Top positive review
10 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 starsGood then Good now
ByJ. W. Mullinson December 7, 2007
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.
