Stealth Combat Tactics From The American Indians
The early American Indians didn’t have long range sniper rifles to bring home a meal from their hunting trips.
With clubs, spears, and bows, they needed to get ultra close in order to get in a kill strike.
But animals have incredible hearing that you would think would make it near IMPOSSIBLE, wouldn’t you?
So how did they stalk their prey with invisible silence?
Their secret will work equally well for you whether you’re trying to get close to game for a closer target or sneak up on an enemy sentry lookout for silent “removal”…
How To Sneak Up On Your Victim…
The key is in HOW you step.
While most people are programmed to walk heel-to-toe, this is actually the OPPOSITE way to walk when your intention is STEALTH.
- First, get rid of any noisy equipment or clothing on your person. This is why us soldiers have rubber silencers on our dog tags.
- Now bend at the knees keeping your center of gravity as low as is comfortably possible, but keep your upper body erect. If you hunch forward (like most people naturally do), you’ll commit too much of your body weight to your forward foot.
- Place your hands. palms facing down, at waist height with your arms bent and spread wide to keep your balance and be at the “ready” for your quick kill movement.
- Step forward only about 3 feet at a time and place your TOES of your lead foot softly on the ground in front of you while you rest the majority of your body’s weight on your rear foot (like a common “front snap kick” posture). This allows you to “feel the noise quality” of the surface you’re about to step on because your toes are much more sensitive than your heel.
This also allows you to move or step around any twigs or other noisy obstacles if needed or, if you start to hear it will be too noisy, it’s easier to stop yourself and adjust your body weight back to stop your forward movement and find an alternative stepping surface.
Once your toes are sure of a solid, quiet surface, it’s ok to place your heel softly on the ground and once you’re in range to “attack”, lean forward again on your toes to provide a springing base to launch an explosive assault.
Practice this movement with a friend in different environments (outside on pavement, in the woods, in your own house…) and have them turn with their back to you and their eyes closed to “grade” your stealth skills.
It’s ok to be heard (after all, he’s EXPECTING you to sneak up on him). But have him give you feedback on WHAT he heard so you can become more aware of areas you need to work on to be more silent.
That’s good. Another way to practice is to try to sneak up on your dogs while they’re sleeping.
very awesome, similar to a Japanese style I learned in which one side steps in a similar fashion, using the lead foot as a foundation and carefully bringing the trailing foot across the front(never the back) and gently transferring weight to the toes, then the knife edge of the foot, and to complete the cycle by drawing the lead foot, which is now trailing, back up again using the same toes to edge of foot technique. this also requires a slight crouching stance to give fluidity and balance while in motion.
This technique worked really well with me. IU tried it out in this wooded area behind my house and there was a very large diffenece from what I used to do.
Try putting down one thin layer of newspaper on a carpeted floor and walking across the room without tearing the papers..
My only question about the technique described by smithjac is in the twisting of the feet as you transition from lead foot to trailing foot. Even as a ‘knife edge’ it would seem to me you may encounter additional ground objects that could move or break to create noise. (twigs and/or leaves that could rub each other or snap, for example.) But a side-step movement CAN be effective…I just lead with the same foot each time, without twisting or stepping one foot over the other. But stepping down with the TOEs is VERY important, as is keeping the torso as vertical as possible and the hips as level as possible.
Hopefully, you will only ever use this technique for fun and training, and NEVER have to use it in conflict… PEACE!! (o;
Besides rubber dog tags you can take the metal off your lbe(load bearing equipment) and use paratroop cord to secure it to your web belt.Another trick is jump up and see what noises you make and from where..then eliminate them until you hear nothing.
Good way my friends and I used to practice this is we’d choose a stretch of forest (30-50 feet), then one person turns around while the others, starting on the other side of the “boundaries” try to sneak up on him. The person who is “it” is only allowed to turn around and to tag the others if he hears someone come behind him within arms reach. Simple to practice, and gives an edge during those forest paintball matches.
That’s like splinter cell.It works.Thnx jeff.R35p3ct!
I have studied many stealth technique over the years I have found out that depending on the enviroment that your in not to mention different types of weather also have a factor in what I call stealth movement, I also have gotten good at shadow hopping during the night where you use the enviroments shadows to keep you concealed. But noise, The trick to that is tape down anything with rigging tape that you might think would make noise from tags on down to your change and then jump up and down a few times if you make noise even then you might have missed something.
Excellent technique! As a Native American and a long-time hunter this is exactly the way to move silently, particlulary in a wooded environment with many twigs, leaves along the ground to give away your position. Great tip Jeff, keep up the good work!
well after looking at the posts and trying out a few things, I have to update my comment, the technique I referred to IS in fact the same basic concept, there is no twist and no knife edge of foot, very short movements and the step is dictated by the variables of circumstances. As noted above gear is an issue that must be secured or removed, and now days we, as warriors, must back up a few hundred years mentally and learn to rely on our training, wits and most importantly experience, not our gear. ooh rah. k.i.s.s.
I would add: stay out of the light as best you can, day and night. Also flow through the terrain. If you have ever watched a cat, they flow forward briefly, then pause and repeat. Lastly, do not stare at your target. Humans and animals have that sixth sense that they are being watched.
Excellent tip. Technique is similar to what was taught in U.S. Army Ranger school. Adding to # 11’s comment – Sense of smell must be taken into account. Don’t be applying/wearing scented products.
Take care, v/r
Sir;
dont forget the limbs at waist and head height.
Yes this is awesome, and yes walking up on your dogs
is a good way to pratice walking. I have been doing this for years.
Paul
All r good ways to sneak onto someone without being detected. I just want to add my 2 cents, I am a viet-nam vet 68-69 3rd Recon 3rd Marine Div. We had to move along all kinds of different terrains, we had to move along hills & slopes that are not flat & what worked for me was my K-bar you don’t stab the ground with it but rather find dirt then push it down & use it to anchor & help you move forward. It also helps you keep your balance & keep you from falling & giving up your position. I participated in 8 major operations & I am still here so It must have worked.Thanks Jeff & keep up the excellent job you do. PEACE