1.) From a ready position, you see the aggressor start to throw a rear hand punch. Push off the left foot and step forward with your right foot at a slight angle along the right side of the…
Basic Cross Hock takedown – Leading with left foot The Cross Hock takedown, found in several old US Army Combatives manuals,is very ballistic and entirely gross motor in execution making it extremely effective in a self defense situation.…
Preserving America’s Fighting Judo Heritage — and Building Its Future By Barron Shepherd, Founder and President If you have an interest in Combat Judo, its history, its techniques, or its practical fighting applications, the United States Combat Judo…
By Barron Shepherd, Founder and President, United States Combat Judo Federation The United States Combat Judo Federation was not established to become another large martial arts organization. We are not interested in competing with other federations for membership…
This variation of the Cross-Hock Takedown combines a false-lead fighting position, an offline entry, a strike-and-grip action to the front of the shoulder, an immediate extraction pull, a close-range headbutt, elbow control, and a linear chopping action of…
One of the most significant elements of the U.S. Army’s mid-century hand-to-hand combat doctrine was not simply the selection of Judo throws it taught, but how the soldier entered in to those throws. In the 1954 FM 21-150,…
American Judo has a fighting history that extends far beyond tournament mats, point scoring, and competitive rules. For generations, Judo techniques and principles were studied and adapted for self-defense, military training, law enforcement, and practical close-quarter fighting. The…
One of the most important realities is that close quarters are not always entered deliberately. Sometimes the distance between two people collapses much faster than anticipated. An opponent may rush forward, attempt a bear hug, clinch aggressively, or…
Understanding the Architecture of the U.S. Army’s WWII Close-Combat Course At first glance, the World War II-era Restricted Judo course can look like a collection of harsh hand-to-hand combat techniques assembled for soldiers preparing for war. There are…
CROSS TRAINING VS. CROSS RANKING Martial arts are built on discipline, respect, and legitimacy. While two terms – cross training and cross ranking – may appear similar, they represent opposite approaches to growth and recognition within the martial community. As…