Hand to Hand Combat

Discover how martial arts masters and the un-baptized beginners across the globe are re-discovering this battlefield tested method of self defense.

You won't find their names in many history books or talk about them during the "Battle of The Bulge" lecture. But in the time of trench warfare and the industrialization of the globe, cultures clashed and wars were fought. This was a time where technology was in its infancy and fighting men still had to use knives, batons, rifles, pistols boots and bare hands in order to survive. The world was in dire need for an effective method of hand to hand combat.

From the men who spearheaded that effort, William E. Fairbairn, Dermott "Pat" O' Neill, Col Rex Applegate to the men who kept those methods alive, like Charles Nelson and Carl Cestari and finally to the modern era instructors like Damian Ross, Roger Jones and Peter Barry, are brining the original spirit of this hand to hand combat system in to the future.

Times have changed, when it comes to modern military warfare. Hand to hand combat on the battlefield has been replaced by night vision and smart bombs, the modern soldier will spend more time in front of a computer screen and less time with a bayonet. On the other hand, for civilians, police officers and certain elite military groups, these methods of hand to hand combat are still essential for their survival and success. And in the every day lives for police and civilians on the home front hand to hand combat is still fists, knives, gun, boots and bats.

The Hand to Hand Combat Connection to the Martial Arts

The origins of modern hand to hand combat can be traced to pre world war II Shanghai. Then British National W.E Fairbairn was attached to the Shanghai Municipal Police. At that time Shanghai was he world's busiest port in the world it had the reputation of being the roughest place in the world as well. Fairbairn saw many a police officer knocked out just for fun.

The port was a hot bed of gang activity, the triads; the green dragon society among others staked their claim in this growing city. The need for hand to hand combat was a necessity.

One day while walking his beat, Fairbairn noticed a sign that said "Professor Okada, Jujutsu, Bone Setter." Fairbairn began is study of hand to hand combat with Okada sensei. He later went on to study Judo at the Kodokan with the founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano (Fairbairn was a second degree black belt), Japanese Kempo, Karate, Chinese boxing, Indian Wrestling as well as various other styles of martial arts.

Trimming the Martial Arts "Fat" to Reveal Real Hand To Hand Combat

The martial arts during the turn of the century had the same issues that they do today. The methods of combat used were designed for a day long gone. Sword, spear arrow and flint-lock firearms were replaced with semi-automatic firearms, clubs and daggers. In the "take no prisoners" streets of Shanghai, Fairbairn quickly discovered that the Marcus or Queensbury rules of hand to hand combat hand no place in the modern world.

As cultures collided, the regard for your enemy became less and less. While previous hand to hand combat and military engagements stood on protocol and regard for the other's life (when your fighting within your culture, your enemy is still your countryman) the modern world saw an enemy that looked different, talked funny and even smelt funny.

Fairbairn and his staff stripped away the ceremonial, antiquated and sporting techniques until an essential hand to hand combat system was revealed that consisted of only high percentage techniques that delivered maximum effectiveness. This system of hand to hand combat was tried and tested on the rough and tumble streets of Shanghai. Fairbairn would later call this system "Defendu" and author several books on the subject.

Over the next 70 years, through two world wars, Korea and even Vietnam these hand to hand combat methods were taught to our elite fighting men. Many lives were saved due to the efforts of Fairbairn and his students. This system of hand to hand combat was so effective that civilian and elite fighting personnel alike could learn and master these techniques when trained.

Hand to Hand Combat in the Modern Age

The fight s still the same but the training is different. During the dawn of modern hand to hand combat, training methods were rudimentary at best and the reason that this method of hand to hand combat never gained popularity is because it was never systemized and placed in a curriculum. That is until 1998 when a few people with decades of martial arts and real word experience collaborated and developed a program that centered on these hand to hand combat techniques.

Today, martial artists, police officers and civilians like are training the "modern way" with this hand to hand combat system. There is a growing network of 50 instructors world wide who are currently teaching this incredible method of self defense and adding it to their martial arts curriculum.

To learn more about how this proven method of hand to hand combat came to the modern age click on Hand to Hand Combat.