Close Combat Files

The Close Combat Files covers all aspects of close quarter combat and self defence. Close Combat is known by many names, including unarmed combat, hand-to-hand combat, combatives, close quarter battle, and close quarter combat. Although some martial arts use this terminology in recent times, the articles in this column are specific to military combatives, which stems from the World War II pioneers such as W.E. Fairbairn, E.A. Sykes, Colonel Rex Applegate, and Charles Nelson.

The author of these articles is Geoff ‘Tank’ Todd, who has trained and qualified with both Col. Applegate and Charles Nelson. Tank is the Director of Overseas Affairs for the International Close Combat Instructors Association (ICCIA), which is comprised of former and current military close combat instructors.

For further information or training opportunities, see the Todd Group website.

CQB Orthodox and Unorthodox Explanation

Caution: The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military. Close combat, being a continually developing and changing package, in order to stay at the forefront of enemy specific threats, tactics, […]

The Military's Expert Civilian Close Combat Chief Instructors – Part 3

We have courses confirmed up to five years in advance and constant inquiries to export the Todd Systems internationally from a wide range of services, riot control, prison staff training, civilian self-protection and every possible requirement for combative self-defense prisoner handling control and restraint and crowd management imaginable. A great percentage of my time is […]

The Military's Expert Civilian Close Combat Chief Instructors – Part 2

Caution: The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military. Post-training with Col. Applegate at Charles Nelson's School of Self Defense New York. From left, Tank, Charlie, Herb, and Howard Bell. […]

The Military's Expert Civilian Close Combat Chief Instructors

Caution: The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military. Reasoning Armed and unarmed close quarters combat may well be only a small part of the overall training of a soldier […]

Controlled Aggression

Caution: The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military. After 30 years of training and instructing close combat, including conducting more test phases than I can remember, it is still […]

Fem-o-Win: Todd Anti and Counter Rape Systems

Caution: The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military. The truth and hard facts when it comes to gender and sexual violence based on the work of a military CQB […]

Combative Falling and Rolling

Caution: The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military. The general aim in military close combat is never to go to the ground in an armed or unarmed combat situation. […]

Stances, Guards and Footwork

Caution: The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military. No physical aspect is more important in military close combat than stances, guards and footwork. While the best option is if […]

The Clinch in CQB

Caution: The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military. Grappling and wrestling are not recommended in operational military close combat but clinching is a required skill. Wrestling and grappling training […]

Close Combat International Experience — Dare to Test Yourself

The Todd Group went International in 1996 when it conducted its first International CQB course at its New Zealand HQ in Dunedin. What a success it was and continues to be growing in numbers every year. That first course was very special and attracted a wide and varied range and calibre of exponents. This was […]