Geoff "Tank" Todd

Geoff and Larry Jordan prisoner searching Queensland.

© Marc Wickert

Geoff ‘Tank’ Todd was always overweight as a kid, which resulted in his being frequently picked on by older bullies. But the tenacious Tank would fight back and defeat the more senior kids through his use of dirty fighting tactics – a trait he believes later suited him to close combat.

"I first started in combat sports at age eleven, and this later led to my working at discos and pubs as a bouncer, while still at high school, and for the next twenty years."

Geoff’s primary fighting system has always been European Military Close Combat, although he has undertaken familiarization with many fighting arts of the world, as part of the variety of training phases of his close combat training career. "As a sport, I really enjoy amateur wrestling, and used to coach boxing. In my childhood days, I trained with exponents of many styles, but they simply did not suit my mentality or needs."

Tank has always been interested in studying techniques that would never be allowed in competition, and has built his close combat systems on these forbidden techniques.

"Many years ago, in an article which appeared in AFA magazine, the heading of the story was ‘A Brilliant Mind for Dirty Fighting’, and that is pretty much on the mark. Not being governed by civilian laws in military close combat really suited me. Why counter the hold when you can cut your way out of it and the like! It’s a mentality thing that requires more ruthlessness than athletic ability."

Geoff says his reason for training in martial arts has only ever been for the combat aspect, whether it be on the street, or in training soldiers for the battle field. His fighting perspective is focused on getting the job done quickly and quietly, using anything and everything – never wasting time or effort on anything but battle-proven options. As he states on his website www.schoolofselfdefence.com

"If they want to fight on the ground, offer them nothing, face them and target their exposed vitals until they are no more. Use a service or improvised weapon that will take away the will to grapple you on the ground. Train the way you will fight in combat and in only what you will employ in combat because what you practice you will be best at and use.

"Many techniques that you see in demonstrations would never work if the assistant were not a willing participant bound by rules, respect and in a studio environment, where often the methods have never been tested or proven. Never think like a sportsperson or traditionalist in combat, just take the enemy out, their eyes, throat and other vulnerable vitals are as susceptible to destruction as yours or the next person’s. Use anything and everything first."

At 42 years, Tank has reached the highest rank achievable in military close combat – Master Chief Instructor, and he still instructs every day, conducting group and individual tuition. He was a first generation exponent, trained and instructor-qualified by evolutionary pioneers of military close combat: Col. Rex Applegate of the Office of Strategic Services, Charles Nelson of the United States Marine Corps and Harry Baldock of the New Zealand Army.

"All three of these pioneers were military chief instructors, and all continued to instruct and work in close combat until they were between 85 and 90 years.

"Harry continued to weight train into his late eighties simply by reducing the poundage he pushed and maintaining the sets and reps. He taught me Ju Jitsu before he would agree to teach me unarmed combat, because after the war he thought unarmed combat was too violent for civilians. He even partnered me for my fifth degree black belt grading whilst in his mid eighties."

With there being few other special operations, close combat master chiefs world wide, Tank’s capacity schedule has had to be pushed to overload. And he believes the high demand for such skilled instructors internationally is due in part to the events of September 11.

Thus far for Geoff, the road to martial enlightenment has been relatively kind. "The only injuries I have sustained that haven’t healed - unlike the many cuts and fractures that are part and parcel of the trade - are the old hip and ankle joints being a bit worse for wear after thirty years of training. I did the ligaments in my ankle twice before going on my Special Forces Combative Instructor Qualification course in Thailand, and on the Q course, right at the end, not only did I damage the ligaments, but I also had tendon problems, making the last two days more difficult.

"I hope to one day soon reduce my work load and focus on the many close combat related projects that have had to be shelved until time is available. I would also like to have more time for my own training rather than just instructing others, and to pursue additional pastimes that I have not had the time to take up due to my career.

"In the meantime, my role is to ensure the doctrine is protected and the programs, skills, research and development are continued as well as the standards maintained. And to make sure the future instructors be brought up through the ranks and qualified."

Geoff has clocked up over 100,000 hours of close combat work as an exponent and an instructor. He has also been editor and publisher of Fight Times magazine for the past 9 years. For Geoff ‘Tank’ Todd there is no other way but to ‘Hang Tuff’.