Three days to teach your close combat instructors. It's why Fairbairn and Sykes system is so simple

#hema #history #historical #ww2 #ww2history #ww2reenactment #combatives #combativestraining #ww2combatives #fairbairn #fairbairnsykes

Pistol disarm when you happen upon your friend being held up.

#hema #ww2 #battalion #ww2combatives #fairbairn #fairbairnsykes #fairbairnsykesfightingknife #york #yorkshire #army #commando #martialarts #martialartstraining

Adding some extra spice to Fairbairns handshake from the gutter fighting films

#fairbairn #fairbairnsykes #hema #ww2 #ww2reenactment #ww2history #martialartstraining #combatives #combativesandconditioning #ww2combatives

This has got to be my favourite moment from my class last weekend 😂, sneaky sneaky sentry eliminations.

#ww2combatives #hema #fairbairn #fairbairnsykes #sentry #ww2 #ww2history #ww2reenactment

We had a fantastic time teaching at the York School of Defence event, ATAY2025, this weekend.

A big congratulations to TA Davide, who won the Judges' Technical Prize in the Pugilism competition! 😃

#artthatadornsyou #hema #ww2combatives #ww2 #ww2history #fairbiarn #fairbairnsykesfightingknife

Grip variations on a Fairbairn Sykes knife. Not all of these were recommended but there will have been occasions where all were used.

#fairbairn #hema #knifedefense #knifedefensetraining #strikeing #ww2 #ww2history #ww2combatives #combatives #military #militaryhistory #fairbairnsykesfightingknife

It was great to be invited to attend a session with Hull University's War Studies students and teachers yesterday evening.

#ww2 #ww2history #ww2reenacting #ww2combatives #combatives #combativestraining #hema #hull #hulluniversity #warstudies #war

An Incredibly brave woman who you may not have heard of.

#ww2 #ww2history #hema #ww2combatives #combatives #combativestraining #combativestrainingcourse #womenwhofight #lestweforget

Playing around with drawing the knife from different grappled positions. It's great practice and you'd be amazed how often people fumble drawing the knife.

#fairbairn #hema #knifedefense #ww2 #ww2history #ww2combatives #combatives #military #militaryhistory #fairbairnsykesfightingknife

The first beginners course is complete. It was a pleasure to teach and see people enjoying the WW2 material.

Here's to what looks like a very bright future for Battalion Martial Arts.

#hema #ww2 #ww2combatives #fairbairn #fairbairnsykes #york #army #commando #martialarts #martialartstraining

Guilty of info dumping your special interests on people?

Well become a teacher then people pay you to do it! 😉

#meme #mememonday #mma #mmatraining #ww2combatives #ww2history #ww2memes #funnymemes #MemeMonday #martialarts #martialartstraining #martialartslife #martialartsmeme #hema #hemamemes

A handshake gone wrong 😉, the SOE did not play fair! This system is designed to preemptively strike before your target has a chance to defend themselves.

#fairbairnsykes #hema #ww2 #ww2history #ww2combatives #combatives #combativestraining #combativestrainingcourse

Somebody is going to have a headache tomorrow

#fairbairnsykes #fairbairnsykesfightingknife #hema #combatives #streetcombatives #combativestraining #chinjab #palmstrike #ww2combatives #martialarts #martialartslife #york

Introducing Fairbairns knife system in session two of our beginners course

#hema #fairbairnsykes #knifedefence #combatives #combativestraining #combativestrainingcourse #ww2 #ww2history #ww2combatives

Students trying out Fairbairns strikes for the first time.

#fairbairnsykes #fairbairnsykesfightingknife #hema #combatives #streetcombatives #combativestraining #chinjab #palmstrike #ww2combatives #martialarts #martialartslife #york

Chin Jabs at our first ever session.

One of the key points was to grip the pad after the strike which in reality would be to claw the face or to gouge the eyes.

#fairbairnsykes #fairbairnsykesfightingknife #hema #combatives #combativestraining #chinjab #palmstrike #ww2combatives #martialarts

An excellent first night tonight hopefully one of many to come. Everyone did fantastically and it was great to see so many people enjoying combatives.

#hema #combatives #streetcombatives #combativestraining #ww2combatives #york #uk #martialarts #martialartslife

Some good bits from sparring on Saturday

#hema #ww2combatives #ww2 #knifedefence #fivefingerdeathpunch #fairbairn #sykes #martialarts #commando #military #york #yorkshire

Knife defence from the US Navy V group hand to hand combat book.

This technique is found all over the place in the American WW2 training literature and is also found in some medieval sources I have read.

#hema #ww2 #ww2history #combatives #knifedefence #martialarts #ww2combatives #fairbairnsykes

Utilising Fairbairns strikes after controlling the knife hand.

#fairbairn #hema #knifedefense #knifedefensetraining #strikeing #ww2 #ww2history #ww2combatives #combatives # #combativestraining #military #militaryhistory

Fairbairns hip throw

#wrestling #wrestlinglife #hema #ww2 #ww2history #ww2combatives #fairbairn #fairbairnsykes #fairbairnsykesfightingknife #GetTough #military #militarylife #commando #throw #hipthrow #judo #karate #marrialarts

One of very few photos of Patrick O’Neill a true pioneer of hand-to-hand combat and a key figure in the training of the First Special Service Force (FSSF) better known as the Devil’s Brigade.

#ww2 #history #ww2combatives #devilsbrigade #hema #martialarts #combatives #selfdefence

Sadly Fairbairn and Sykes don't give you much advice for how to defend against a knife attack. Luckily the American army and marine manuals have a few suggestions.

#usa #america #usmarines #usarmy #fairbairn #hema #knifedefense #ww2 #ww2history #ww2combatives #combatives #combativestraining

Tiger claw to the face tends to calm people down 😂

#tigerclaw #fairbairn #hema #knifedefense #knifedefensetraining #strikeing #ww2 #ww2history #ww2combatives #combatives # #combativestraining #military #militaryhistory

All ready for teaching disarms in the beginners course.

Disclaimer: these are all made of solid rubber for training purposes.

#ww2 #ww2history #combatives #combativestraining #combativestrainingcourse #hema #ww2combatives #fairbairnsykes #fairbairnsykesfightingknife

Matchbox Blows to the Jaw

During WWII, a lighter or matchbox was often one of the few items a POW might be allowed to keep. These everyday objects had an advantage: they didn’t arouse suspicion like a knife, rock, or shard of glass might.

#WW2Combatives #WWIIHistory #MartialArtsHistory

While we practice these techniques for historical interest, it’s important to remember the reality behind them.

These skills were once a matter of life and death for the brave men and women who had to use them in wartime.

#hema #ww2 #combatives #ww2combatives #lestweforget

John Styers Passata Soto from both sides.

I hope you appreciate this photo, my legs certainly didn't posing for it! 😭

#hema #ww2combatives #combatives #knifedefense #knifedefence #knifedefencetraining #bowieknifefighting #johnstyers #marines #usmarinescorps

Gun disarm gone wrong

Elbow push, clout to the back of the head and pushed out of disarming range.

#fairbainsykes #hema #fairbairnsykesfightingknife #gundisarms #combatives #combativestraining #ww2 #ww2combatives #gunsafety #militarycombattraining

"For an enemy attack, feint a low attack; draw his weapon low. When the opponent lowers his blade, attack his hand or wrist."

John Styers from Cold Steel

#hema #ww2combatives #combatives #knifedefense #knifedefence #knifedefencetraining #bowieknifefighting #johnstyers #marines #usmarinescorps