency to MAINTAIN the measured distance of the safety zone, but WILL MOVE. The actual measured distance between it and the tip will vary little. Your safety zone is STILL your safety zone.
What HAS changed is your ABILITY TO REACH IT in the quickest and most NOT telegraphed way.
FROM the RETRACTED arm stance, SQUARE TORSO, and BALANCED stance, you can execute the fastest cobra-like attacks or counter-attacks with a high amount of REACH.
ANY position OTHER than this, taken by your enemy, will put YOU at a SERIOUS disadvantage. He will almost ALWAYS offer you something, while YOU will offer NOTHING.
Your range and speed will be affected by YOUR position. Your range and speed will be IMPROVED by YOURS.
IMPORTANCE of BLADE POSITION: Keep the tip of the blade POINTED at the indicated angle. WHY? At that angle it is MUCH harder for the opponent to gauge the size and length of your blade. It may seem like a MINOR “point”, but in a real KNIFE fight I WILL USE anything that CAN give me an advantage.
TECHNICAL:
ALL you REALLY need is a push, a quick cut (DO NOT use the back quick cut with this!), a “stopping punch” and the “manual cut”. The step over and the stab are also useful.
If “In-Quartata and Passata-soto” are NOT comfortable for you, DO NOT wear them! Since BOTH of these moves ARE MEANT as “defensive” counters against an OVERcommitted attack, they are NOT required.
The FIVE moves mentioned above are MORE than enough. PRACTICE advancing, retreating and flanking left and right. Personally, I do NOT train the quick cut “back” in the “slash-slash” because I know of an incident in a real fight where the knife dislodged from the grip on the “return” when the target reflexively raised their shoulder after taking the first cut on the right temple and eyes. This is the story I have heard, so I will not comment further.
GOALS: As far as “goals” go…well, the BEST real-world advice I can offer is to simply GO FOR THE MEAT! If you see skin, TAKE ADVANTAGE!
Fingers, hands, wrists, throat/neck, and face. The “walk over and stab” MUST be reserved for the knockout blow.
John Styer’s influence was really BRINGED AFTER World War II. His methods were developed during the Korean War era, long after his discharge from the USMC.
AND…………………….His job as a FLAG vendor is what put him in touch with military and military bases ALL OVER the country!
There are more anecdotes and more information, but this is enough for now.
I always get a “kick” when guys throw out different methods and/or ideas out of control. Then when I ask them to “show” me, they get it ALL WRONG! Of course it looks like SHIT. BECAUSE YOU’RE DOING IT LIKE SHIT!
Ok, I hope some of you have some useful ideas.
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