Martial Arts

The Western interest in East Asian Martial Arts dates back to the late 19th Century, due to the increase in trade between America and China and Japan. Relatively few Westerners actually practiced the arts, considering it to be mere performance. Many of the first demonstrations of the ancient fighting skills in the West were performed by Asians in vaudeville shows, which served to further reinforce the perception of the techniques as dramatic performance.

Edward William Barton-Wright, a railway engineer who had studied Jiujutsu while working in Japan between 1894-97, was the first man known to have taught Asian self defense skills in Europe. He also founded an eclectic style which combined jujutsu, judo, boxing, savate and stick fighting.

As Western influence grew in the East a greater number of military personnel spent time in China, Japan, Korea and elsewhere. Exposure to MA during the Korean war was also significant . Gradually some soldiers began to see the value of Eastern MA and began training in them.

William E. Fairbairn, a Shanghai policeman and at the time a leading Western expert on Asian fighting techniques, was recruited during world War II by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to teach UK, U.S. and Canadian Commando and Ranger forces Jujutsu.

The seminal self-defense book Kill or Get Killed was written by Colonel Rex Applegate, who worked closely with Fairbairn to train the "First Special Service," a joint U.S. and Canadian army unit; it became a classic military treatise on hand to hand combat . The fighting method was called "Defendu."

Modern variations that can still trace an authentic lineage to Applegate are very few . The undisputed "father" of Modern close-combat is who had a direct relationship with both Colonel Applegate and WWII self-defense pioneer Charlie Nelson. In 2006 was named one of the top 10 "Most Dangerous Men On The Planet" by Black Belt Magazine.

Seeing the need to bring these legitimate and proven techniques and method of close-combat back into the Modern world of "hobby" Martial Arts (Karate, Kung Fu, Capoiera, Aikido, etc.) and "sport" MA (Judo, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Wrestling, Kick Boxing, Mixed MA, Ultimate fighting , etc.), "Captain Chris" Pizzo has dedicated his life to teaching, instruction, and spreading the "truth" about street fighting, self defense, and close combat.