Contemporary Knife Targeting: Modern Science vs. W.E. Fairbairn's Timetable of Death Paperback – 1 Jan. 2007

This book first examines Fairburns timetable of death and gives reasons for why they think Fairburn 'made it up'. Even so his timetable was still being used by FBI and enforcement agencies until recently after the authors showed that Fairburn was incorrect and proven so by modern medical knowledge.The authors then took this medical knowledge and developed their own time table. This timetable based on an average sized male (based on average sized FBI agents killed in action) gave as accurate as could be made times for shock-unconciouseness and then death. It explains that soooo many variations can occur heart rate, size, size of injury etc that only an estimate can be made but at least its based on medical knowledge.The authors then go into targeting muscles and tendons etcSo to start with you get a knowledge of how to use a knife to its maximum effectiveness because once you know how to use the knife you can then learn how to defend against the knife.The techniques these guy's teach are firstly about getting the hell out of the confrontation and to safety and only how to defend and then fight back in situations where you cannot do a runner.....such as a law enforcement officer protecting lives by dealing with a scum.A very very informative book which tells you the facts about knife wounds and their effects. A must for any knife fighting stylist (which I am not).

While aspects of this book are interesting, on the whole it leaves a lot to be desired. Its critique of Fairbairn Syke's timetable is valid and fairly comprehensive. Additionally, it gives a superficially plausible replacement based on (very rudimentary) anatomy and maths.Basically it examines1. what percentage of blood per heart beat is diverted to which blood vessels.2. what volume of blood is pumped per beat, and therefore per minute at different BPM.3. what volume of blood would need to be lost for shock, unconsciousness and death.4. How long this would take for each blood vessel, taking into account 1 & 2.What it neglects to do is consider the function of the blood vessels. For instance, the carotid artery (cited as taking 7.5% of the body's blood per beat) is said by the author to take 1min55sec to produce unconsiousness at 130bpm. I'd venture this a ridiculous overestimate considering that the carotid artery directly supplies the brain. Significant physiological oversights like this call in to question the validity of much of the book - though overall still an improvement on Skye's original timetable with its hollywood style insta-kills.Other than the timetable, a few other anatomical targets are touched upon with high-school level detail, before giving one or two dodgy knife defence tactics based (loosely) on Filipino Martial Arts. Overall, very little of worth

There is no such thing as a book that teaches you how to efficiently and quickly kill someone. That would be bad. However, a book that breaks down the physiology and mechanics of bleed out on any given human being cut in the major targets would be GOOD! (if only for scientific and academic study of course). The authors of this book are true academics in that they went beyond the Myths of knife fighting and actually looked at it from a real world medical view. This book explains the how’s and whys of practical work on any given human with a sharp pointy object, in such a way as to very thoroughly pass on all of the necessary information… Even if you never intend to attack anyone with your kitchen knife, buy this book, read it, and store the information away for when TSHTF. You, as a survivor, you as someone not wishing to be a statistic or a victim, you who are forced into a bad situation will need to know what’s in this book, for your own safety and potential life. It’s not an easy read. If you have trouble with content and reading between the lines have someone who is read it and explain it, but take the time to learn. When seconds count and all that jazz. For those of you who have been trained in any system that is based on the Timetable of death from the late 40’s, it’s time to get that reality check and learn a thing or two. It takes time to die from a cut, unless it’s directly applied to the brain stem, you still have to wrestle with someone who is now dying, p*ssed off and angry, and who has nothing left but to take you with them. If you can get 3 good targets while fighting, it may only mean 30 seconds until they black out… just saying, because this book explains why that’s so. I can also highly recommend the books, DVDs and seminars put on by Mike Janich and his Martial Blade Concepts.

I was worried that the images would not be very good in the kindle edition, but this on delivers even in the kindle. Scientifically very accurate, and way mucho much better then Fairbairn `s timetable of death. The authors really really really did their homework. if you are a professional - LEO soldier medic etc. - then I recommend this as compulsory. If you are an interested amateur it is still a must.

Super Buch zu nem ernsten ThemaBisschen medizinischen Hintergrund bzw. gute englische Kenntnisse sind Vorrausetzung, sonst wird man wohl öfter mal nachschlagen müssen

It's been said that stupidity is terminal, but ignorance is correctable by the acquisition of knowledge. This is amply proven by the authors, their technical and medical support team, and the many years of experience, study, and teaching, applied in real world applications. Using scientific methodology, based upon reality, not supposition or urban legend, this book gives information and techniques you can, if necessary, use... No fluff, no smoke and mirrors, but real, information- makes this a "must have" item for study, reference, and training...This book does not attack A.E. Fairbairn, but explains the psychology he used, in attempting to "instantly" turn "ordinary" men and women, into fighters/killers, with little to no experience, to enable them to kill their enemy. The exigencies of "The Service," and coming from behind, preparedness-wise, necessitated such measures... Psychology, applied to necessity, helped turn the course of the war, WWII, as well as the war in the shadows that has continued from the Cold War, to today...Grosz and Janich, along with recognized authorities In the martial arts and medical fields, took the subject head-on, and have introduced informed, scientifically based system of applying edged weapons in the arena of mortal combat.I believe that Fairbairn, Sykes, and Applegate would not only approve this magnificent work, but heartily endorse it as well...Do I recommend this book? Without reservation, and with enthusiasm! Especially for those won't allow themselves to become victims... This book must become a part of your understanding, and training, to enable your safety and survival...Five out of Five Stars...

I had the opportunity to train with some military and law enforcement people. They instructed me in hand to hand, knife to hand, and knife to knife fighting. One officer who has been doing knife fighting training for many years recommended this book to me. He said there are a lot of books out there on the subject, but most of them are not worth your time. This is the one book he recommends, that is a good supplemental learning tool in addition to actual physical training. This book teaches you the reality of knife fighting, examined through a medical perspective with current real world knowledge. This book highly focuses on specific targets of the body, and what the effects will be from hitting them in gruesome detail.