Most martial artists don't understand what the military combatives systems are all about. It's exactly like Oldsoldier pointed out in his first post. The Fairbairn-Sykes-Applegate (FAS) system was originally called "silent killing", and that's just what it is. A way to kill to with bare hands, blade, club or improvised weapon either when you don't have a firearm or cannot use one. It sure as heck isn't for everyone. It takes a specific attitude and you'd better be in good shape but technically, it's simple. Hurting a human being really isn't (and shouldn't be) technically complicated. Crushing the bad guy's face with a rock or the old knee to the groin will always work better than a roundhouse kick to the head that you probably won't ever be able to pull off in a real confrontation even after 10 years or training.

IME the most valuable lesson of the FAS system and all the other methods like it is that actual hand-to-hand fighting is always going to be largely mental first (attitude), then physical (strength, endurance). Whether you can execute a technique perfectly doesn't matter as long as it works. A swing with a baseball bat is going to look primitive to any formal martial artist but as long as it connects, it's what gets the job done. What Fairbairn taught is basically the same thing experienced street thugs have been doing since the dawn of time. Blindside the other guy, distract him then destroy him when he doesn't expect it or is too scared to do anything.



Having done both MMA and boxing I would agree, there are plenty of useful things to be learned there and you'll get in great shape. But again, it's not for everyone and at the end of the day, there's a HUGE difference between the ring and the street. Far more than most combat athletes realize.