Chapter VI: 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.

c. Guard, jab, vertical butt stroke, smash, slash, recover to guard position.

d. Guard, parry right, jab, recover to guard position.

e. Guard, block slash, vertical butt stroke, smash, recover to guard position.

f. Guard, block vertical butt stroke, slash or jab, horizontal butt stroke, recover to guard position.

g. Guard, block vertical butt stroke, horizontal slash, vertical butt stroke, smash, recover to guard position.