H2H: Hand to Hand Combat - Modern Army Combatives [Paperback]

Greg Thompson (Author), Kid Peligro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 21, 2006

One of the highest-ranking instructors for the U.S. Army and Special Forces demonstrates the critical skills of hand-to-hand combat in this training manual. When troops on the modern battlefield are forced to fight without weapons, they fall back on many of the expert techniques made accessible here for martial art students of all levels. Modern clinching, effective striking, and grappling techniques are detailed, along with weapon takeaway strategies and defenses against opponents with knives. The step-by-step photos and thoroughly detailed movements are intended not only to train combat troops but also to empower citizens to protect themselves in dangerous situations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Greg Thompson is a level III instructor in the modern army combatives program at Fort Bragg. He has black belts in karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and won the 2003 NAGA World Champion Advanced Division. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kid Peligro is a columnist for Grappling and the coauthor of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Self Defense Techniques. He has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has won two world titles. He lives in San Diego.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Invisible Cities Press Llc (July 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931229430
• ISBN-13: 978-1931229432
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #513,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Technically well done book, but incomplete, May 6, 2007

By 

Orion1 (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: H2H: Hand to Hand Combat - Modern Army Combatives (Paperback)

I can already here the blood boiling in all the BJJ and MMA people who might read this review, but here goes... this book was really well done as far as the technical aspects of communicating physical movements and tactics in this medium, but overall, the subject matter was incomplete. Having served in the Marine Corps in the early 90's, before the onset of BJJ and having trained in several martial arts over the last 20 years, I really find that the use (or actually, the overuse) of grappling as a self defense and combat style disappointing and frankly a bit scary. BJJ and grappling are wonderful sports and are exciting physical chess matches in the ring, but are limited for real world combat. Consider grappling against multiple opponents or opponents with weapons. I think it definitely has its uses and it needs to be taught to anyone who wants to learn self defense as a citizen or for combat as a police officer or soldier, but it shouldn't be the first thing that pops into your head. If your reflexes are to go straight for grappling, you're missing the first three of the five ranges of fighting (kicking, punching, knees and elbows).

Again, that being said, the material that is in the book is top notch. I just think the author (and the military) needs to address the other ranges in more depth.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the H2H combat essentials in one book, April 14, 2007

By 

Raptor 6 - See all my reviews

This review is from: H2H: Hand to Hand Combat - Modern Army Combatives (Paperback)

To start, I've probably tossed out more karate books than most of you will ever own. This one is a keeper. A couple reviewers state that this book is mostly Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and it is. I have four Gracie Jiu Jitsu books, and H2H leaves out the sport/ wrestling side of BJJ and teaches just real world combat self defense. The book is easy to understand even if you haven't had previous training. All the techniques are clearly illustrated and when necessary shown from alternate angles. At the bottom of the page is a list of optional techniques and follow ups that can be found elsewhere in the book.
One chapter shows how to defend against knives, handguns and long guns while maintaining control of your own weapon. As a shooter I find this all very useful. Every defensive technique demonstrated is a practical solution to a realistic attack.
If you come from a karate system that is weak on grappling as most traditional systems are, then this is the book you need. One thing that mixed martial arts competition has shown us is that in the real world karate, Kung Fu, Aikido etc. isn't always as effective as we had believed.
It's my opinion that all combat focused martial arts will soon look very much like what is taught in Greg Thompson's H2H. It will look this way because it works.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good book, November 6, 2006

By 

C. Davis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: H2H: Hand to Hand Combat - Modern Army Combatives (Paperback)

The book is fantastic; one of the best on the subject that I've so far read. The pictures are clear and in color, and the instructions are detailed. The book is thorough, complete, and all around excellent. One criticism I have htough, is that area on striking could be better. The boxing techniques are not of the highest level, for example it shows you to throw too wide of rear crosses. Otherwise I'm very impressed. The real value of the book is in showing brazilian jiujitsu and freestyle wrestling as applied in street combat and hand to hand fighting, with sections on fighting with weapons and defenses against weapons, fighting with gear on, and fighting people with said gear. Also shown are drills and training equipment.
I highly recommend the book to both beginners and experts alike. Alone the book is greaty and it's even better when coupled with something on more complete striking skills. I would suggest combining this with "Savage Strikes" by Mark Hatmaker. These 2 books together are all you need for real world defense in my opinion, but still this one is fine on it's own as well.
Enjoy