Defendo
Officially Defendo (formerly Combato)
Canadian defensive combat system founded 1963 by Grandmaster Bill Underwood — blends jiu-jitsu, judo, savate, wrestling, boxing into practical self-defence. Used by RCMP + Canadian Armed Forces; graded through 6 levels (yellow to black tab). Civilianised evolution of Underwood's WWII Combato commando system.
What is Defendo?
Defendo is a Canadian defensive combat system founded 1963 by Grandmaster William 'Bill' Underwood (1907-1998) — a civilianised evolution of Underwood's Combato, which he developed during WWII for Allied commandos in Britain + Canada. Blends jiu-jitsu, judo, savate, wrestling, and boxing into practical scenario-based self-defence method emphasising verbal de-escalation, joint locks, throws, weapon disarms (knife, stick, firearm from concealment). Core self-defence syllabus for Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) since 1970 + used by Canadian Armed Forces, correctional officers, and private security. Not a competitive sport — trained as scenarios (assault, weapon disarm, ground survival, multi-attacker) with graded proficiency tests through 6 coloured tabs (yellow → orange → green → blue → brown → black). Governed by CMAANA (Combined Martial Arts Academies of North America, est. 1965) + Defendo Alliance International (1990).
Quick facts
Category
Combat Sports
Type
Individual
Players
2–4
Duration
~90 min
Where played
both
Country of origin
🇨🇦 Canada
Estimated origin
Civilian Defendo founded 1963 by Bill Underwood; roots in WWII-era Combato (1940s Allied commando training)
Olympic
No
Popularity
niche
How it works
Objective
Master practical self-defence — verbal de-escalation, joint locks, throws, weapon disarms, scenario response.
Match structure
Not competitive; trained as scenarios (assault, weapon disarm, ground survival, multi-attacker) with graded proficiency tests.
Rules
Basic rules
Verbal de-escalation first
Instructor drilled to attempt verbal control before physical response.
Scenario-based training
Realistic environments (parking lot, elevator, low-light, seated) instead of matted-gym drills.
Progressive resistance
Partner drills escalate from compliant to fully-resisting attacks.
Advanced rules
Multi-attacker + low-light scenarios
Advanced tabs face 2-3 attackers in low-light + confined spaces.
Use-of-force documentation
Advanced curriculum includes documentation + legal justification for force.
Scoring
Grading pass/fail based on demonstrable proficiency: technique execution, tactical decision-making, controlled force application, verbal de-escalation.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Grading test pass | Tab awarded |
Win condition · Grading tab awarded after passing test.
Equipment
Training weapons
Rubber knife, aluminum training gun, foam stick — for weapon-disarm drills.
Focus pads + Thai pads
Standard striking targets.
Uniform (optional)
Traditionally civilian clothing to simulate real-world encounters; formal grading uses black uniform with rank tab on sleeve.
Grading tab
Coloured cloth tab (yellow through black) worn on uniform sleeve indicating rank.
Positions & roles
Practitioner
×1Learner of defensive skills, scenario responder.
Officiating
Grading panel evaluates technique, judgement, and force appropriateness.
- Chief instructor
- Grading panel (2-3 senior instructors)
- Scenario role-players
Penalties & fouls
Penalties
Uncontrolled contact in drill
Stop drill; retrain; repeat = removed from session.
Excessive force in scenario
Grading failure; retrain on use-of-force continuum before retake.
Unsafe weapon handling
Immediate dismissal + safety recertification.
Strategies
Line of attack redirection
Step off attacker's line, redirect momentum with parry, apply joint lock/throw from side angle.
Pre-emptive de-escalation
Verbal control (name, boundary, exit) with hands up in fence position.
Weapon disarm chain
Control the weapon-bearing limb first, then the weapon, then the attacker.
Terminology
- Combato
- Underwood's WWII commando combat system
- Tab
- Coloured cloth on uniform sleeve indicating rank
- Fence position
- Hands-up defensive posture during verbal de-escalation
Major competitions
Defendo National Instructor Certification
annual · Canada · since 1965
Defendo International Seminars
biennial · global (Canada, US, Europe) · since 1990
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Combined Martial Arts Academies of North America (CMAANA)
Founded 1965 · Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Defendo Alliance International
Founded 1990 · Ontario, Canada
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Grandmaster William 'Bill' Underwood (Canada, 1907-1998) — founder + jiu-jitsu pioneer
- Louis Jani (Canada) — Underwood's protégé + long-time Defendo instructor
Records
Founding
Bill Underwood — Toronto, Canada; formalised post-WWII Combato into civilian Defendo (1963)
RCMP adoption
Royal Canadian Mounted Police — Core self-defence syllabus for RCMP recruits (1970)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Yellow tab basics
Stance, blocks, basic strikes, escapes from grabs, verbal de-escalation.
intermediate
- 1
Orange/green/blue tabs
Joint locks, throws, weapon awareness (knife, stick, firearm), scenario response.
advanced
- 1
Brown/black tabs (instructor)
Multi-attacker, low-light scenarios, arrest-and-control, teaching, use-of-force documentation.
Frequently asked
Who founded Defendo?+
Grandmaster William 'Bill' Underwood (1907-1998), Canadian jiu-jitsu pioneer who developed Combato in WWII for Allied commandos, then civilianised it as Defendo in 1963.
Is Defendo a sport?+
No — Defendo is a defensive combat art. There are no tournaments; all training is scenario-based with grading tests, not competitive matches.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Defendo— Wikipedia