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W.E. Fairbairn
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ALL-IN FIGHTING Paperback – September 30, 2020

by W. E. Fairbairn (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 760 ratings
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The author of this concise guide to unarmed combat and self-defence is a legend. W. E. Fairbairn (1885-1960) spent over thirty years in the tough environment of the Riot Squads of China’s Shanghai Municipal Police. In order to lower levels of Police mortality at the hands of Chinese Tongs, he studied ancient Chinese and Japanese martial arts, including Ju-jitsu, and was the first foreigner to be awarded a black belt in the discipline. He developed his own system which he called Defendu. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was recruited by Britain’s Special Operations Executive as an Instructor in unarmed combat and expounded the deadly mysteries of attack and defence to scores of trainee agents about to be dropped into occupied Europe. His methods were approved and officially adopted throughout the British army. Fairbairn also developed weapons and defence aids such as bullet proof vests. He is best known as the co-inventor of the famous Sykes-Fairbairn knife. In this book he expounds his distilled experience of unarmed combat. Fully illustrated, it shows how to deliver deadly blows with hand, fist, knee and boot; wrist, bear- and strangle holds (and how to break them); how to throw an enemy, and how to break their backs; how to disarm a pistol-wielding attacker; and securing a prisoner. The book also contains a chapter on the use of the rifle in close combat by Captain P. N. Walbridge.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    132 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 30, 2020
  4. Dimensions
    5.51 x 0.3 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    184734853X
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1847348531
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Naval and Military Press; Reprint edition (September 30, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 132 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 184734853X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1847348531
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.51 x 0.3 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 760 ratings

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W.E. Fairbairn

W.E. Fairbairn

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4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
760 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Goetz von Berlichingen
5.0 out of 5 stars A 1942 classic
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
Captain Fairbairn must have been a real piece of work in his day. Since this field manual appeared in 1942, the same year as Hitler's infamous, criminal "Commando Order", I have to wonder whether the field manual appeared as the result of the order.

I already had a huge set of much more modern British training manuals, but most of that material deals with matters like disabling troop carriers. For instance, the Soviet-era 8x8 BTR series has unhardened steel in the front wheel wells. Shooting steel-cored 7.62mm NATO ammunition into that spot will get the driver, leaving the tumbling bullets to bounce around inside the vehicle. Not very practical for a civilian interested in personal self-defence, that. It turns out that the occupants of troop carriers also don't stop to mug people on US streets and then beat them halfway to death even after they have their money and credit cards.

Heck, after they have your wallet, they also have your drivers' license, which includes your home address. Maybe they'll come over for a home-invasion later on. Maybe they've already abducted you to a secondary crime scene and killed you there. In the meantime, your wife is worried, and doesn't know what might later be coming to - or through - the front door. No thanks.
8 people found this helpful
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J. Slaybaugh
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book - but be careful
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2016
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This book is not for days when you and your buddy have a disagreement, decide to fall out on the lawn, throw a few punches, and then shake hands and go have a beer. This is, as the title suggests, truly "All In Fighting." It is dirty, decisive, and in many cases, potentially (and directly) fatal, and should be treated as such. W. E. Fairbairn, who among other things is known for having taught hand to hand combat to the Allied special forces (or parts of them, anyway) in World War II, came up with a brutal, effective system when faced with a kill or be killed situation. It was designed so that virtually anyone could use it, if they had to. It's written in a straightforward, no frills style, and tells you what you need to know, and how to use it.

As I understand it, this is the British version of what we in the States know as the book "Get Tough!," and was the version given to the British Special Forces. (If I am incorrect in that, I would appreciate a courteous correction, and will stand corrected)

If you decide to practice and use this, be warned - some of this would definitely fall under the "excessive force" category, and you may end up having to explain your actions to a jury. Choose carefully. I'm by no means an expert, but believe me - this stuff is brutal.
57 people found this helpful
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Zero One
4.0 out of 5 stars Bare-bones and Basic Addition to a History or Martial Arts Bookshelf
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017
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Fairbairn's work covers his essential blows and grapples for hand-to-hand fighting. It also features content on knot-tying, basics of prisoner restraint, escaping a capturer's control holds and a short section on firearms.

As a historical text, it's a must for anyone interested in World War II hand-to-hand fighting. As a self-defense text, it's quite basic. It was intended for quick training and application by any soldier, there's no consideration of ground fighting or falling due to the complexity of teaching those skills (Fairbairn's forward), and strikes consist of the chin jab and edge-of-hand blow. There are some nasty neck cranks and a cringe inducing lift-and-slam that ends by breaking an enemy's spine over your knee.

All told, I found Fairbairn's law-enforcement focused "Defendu" to be more thorough; my complaint with Paladin's reprint was the studious use of the original, badly aged photos obscured essentials such as hand-positioning for throws and small-joint manipulation. "Defendu" has a richer course of throws, throws, breaks and falling. "Defendu" features additional ground-based techniques.

That said, this edition is a $6 Kindle book so you shouldn't feel gouged for buying a truncated manual. I recommend pairing Fairbairn's books with the snippets of him performing select techniques on YouTube.

I consider Fairbairn's overall application of basic strikes to be one of the most important breakthroughs in martial arts during the past century. Anyone who has taken any strain of kung fu or kenpo or Okinawan karate can attest to the dozens of hand positionings, complex blocks, often drawn from forms and kata that don't readily translate to application. (I believe, in some cases, instructors no longer remember the original intent of certain movements.) Fairbairn's edge-of-hand blows, chin jabs, holding and hitting, tiger claws, and vicious finishing moves such as stomps offer a bare bones system reliant on gross motor skills, relevant to fighters who may be exhausted, on uneven terrain or in low-light environments. Considering Fairbairn wrote for police and soldiers, unarmed hand-to-hand meant you were disarmed or made a mistake. Simple techniques allowed a segue to retrieving or drawing a weapon. Training instilled confidence that one never was disarmed. Moreover, a small portfolio of strikes could allow dedicated practitioners, over time, to build the combinations, range and positioning of a boxer, only with a suite of techniques honed to inflict maximum damage while protecting unwrapped, ungloved hands. Keep it simple and hone it to refinement. Embrace scientific reasoning for how people actually react and fight. I believe the attention to reality is part of the reason why interest in Fairbairn and his methods endures.
15 people found this helpful
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Oddball
5.0 out of 5 stars Not for civilized use
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2023
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Awesome. If you can at least get three moves out of this, you will be in a better position to defend self.
This is serious stuff though. Life and a lot of death.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant piece of history and very useful for today's uncertain world
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2020
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I highly recommend this book. It must be remembered it was written during World war 2. As such, it is of historical value.

The open hand 'Chin jab' and 'knife hand strike' will work just as well today against an attacker as it did then against Nazi's (simple techniques are the best).

You must know the 'law of the land' where you live. Here in the uk your actions have to be 'reasonable force' that you can 'justify' in court to a jury of 12.
You are not allowed to carry weapons here. Even if you don't agree with the law you must obey it. So your empty hand skills are all you have and been aware of your surroundings.

The techniques in this book would be a last resort after you have tried everything to avoid conflict.

You should only fight if you have no other choice and even then, not fight to win but fight to escape and get away and get help.
Stay safe and stay on the right side of the law.

I would also recommend watching old black and white training films of Fairburn on U-tube, during WW2. The guy was a living legend, very dangerous and unassuming. This footage again helps you get more of idea of the techniques from this book and just how effective they were and still are. They were intended to be easy to learn and remember during the dark days of WWII during stress and adrenaline (fight or flight) knowing just a couple of the techniques could save you.

I have studied Japanese martial arts for over 20 years and I would recommend this simple book to anyone who wants to learn self protection.
11 people found this helpful
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Giuseppe
5.0 out of 5 stars Fairbairn
Reviewed in Italy on December 6, 2019
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Interesse storico e collezionismo
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Robert
5.0 out of 5 stars A great printing of a practical combative classic
Reviewed in Canada on December 3, 2015
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This is a timeless classic that defines one of, if not, the most field tested combative system. It is important to understand that this is not a martial art. There is no sport application to these techniques. There are no methods of dealing with the aggression in this book, only methods to maim or kill the aggressor. If you are in any way interested in practical defense, you should pick up this book.
One person found this helpful
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MWN
5.0 out of 5 stars A combatives classic.
Reviewed in Germany on August 13, 2013
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A must for every serious student of the MA. Images work well enough even in the kindle. I think there is no need to introdice this book to anyone. Every serious pratictioner will know it anyway. Good to have it mobile on the kindle now.
One person found this helpful
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Steph
5.0 out of 5 stars Great purchase 100% would recommend
Reviewed in Canada on October 16, 2018
Verified Purchase
This was an exciting reference. I would definitely recommend. Some diagrams are really well done and its very clear and easy to read. Theres only a few sections where I would need to go more in depth but I guess thats where you would need an instructor and a training partner.
One person found this helpful
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