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,…
One of the most persistent criticisms leveled against Judo is surprisingly simple: “Judo won’t work if the other guy isn’t wearing a gi or a jacket.” Historically, however, the American military spent decades demonstrating otherwise. Long before modern…
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 Cross Hock as a Distinct Combative Takedown The Cross Hock Takedown occupies an interesting position in the history of American military hand-to-hand combat. At first glance, the technique bears a superficial resemblance to Judo’s Osoto Gari,…
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…
“Barron Shepherd is a tremendous advocate for all the things that make combative training great! Martial artists travel along a path. Some find the beginning of that path in a dojo and remain for a lifetime. Others…
During WWII, military combatives programs prioritized techniques that were practical, easy to learn, and effective under stress. The reverse hip throw was one of four core throws taught across U.S. military training manuals because of its proven success…
GENERAL OVERVIEW Combat Judo is a specific interpretation and application of judo that emphasizes a strategic integration of traditional judo techniques for self-defense and combat situations, focusing on effective entry and disruption to successfully engage and neutralize…
The time it takes to go from white belt to yellow belt in Kajukenbo depends on many factors, including training time, attitude, skill development and the instructor or school. There are a lot of skills to learn in…
Many people will dismiss the usefulness of Judo as a fighting method because it is practiced in a Gi. It’s common to see some in the martial arts community diminish judo as a viable method of self defense.…