Military
Close Combat Systems Phase One
Offensive and Counter Offensive Unarmed Assault
by Tank Todd, Army Special Forces Close Combat Master Chief Instructor
21cm x 29.5cm - 65 pages - illustrated
The History of the Todd System of Close Combat
Geoff Todd was originally trained by the late Harry Baldock, a World War II New Zealand
Army Unarmed Combat Primary Instructor. Harry instructed in New Zealand from 1927
until his retirement in 1982 when he handed the school over to Geoff Todd. Geoff Todd
travelled to New York on Harry Baldock’s advice to train under Charles Nelson a veteran
of the Guadalcanal and a Marine Corps hand to hand combat instructor of over ten
years. In Charles Nelson’s retirement from the Marine Corps he opened his School of
Self Defence in New York City specialising in self defence, hand to hand combat and
police training. This was the first self defence facility in the United States of its kind.
For over 10 years Geoff travelled to New York annually for extensive and intensive training in the Nelson System. Eventually Geoff achieved chief instructor and life membership status with the Charles Nelson School and Systems, an accolade shared by only a select and chosen few.
During Charles Nelson’s time in the Marine Corps he was trained by and in the systems of such greats as Pat O’Neill, Colonel Biddle, Sergeant Kelly and Captain William Fairbairn. Geoff gained from Charles Nelson 60 years of battle proven wisdom that he’d been taught by by some of the evolutionary pioneers and he had further developed and refined.
Geoff was later trained by the legendary Colonel Rex Applegate of OSS fame. Colonel Rex Applegate combined with another of the fore-fathers of European military close combat Captain William Fairbairn and his assistant Captain Eric Anthony Sykes were responsible for the development of military close combat during the Second World War.
It was the greatest honour and privilege to be trained and instructor qualified by the legendary Colonel Rex Applegate himself. Geoff worked closely with Colonel Applegate learning all he could of the Applegate system and that of the systems of the Fairbairn & Sykes first-hand.
Colonel Applegate was for over ten years Geoff’s greatest adviser, source of information and critic. To be certified as an instructor in the Kill or get Killed system of Colonel Applegate and to work with him up until his passing in 1998 was truly the greatest honour and learning experience anyone could ever hope to achieve. Many specialist practices unknown by other qualified military close combat instructors were revealed to Geoff by Colonel Rex Applegate to ensure his work continued. Many of the subjects had been shrouded in secrecy since the days of World War II and many of his current Special Operations practices and principles had not been released or revealed.
Always hungry for more knowledge Geoff has been trained and certified up to Master Chief Instructor by some of the modern-day military Master Chiefs of close combat as well. These modern-day Master Chiefs include Captain Ben Mangels a former chief instructor to the South African Military Elite and police as well as the British elite. US Army Special Forces Master Chief Instructor Lawrence Jordan.
From research, association and training with exponents trained by New Zealand’s late Elite Forces close combat expert Shocker Shaw who was trained by the feared and famous British Unarmed Combat expert Mad Mike Calvert Geoff has preserved a valuable part of New Zealand’s close combat history. After over 20 years of training, instructing and research and development Mr Geoff Todd is the only living individual to be collectively trained by Colonel Rex Applegate, Charles Nelson, Harry Baldock and from these individuals and others to learn the skills of Fairbairn, Sykes, Biddle, O’Neill, Kelly Shaw and Calvert. Combined with his training and qualifications from the modern-day experts Mangels, and Jordan as well as his association with the leading international instructors of the International Close Combat Instructors Association.
Geoff Todd has a lineage in military close combat unequalled by any living individual. From exponent training under Harry Baldock through to hand-to-hand combat and specialist self defence training under Charles Nelson and special operations armed and unarmed combat under Colonel Rex Applegate to passing his Army Special Forces instructor qualification course and achieving Master Chief Instructor status, Geoff Todd has moved up through the ranks and has been trained and qualified by the world’s best, past and present.
The Todd System of Close Combat is a combination of the best of the best, past and present and includes over 20 years of his full-time commitment to developing a system that is practical, effective, battle proven and a true military science.
The Todd System with over 50 specialist subjects, is current and correct and has been tested in the research and development phases as well as in urban and battlefield operations, the system has proven itself time and time again.
The Todd System has been and is continuing to be instructed to regular force and
special operations groups to this day. Following in the direction of his former instructor’s Geoff Todd realises his responsibility to the service personnel he trains and
takes this responsibility most seriously. He works for the love of his trade and has a
commitment to that trade and the people he trains. A heavy weight rests upon his
shoulders when you consider those he trains, life or death may well depend upon his
commitment to excellence.
He considers himself a caretaker of the close combat doctrine at this point in time and
is fully committed to the continued research development and improvement of his close
combat system. His duty is not only to ensure the best in skills but the continuation of
close combat practices and teachings well into the future and as such and unselfishly
he has trained several assistants of the highest calibre to continue with the work that
was handed on to him by his former instructors.
There is nothing Geoff considers more deadly close or final than battlefield close combat and this is his motivation and commitment to the preservation, improvement and continuation of excellence in the field of true European military close combat.
He is a current Army Special Operations Master Chief Instructor and a Director of the International Close Combat Instructors Association.
In 1996 Geoff was named World Close Quarter Combat Instructor of the year. He has clocked up over 100,000 hours of close combat work, a record that stands him alone. He simply has a brilliant mind when it comes to taking out the enemy and dirty fighting!
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Samples from Military Close Combat Systems Phase One
Todd Systems Close Combat Phase One
The Todd Systems of European Military Close Combat comprise
of three phases as outlined below.
Phase One
Offensive and counter offensive unarmed combat
Edged and bludgeon weapon disarming at all ranges including being
held at weapon point. (Phase Ambush)
Preventing and countering all holds.
Psychological preparation for combat.
Phase Two
In-fighting.
Ground Combat.
Control and Restraint.
Strangles and Chokes
Military Takedowns.
Combating multiple armed and unarmed attackers.
Coming to the aid of a victim.
Flail and thrown weapon procedures.
Advanced urban self-protection.
Phase Three
Armed Combat – subject matter restricted.
Close Protection.
Special Operations – Close combat restricted.
Canine Man Work.
Knife Combat.
Baton Training.
Riot Control.
Combat Shooting.
Weapon Retention.
Prisoner Taking.
Improvised Weaponry.
Green and Black Role Specific Close Combat.
Phase One is the key to all three phases, as it comprises of modules that instruct threat recognition, avoidance, prevention, counter and combating of the threat.
Phase One provides simple battle proven dirty tricks to combat a wide and varied range of martial styles by employing preventative measures to incapacitate or eliminate an enemy before they gain forward momentum or close in to secure a hold on you.
Principles are instructed over set one option or one situation style techniques that do not allow for the factor of confusion or high levels of stress and diminished reaction times. Having single options to prevent, counter and combat complete ranges of attacks provides the maximum levels of reaction and assessment time and in turn this increases the likelihood of achieving your objectives.
The way you are instructed and practice combined with the skills and most importantly your individual will to win are paramount in achieving your objectives.
The Todd Systems of Close Combat cut out all the wasted training that is not totally relevant to actual combat and provides only the most proven and current options that prey on enemy weaknesses.
You will learn a complete system of enemy destruction that allows for both situational change and human error.
Fast Mapping is the term used to describe the ability through pre-learned contingencies to change options on the move for the tactically correct new option to combat the newly presented situation.
We never offer our enemy anything that could advantage them. In combat it is anything goes, quickly and quietly, preferably without warning or if in hand-to-hand with the aid of the dirty tricks brigade. Principles that include impairing your enemy’s vision, taking away the ability to breathe, circulate blood or taking away the ability to remain upright or move the limbs.
By employing methods that ravage your enemy psychologically and physically they will be a considerably lesser threat or no longer a threat. The Todd Systems may well disturb the average person, however in combat, where it is kill or get killed, it may well be the difference between life and death.
Knowing how to take away any advantage specific enemy prior training may have provided is the objective of military close combat. If your enemy wants to in-fight, let him do it against your weapons at close quarters or drop his pants to squeeze his crotch. If he wants to box, move and stamp him with the sole of your combat boot or shut him down at close quarters and target the eyes or nape of the neck to cripple, maim or kill your enemy who is bent on killing you.
If they want to fight on the ground, offer them nothing, face them and target their exposed vitals until they are no more. Use a service or improvised weapon that will take away the will to grapple you on the ground.
Train the way you will fight in combat and in only what you will employ in combat because what you practice you will be best at and use.
Many techniques that you see in demonstrations would never work if the assistant was not a willing participant bound by rules, respect and a studio environment, where often the methods have never been tested or proven.
Never think like a sportsperson or traditionalist in combat, just take the enemy out, their eyes, throat and other vulnerable vitals are as susceptible to destruction as yours or the next persons. Use anything and everything first. There is no replacement for hands on group or individual tuition training, however this manual is clear and to the point and outlines for educational purposes the importance of one system that has commonality of skills throughout all phases and modules, both unarmed and armed and has been designed, tested and proven for winners, not merely survivors.
Should your unit or group require further information in regards to specialist courses,
contact the Todd Group, P.O. Box 5579, Moray Place, Dunedin 9058, New Zealand.
Phone/Fax 64 3 4778902
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.toddgroup.com
The History and Origins of European Military Close Combat
It is true that every early civilisation had methods of fighting but the history outlined here is of a structured warlike military nature. Ancient Egyptians practiced close combat over 6000 years ago. The Celts records revealed their practices of close combat date back a century before Bhodidharma regarded as the founder of kung fu. Competitive forms of deadly combat were being contested at the ancient Olympics as early as 688 BC. Training at this point in time was structured and evidence can be found of ancient Celtic engravings and etchings showing combat training in various armed and unarmed practises as well as performance enhancing exercises. Christianity destroyed much of the records of ancient European close combat in belief that it was non Christian. The ancient Europeans had the ultimate test of effectiveness in life or death competitive battles. Swords being utilised in combat had been depicted in detailed drawings as early as 1200 BC. For over 300 years the Roman Empire conducted Gladialanical combat where combatants would kill or be killed.
It was the advance of weaponry they eventually saw the decline of many unarmed practices. European close combat has largely been forgotten due to secrecy it was surrounded by through history. Ancient artefacts like challis’s and sword scabbards dated back to the fourth century BC and depict soldiers practising close combat. Greek Pankration dates back to the first Olympics in the seventh century BC.
The Galation Celts were trained in early close combat skills to combat the Greeks as they fought their way through Greece into Anatolia. Many Greek soldiers who trained in early close combat and fought Galations were Celtic mercenaries. When Alexandra the Great’s Empire extended to India the considered birthplace of eastern martial arts his soldiers left behind the basics for the development of the eastern martial arts. These early European warring factions practiced every detail of close combat as their lives depended upon the skills and training. The early Europeans produced countless weapons to supersede enemy weaponry and fighting skills.
British Captain William Fairbairn considered the grandfather of European modern
military close combat was proficient and well versed in the early European methods of
military close combat and combined with his US counterpart Colonel Rex Applegate
they were given the responsibility by their prospective governments to learn all they
could of fighting methods of the world both enemy and allied. Fairbairn’s role was to analyse the methods and practises from the late 18 hundreds
onwards and as such he became well versed and proficient in many Eastern systems
giving him a vast knowledge in the mastery of fighting arts of the world. This insured his
programmes, practices and principles were the best for real combat. It was with this
vast wealth of knowledge that Fairbairn, Sykes and Applegate trained the most elite
operatives of the Second World War.
With military close combat’s history dating back to the ancient Europeans and the Celtic warriors through to the great wars and all conflicts until the present, military close combat has a history second to none of success in conquering all other enemy fighting systems and is a secret fighting system in its own right.
The work of the evolutionary pioneers is being continued today by Geoff Todd and his allied expert colleagues.
CONTENT
The book includes information on the following subjects and techniques:
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