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on June 14, 2014
The first portion of the book on hand to hand fighting is a good review for those who have had a good instructor. A French Legion officer was my first instructor and he covered everything in the hand to hand fighting portion. I think the advice given and strategies are fine. They seem logical. I don't think I could absorb the information as well without previous instruction.
on August 12, 2008
This is a very practical guide to offensive action at a tactical level produced by one of the great names in the history combat instruction. It should be pointed out that this is not just a book about fighting, but a book that holds its own historically speaking because it is a classic World War Two military manual.
Interestingly, it covers the concepts of confidence building, various types of military firearms, disarming techniques, hand-to-hand techniques, knife fighting, sentry removal, close-quarters shooting, and the techniques of the Germans and Japanese. If mastered, these techniques will be very affective.
This book is period correct. However, I have some minor issues with it from a technical perspective today, but that in no way overshadows the value of this book. A good example would be the concept of Point Shooting. I prefer to use sights after a certain distance, but can understand it's practicality at close ranges.
Over all, this book does provide an accurate and historical perspective that more modern techniques can arguably find their heritage in.
The most fascinating aspect of this book was how much of it remains in modern police training. Interesting enough, Applegate speaks of many common police strikes and holds, from palm-heal strikes, ridge hands, grappling techniques, and much more. Even crowd control and psychological attacks are covered.
From an historical perspective it's really nice to have a copy of an OSS training manual to study. The quality photography, descriptions of various setups and pictures from the OSS training grounds (now Camp David) are quite interesting and provide real insight into the training that made the OSS the forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency.
If you are interested in this book I would suggest you read The Close-Combat Files of Colonel Rex Applegate. It's more of the same kind of material but it has an outstanding collection of period photographs detailing the concepts.
Interestingly, it covers the concepts of confidence building, various types of military firearms, disarming techniques, hand-to-hand techniques, knife fighting, sentry removal, close-quarters shooting, and the techniques of the Germans and Japanese. If mastered, these techniques will be very affective.
This book is period correct. However, I have some minor issues with it from a technical perspective today, but that in no way overshadows the value of this book. A good example would be the concept of Point Shooting. I prefer to use sights after a certain distance, but can understand it's practicality at close ranges.
Over all, this book does provide an accurate and historical perspective that more modern techniques can arguably find their heritage in.
The most fascinating aspect of this book was how much of it remains in modern police training. Interesting enough, Applegate speaks of many common police strikes and holds, from palm-heal strikes, ridge hands, grappling techniques, and much more. Even crowd control and psychological attacks are covered.
From an historical perspective it's really nice to have a copy of an OSS training manual to study. The quality photography, descriptions of various setups and pictures from the OSS training grounds (now Camp David) are quite interesting and provide real insight into the training that made the OSS the forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency.
If you are interested in this book I would suggest you read The Close-Combat Files of Colonel Rex Applegate. It's more of the same kind of material but it has an outstanding collection of period photographs detailing the concepts.
on November 2, 2012
Good baseline document that still serves as one of the baseline documents for military hand to hand combat training. Some the grappling and throwing techniques may or may not work, depending on the how much you practice. But the bottomline: inflicting pain and continue inflicting pain until there is no more threat is spot on.
on December 14, 2014
Down and dirty, politically incorrect, priceless information.
on August 16, 2007
if you read this and practice, you will never feel like a small helpless woman again, even tho this book was written, apparently for large men doing dangerous hand to hand combat. I consider it a must for urban survival.
on September 8, 2008
I've enjoyed this book but the information is somewhat dated. Still, it provides instruction on how to stay alive and survive. A worthwhile read for those interested in the topic.
Some time-tested and excellent core material here, and then there is some you will want to skip over.
on February 8, 2015
Interesting from a historical perspective at the very least as far as a combat manual used to support the power structure of the State. Much of the actual combat material is good, and stands the test of time, especially that which is close to the hand-to-hand combat techniques found in Fairbairn’s writings, etc. The ideological and racist biases of the text are disturbing, but represent authentically the mindset of someone who trained soldiers, police, intelligence officers, etc. to defend the state. There is a lot of good practical material here, but most readers will probably just want to read chapters 1-4 on Unarmed Combat, Knife Attack and Defense, and 7 on Disarming, and not the other eleven chapters (as I, in my typically unnecessarily thorough manner, did).
on November 23, 2016
Being a killer. I'm not sure. Better teaching at Fort Brag.
on January 2, 2013
Some pages looks like copies of copies.
Pictures are very old and dark black and white.
Interesting book though and very relevant to self defence students.
Pictures are very old and dark black and white.
Interesting book though and very relevant to self defence students.
