Combatives history

Combatives is a term used by the United States Army for its hand-to-hand combat training program. Although the key for military personnel during missions is to never find one’s self in a situation without a rifle, sidearm or knife, sometimes a soldier has to defend himself with his fists.

Initialized by Rex Applegate during WWII and presented in his book Kill or Get Killed (1943), American combatives’ foundation lies in the close quarters combat techniques developed by British armed forces officers William E. Fairbairn and Eric A. Sykes while working for the Shanghai Municipal Police between 1907-1940. 

In 2002, Matt Larsen created the Modern Army Combatives program, which incorporates judo, escrima, boxing, muay Thai and the Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The effectiveness of combatives’ training methods come from their short, easily repeatable drills, so soldiers can rapidly learn and effectively perform combatives techniques.

Black Belt Magazine