U.S. Army Hand-to-Hand Combat (US Army Survival)

This book was smaller than I anticipated, but that's a good thing. By smaller I don't mean it has less information, but rather it's physical size. That makes it more portable. The book covers fundamentals, vulnerable points on the body, knife fighting, silencing sentries, fall positions (how to fall properly in a fight to avoid injury or disadvantage) and throws, holds and escapes, disarming methods, prisoner handling, and advice for instructors. The contents of the book are insane though, it's extremely brutal. The images themselves are not graphic or disturbing but the book quite literally teaches its readers how to kill with their hands in a fight. I personally believe that anyone proficiently trained in this book's content outclass a martial artist (given they practice in real life and don't just simply read), since martial arts balance effectiveness with tradition, discipline, and looking cool, making them great for personal development, sports, and prolonged engagements, but Combatives, on the other hand, which is what this book is, strip away the flair and focus purely on brutal efficiency. They're purpose built for high stakes, no rules environments like war zones. No showmanship, no honor codes, just survival. So if you're not interested in the "arts" part of fighting and only care for brutal efficiency, this book is great, though it is slightly dated. That said, I don't think its age drastically effects its contents and the methods (as stated by others) still hold true to be effective today. So if you want a good read, are trying to discover more about the Army, or want to learn extremely dangerous combat methods then you should absolutely purchase this. This book literally teaches methods to kill. I'm personally adding it to my plethora of training books for apocalyptic preparations.

I have been a lifetime student (and instructor) of numerous martial arts (Judo, Jujitsu, Karate-Do, Kenjutsu, Tanto-Jutsu) and combative systems (American Combatives, Military combatives, Krav Maga). I have also read countless volumes on anything to do with combatives and self-defense. I recently purchased this (U.S. Army Hand-to-Hand Combat put out by the Department of the Army) dated, but very interesting book. For those who are into the military combative systems, the U.S. Army has revised their official program which now includes various Gracie Jiu-jitsu ground tactics etc. In my opinion, as well as some U.S. Army veterans I know, this fantastic book is still valid for the purposes of the taking out the enemy. In fact, many of the present take combative systems are actually based upon the material in this informative manual. In spite of the poor quality of the photographs I maintain that most of the information in it is as valid today as it was during WW1, 2. 191 page manual is organized into ten chapters. Chapters one to three cover the basic introduction, fundamentals of hand-to-hand combat and vulnerable points of the body. Chapter four covers knife attack methods. Chapter five explains how to silence sentries. Chapter six shows fall positions and throws. Chapter seven focuses on holds and escapes. Chapter eight covers various disarming methods. Chapter nine deals with prisoner handling. The final chapter covers the instructor and safety instructions. There is also a great index in this book. This is a true military combatives manual. Even though I question some of the procedures used in some of the techniques shown in this manual; nevertheless, most of the material can be effective when combined with an instructor showing all the finer points of a technique. Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale: (Author: Tactical Principles of the most effective combative systems).

Techniques in this book are very clearly described. In addition you can tap (on kindle fire) to explode the pic. Some of the means to apply the technique are out of date but the overall idea of the technique is effective. E.g. for upward knife thrust and X block...don't bend over but stay up and let the knife come to you. The book was easy reading and a great summary of effective techniques field tested.

The 1954 hand-to-hand combat manual is an excellent work. It is simple, to the point, clearly illustrated, and a picture of close-quarters combat in the U.S. Army after the difficult fighting on the Korean peninsula. In 1952, the battle front stagnated along the Korean 38th parallel, and the opposing armies dug in with trenches and strong points. With this, fighting at the front took a step backward to an age of trenches and hand-to-hand fighting. The 1954 edition of the manual reflects a very pragmatic response to the conditions the Army just experienced and expected to potentially fight in again. This book offers nothing fancy in method, but is very pragmatic in its approach. It is also a clear look into state sponsored close-quarters combat in the immediate post-Korean War period.

The content in this book is timeless and I am sure would prove useful in situations involving defense against an attacker. The pictures are old but meaningful nonetheless because they go along nicely with the descriptions included. I'm not familiar with when this book was first published, I'd guess at least 50 years ago, but its evident that the knowledge still stands to be important in modern-life scenarios involving passage through unsafe environments.

It is a good hand to hand combat book full of techniques for disarming, fighting and weak points. The only thing I didn't like is the fact that every time I looked away I felt like the book was watching me. So I put the book on the shelf and I heard, "read me," so I took the book and read it again until fifty ninjas with knives came out and attacked me but I disarmed them all. Overall this book is a good book.

Absolout OK - Gleicht der Originalausgabe der 60 er Jahre absolout. Und genau so erinnernd lehrend.

Old method No revised

Can only say that I ordered for a friend and he was very pleased

Replacement of my long lost old original eighties white paper cover issued edition. This is an updated modern one. Miss my lost eighties one I first had years back ago, that was a reprint of the 1950s edition. Still the same basic technique illustrated as useful survival skills in any hand to hand self defence situation. Classic US Department of the Army Field manual. For interest purposes and research only.

Excelente libro. Mi favorito ahora.