THE DEFENDO CQB SYSTEM
"There will be some who will be shocked by the methods advocated here. To them I say "In war you cannot afford the luxury of squeamishness. Either you kill or capture, or you will be captured or killed. We've got to be tough to win, and we've got to be ruthless-tougher and more ruthless than our enemies."
W.E. Fairbairn, 1942.
The system of Modern Defendo is a cutting edge extension of William Fairbairn's original system first developed for Police use, and later adapted for military applications. A key principal in training for Fairbairn, was that of evolution. And in that same spirit, Modern Defendo reflects an evolution and modernization of the system to address real world violence as it occurs today. As the fundamental principals of what Fairbairn first developed still hold true more than 70 years later, the system of Modern Defendo has not "recreated the wheel", but rather given it a modern edge using the same scientific research methods and real world battle testing.
Training the "Reality Gap"
The Reality Gap as addressed by the system of Modern Defendo is the gap in reality between the most intense and realistic levels of training and actual street or battle field combat. This gap exists because it is impossible to simulate a real scenario with 100% accuracy within the parameters of safety. For students of Modern Defendo, the Reality Gap Training Wheel starts with basic training in fundamental skills. From there students progress to partner training at a static speed to imprint correct reactions. Next, students move into scenario training in order to closely simulate street and battle field situations. Training in F.E.A.R. Management as well as mental and tactical training in addition to the understanding of violence helps "bridge the gap" to the next phase of real street experience. The IDF's research from that street experience completes the wheel. For students of the system, this wheel illustrates how the various techniques and principals within the system have been developed, and where their training fits in relation to real world violence.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
Modern Defendo teaches it's members to survive real world violence using a combat proven system of physical, tactical, and mental techniques unequaled anywhere. The physical side of our training consists of specific "BRICKS" (BATTLE proven, REACTION for, INSTINCTIVE, CONTROL or, KILL) or modules which integrate to form the world's most complete and realistic CQB system. The system is scientifically based on proven concepts of real combat, together with universal principles of physics, biomechanics, physiology and psychology. Thus providing our members with the most realistic skill set to effectively deal with real world violence.
Modern Defendo's physical techniques use simple sets of universal principles consistent throughout the training, creating a seamless integration between individual"BRICKS" . Whether you're standing or on the ground, being attacked from the front or ambushed from the rear, facing a knife or a stick, the core concepts remain the same. This consistency makes the system quick and easy to learn, and more importantly, easy to remember. This type of training has made it possible for the world's elite military units to produce highly skilled individuals in relatively short periods of time for more than 70 years.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAINING
Bill Wolfe has worked with and served in units that faced real operational danger, and has observed first hand the negative consequences of poor psychological training. You may spend a lot of time preparing physically, but how much time is spent schooling your mental mindset? Mental training is about learning CONTROL. WITHOUT PERSONAL CONTROL YOU LOSE, PERIOD!
Control your actions and you control the incident. These skills, which come from the world's best, like the British SAS, are what allow students to help bridge the 'REALITY GAP' to real world violence, and teach you the concept of Modern Defendo's MIND BODY CONNECTION when facing the threat. The next time you survive a critical incident, ask yourself... was it good luck or good management?
ORIGIN
The system we know today as MODERN DEFENDO CQB finds it's roots as 'Defendu' in the 1920's as a Police system for dealing with some of the world's worst criminals. The founder William E. Fairbairn, Assistant Commissioner of the Shanghai Municipal Police, together with Inspector Eric Anthony Sykes, needed an effective system to teach their officers so they could survive the harsh realities of the roughest seaport in the world. Proficient in several fighting disciplines, Fairbairn together with Sykes compiled thousands of violent arrest reports, analyzed and then adressed the data borrowing and modifying various techniques and principals to produce what would later prove to be the basis of standard CQB instruction for Allied Special Forces during WWII. The utilization of Fairbairn's system during this early period on special 'Night Squads' (SWAT teams as they are called today), quickly earned it a no nonsense reputation.
Shanghai
Municipal
Police
The start of WWII saw the Allied forces needing every advantage to give their soldiers and Special Forces a winning edge. They found one such edge in Fairbairn's system. Immediately, Fairbairn was commissioned in the British Commandos and ordered to teach a lethal version of his system at the Commando school in Scotland.
Fairbairn's
Unarmed
Combat
Training,
WWII
(Click
photo
to
view
movie)
It was at this top secret Scottish location that Col. Rex Applegate of the U.S. Army studied under Fairbairn. Through Col. Applegate and other Instructors such as Col. Anthony Biddle, these highly effective skills were taught to U.S. Troops including US Marines and Rangers as well as OSS operatives and later to the FBI and CIA as the foundation of their basic training.
US
Marines
Unarmed
Combat
Training,
WWII
(Click
photo
to
view
movie)
Once the British Commando School in Scotland was able to produce it's own Fairbairn/Sykes qualified instructors, both men were transferred. Fairbairn to North America on Special Assignment, and Sykes to S.O.E.(Special Operations Executive), where he trained special agents for behind the lines duties. Fairbairn's 'Special Assignment' in Oshawa Canada was to teach his system to Allied Spec. Ops. at the most highly classified training operation of WWII, Camp X. Agents were trained in depth to dispose of their enemy quickly and quietly with brutal effectiveness. To this day the American, Canadian and British Governments still hold certain aspects of what went on at Camp X classified. Following his instruction at Camp X, Fairbairn was rejoined by Col. Applegate to form the United States Camp B, now known as Camp David.
Fairbairn
and
Applegate
conducting
OSS
Training
at
the
United
States
Camp
B
(Click
on
picture
to
view
movie)
This introduction of 'The Fairbairn Fighting System' at Camp X in conjunction with input from many highly skilled Instrcutors with various backgrouds and fighting skills would be the begining of the evolution of "DEFENDO". As Close Quarter Battle or Unarmed Combat training progressed throughout this period, it was added to and refined utilizing western fighting principals, eventually becoming reffered to in slang as "DEFENDO" by Allied soldiers.
By
far
the
most
renowned
unit
of
WWII
to
be
highly
skilled
in
Unarmed
Comabt
during
that
early
period,
was
the
1st
Special
Service
Force,
better
known
as
"The
Devil's
Brigade".
The
first
of
its
kind,
this
unique
unit
was
made
up
of
Canadian
and
US
troops,
and
carried
a
reputation
for
being
able
to
take
impenetrable
objectives
when
no
one
else
could.
With
"Pat"
O'Neil (another
of
Fairbairn's
senior
students)
as
it
Unarmed
Combat
Instructor
these
legendary
men
became
known
as
some
of
the
most
highly
trained
soldiers
during
WWII
with
their
unit
being
the
predecessor
to
the
US
Special
Forces.
Devil's Brigade Unarmed Combat Training
Allied
victory
in
WWII
marked
the
end
of
wide
spread
instruction
of
"DEFENDO"
within
North
America
as
soldiers
returned
to
their
civilian
lives,
and
only
professional
military
personnel
remained
to
continue
the
training.
Following
WWII,
"DEFENDO"
was
adopted
by
a
large
number
of
Police
agencies
throughout
Canada
and
the
U.S.
including
the
highly
respected
R.C.M.P.
Since
then,
Fairbairn's
original
system
of
CQB
has
been
the
foundation
for
every
modern
police
and
military
system
of
Unarmed
Combat.
Police Training Based on WWII Unarmed Combat
LINEAGE
Harold Stairn, a highly decorated WWII Special Operations Veteran with the British Army, was one of the few oiginal Certified Unarmed Combat Instructors that continued to teach following WWII. Stairn, a Master of Judo and Ju Jutsu, a Boxer, a Wrestler and Master Fencer, reserved instruction in "DEFENDO" for a select few military personel. One of which was a young soldier named Bill Wolfe who was a Judo and Ju Jutsu student of Stairn's. Stairn, recognizing Wolfe's natural ability and tough as nails character, proceeded to pass on the skills that had allowed him to complete his missions in the worst of circumstances. To this day, much of Harold Stairn's past remains a secret, as he was a man of few words.
The
only
known
photograph
of
Harold
Stairn
Following his training with Stairn, Bill Wolfe continued his training during his military service and received Offical Certification as a Senior Unarmed Combat Instructor in the Canadian Army. Wolfe's Unarmed Combat Instructors during this period, were also WWII Special Forces Veterans who passed on training that evolved from Camp X.
MODERN DEFENDO CQB
Following his military service, Wolfe went into Police service as a S.W.A.T. Team Leader and Instructor, Arrest and Control Tactics Instructor ,Officer Survival Instructor and Firearms Instructor. During this phase of his career, he made hundreds of violent offender arrests and found most Police self-defense and firearms training lacking in content and reality. As a result, Wolfe adapted his experience with research information provided by Mr. Doug Farenholtz(POPAT) on Police assaults, to the "DEFENDO" system. With the assistance of Harold Stairn and Dennis Wolfe, and using Fairbarins own format of scientific development, Wolfe applied current and modern data to the "DEFENDO" system, modernizing it for Police service and applying it to the teaching of tactics to his S.W.A.T. Team.
Bill
Wolfe
demonstrates
Police
arrest
and
control
techniques
during
the
1980's
(Click
on
picture
to
view
movie)
Today, MODERN DEFENDO CQB has become recognized world wide, as one of the most effective systems of personal protection for Police, military and civilian applications. No other system can offer MODERN DEFENDO's history, scientific research or battle proven effectiveness for more that 70 years.
Bill
Wolfe
&
Doug
Farenholtz.
(Doug
Farenholtz
is
the
creator
of
POPAT
and
former
Director
of
Physical
Training
for
the
Royal
Canadian
Mounted
Police.)
SYSTEM PRESENTER
Bill
Wolfe,
offers
his
unique
expertise
through
his
combined
Police,
military,
and
civilian
self
defense
background
unequaled
anywhere
else.
Wolfe's
extensive
service
as
an
ERT/SWAT
team
leader,
VIP
Close
Protection
Service
Team
Leader,
Control
Tactics
Instructor,
and
Firearms
Instructor
together
with
his
military
service
as
a
Regimental
Sergeant
Major,
and
Senior
Unarmed
Combat
Instructor
working
with
such
units
as
the
British
SAS,
U.S.
Navy
SEALs,
Special
Forces,
Rangers,
German
GSG9,
French
Army
Commandos,
and
the
Israeli
Defense
Force
in
addition
to
his
service
as
an
Instructor
for
one
of
the
world's
most
elite
anti-terrorist
teams,
combined
with
more
than
40
years
of
world
wide
self
defense
training
and
Hall
of
Fame
nomination,
gives
Wolfe
real
world
experience
that
speaks
for
itself.
This
hard-won
real
life
training,
including
operational
military
service,
and
more
than
1000
arrests
as
a
former
veteran
city
Police
Officer,
makes
Bill
Wolfe
without
question
one
of
the
most
highly
qualified
individuals
currently
instructing
CQB
to
professionals
and
civilians
anywhere
in
the
world.
Military Background William H. Wolfe C.D.
Bill Wolfe awarded Nobel Peace Prize Diploma and Canadain Forces Peace Keepers Medal in 2001, for his contribution to world peace with the Canadian Forces.
Senior Instructor for Canadian Armed Forces Close Quarter Battle. ( DEFENDO )
Canadian Army Chief Warrant Officer / Regimental Sergeant Major (Ret.), the most senior appointment for a non-commissioned officer in the Canadian and British Armies.
Instructor for the Canada's elite anti-terrorist team.( Mr. Wolfe is prohibited from teaching any tactical skills relating to this unit by authority of the Official Canadian Secrets Act. )
PPCLI Battle School Instructor.
Airborne Regiment 2 Commando Unarmed Combat Instructor.
Canadian Navy Special Operations Instructor for Persian Gulf.
Operational Military Service with U.N. in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Far East. As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, worked with and Instructed such units as; British SAS, U.S. Navy Seals, Special Forces, Rangers, French Army Commando, French GIGN, German GSG9 anti-terrorism, Australian SAS, New Zealand SAS, Polish Airborne, Israeli Defense Force, Singapore Defense Force, Malaysian Defense Force 22 Commando.
Police Background William H. Wolfe
10 years ERT/S.W.A.T. Leader and Instructor. ( Author of Official Training Manual )
VIP Team Leader and Instructor.
Police Firearms Instructor. Author of Official Training Manual, and considered an expert in this field by the Courts of Canada
Police Baton Instructor. Author of Official Training Manual and considered an expert in this field by the Courts of Canada
Police Officer Survival Instructor, and considered an expert in this field by the law enforcement agencies across Canada including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Police Use of Force Instructor, and considered an expert in this field by the Courts of Canada.
Numerous accreditations by the Justice Institute of B.C. and the Washington State Criminal Justice Institute including; S.W.A.T., F.B.I. S.W.A.T. Leader, F.B.I. S.W.A.T. Instructor, RCMP ERT Leader, Special Weapons and Tactics, and many more.
Civilian Background William H. Wolfe
42 years of worldwide martial arts study and teaching expertise.
Senior Instructor for the Canadian Military C.Q.B. system of Defendo
8th Dan Black Belt World Hapkido Federation
6th Dan Black Belt Original Korean Hapkido Association ( obtained in Korea )
4th Dan Black Belt Aiki Goshindo Ju Jutsu ( France )
1st Dan Black Belt Kodokan Judo ( Canadian Army Judo Team 1969-72, Canada )
1st Dan Black Belt Rystu Tio Jutsu ( France )
Certified Muay Thai Kickboxing Coach ( Royal Thai Army, Thailand )