Customer Reviews

Combat Conditioning: The Classic U.S. Marine Corps Physical Training And Hand-To-Hand Combat Course

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As opposed to the other reviewers, I believe that this is a manual worth having, if you have an interest in "real" self-defense. This manual is a classic, and it provides the reader with some insight into the tactics actually used during WWII to neutralize enemy soldiers during close combat. You won't find any fancy katas, or other martial arts routines but you will get solid tactics that worked in the past and are still relevant in the present.

The title includes the complete hardcore calisthentic exercise routine, commonly refered to as "combat conditioning" as well as the basics of "combat judo", stick / baton tactics, knife tactics, and bayonet tactics. Hardcore students of CQC won't be disappointed.

This book covers the hand-to-hand combat curriculum as taught to the USMC during WWII. As such, it covers material which probably won't be of use to most people nowadays like bayonet fighting. The empty-hand portion is pure Fairbairn & Sykes although it isn't as stripped down as the curriculum in Get Tough and the SOE curriculum. Much of the material probably came from Marines who served as part of the international police force in China prior to WWII which may explain some of the come-along type holds which would later be eliminated during the course of the war. As such, the book probably gives a pretty good look at what the Shanghai Municipal Police were taught.

This book is standard military CQC based largely on judo. It is a "basic training" type program. Good, if somewhat over simplified system of upperbody throws with some open hand blows included.