Customer Reviews

KGB Alpha Team Training Manual: How The Soviets Trained For Personal Combat, Assassination, And Subversion

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is the translation of a Russian text dating back to 1945, the hayday the Soviet Union. The chapters covering the history of the Spetznaz, past and present, is very interesting, especially the parts detailing the different branches of Special Action teams and how they relate, but the technical portion of the manual tends to be vague and too general to be of use unless you're already a student of Samooborona bez Oruzhia (commonly known by the Russian acronym "Sambo" and translated as "self defense without weapons"). Don't buy this manual if you're looking to study Soviet hand to hand combat. If that's what you're after, go to www.russianmartialart.com or www.amerross.com.

The author/translator, Jim Shortt, retained many of the terms common in the Soviet Union, which may seem odd to Americans (I wouldn't even try to explain "moral-political" to your average American, as I have a hard time grasping it!).

There is also a section on physical fitness and recovery which is interesting, and probably as relavent today as it was in 1945.

This is not a bad book, and I do recommend it, but only if kept in perspective.

I found the book to be very interesting from a historical viewpoint but found many of the techniques inside to be very standard issue.Not a groundbreaking book but not a bad one either.

I bought it as a gift for a friend, and He is very happy for having it,because His hobby is to read those kind of books.After He had read it,was very glad that He had this book in His hands.

It lets the reader know why the soviets were dominant militarily for a long time in Eastern Europe. They were brutal and trained to be efficient in that subject. This book is an eye openner in all that it shows technique wise and the little history lesson the author gives. International Bodyguard Association president wrote this book.

A load of juvenile nonsense, collected from magazines, assembled by a fantasist who knows virtually nothing about the subject. If you want to read a work of fiction, feel free to enjoy the experience.

I love this manual a great manual on how the Soviets trained there army.There martial arts are more brutal than most of Japan's martial arts. It is indeed the most dangerous book outside the fomer Soviet Union.

I was dissapointed by this book, trully it is telling you how to run ove stuff, how to go prone, how to stab someone (duhhhh, could it be just push the knife in someones chest). I thik if you really want good fighting stuff there are better things around. Check out Master of the Blade, excellent book. Also check out some other stuff by that author, a really smart guy, not a fighter not a writer.

I was laughting loudly while reading this book.
I've newer red a such BS about former Soviet special forces.
If you want to be busted in no time then read this "manual" and try to follow it.
It may be a "good guidance" for stupid Hollywood screen writers
to produce another amusing movie for ignorant general public.
Author or a "translator" is a real dumbass. He/She couldn't even properly translate the original insignia on the KGB sign shown on the front cover of this book. This sign has been issued only as a memorabilia to the veterans and other KGB personnel in connection with round (jubilee) dates in KGB history since its creation. In original form it shall be red "(number of years) of VChK - KGB". The real KGB sign of honor has a totally different design and insignia on it.
The most important skills you learn in special forces is how to be invisible. The main principle is that "You're invincible until you're invisible". I wouldn't give this book even one star but unfortunatelly it's not an option.