Dermot O’Neill was born in 1905 in County Cork, Ireland. As a teenager he traveled to China, and settled in Shanghai. In 1925, at the age of twenty he joined the Shanghai Municipal Law enforcement. This law enforcement pressure comprising of 9000 lively and reserve officers was activity with bringing law and get to the Global Settlement.
Whilst in Shanghai, O’Neill immersed himself in the analyze of Asian martial-arts. He was a devoted practitioner of Japanese judo, as very well as a number of kinds of “Chinese Boxing”, these involved Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing Yi, and Pa Kua.
O’Neill rose by the ranks of the SMP and was promoted to Detective Sergeant and served as a member and instructor of the famed “Shock and Riot Police” task pressure of the SMP. He was also deemed by a lot of to be the protégé of William Ewart Fairbairn.
In 1938, O’Neill left Shanghai, and traveled to Tokyo, Japan as head of safety for the British Embassy Legation there. For the duration of this period of time O’Neill was awarded the Godan, fifth degree black belt by the Kodokan, as properly as growing his martial-arts capabilities by practising Japanese model “Kempo”. He left Japan shortly ahead of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and designed his way to Australia.
O’Neill came to the United States at the behest and advice of WE Fairbairn who was at this time involved with the OSS. O’Neill was slated to operate for the OSS, but was sent rather to serve as an teacher with the Initially Special Support Power, a joint Canadian-US commando unit acknowledged as the “Devil’s Brigade.” When the 1st SSF was despatched into action, O’Neill refused to remain driving and declared that due to the fact he educated these boys he would damn nicely struggle beside them. He held the rank of Captain and one particular of his obligations included the assignment of remaining the bodyguard to Common Fredericks. After he was in Europe was in excess of, O’Neill was tasked with the place of Provost Marshal over Monte Carlo.
As the war with Japan ended O’Neill was despatched to Okinawa as a liaison officer. Soon after the war O’Neill served as a marketing consultant on law enforcement and protection for different Federal agencies, together with the Point out Office and the Central Intelligence Agency. In the mid-1960s O’Neill situated in the Washington, DC place and commenced do the job with the Global Police Academy there. This business was funded by the Company for Global Progress and was a cover for para-navy operations and schooling operate by the CIA. The Church Committee Hearings on Intelligence Pursuits brought the shut of this academy in the early 1970s.
O’Neill was considered a quite difficult man in his day and experienced a reputation for not backing down from anyone. His skill in judo was remarkably praised even at the Kodokan. O’Neill had researched less than Uchijima, renowned previous time Kodokan judo instructor. O’Neill was specially recognized for his grappling talent. The methods of hand-to-hand battle he devised and taught have been significantly productive and such was confirmed in genuine battle several times. O’Neill significantly affected military services close-fight for both equally the US Army and Maritime Corps.
Dermot O’Neill experienced been married briefly and had a daughter. He died on August 11, 1985
Origins of the O’Neill System
The “O’Neill” method is a regular supply of discussion and speculation.
Owing to the simple fact that most people have only been exposed to constrained information about this process lots of “untrue” views have been expressed relating to it really is price and/or efficiency.
The Army 21-150 manuals give small in the way of a “total” method and the USMC “proposed” manual provides some information but definitely not anyplace in the vicinity of the complete “photo”.
Apart from non-fictional works on the Very first Distinctive Provider Pressure that increase bits and pieces to the puzzle, there exist other “complex” resources.
Besides the relatively nicely-documented Judo history of D.M. O’Neill and his assistance with the SMP and as a “protege” of WEF, small else is really known about the features that comprise his system.
Quotations like this: “………the Place of work of Strategic Products and services(OSS) improved version of kick and poke judo. This hand to hand unarmed beat technique was made and taught by a former Shanghai police inspector, British embassy stability professional, and OSS contract personnel named Dermot Michael “Pat” O’Neill.” Provide some extra insights into the gentleman and the technique.
The method that O’Neill “made” was born in the course of his time in Shanghai. Charlie Nelson relates that his introduction to O’Neill’s technique was by way of a Sgt. Kelly who discovered this system from O’Neill throughout Kelly’s tour of duty in China. Since we know that O’Neill left for Japan in 1938, the “coaching” between Kelly and O’Neill need to have occurred prior to that. So we can presume that the O’Neill method arrived into it really is very own sometime during the mid 1930’s.
Numerous reference sources containing info on O’Neills strategy as recalled by Forcemen of the 1st SSF refer to equivalent phrases as the 1 quoted above. Phrases like “jab and kick”, “gouge and kick”, “poke and kick” are consistently employed when describing this method. Now we KNOW what the aspects of the “Fairbairn” program are(though even right here there is a great deal false impression as nicely) and when would be challenging pressed to explain WEF’s solution as “kick and poke”.
Even though the O’Neill approach may perhaps have incorporated things of Fairbairn’s program(although there is documentation to the contrary), it is obvious that the O’Neill approach is materially diverse. The variance in “requirements” as it relates to near beat between entrance line rapid assault “shock” troops like the “Devil’s Brigade” and the character of clandestine special functions as waged by the OSS and SOE describes to wonderful degree the dis-similarity in preference of method.
Chinese foot-fighting or Chinese Boxing is pointed out in several manuals attributed to O’Neill. CHI-CHI SHU another reference to Chinese combatives is also described in the Support/IPA guide. Materials extant from the WWII era mentions this specifically. Charlie Nelson usually mentioned that this strategy was primarily based on Chinese Guerilla warfare.
So exactly where does the O’Neill process originate from? What may be the primary supply of this program?
To absolutely realize the doable connections to Chinese Boxing, we have to Absolutely comprehend the total authentic syllabus of this process.
We will commence to talk about that part in Section II. Hopefully, we will also dispel “mis-educated” viewpoints about the beat validity and performance of the O’Neill “system”.
PS. Look at out the video clip S2- O’Neill Method: www.selfdefenseseminar.com
Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com©
By Ralph Grasso & Carl Cestari
