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Defendu

The first appearance of the term DEFENDU was as the title of W.E. Fairbairn's 1926 publication on his method of "scientific self-defence". We are further informed that this treatise is the "official text book for the Shanghai Municipal Police, Hongkong(sic) Police and Singapore Police".

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Jandric Nebojsa-Jimmy
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2K views2 pages

Defendu

The first appearance of the term DEFENDU was as the title of W.E. Fairbairn's 1926 publication on his method of "scientific self-defence". We are further informed that this treatise is the "official text book for the Shanghai Municipal Police, Hongkong(sic) Police and Singapore Police".

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Jandric Nebojsa-Jimmy
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Some thoughts on the origins of the term "DEFENDU" By Carl Cestari The first appearance of the term DEFENDU

was as the title of W.E. Fairbairn's 19 ! publication on his metho" of #scientific self$"efence#. We are further informe" that this treatise is the #official te%t boo& for the Shanghai 'unicipal (olice) *ong&ong+sic, (olice an" Singapore (olice#. The usage of DEFENDU is foun" twice in the forwar" of the 19 ! e"ition. *owe-er) in this conte%t it woul" be important to remember that Fairbairn claims almost complete originalit. in the metho"s presente") stating howe-er that the. are "rawn from se-eral "ifferent sources. /n this regar" it woul" not be applicable to use 0sian terms or nomenclature) i.e. #1iu 2itsu# or Western "escripti-e phrases such as #3hinese 4o%ing#. Fairbairn claims originalit. in the metho"s presente") hence an #original# "escripti-e term woul" be apropos. This situation howe-er cause" confusion among rea"ers of this e"ition an" hence in the 1951 e"ition of Fairbairn's wor& the title was change" to #Scientific Self$Defence#. This was "one to ma&e the content of this e"ition more clear to the a-erage in"i-i"ual. The term DEFENDU is foun" again in 4i""le's wor& #D6 67 D/E#+1958,. Fairbairn is cre"ite" with "e-eloping this metho". /t is interesting to note that 4i""le ma&es a clear "istinctionbetween #1iu$1itsu# an" #Defen"u#. The 1999 e"ition of 3olonel 4i""le's boo& also uses the term DEFENDU an" the te%t is -irtuall. the same as in the earlier e"ition. E%cepting one important point: /n the later e"tion 4i""le refers to Fairbairn's boo& #;ET T6U;*#. *owe-er) he "oes not correct the fact that Fairbairn b. this time was a 'a2or ser-ing with US Forces+not 0ssistant 3omissioner of the S'(,. There are of course ob-ious reasons for this lapse. The point howe-er is that the term DEFENDU relates too much earlier metho"s espouse" b. Fairbairn an" "i" not reflect his thin&ing at this time +1999,. The 4ritish e"ition of #0<< /N F/;*T/N;# also mentions DEFENDU) but 2ust as a passing comment in reference to Fairbairn's earlier wor&s. #;ET T6U;*# the US reprint of #0<< /N F/;*T/N;# refers to the close combat fighting metho" present as the #Fairbairn S.stem#. So what is the point= Well here it is......... / belie-e that the changes in terminolog. referring to <T. 36<6NE<+N6T 30(T0/N) N6T '0167) as so '0N> ill informe" in"i-i"uals refer$D6 >6U7 D0'N 7ESE073*?,Fairbairn's metho"s reflect a 3*0N;E+growth if .ou will,in his 36'(<ETE 0TT/TUDE regar"ing close combat. /n "escribing his '6S for paperwor& "etailing his "uties an" responsibilities in connection with being awar"e" the #<egion of 'erit#) Fairbairn refers to his metho"s of close combat as #;utter$fighting#. 3onsi"er if .ou will the change in attitu"e from #Scientific Self$Defence# to #;UTTE7 F/;*T/N;#. Fairbairn further eluci"ates his feelings b. "escribing two &e. elements: @E*E'EN3E an" 07T/F/3E? #S3/ENT/F/3# self "efense this is N6T?

Now for those who ha-e propose" that DEFENDU remains the (6</3E #-ersion# of the Fairbairn metho" an" ma&e a "istinction as to the militar. metho") well consi"er that after WW// the manual of choice use" b. (6</3E agencies un"er Fairbairn's consult was #;ET T6U;*#) reprinte" in the language of that particular agenc.. Now as to the possible origins of the original term DEFENDU. / ha-e o-er the .ears hear" se-eral stories. Some were simpl. ri"iculous in light of the facts we AN6W? Two howe-er stan" out as possible+an" -er. plausible,can"i"ates. First) is the simple use of DEFEND combine" with the well &nown term 2iu$2its#U#. *ence) DEFENDU. 0si"e from what others ma. claim) 1iu 1itsu+of this perio", influence" Fairbairn far more than e-en he was willing to a"mit. 0n" that goes for the staple metho"s of the e"ge han") chin$2ab) an" e-en the #tiger# claw. 1iu 2itsu ha" these -er. blows an" ga-e great cre"ence to their effecti-eness in #real# combat+>ES? this can be -erifie" b. boo&s) manuals) etc. in the writer's possession,these #roc& crushing# blows *0NDS 6FF) howe-er pre"ate" b. usage in turn of the centur. 1iu 2itsu manuals "escribing these 0temi,were e%tant in #real# 1iu 2itsu for centuries. 0s far as the claims of ;7E0T influence b. #3hinese# bo%ing metho"s) such as 3hin$Na) 4a ;ua) *sing$/) etc.)/ feel that the e-i"ence "enies this +>eaton's letter concerning Fairbairn's thoughts on the matter,. *ence) the use of DEFENDU pa.s some homage to 1iu 2itsu) as well as gi-ing the Western fla-or to Fairbairn's metho"s. Secon"l.) simpl. a "escripti-e term stating the ob-ious: to DEFEND >6U?) or DEFEND U) or DEFENDU. / hope that the abo-e was e"if.ing an" of some interest. /t is course open to speculation) "iscussion an" further research. <ast point: The peripher. is interesting. 4ut the real issue is can .ou "rop that maniacal S64+s, intent on .our "emise= Tal&ing about the e"ge of han") chin 2ab) tigers claw ain't reall. worth a tin&ers "amn) if .ou 30N'T USE 'E'? So if .ou ain't training .our ass off) .ou ma. as well go an" ta&e up ti""l. win&s? *app. New >ear) ma. ;o" bless an" all the best of luc&? 3.(. 3estari +than&s to 3lint who got me up off m. ass to answer his Buestions, C DDE WWW.;UTTE7F/;*T/N;.67; 403A T6 T*E */ST67> (0;E 403A T6 T*E '0/N (0;E

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