I read this fascinating article about hand-to-hand combat in the trenches of WWI, and was suprised at the sysnthesis of martial arts going on then. Jujutsu, Savate, Catch Wrestling, Boxing, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Fencing... "During the First World War millions were introduced and trained in the martial arts. Perhaps, at no time before had so many been instructed in unarmed combat or had such a massive laboratory for life or death situations been undertaken. Yet, in a cruel irony, those most likely to have learned hand-to-hand combat were most likely to be killed or maimed, being the ones assigned to the front lines or sent on the raids. The War thus wiped out its greatest martial arts generation as quickly as it created it." - http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/11/12/3614692/the-martial-chronicles-in-the-trenches Thought some of you might be interested
Interesting article that. I thought the whole military combatives thing started in ww2 with W E Fairbains defendu and a few others. I have heard of combato before but thought it was also a ww2 thing. Funny how Krav Maga marketing people seem to forget these systems also existed and were extensively tested long before K M came about.
Canny read, that. Thanks for posting it, especially at a time when we're into the centenary of the war.