Originally published in 1943 Combato was created by Bill Underwood during wartime for use in close quarter combat. This unique system is a martial art and self-defense system used in the armed forces, law enforcement, and for personal development. Combato techniques can be learned by anyone and are not based on physical strength or athletic ability. The average person will benefit from the practice by learning practical self-defense skills but also increase their self-confidence and well-being. A great addition to any martial arts library.

Combato had its beginning in the Liverpool theatres with jujutsu demonstrations by travelling Japanese wrestlers, Yukio Tani and Taro Miyake. As a boy, Underwood idolized these experts, and rapidly established himself as a prodigy.

Underwood was frequently requested by American and Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies to teach his Combato system during World War II

After the war had ended he refused Underwood modified the system to remove its lethal applications and instead focus on the Law Enforcement applications of self-defence, compliance and control tactics and called it Defendo.

Between 1980 and 1981 Underwood appeared four times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He also appeared at that time on all of Hollywood's major talk shows including Real People, That's Incredible, and Merv Griffin. In 1980 a short documentary film about Underwood's life and work, entitled Don't Mess With Bill was nominated for an Oscar at the 53rd Academy Awards in 1981.

In developing a system of self-defense specifically for women, Bill Underwood took a practical and efficient approach to self-defense for women of the era. Originally published in 1994 Self-Defense for Women: Combato, takes Bill's Combato system and applies it to specific situations and circumstances where the application can be maximized.

A valuable part of martial arts history and an informative guide packed with over 130 photographs to accompany the written explanations of techniques.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Bill Underwood was Canada's top Unarmed Combat Instructor in WWII. It was Bill who created the basis for Canadian Forces Unarmed Combat by way of his system known as Combato (1910). All things considered his life work is truly Canada's contribution to the world of unarmed combat and the martial arts.

Beasts, Men & Gods Revised 2nd Edition is a reprint of a fantasy role playing game first published in 1980 in Lawrence, Kansas. This book is a paper and pencil RPG from the era of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Tunnels & Trolls and Runequest. It is a faithful reproduction of the original book, published on a campus press at the University of Kansas. There are a few minor updates, mainly to correct errors that found their way into the original publication, along with a new introduction by the author, Bill Underwood.