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Scientific Self-defense Paperback – October 1, 2006

by W.E. Fairbairn (Author), Douglas Fairbanks (Preface)

30 customer reviews

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One of the most highly sought volumes in the library of legendary hand-to-hand combat manuals is finally available from Paladin Press. W.E. Fairbairn's Scientific Self-Defence, published in 1931 as a slightly modified reprint of Defendu (1926), outlines the brutally effective close-quarters combat program developed during Fairbairn's renowned service with the Shanghai Municipal Police. Fairbairn's straightforward techniques for defending against various holds, dealing with assailants armed with guns or knives, applying truly effective holds and throws, using the club and walking stick for self-defense, and other areas of close-in fighting have had an extraordinary influence on the development of the combat arts. His immense impact on generations of fighting men - from an elite cadre of instructors who trained soldiers in realistic hand-to-hand combat during World War II to today's practitioners of hard-core self-defense - can now be studied directly from the source in this quality reprint edition of Scientific Self-Defen

Scientific Self-defense

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About the Author

W.E. Fairbairn taught unarmed combat to the famed British Commandos and the U.S. armed forces during World War II. Before the war he served as assistant commissioner of the Shanghai Police Force. He was the inventor of the Fairbairn Commando Knife and the author of the classics Get Tough and Shooting to Live.

Paperback: 182 pages
Publisher: Paladin Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1581605293
ISBN-13: 978-1581605297
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 30 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1106 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Martial Arts
- #6452 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness

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Top customer reviews

Scientific Self-Defence

ByRonin Kayneon February 3, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Clear and easy to understand. Some of the techniques display a sense of "chivalry" and an intent to subdue an attacker with the least amount of injury to them. The principles are sound, however, they would need to drilled to be of good use to a practitioner.

Comments regarding the overall character of criminals is a bit outdated. The author implies that criminals are generally a cowardly lot and should they approach you with a weapon they would not be very likely to use it. While this may have been true about most criminals around the turn of the century, this is, obviously, not true today where a high percentage of street criminals commit armed robbery or muggings and still injure, kill, or rape their victim despite the victim's cooperation.

Overall, it is a good reference source for anyone who is interested in reality based self-defense and can be useful if applied with more decisive techniques and follow through to neutralize an attacker.

11 comment 11 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Another classic!

ByM.S. Augustineon October 17, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

There's nothing I can say here that will ever undermine (or increase) the legacy of W.E. Fairbairn, so this is only a review of this particular book. On the plus side it is great to have a classic work in a well-printed hardbound edition. It is also a plus to have one of his largest (in terms of material) works done. The only reason that it is missing the final star is that the book is basically a collection of his previous works (such as Defendu), so it will have little if any material that you could not find in his other works. But it is still worth it!

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

An Expert Treatise on Self-Defense

ByTony Lesceon April 28, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book explains bare-knuckled fighting, using blows and kicks, especially to the testicles, written by a man who was an expert in both western and Asian martial arts.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Scientific Self Defense

ByW. Boydon July 6, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I liked this book. Written at a time when Shainghi, China was wilder than our wild west. Here it was early 1900's to 1930's, some of the motorcycle cops had sidecars with machine guns. Shootouts not that uncommon. Many police had bullet proof vests of the era. Kidnappings, robberies, burglaries were fairly standard. Taking criminals into custody was tricky, same as today. But a lot of good basic information, you can't really go wrong.

0Comment 8 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Foundation of Miyama Ryu?

ByDavidP from HBon March 16, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I learned a style called Miyama Ryu Jujitsu out of the South Bronx, NYC. My teacher had said that the founder Antonio Pereira had studied something called Combatu (I may have gotten that wrong, it may have been Defendu!). I recognized a lot of my old "friends" from Miyama Ryu!

Sensei Pereira looks like he updated and made a even more effective system out of this impressive collection of deadly moves!
http://www.mi-yamaryu.com/history.html

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Five Stars

BySergio H. R.on July 31, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Okay

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Great information

Byleo bretonon May 23, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

It would be very, very difficult to top this book. For someone really interested in truly being able to defend oneself with a very strong and quick offense, this would be at the top of my list. Of course care must be taken when practicing the great and very effective methods taught here.

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Practical Then, Works Now.

BySenpoon January 13, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Fairbairn's methods are simple, practical, and applicable in today's society.
As important is the fact that these techniques can be retaoned with minimal practice once learned and perfected.

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Most recent customer reviews

Five Stars

Thank You!

Published 7 months ago by bruce kirk

Great book, based on LOTS of practical experience

This terrific book is based on the experience of a policeman who worked in the red light district of Shanghai during the first half of the 20th century.All-In Fighting 1942, another book by the same author on the same subject, has diagrams and explanations that are easier to follow.Read more

Published 10 months ago by obejohn

This is a good primer for self-defense

William Fairbairn, a legendary cop from Shanghai, brought scientific methods to self-defense. This is a good primer for self-defense.

Published 1 year ago by Amazon Customer

but I like it better

This book is not what I expected, but I like it better. Gives good information that can be practiced, until you get it mastered.

Published 1 year ago by D. Shaw

Sorta

I got this solely because of the author and as a historical piece. You can't actually practice the moves.. what, you gonna get a friend to let you kick in the groin? It's fun..Read more

Published 1 year ago by asdf

Five Stars

An excellent book on self-defense

Published 1 year ago by Amazon Customer

NOTE: Hardcover Costs Less than Paperback Amazon is Showing

Note that the paperback edition Amazon is showing at this writing is more expensive than another paperback edition of the same book: Scientific Self-defense; also even the...Read more

Published 1 year ago by Bill Gallagher

Easy to read book

Just what I wanted. Easy to read.

Published 1 year ago by Harryace

this book was immensely useful and educational and I plan to memorize every bit ...

As a long-time studier of Kung Fu and Wing Chun, this book was immensely useful and educational and I plan to memorize every bit of it. I can see why Krav Maga is based on it.

Published 1 year ago by Austin B.

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