Commando Fighting Techniques

Rating:
Summary: Not bad
Review: I've have read better books. Applegate's book would be a better choice, for example.

My particular qualms with this book include:

Too much emphasis on the use of a closed fist, which should almost never be used except to the body, even if one is a n experienced boxer. It's too easy to break your hand. If you break your hand in a life and death situation, you've probably had it.

Not enough emphasis on movement as opposed to blocks and parrys. The best way to avoid an attack is by moving, ducking etc. Blocking real attacks, or parrying them is far more difficult and less effective. Sidestepping, ducking, bobbing and weaving are all far preferable.

There's way too much telegraphing of attacks in the book. Attacks should involve nothing to telegraph them, yet constantly through out the book, the attacking arm or leg is pulled back and chambered.

Kicking with the toes is very difficult to use in real life. There's little room for error, and the kick must be perfect. Using the sole, heel or edge is far better. But, on uneven terrain, probably it would be best to use only stomping type kicks and nothing else.

There's too much emphasis on breaking hold with throws, wrist locks etc. The best way to deal with holds is to use a strike of some kind, with whatever limbs you have free. This is much easier than trying to execute a complex move.

Rating:
Summary: Commando Fighting Techniques
Review: This book has served me well, even a person such as myself can learn from a book like this written in relatively simple terms and with a little repetition anyone can learn lethal/non-lethal HtH from this book that is still useable in todays dangerous urban jungle. A bargan at any price! 4* 's

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: This is a good book for referencing real fight situations if that can actually be possible.The only knock I have is that some of the photography isn't up to par.All in all I would recommend that it should be in your library.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Books on Hand-to-Hand Combat
Review: This is such a useful book for those seeking to learn the fundamentals of Close Combat. As an earlier reviewer stated, military manuals DO provide the best reading on self-defense moves, though it should be noted that this is not an actual military publication. However, co-author Paul Evans was was a Royal Marine and did see combat in Borneo during his military career, so consequently the book greatly resembles the techniques used by the Royal Marines circa 1981, the year of the book's publication. Wilson and Evans cover a wide array of skills in the book's 144 pages that consist of basic strikes, chokes, strangles, sweeps, throws, ground fighting, weapon disarment, an extensive chapter on blocks, and a short briefing of main ideas that one should bear in mind while using these techniques. It should also be noted that one must read ALL of the text and instructions for the maximum effect.

While this may the best book I've seen on this particular subject, the book is lacking in some areas. First, the photos are small and in black and white, making it difficult at times to understand. Second, some of these techniques would only stun an opponent or knock him over, while others would prove more fatal; the authors give no damage assesment on their moves and make no mention of when it would be best to use them. Finally, some of the throws and sweeps may not work and the ground fighting seems unrealistic.

Overall, however, this is an excellent book for those who seek a basic guide for hand-to-hand combat, which is far more workable in a real fight than virtually any martial art. A shame it is no longer in print, but it has flip-flopped in-and-out of print; try again in several weeks--it would be unwise to miss out on this.