The Close-Combat Files of Colonel Rex Applegate Paperback – September 1, 1998

Arrived quickly and brightened my day. This is a must have for the serious minded warrior. Col. Applegate is the real legend and Master. You have to appreciate the era and the culture of his time... and the mind set. Absorb the book and use the techniques as a foundation to build upon. I've turned some of the techniques into a sort of "Tai-Chi" to get the body and mind flowing together gracefully so later, I can put them to use violently but with discipline. "Happy Trails!" mate.

This is one of those books that fills in the gaps about the time and persons of WW2. It offers that behind the scenes views of the training and rational behind it for the first special ops type of work. It is interesting to get Applegate's views of some of the modern training. This text not only deals with him but links in a lot of the names of the period such as Fairbairn and Sykes. The actual lesson plains are the centre of the text[they could have used a few pictures around them]and give insight into thinking of those WW2 days.A well presented, good read.

This is better described as a history lesson of advanced combat training during World War II than as a do-it-yourself trainer in hand to hand combat. It's really impossible to relate (strenuous) physical routines and techniques in simple pictures. But there are some really interesting stories, too. I especially liked the description of the House of Horrors used to train close combat in a house. Or the study they did on the effectiveness of the point and shoot method of using a handgun versus the target practice style in combat situations. And the study on the different WWII pistols and how their designs influenced the accuracy of the weapons.This is overall, and OK book. Not great, but OK.

I am a retired police officer with 35 years on the job. During my life I have studied numerous different fighting styles, Weapons training, both lethal and nonlethal. I have SWAT/Special Entry trained. In those years I learned that in spite of the training nothing ever goes the way you trained for it. For that reason I was always looking for tactical information that was practical. Colonel Applegate gives some good information that comes from combat experience.

Still reading through the book.. I just bought the video lost tapes of Rex applegate and it shows a good comparison between the myths and the real life down and dirty of the Colonel

This is not a book for the novice to learn basic self defense techniques. There are only two pictures on self defense. The rest is written. You have to already know the techniques to know what he is talking about, in which case you don't need this book. It is mostly a book about Applegate's days in the O.S.S. It was advertised as a book to learn the few basic techniques needed for self defense. This is not the case.

worth having in my liberary

An important source in the study of western martial studies. Not many quote Bill Hickok

excellent book

Excellent