THE CROSS ARM GUARD AKA THE O'NEILL COVER

The cross-arm guard, referred to in combatives circles as The O’Neill Cover is often credited to Pat O'Neill. Dermot "Pat" O'Neill was the legendary hand to hand combat instructor for the FSSF First Special Service Force the precursor special forces group to the Green berets and army special forces. O'Neill on loan from the British govt was tasked to train these men to fight in close quarter combat behind enemy lines. 

O'Neill's methods differed from his mentor Fairbairn as in that O’Neill was tasked to train shock troops that would encounter action behind enemy lines from all angles and directions.

This technique is very effective against flurries of straight

punches and hooks attempted clinches or bear hug type attacks. When your opponent swarms you with his attack you can use the Shove Breakaway/O’Neill Cover to drive forward taking over your opponent’s centerline and drive him backward.

Variations can be found in the sport of boxing; the Philly shell. It is found in numerous curriculums such as Lee Morrison's Urban Combatives as well as Keysi Fighting Method, it has many uses and applications in its variations from defensive to offensive. From serving as a protective cover of the head and body to executing effective extreme close quarter counter striking.

Boxing's Heavy Weight Champion, Archie Moore called it “the lock”, a defensive shell that has its origins in bare-knuckle boxing. The Cross-arm Guard placed higher emphasis on stopping straight punches, protecting the knock out points of the head, the jaw, nose, and mouth. It was considered to be the best guard against head damage. Moore used the guard to set up devastating counter punches.  

               

The O’Neill cover/cross arm guard brings both hands into use and can be extremely effective in extreme close quarters when gap has closed very rapidly and one is hard pressed by an assailant, off balance, in an awkward position, trapped in a corner or against a wall.

From a bladed off position, right side forward, bring the right forearm, bent at the elbow, across the face, the nose and chin fitting snugly into the crook of the elbow.  The left close to and directly across the front of the body, the upper arm covering the heart and left ribs, the forearm and hand with the palm opened and turned in, protecting the pit of stomach and right ribs.

Proper body position helps prepare against low-line attacks. The block can be made still more of a “safety” by “hollowing out” as you move the arms into position”. At close distance adopting an extended variation of the O’Neill cover serves quite well as a means to avoid a stabbing attack to the mid-section. Execute the movement while hollowing your mid-section and butt out and away from your attacker then move forward to gain control. 

 The O'Neill cover allows high line straight punches to be parried with the forearm, while the elbow and shoulder protect the face and chin. The elbow could very well be used to spear an opponent’s strike that should run onto it. The triceps area of the arm in co-operation with the chin tucked in the shoulder protects the knockout points while body punches can be adsorbed on the opposite arm which covers across the midsection. 

The O’Neill Cover/Cross arm guard can be applied against a variety of attacks as well as employ a variety of counter attacks:

A Reflexive instinctive action, the O'Neill cover can be easily executed from a non violent position. It protects against high-line and mid-line attacks while lock and loading your weapons system, chambering highly effective strikes for immediate counter ambush tactics. 

Elbow strikes, blade of forearm strikes can be applied when an attackers grabs or attempts to grab/grapple to the attackers face, side of neck ,throat and body. 

Pictured to the left you can see that the O'Neill cover can used to break a two hand choking attempt as well as other one handed and two hand grabs such as label grabs and attempted grabs.