One of the most useful concepts preserved in older American military Judo is the use of contact during the entry. Rather than simply stepping into position and then attempting to throw an opponent, the entry itself is used…
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…
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…
Combat Judo and America’s WWII Special Reconnaissance Warriors By Barron Shepherd The relationship between the Alamo Scouts and Judo is rooted in the grueling, hand-to-hand combat training required for World War II elite forces.The Alamo Scouts (U.S. Sixth…
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…
The False Lead Advantage The False Lead is an asymmetrical, highly unorthodox combat posture that completely decouples the upper-body weapons from the lower-body base. By placing your right foot forward as your heavy anchor, yet blading your torso…