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William E. Fairbairn

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205: 189:. During his service with the International Police in Shanghai, Fairbairn reportedly engaged in hundreds of street fights in the course of his duties during a twenty-year career. Much of his body, arms, legs, torso, even the palms of his hands, were covered with scars from knife wounds from those fights. Fairbairn later created, organised, trained and commanded a special 33: 253:(OSS), mainly for close-combat, pistol-shooting and knife-fighting techniques. Fairbairn emphasised the necessity of forgetting any idea of gentlemanly conduct or fighting fair: "Get tough, get down in the gutter, win at all costs... I teach what is called 'Gutter Fighting.' There's no fair play, no rules except one: 336:—and taught it to members of that police force in order to reduce officer fatalities. He described this system as based primarily on his personal experience, which according to police records included some 600 non-training fights, by his retirement at age 55 from the job of Assistant Commissioner in 1940. 272:
In 1941, he appeared in a training movie titled "Unarmed Combat", demonstrating many of the strikes, holds and throws of Defendu, for use by the Home Guard, Commandos, and military services. This training movie was narrated by actor
277:, who had joined the Commandos early in the war, and was trained by Fairbairn himself. In 1942, Fairbairn appeared, again uncredited, in an OSS training movie titled "OSS Training Center", directed by 423:, first published in 1926 in Shanghai by the North China Daily News & Herald Ltd. Size 7" × 10", hardcover, cloth bound with 171 pages. Reprinted by Naval and Military Press, 514: 541:
for the American market. Note the first edition has Fairbairn's rank as 'Captain' and all subsequent (1940s) editions as 'Major'. Reprinted by Naval and Military Press,
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for the Shanghai police force. He also developed numerous firearms training courses and items of police equipment, including a special metal-lined
1000: 849: 363:, Fairbairn developed innovative pistol shooting techniques and handgun specifications for the SMP which were later disseminated by their book 1020: 937: 985: 763: 980: 1005: 143:; 28 February 1885 – 20 June 1960) was a British soldier and police officer. He developed hand-to-hand combat methods for the 1025: 1010: 826: 234:
in 1941. Fairbairn and Sykes were both commissioned as second lieutenants on 15 July 1940. He trained British, American and
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by Christopher Grosz and Michael D. Janich - a thorough analysis of Fairbairn's work on human anatomy and knife fighting.
108: 696: 380: 163: 907:(2010) by O. Janson. Summary of the Shanghai Fighting Knife and its evolution into the Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife. 890: 882: 865: 839: 773: 668: 630: 622: 590: 546: 504: 466: 428: 790: 348: 818: 242: 204: 995: 990: 250: 219: 385: 238: 902: 182: 743: 288:
For his achievements in training OSS personnel, Fairbairn was promoted eventually to the rank of
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WE Fairbairn's Complete Compendium of Lethal, Unarmed, Hand-to-Hand Combat Methods and Fighting
344: 152: 975: 970: 325: 32: 226:; he was given the nickname "Dangerous Dan". Together with fellow close-combat instructor 162:. Notably, this included innovative pistol shooting techniques and the development of the 8: 400: 571:, first published in 1942 by D. Appleton-Century Company (New York & London). Size 5 748: 600: 297: 289: 258: 186: 897:
Contemporary Knife Targeting - Modern Science vs. W. E. Fairbairn's Timetable of Death
886: 878: 861: 835: 822: 769: 664: 626: 618: 586: 542: 500: 462: 437:, first published in 1931 by D. Appleton and Company (New York & London). Size 6 424: 639:. All six of WE Fairbairn's works in one binding to create the ultimate compendium: 896: 194: 117: 701: 604: 476: 293: 148: 955: 874: 397: 372: 178: 155: 927: 917: 964: 857: 360: 227: 198: 99: 64: 60: 811: 681: 231: 223: 215: 190: 175: 947: 343:
to train police and in 1952 (and 1956) Fairbairn provided training to the
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Film archives about close-combat with lessons by Major Fairbairn himself
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Training Film "Unarmed Combat" 1941 with appearance by Fairbairn himself
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The Legend of W. E. Fairbairn, Gentleman and Warrior: The Shanghai Years
411:, and collaborated on the design of several other combat knife designs. 285:", later adopted and refined by Rex Applegate for use by the U.S. Army. 281:. Fairbairn again demonstrated unarmed combat, and also his version of " 686: 457:", in hardcover with 165 pages. A slightly modified/updated version of 329: 246: 499:" in hardcover with 132 pages. Reprinted by Naval and Military Press, 730:
OSS Training in the National Parks and Service Abroad in World War II
313: 278: 266: 235: 408: 389: 144: 83: 931: 921: 581:" × 8" in softcover with 41 pages. This is a modified version of 333: 159: 158:
during World War II. He created his own fighting system known as
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Martial Musings: A Portrayal of Martial Arts in the 20th Century
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for the American market. Reprinted by Naval and Military Press,
691: 393: 340: 317: 309: 87: 893:. Life and times of a member of the Shanghai Municipal Police. 555:, first published in 1942 by Faber and Faber (London). Size 5 132: 126: 537:" in softcover with 121 pages. This is a modified version of 262: 367:(1942), along with various other police innovations such as 321: 208:
OSS Schools and Training Headquarters Staff, 1945 XMAS Card
320:, tenshinshinyo ry jiu jitsu from Okada-sensei, Kodokan 951:, a book on close-quarters fighting written by Fairbairn 296:(Officer grade) at the specific request of OSS-founder 403:
in the Second World War, and featured in his textbook
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No. 2 Dutch Troop 10th Inter-Allied Commando forces
120: 625:(reprint). Reprinted by Naval and Military Press, 378:He is perhaps known best for designing the famous 324:in which he gained a 2nd dan black belt, and then 102:, Shanghai Municipal Police, Combatives Instructor 962: 938:The Source by Peter Robins (American Combatives) 904:The Shanghai Fighting Knives, and many fakes!!!! 871:Empire Made Me: An Englishman Adrift in Shanghai 210:LTC Fairbairn second from the left in third row. 197:designed to stop high-velocity bullets from the 732:. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Park Service. 834:by Peter Robins, edited by Paul Child. 2005. 292:by the end of the war, and received the U.S. 407:. Fairbairn also designed the lesser known 943:Shanghai Municipal Police by Robert Bickers 791:"W. E. Fairbairn: The Legendary Instructor" 752:(Supplement). 10 January 1941. p. 237. 1016:People of the Office of Strategic Services 723: 721: 719: 717: 461:. Reprinted by Naval and Military Press, 956:Badass of the Week: William E. Fairbairn 742: 727: 203: 714: 185:(SMP) in 1907. He served in one of the 1001:British Army personnel of World War II 963: 365:Shooting to Live With the One-Hand Gun 354: 257:," he declared. One of his pupils was 230:, Fairbairn was commissioned with the 815:The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare 1021:20th-century British philanthropists 788: 617:" × 7" in hardcover with 96 pages. 261:, who fought behind enemy lines in 13: 986:British Army General List officers 697:Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife 663:. Naval and Military Press, 2020, 569:Hands Off!: Self-Defense for Women 308:After joining the SMP, he studied 218:, he was recruited by the British 169: 14: 1037: 911: 347:'s Riot Squad unit, which is now 249:candidates, and personnel of the 181:starting in 1901, and joined the 981:British colonial police officers 583:Self Defence for Women and Girls 553:Self Defence for Women and Girls 517:(New York & London). Size 5 116: 31: 16:British Royal Marine (1885–1960) 1006:Officers of the Legion of Merit 860:. Phillips Publications, 1996. 842:. First biography on Fairbairn. 565:" × 8" softcover with 48 pages. 414: 303: 793:. CQB Services. Archived from 782: 756: 736: 381:Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife 164:Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife 1: 707: 603:, first published in 1942 by 513:, first published in 1942 by 475:, first published in 1942 by 1026:British expatriates in China 1011:Martial arts school founders 251:Office of Strategic Services 220:Special Operations Executive 7: 675: 515:D. Appleton-Century Company 10: 1042: 805: 728:Chambers, John W. (2008). 174:Fairbairn served with the 846:The First Commando Knives 479:Limited (London). Size 5 183:Shanghai Municipal Police 95: 72: 42: 30: 23: 653:Scientific Self-Defence 435:Scientific Self-Defence 405:Scientific Self-Defence 375:, and other equipment. 328:. He developed his own 199:7.63x25mm Mauser pistol 112:William Ewart Fairbairn 47:William Ewart Fairbairn 345:Singapore Police Force 211: 207: 151:, as well as for the 349:Police Tactical Unit 339:In 1951, he went to 326:Chinese martial arts 25:William E. Fairbairn 996:English male judoka 991:Royal Marines ranks 768:. Via Media. 1999. 355:Weapons innovations 298:"Wild Bill" Donovan 187:red light districts 749:The London Gazette 601:Eric Anthony Sykes 290:Lieutenant-Colonel 259:Raymond Westerling 212: 147:Police during the 109:Lieutenant Colonel 827:978-1-444-79895-1 789:Matthews, Phi l. 599:, co-authored by 255:kill or be killed 106: 105: 37:Fairbairn in 1942 1033: 854:Samuel S. Yeaton 799: 798: 797:on 3 March 2012. 786: 780: 779: 760: 754: 753: 740: 734: 733: 725: 649:Shooting to Live 616: 615: 611: 607:(London). Size 4 597:Shooting To Live 580: 579: 575: 564: 563: 559: 536: 535: 531: 526: 525: 521: 498: 497: 493: 488: 487: 483: 456: 455: 451: 446: 445: 441: 392:-style fighting 195:bulletproof vest 142: 141: 138: 137: 134: 131: 128: 125: 122: 79: 57:28 February 1885 56: 54: 35: 21: 20: 1041: 1040: 1036: 1035: 1034: 1032: 1031: 1030: 961: 960: 914: 808: 803: 802: 787: 783: 776: 762: 761: 757: 741: 737: 726: 715: 710: 702:All-In Fighting 678: 645:All-In Fighting 613: 609: 608: 605:Oliver and Boyd 577: 573: 572: 561: 557: 556: 539:All-In Fighting 533: 529: 528: 523: 519: 518: 495: 491: 490: 485: 481: 480: 477:Faber and Faber 473:All-In Fighting 453: 449: 448: 443: 439: 438: 417: 357: 330:fighting system 306: 294:Legion of Merit 209: 191:anti-riot squad 172: 170:Military career 149:interwar period 119: 115: 91: 81: 77: 68: 58: 52: 50: 49: 48: 38: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1039: 1029: 1028: 1023: 1018: 1013: 1008: 1003: 998: 993: 988: 983: 978: 973: 959: 958: 953: 945: 940: 935: 925: 913: 912:External links 910: 909: 908: 900: 894: 875:Robert Bickers 868: 843: 829: 807: 804: 801: 800: 781: 774: 755: 735: 712: 711: 709: 706: 705: 704: 699: 694: 689: 684: 677: 674: 673: 672: 634: 594: 566: 550: 508: 470: 432: 416: 413: 401:Special Forces 373:armoured vests 359:Together with 356: 353: 305: 302: 283:Point Shooting 179:Light Infantry 171: 168: 156:special forces 104: 103: 97: 93: 92: 82: 80:(aged 75) 74: 70: 69: 59: 46: 44: 40: 39: 36: 28: 27: 24: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1038: 1027: 1024: 1022: 1019: 1017: 1014: 1012: 1009: 1007: 1004: 1002: 999: 997: 994: 992: 989: 987: 984: 982: 979: 977: 974: 972: 969: 968: 966: 957: 954: 952: 950: 946: 944: 941: 939: 936: 933: 929: 926: 923: 919: 916: 915: 906: 905: 901: 898: 895: 892: 891:0-14-101195-5 888: 884: 883:0-231-13132-1 880: 876: 872: 869: 867: 866:0-93257-225-1 863: 859: 858:Rex Applegate 855: 851: 847: 844: 841: 840:0-9549494-0-4 837: 833: 830: 828: 824: 820: 816: 813: 810: 809: 796: 792: 785: 777: 775:9781893765009 771: 767: 766: 759: 751: 750: 745: 739: 731: 724: 722: 720: 718: 713: 703: 700: 698: 695: 693: 690: 688: 685: 683: 680: 679: 670: 669:9781783317042 666: 662: 658: 654: 650: 646: 642: 638: 635: 632: 631:9781783313402 628: 624: 623:0-87364-027-6 620: 606: 602: 598: 595: 592: 591:9781783313532 588: 584: 570: 567: 554: 551: 548: 547:9781783313334 544: 540: 516: 512: 509: 506: 505:9781783313419 502: 478: 474: 471: 468: 467:9781783314966 464: 460: 436: 433: 430: 429:9781783314973 426: 422: 419: 418: 412: 410: 406: 402: 399: 395: 391: 387: 383: 382: 376: 374: 370: 366: 362: 361:Eric A. Sykes 352: 350: 346: 342: 337: 335: 331: 327: 323: 319: 315: 311: 301: 299: 295: 291: 286: 284: 280: 276: 270: 268: 264: 260: 256: 252: 248: 244: 240: 237: 233: 229: 225: 221: 217: 206: 202: 200: 196: 192: 188: 184: 180: 177: 167: 165: 161: 157: 154: 150: 146: 140: 113: 110: 101: 100:Royal Marines 98: 96:Occupation(s) 94: 89: 85: 75: 71: 66: 65:Hertfordshire 62: 61:Rickmansworth 45: 41: 34: 29: 22: 19: 948: 903: 870: 850:Kelly Yeaton 845: 831: 814: 812:Giles Milton 795:the original 784: 764: 758: 747: 738: 729: 682:Close combat 660: 656: 652: 648: 644: 640: 636: 596: 582: 568: 552: 538: 510: 472: 458: 434: 420: 415:Publications 404: 379: 377: 364: 358: 338: 307: 304:Martial arts 287: 271: 254: 232:General List 224:Army officer 216:World War II 213: 176:Royal Marine 173: 111: 107: 78:(1960-06-20) 76:20 June 1960 18: 976:1960 deaths 971:1885 births 819:John Murray 744:"No. 35040" 388:' knife, a 369:riot batons 275:David Niven 965:Categories 949:Get Tough! 708:References 687:Combatives 657:Hands Off! 247:US Rangers 228:Eric Sykes 53:1885-02-28 641:Get Tough 511:Get Tough 314:wrestling 279:John Ford 267:Indonesia 239:Commandos 90:, England 67:, England 877:. 2003. 817:, 2016, 676:See also 409:Smatchet 396:used by 390:stiletto 386:Commando 236:Canadian 145:Shanghai 84:Worthing 932:YouTube 922:YouTube 806:Sources 661:Defendu 612:⁄ 576:⁄ 560:⁄ 532:⁄ 522:⁄ 494:⁄ 484:⁄ 459:Defendu 452:⁄ 442:⁄ 421:Defendu 398:British 334:Defendu 214:During 160:Defendu 889:  881:  864:  856:, and 838:  825:  772:  692:Camp X 667:  629:  621:  589:  545:  503:  465:  427:  394:dagger 384:, or ' 341:Cyprus 318:savate 310:boxing 222:as an 153:Allied 88:Sussex 527:" × 7 489:" × 8 447:" × 9 263:Burma 930:(at 920:(at 887:ISBN 879:ISBN 862:ISBN 836:ISBN 823:ISBN 770:ISBN 665:ISBN 627:ISBN 619:ISBN 587:ISBN 543:ISBN 501:ISBN 463:ISBN 425:ISBN 322:judo 265:and 241:and 73:Died 43:Born 873:by 848:by 133:ɛər 127:ɛər 967:: 885:, 852:, 821:. 746:. 716:^ 659:, 655:, 651:, 647:, 643:, 371:, 351:. 316:, 312:, 300:. 269:. 245:, 201:. 166:. 86:, 63:, 934:) 924:) 778:. 671:. 633:. 614:4 610:1 593:. 578:4 574:1 562:2 558:1 549:. 534:4 530:3 524:2 520:1 507:. 496:4 492:1 486:2 482:1 469:. 454:2 450:1 444:2 440:1 431:. 332:— 139:/ 136:n 130:b 124:f 121:ˈ 118:/ 114:( 55:) 51:(

Index


Rickmansworth
Hertfordshire
Worthing
Sussex
Royal Marines
Lieutenant Colonel
/ˈfɛərbɛərn/
Shanghai
interwar period
Allied
special forces
Defendu
Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife
Royal Marine
Light Infantry
Shanghai Municipal Police
red light districts
anti-riot squad
bulletproof vest
7.63x25mm Mauser pistol

World War II
Special Operations Executive
Army officer
Eric Sykes
General List
Canadian
Commandos
No. 2 Dutch Troop 10th Inter-Allied Commando forces

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