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Kill Or Get Killed: A Manual of Hand-to-Hand Fighting Paperback – July 1, 2007

by Rex Applegate (Author)

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Kill or Get Killed by Col. Rex Applegate has always been considered one of the most influential books on close-quarters combat ever published. But most readers are familiar only with the revised 1976 edition, with the distinctive red cover. Few have had the opportunity to study the extremely rare 1943 edition, written as America and its Allies were fighting desperately across Europe and in the Pacific. Now, serious students of the evolution of modern battlefield skills have access to this combat classic. The original flap copy best captures the conception, spirit and intent of the book:

The grim reality of the present World War expressed in the title of this book is the best explanation for the fact that it has been written . . . Accepting as hard necessity the kind of war this is, there remains for us but one course: to be tougher and more dangerous than the enemy . . . This is not a book about "self-defense." It is a book about an increasingly important aspect of war as it exists today's offensive fighting at close quarters, with and without weapons. It is a book intended to be itself a weapon: a weapon to kill enemies and to save the lives of our own men that they may kill more enemies. That is what "total war" means: that is the challenge that our soldiers must meet.

When Kill or Get Killed was first released, British Army Capt. Eric A. Sykes - veteran of the Shanghai Municipal Police and one of Applegate's earliest instructors - wrote, "It is the first book, as far as my knowledge goes, to deal with the subject on sensible lines and without doubt will replace what I can only describe and always think of as peace-time methods."

Kill Or Get Killed: A Manual of Hand-to-Hand Fighting

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About the Author

Col. Rex Applegate was universally recognized as America's foremost authority on close combat with or without weapons. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Paperback: 186 pages
Publisher: Paladin Press (July 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1581606214
ISBN-13: 978-1581606218
Package Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 81 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #716,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #20475 in Books > History > Military
- #25301 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering

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Good then Good now

ByJ. W. MullinsVINE VOICEon December 7, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

You could say that Rex Applegate was ahead of his time, but this isn't quite true. What he was teaching in 1943 was just as important and useful to the soldier fighting in World War 2 as it is to the soldier fighting the Long War today. There is no book in the world that will make you a John Rambo by reading it, any sort of combatives take time and practice with live people to learn. The system developed by Colonel Applegate is wonderfully simple and brutal though, it is easy to learn and fairly instinctive to use. Many martial arts are just that, art, they follow a rigid skill set more geared towards competitions in a ring that combat.

The chapters covering the use of knives and pistols are just as good, and while the majority of people now follow the Modern Technique for handgun use a lot of what is discussed is still very valid. His short chapter on training and firing ranges is inspired. Certain aspects such as holsters are of course dated, but it adds a yesteryear quality that makes it just that much more enjoyable to read. I recommend this book highly, and is a good no none sense read.

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Interesting.... great piece of work..... for it's time.

ByJPBlackBelton December 30, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I would tend to give to give this work 3 stars based on content.

Although there are some things that are definitely still valid. Many of the riot formations shown in this book are still being taught today (at least they were in my police academy.) His demonstration on use of cover, etc. There are good things here.

However there is also a lot of outdated information as well. Most of the defensive tactics and shooting techniques are VERY outdated for example and haven't been taught for decades.

I do however give it four stars as it was a PHENOMENAL collection of information and techniques for it's time. Applegate did a GREAT job putting it all together in one source. I can't really find anyone else who had done an equally thorough job of putting it all together.
(Yes, I realize he was taught a lot of his stuff from other sources, Fairbiarn for example..... but I can't find an equally thorough piece of work from any of Applegate's predecessors.)

This really should be in the library of any self-defense enthusiast (by the way... it is fun.... I've caught several "experts" who cite this book, and it becomes apparent they didn't actually READ it. ha ha)

0Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

One of my favorite books.

ByOutdoorsmanon September 1, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a real gem in combat fighting. It's old, but effective. Makes for a rather good foundation on which to build with more modern methods, if you are in any field using firearms. Rex Applegate's legacy and contributions to humanity are invaluable.

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GET IT FOR THE HISTORICAL VALUE

ByAlan D. CranfordVINE VOICEon June 3, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

First, this is a 2007 reprint of that 1943 manual--even has a reprint of Rex Applegate's autograph from July 23, 1943. Chapter 9, "Jap Close Combat Tactics" was the best military intelligence assessment of the period and wasn't repeated in later editions.

If you want practical, get this edition: Kill Or Get Killed

Rex Applegate updated the point shooting portion in these products:
Bullseyes Don't Shoot Back
POINT SHOOTING - Battle-Proven Methods Of Combat Handgunning - with an Introduction by Col. Rex Applegate

Compared to the current US Army combatives field manual, FM 3-25.150, Applegate's "Kill or Get Killed" is simple to learn (because it exploits motions already used in normal activities) and simple to retain. FM 3-25.150 emphasized controlled aggression to CONTROL enemy soldiers and irregular fighter suspects--and is heavy on non-lethal. "Kill or Get Killed" emphasized killing the enemy as rapidly as possible when the soldier had lost his weapons--using bare hands, or improvising weapons from a stick or heavy cord. Chapter 1 is "Unarmed Offense," and the 1942 US Army hand-to-hand combat manual labeled its unarmed fighting "defense." Different mind set.

I found the chapter on disarming quaint, even though the techniques work. The reason for my bemusement is that there are three reasons why someone loses control of their loaded firearm to an enemy: failure to shoot the enemy to death, letting the enemy get too close and failure to hold onto the gun until all ammunition in the gun has been expended. When a prisoner in war fails to cooperate--SHOOT! It isn't something a law enforcement officer can do--police are into control.

The chapters on combat shooting, outdoor and indoor ranges (6, 7 and 8) are worthwhile--though Applegate did update his method of combat shooting that E. A. Sykes and W. E. Fairbairn taught to British and American special forces. Their Shooting to Live With the One Hand Gun is the source of Applegate's firearm training in Kill or Get Killed. I corresponded with Rex Applegate two decades ago because I was integrating some of his work (as much as allowed by contract) with commercial security guard training for the force protecting an American Army logistics base in the Middle East during the 1990's.

Speaking of training, when my National Guard company deployed to the Middle East for Operation Iraqi Freedom II I advertised "knife fighting classes" based on the information in Chapter 5. My first words in that class were "I lied--this isn't knife fighting. You will not give your enemy a chance to win by fighting him--you will rapidly inflict lethal injuries on him before he realizes that you have a knife." In this reprint, Applegate's ideal fighting knife was Genuine British Commando Knife W/leg Sheath, but Applegate changed his ideal to Boker Knives AF11 Applegate/Fairbairn Fixed Blade Fighting Knife with Kydex Sheath.

I read a 1943 edition first during 1976 in the base library at Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station, Hawaii, and I have been using the information since--including passing along some to Soldiers, Marines, and security personnel when appropriate.

I liked being able to trace the evolution of combatives--even when it was one man's viewpoint shifting over a period of 50 years.

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Great stuff!

ByS. Garssonon August 28, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

It's a great book. The information presented is probably as valid and useful now as it was when written. Col. Applegate really knew his stuff...his redesign of the F-S knife addressed all of the weaknesses and introduced a number of improvements. Excellent source of material for martial artists, law enforcement or anyone interested in furthering a martial mindset.

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Five Stars

ByD. S.on June 9, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Anyone in the military should read this and own a copy.

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Old School Meets Modern

BySenpoon February 12, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Excellent information applicable to any modern Martial Art or self defense system.
These old school guys didn't waste time or play around.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Great buy for very practical information.

Byleo bretonon February 22, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The information presented here can be life saving if you find yourself in a tough situation. It most certainly requires some smart and careful practice sessions to get the effectiveness out of it.