NOTE: I rate this book 2.5 stars.

This brief book is not of the same depth as other "classic" titles of combatives of the era, like "Kill or Get Killed", "Cold Steel" and "Get Tough". Although it is not as good as the before mentioned, it is however somewhat important because it is a historical record of a valuable source of original written instruction by a combatant prodigy that was influential in effecting the way hand-to-hand was taught in the U.S. military of the time. Essentially Biddle's methods became the foundation the military built their close combat programs on.

Like Styers book "Cold Steel" this title also covers bayonet fighting, knife fighting/defense (which is based on the gentlemanly art of fencing which is just absurd, as well the knife section focuses on knife-on-knife fighting which is also impractical and unrealistic), and unarmed combat. Like already said it does not cover these topics in great detail. This book is OK for the untrained or inexperienced, but is mostly recommended for its historical value.