The Self Defense Training System COMBATIVES These hand to hand, knife to knife and belly to belly methods were a used in raiding parties and special operations.
Combatives is a method of self defense designed to train soldiers and police officers who were faced with life and death situations on a daily basis. Modern combatives began in the rough and tumble streets of Shanghai, China in the early 1900's where the British run Shanghai Municipal Police had to deal in extremely hostile environments. Combatives reached its peak in World War II when hand to han
d combat was an essential, tactical component for winning the war. Men trained in these tactics would be deployed at night to wreak havoc on enemy soldiers specifically to gather intelligence and decrease enemy moral. These methods were also taught to OSS Operatives (The OSS would later become the CIA). The successes of these methods soon spread and shortly after a number of allied Special Forces Units were taught these lifesaving skills. The reason why combatives was so successful in the field is because unlike martial arts, combatives hasn't any forms, ceremony or sport. In combatvies there is only one goal: Defeat the enemy in the fastest means possible, fair or foul. Over the next several years we developed a system of training that enabled us to use modern learning and teaching methods to build a solid combatives foundation. We continued to eliminate the martial arts sport and ceremony based techniques until only the most combat effective remained. This method of self defense evolved into the Self Defense Training System (SDTS) Combatives Program. The Self Defense Training System (SDTS) uses principles of combatives that have been proven over many decades of actual warfare. The number one principle of the SDTS is offensive, aggressive and ruthless attack, not a defensive mindset. The SDTS is not a martial arts system; it is a system of realistic and effective close combat that will allow you to gain the tactical advantage as fast as possible using whatever means possible. This includes unarmed techniques, knife fighting, club and other impact and edged weapons. The primary purpose of the SDTS Combatives is to save lives.
