Combat Classics Books, Videos, H-Z

Collected from a series of boxing articles in the New York Evening World, this reprint is actually four books in one:

* How to Box to Win by Terry McGovern - a fearless, ferocious bantam- and featherweight champion who was one of the first boxers to use persistent body blows to set up an opponent for a knockout
* How to Build Muscle by James "Gentleman Jim" Corbett - widely considered of the best heavyweights of all time, Corbett was the perfect blend of brain, brawn, speed and science, and is credited with innovating the counter punch, the feint, defensive tactics and fast footwork
* How to Breathe, Stand, Walk, or Run by J. Gardner Smith - a medical doctor and early proponent of using YMCA boxing gyms to develop strong leaders
* How to Punch the Bag by Gus E. and Artie R. Keeley, self-taught "Champion bag-punchers of the world"

How to Box originally appeared in 1899 and was regularly reprinted throughout the next three decades. The advice it offers on boxing, muscle development, nutrition and fitness, and punching reflects the training practices adhered to by the great boxers of the early 20th century – regarded by many as boxing's golden era – and much of it is still relevant today. See for yourself how boxing champions of the past trained to make themselves strong, quick and accurate so they could take on all comers and win. This classic boxing manual should be in the possession of every boxing fan and martial artist. $18.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-466-5 188 pages 5.5" x 8.5" illustrations

Paladin is pleased to present this rare reprint of a little-known hand-to-hand combat classic. At the outset of World War II, boxing heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey was appointed as a lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard and given the job of director of physical fitness. His orders: "Make 'em tough!" His task: to teach rookie Coast Guardsmen how to fight down and dirty in the face of the very real threat of enemy troops infiltrating American shores. Get in the ring with "the Manassa Mauler" as he gives 18 fully illustrated lessons in the art of bashing and brawling on the battlefield, including Subduing an Armed Enemy, The Unbreakable Strangle, Beating the Punch, Hammering Your Way Out of a Stranglehold, The Belt Trick, Fooling the Smart Knife Man, Turning the Tables with a Bayonet and Breaking a Standoff. All students of nasty close-quarters combat in the tradition of Sykes, Fairbairn, Applegate and other giants of the World War II era will thoroughly enjoy this fascinating piece of CQB history. $15.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-315-6 136 pages 5.5" x 8.5" 116 photos

The turn of the 20th century is considered by many to be one of the greatest eras in professional wrestling, and this 1928 manual from the Spalding's Athletic Library series documents some of the top titleholders of the day as they teach readers their secrets. World champ George Hackenschmidt, ironman Tom Jenkins (who the legendary Frank Gotch said was the toughest man he ever wrestled), lightweight superstar George Bothner and other greats of the day demonstrate head locks, strangleholds, nelsons, leg trips, waist holds, grapevines and other fundamental techniques.

Bonus essays on tactics and psychology, the "scientific" use of the feet, resistance vs. nonresistance and effective training fill out the nuances of the sport. The book concludes with a special 20-page illustrated section on catch-as-catch-can wrestling moves suitable for the ring or the street. Original copies of this gem of wrestling history are very difficult to find. This quality reprint edition is an essential addition to the training library of serious wrestlers, mixed martial artists or anyone interested in classic sporting texts. $20.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-5631 $ 168 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos, illust.

The father of modern defensive pistolcraft, Jeff Cooper was renowned not only for his practical instruction on defensive weaponcraft and safety, but also for his groundbreaking ideas on defensive mental conditioning. Originally produced in 1986, Jeff Cooper's Defensive Pistolcraft Tape Series offers a unique look at the core concepts that are the foundation of the Modern Technique of Pistolcraft.

Volume 1: Defensive Pistol Handling covers Cooper's five elements of practical shooting and the four safety rules of firearm use.

Volume 2: Pistol Readiness and Marksmanship offers the viewer instruction in making your pistol ready for defensive use, dry-firing and shooting positions. This volume also features Louis Awerbuck teaching loading techniques, malfunction clearance and "reading your target."

Volume 3: Mindset is perhaps the most important of the four volumes. In it Jeff Cooper discusses the "problem of doing it," defines the "color code system" and discusses the conditions of firearm readiness.

Volume 4: Ammo: Power of the Pistol covers pistol caliber, ammunition choice and stopping power. $59.95
DVD-R 805966 053738 200 minutes 2-Disc Set

When H. Irving Hancock wrote Jiu-Jitsu Combat Tricks in 1904, this 2,000-year-old Japanese martial art was essentially unknown outside Asia, and his book helped introduce it to the West. For this book Hancock, a well-known writer and war correspondent who had trained in jiu-jitsu in Japan in the 1890s, selected "combat tricks" that were of most value to the Western fighting man: "Fighting is an ugly business from the nature of things, and the Japanese contend that any means that brings victory is justifiable."

Though much has changed in the last century - especially the explosion of jiu-jitsu in the Americas with the advent of Brazilian jiu-jitsu - the basic principles of combat jiu-jitsu remain the same as outlined in Hancock's seminal book. Paladin Press is pleased to make Jiu-Jitsu Combat Tricks available to a new generation of readers. Don't miss your opportunity to own a copy of one of the first and most influential books ever published on the art of jiu-jitsu. $24.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-623-2 230 pages 5.5" x 8.5"

Kill or Get Killed by Col. Rex Applegate has always been considered one of the most influential books on close-quarters combat ever published. But most readers are familiar only with the revised 1976 edition, with the distinctive red cover. Few have had the opportunity to study the extremely rare 1943 edition, written as America and its Allies were fighting desperately across Europe and in the Pacific. Now, serious students of the evolution of modern battlefield skills have access to this combat classic. The original flap copy best captures the conception, spirit and intent of the book:

The grim reality of the present World War expressed in the title of this book is the best explanation for the fact that it has been written . . . Accepting as hard necessity the kind of war this is, there remains for us but one course: to be tougher and more dangerous than the enemy . . . This is not a book about "self-defense." It is a book about an increasingly important aspect of war as it exists today's offensive fighting at close quarters, with and without weapons. It is a book intended to be itself a weapon: a weapon to kill enemies and to save the lives of our own men that they may kill more enemies. That is what "total war" means: that is the challenge that our soldiers must meet.

When Kill or Get Killed was first released, British Army Capt. Eric A. Sykes - veteran of the Shanghai Municipal Police and one of Applegate's earliest instructors - wrote, "It is the first book, as far as my knowledge goes, to deal with the subject on sensible lines and without doubt will replace what I can only describe and always think of as peace-time methods."

The late Colonel Rex Applegate was universally recognized as America's foremost authority on close combat with or without weapons. $20.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-558-7 186 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

This is the best- and longest-selling book on close combat in history. Reprinted and in current use by the U.S. Marine Corps as an official training manual, it details methods of self-defense, offensive close combat, combat shooting and crowd-control techniques in riot situations. This book by Colonel Rex Applegate is considered the standard by which all other books on the subject are judged.

The late Colonel Rex Applegate was universally recognized as America's foremost authority on close combat with or without weapons. $40.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-558-7 436 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

Learn how regular citizens fought back against Hitler's army in this exclusive translation of the first guide for Soviet partisans. The original version of this manual was distributed to the public in December 1941 as Nazi tanks rolled toward Moscow. Inside was chapter after chapter of guerrilla warfare and survival tactics designed to turn ordinary civilians into freedom fighters capable of defending the motherland against a superior force.

Of historic note as the first step toward the development of an organized Soviet partisan movement, the original book had an initial printing of 50,000 copies; printed on low-grade paper, they are rare finds today. In this translation, you'll learn the tactics of partisan warfare as practiced by Soviet citizens during World War II, including how to destroy tanks; set up and use improvised sniper positions; carry out sapper work such as felling trees, damaging telephone and telegraph wires and destroying bridges; fighting with knives and entrenching tools; and surviving under harsh winter conditions.

The Partisan's Companion's relevance to the 21st century is undeniable: the partisan, or guerrilla, has remained a deadly threat that cannot be downplayed or marginalized.

Paul J. Schmitt began his study of the Russian language at the United States Military Academy and in 1990 participated in the only U.S.-Soviet cadet exchange. After commissioning, he served as a rifle platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division and a 10th Special Forces Group detachment commander. After studying a year in Moscow, he received a masters degree in Russian language from Middlebury College. He currently is assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine. $20.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-463-4 248 pages 5.5" x 8.5" illustrations

Learn combat shooting the way the members of the legendary OSS did. This black & white video presents U.S. Army Film Bulletin 152, a previously classified training film featuring shooting methods that were developed and refined in actual behind-the-lines combat during WWII. Includes an introduction by OSS legend Col. Rex Applegate.

The late Colonel Rex Applegate was universally recognized as America's foremost authority on close combat with or without weapons. $19.95
DVD-R 805966 055633 30 minutes Color and B&W

One of the most highly sought volumes in the library of legendary hand-to-hand combat manuals is finally available from Paladin Press. W.E. Fairbairn's Scientific Self-Defence, published in 1931 as a slightly modified reprint of Defendu (1926), outlines the brutally effective close-quarters combat program developed during Fairbairn's renowned service with the Shanghai Municipal Police. Fairbairn's straightforward techniques for defending against various holds, dealing with assailants armed with guns or knives, applying truly effective holds and throws, using the club and walking stick for self-defense, and other areas of close-in fighting have had an extraordinary influence on the development of the combat arts. His immense impact on generations of fighting men – from an elite cadre of instructors who trained soldiers in realistic hand-to-hand combat during World War II to today's practitioners of hard-core self-defense – can now be studied directly from the source in this quality reprint edition of Scientific Self-Defence.

Captain W.E. Fairbairn taught unarmed combat to the famed British Commandos and the U.S. armed forces during World War II. Before the war he served as assistant commissioner of the Shanghai Police Force. He was the inventor of the Fairbairn Commando Knife and the author of the classics Get Tough and Shooting to Live. $20.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-529-7 182 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

John Henry ("Fitz") FitzGerald worked for Colt from 1918 till 1944. Shooting, originally published in 1930, was the culmination of Fitz's work in the firearms field. In it he discusses his work with law enforcement and the courts, his theories and practices about practical shooting of the "one hand gun" and his thoughts about target and exhibition shooting, hunting and home defense. This was the only book FitzGerald ever wrote, but his life was clearly dedicated to all aspects of handgun shooting. While his written work might be unfamiliar to some of you, those who are reading this work for the first time should be very familiar with the writings of Elmer Keith, Charles Askins Jr., Ashley Haines and Chauncey Thomas. All these men were friends of FitzGerald and thought highly of his methods and approach. After reading this book, you will feel the same way.

Paladin is pleased to add this long-out-of-print volume by one of America's most renowned and colorful shooters to its Combat Classics library. The new forewords by FitzGerald scholars Timothy J. Mullin and Kevin Williams, as well as the addition of a number of never-before published photos, shed new light on FitzGerald the man and the shooter.

John Henry ("Fitz") FitzGerald worked in Colt's firearms testing department, and in this position he fired 1,000 shots or more every day for 10 years. By the mid-1930s, he was traveling 30,000 miles each year to give exhibitions, train police departments, hunt big game and appear as an expert witness in forensic ballistics, eventually testifying in more than 400 trials. For the premier shooting competitions of the era, especially the National Matches held at Camp Perry, Fitz was in charge of the Colt tent, where shooters came to see the latest offerings from Colt, have their handguns fixed and hear Fitz regale them with stories.

Timothy J. Mullin is a former infantry officer in the U.S. Army and deputy U.S. marshall. He is a life-long gun lover and fervent defender of the Second Amendment. His well-regarded series on combat weapons also includes volumes on handguns and rifles. $40.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-625-6 456 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

One of the most influential combat shooting books ever published, Shooting to Live is the product of Capt. W.E. Fairbairn's and Capt. E.A. Sykes' practical experience with the handgun from their many close-quarters gunfights while working for the Shanghai Municipal Police in the 1930s. This expanded edition contains a new foreword by British World War II combatives expert Phil Mathews, which sheds new light on the career of E.A. Sykes – the "forgotten hero" of the Fairbairn-Sykes duo – as well as previously unpublished photos.

Hundreds of actual incidents provided the basis for Shooting to Live, the first true instruction manual on life-or-death shootouts with the pistol. In clear, concise terms, the book teaches the concepts, considerations and applications of combat pistolcraft. A foreword by Col. Rex Applegate explains how Fairbairn and Sykes introduced their groundbreaking methods into American military training circles at the height of World War II.

Captain W.E. Fairbairn taught unarmed combat to the famed British Commandos and the U.S. armed forces during World War II. Before the war he served as assistant commissioner of the Shanghai Police Force. He was the inventor of the Fairbairn Commando Knife and the author of the classics Get Tough, Defendu and Scientific Self Defense. $15.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-678-2 122 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

"Silent Killing" was the name given to the lethal techniques for dispatching Nazi sentries and other German troops that close-combat masters W.E. Fairbairn and E.A. Sykes taught to Allied soldiers, paratroopers and commandos during World War II. These quick, brutal techniques were so effective that the German Army Command was forced to develop counters to what they termed "English Gangster Methods".

This extremely rare manual was printed in 1942 for German troops in occupied Norway and is not believed to have been distributed outside that country. It remained largely unknown until rediscovered in 2001. Silent Killing - Nazi Counters to Fairbairn-Sykes Techniques is the first English translation of the German wartime manual. It contains the original German text and photos, the English translation and annotations, and an extensive foreword by British combatives researcher Phil Mathews, which provides valuable new information about the origins of the manual, how the Germans obtained the "secret" Allied training documents and the state of close combat instruction in Germany and Britain before and during World War II. The historical value of this manual for students of World War II, Fairbairn and Sykes, and hand-to-hand combat is immeasurable. $19.95
Softcover 978-1-58160-648-5 114 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

The walking stick is a convenient and formidable weapon in the hands of a man trained to use it. With the carry and use of firearms and knives becoming more restricted by law, the stick is becoming an increasingly viable implement of practical self-defense for ordinary citizens. Now you can learn both the history and art of stick fighting from one of the earliest known books ever published on the topic.

The "Walking Stick" Method of Self-Defence by "an officer of the Indian Police" is an extraordinary example of a practical martial art text of the early twentieth century. Published in the 1920s, the book provides illustrated instruction in stick-fighting technique as developed by Mr. H.G. Lang, Superintendent of Agency Police, Kathiawar, India. The entire range of defensive and offensive skills is discussed and demonstrated, including guards, strikes, combinations, counterattacks, feints and tricks, double-handed techniques and training drills.

As the author wrote in the original book: "The work will appeal to all, more especially to those who have already been in a 'tight corner' and have felt how much they missed in not having known how to use their stick to its best effect." $15.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-438-2 112 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

The American Rifle is arguably the previous generation's version of Jeff Cooper's Art of the Rifle. Written by a rifleman, for riflemen, it provides valuable insights into the special skills of solid, consistent rifle marksmanship, including understanding trajectory and elevation, finding your zero, reading the wind and all the other fundamentals of rifle shooting at distance that do not change, even though technological changes take place in rifle and ammunition design. Read this book and understand how and why your bullet hits the mark – or doesn't. $30.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-513-6 650 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos, illust.

Find out why today's professional snipers still read Ion Idriess, the Australian guerrilla warfare specialist who distills the field experience of snipers from World Wars I and II, the Boer War, the British bush wars on the Indian and Afghanistan frontiers, and elsewhere into a highly readable and instructive guide. This classic on the art and science of military sniping provides instruction in such essential skills as hiding in the bush, remaining immobile to blend in to the environment, "freezing" to avoid detection by the enemy, applying camouflage to make yourself virtually invisible, learning to be adaptable to all types of situations, and more. $12.00
Softcover 978-0-87364-104-3 102 pages 5.5" x 8.5"

The scout is the eyes and ears of his army. No matter whether the fighting takes place in city or plain, on mountain or in desert or jungle, on mainland or island, through snow or swamp, every unit commander needs to know what is happening and where. In many cases only a scout can tell him.

The Scout, by unconventional warfare specialist Ion Idriess, remains one of the best field guides ever written on combat scouting. Lively and instructive, and filled with anecdotes from Idriess' extensive combat experience, it covers such topics as finding your way around a combat zone; moving through the bush with stealth and skill; maintaining a sense of direction on a mission; seeing the enemy with your "mind's eye"; operating before and behind enemy lines; scouting at night; bringing back a report; and learning specialized secrets of observation and listening.

Even with the availability of today's sophisticated surveillance gear, modern armies still require the services of skilled human scouts on the ground to make sense of the situation during the chaos of combat. This book is an essential primer on how to do it right. $15.00
Softcover 978-0-87364-135-7 126 pages 5.5" x 8.5"

This is the remarkable story of how Col. Rex Applegate, William Fairbairn, Eric Sykes and Wild Bill Donovan trained and employed OSS and MID commandos during WWII. Includes the facts behind the development of point shooting, knife fighting, hand-to-hand combat and a staggering number of other fighting skills as taught by the top instructors of the era. Contains rare archival photos and the Colonel's graphic original lesson plans.

The late Colonel Rex Applegate was universally recognized as America's foremost authority on close combat with or without weapons. $34.95
Softcover 978-0-87364-998-8 208 pages 8.5" x 11" photos, illust.

From the personal library of close-combat specialist Kelly McCann and the recommended reading list of his acclaimed Individual Protective Measures Course, Paladin is pleased to bring back into print one of the seminal works on combative jujitsu. The Complete Jujitsuan, among the first books published in English on this Japanese grappling art, covers the entire spectrum of practical technique: breakfalls, standing defenses, tripping and throwing, ground locks and maneuvers, a fascinating section on jujitsu vs. boxing, plus general hints on how to train safely and effectively. Hundreds of step-by-step photos highlight the entire text. This time-honored classic is guaranteed to fascinate and educate practitioners of Japanese and Brazilian jujitsu, all grappling and throwing arts, and collectors of classic close-combat texts. $15.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-421-4 136 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

Modern students of the grappling arts can now learn the secrets of George Hackenschmidt, "The Russian Lion", with this quality reprint edition of The Complete Science of Wrestling. Originally published in 1909, the clear, engaging text provides in-depth discussion of many of the signature moves that Hackenschmidt applied so effectively to overpower opponents throughout his renowned career: strangleholds, leg holds, arm rolls, nelsons, hammerlocks and many more. Variations on the techniques, escapes from common problems and photographs illustrating key points make this a complete wrestling tutorial from one of the sport's greatest practitioners.

George Hackenschmidt was one of a group of illustrious "strongmen" who dominated the rough world of professional wrestling at the turn of the century. A pioneer of weightlifting, strength training and physical fitness, Hackenschmidt is said to have amassed a record of 2,000 wins against only 5 losses before his retirement from the ring in 1912. His epic battles for the heavyweight championship with the equally legendary Frank Gotch rank among the greatest bouts in the history of wrestling. $18.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-530-3 156 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

In the 100 years since The Defence of Duffer's Drift was first published in Great Britain, the face of modern warfare has changed dramatically. But what have not changed very much are the concepts of small unit tactics: Ground is held, buildings are searched, and individual enemy combatants are killed or captured by men with rifles. And those men are led by NCOs and junior officers.

The Defence of Duffer's Drift is a fictional account of a young, inexperienced British officer, who is tasked with holding a river crossing with 50 troops against a larger enemy force. His initial failures and eventual victory serve as an entertaining and instructive vehicle to convey the principles of small unit tactics. Because it deals with principles, this definitive work has endured to this day and is still on some of the required reading lists of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. $15.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-634-8 76 pages 5.5" x 8.5" illustrations

The history of the 1911 is a saga that spans more than a century and combines military, police and civilian use for combat, self-defense and sport. And it begins with this Army manual, printed during World War I and crammed with useful information for the 1911 aficionado. In the early 1900s, the U.S. Army decided to replace its inadequate .38-caliber service revolver with a more efficient "manstopper." John M. Browning submitted his design for a Colt manufactured semiautomatic pistol and a new .45-caliber cartridge to the Army's selection process. The U.S. Army selected the Colt and designated it the Model of 1911. Accurate, reliable and hard-hitting, John Browning's magnificent 1911 pistol has been the benchmark by which all combat pistols have been judged ever since. $10.00
Softcover - 978-1-58160-560-0 - 34 pages - 5.5" x 8.5" - photos, illust.

Compared to those of his contemporaries W.E. Fairbairn and E.A. Sykes, Leonard Hector Grant-Taylor's impressive achievements in the development of close-quarters battle (CQB) skills have gone mostly undocumented. The Palestine Police Force Close Quarter Battle, more commonly known as The Palestine Police Force Manual, is a compilation of lessons taught by Grant-Taylor at the Middle East School of Small Arms in the early 1940s to members of the Palestine Police Force and other units in the Middle East. Only a small number of copies were ever created for internal use, and just a handful have survived.

Working closely with Phil Mathews, an English researcher of World War II combative techniques, Paladin Press brings this rare manual into print once again. It is a gold mine of realistic CQB instruction from SOE veteran Grant-Taylor, including his techniques for controlling fear, reacting properly to surprise and other aspects of developing a survival mind-set; lessons in unsighted "point shooting" that both predate and were later influenced by Fairbairn and Sykes; firing a pistol with either hand or with both hands to effectively double one's firepower; and a host of other physical and mental skills to maximize one's chances of coming out alive in an armed encounter. In an exclusive foreword for this reprint edition, Mathews discusses Grant-Taylor's legacy in the history of CQB instruction and explores his relationship with Fairbairn and Sykes. A fascinating addition to Paladin's historic library.

Phil Mathews is an English researcher of World War II combative techniques. $15.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-642-3 88 pages 5.5" x 8.5" photos

Penned in 1875 and recently discovered collecting dust on a library bookshelf, this primer for the pistol is remarkably timely in its insights and observations. From a historical perspective, it contains striking parallels to the thinking and controversy that swirl about the practical use of the pistol today.

Open it to any given page and you will discover thoroughly modern, straight-shooting advice on pistol safety, effective shot placement, stopping power, practical shooting, the importance of cover, the fallacy of shooting to wound, the practicality and morality of pistol carry and much more. Jeff Cooper, the foremost authority on pistolcraft in America today, considered the book's content from a contemporary viewpoint in an exclusive foreword for this reprint edition.

This lost treasure is a classic piece of firearm literature that is worthy of a place on every modern pistol aficionado's bookshelf.

The late Jeff Cooper was one of the true pioneers of weaponcraft in the US. His numerous accomplishments include founder of Gunsite Ranch, editor at large of Guns & Ammo magazine, winner of the Outstanding American Handgunner award in 1995, Rangemaster Emeritus of the US Practical Shooting Assn. and long-time member of the board of directors of the National Rifle Assn. $10.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-432-0 46 pages 5.5" x 8.5"

American strength-training pioneer Earle Liederman published this book on grappling for competition and self-defense in 1923, and it is still highly relevant today. It covers more than 100 hard-core catch-as-catch-can wrestling moves (head locks, arm bars, leg dives, trips, nelsons, grapevines, scissor holds and more) as well as 50 lessons on how to overcome a variety of punches, strangleholds, clinches and other street attacks, including ways to stop an attacker armed with a handgun. Every modern student of close combat, wrestling and mixed martial arts will appreciate the dozens and dozens of techniques – all outlined in clear photo sequences – in this quality reprint edition. $30.00
Softcover 978-1-58160-511-2 226 pages 8.5" x 11" photos

This is a legendary work by the famed Swiss expert on guerrilla warfare, Major H. von Dach. Survivalists have rediscovered this important study on resistance and underground operations, some making it the keystone of their libraries. Well-written and illustrated with easy-to-understand drawings, Total Resistance analyzes and explains the techniques needed to overcome an invading force, formation of guerrilla units, weapons, food and medical considerations, ambushes, sabotage and much more. $20.00
Softcover 978-0-87364-021-3 188 pages 5.5" x 8.5" illustrations