Science of Self Defence 1867-Edmund Price.pdf

The Science of Self Defence

A Treatise on Sparring and Wrestling

By Edmund Price 1867

Preface

In giving the following pages to the world, we do so with a certain degree of anxiety

oscillating between pride and ear-pride at our maiden effort-fear for its success. We

began to write this work in 1860, but the war breaking soon after, compelled us to defer

the undertaking to a more auspicious season. And now that Military arms are no longer

fashionable, doubtless "Old Nature's" arms in adjusting quarrels or in self-protection will

be the only weapons needed. Therefore as a natural consequence, their practical

development and scientific use should be earnestly cutivated.

Some readers may inquire why our work needs a preface, and many devoted to light

literature may consider all prefaces bores. With all due deference, we esteem this an

error, for from a preface you may glean the author's intentions and opinions in reference

to his work. The prefaces of Sir Walter Scott, are models of humor and historic truth and

beauty; those of Bulwer instructive and interesting. At all events the most eminent

authors in all ages have in their prefaces deprecated the severity of critics and appealed to

the kindness of their readers in regard to faults and imperfections and anticipated

objections,

"Custom exacts, and who denies her sway?

A epilogue to every five-act play."

So it is equally imperative on the subject of prefaces. We have therefore resolved that our

little bantling shall be ushered into this 'breathing world' with all the literary honors. But

what shall our preface treat of? Shall we go back to the days of Greece and Rome and

exhibit our classic lore in recoutning the sposrts and games of antiquity; how at religious

festivals the noblest of the Grecians and Romans contended in throwing the discus,

hurling the javelin, Running, Leaping, Wrestling and Boxing. Shall we tell of teh

Olympian, Pythian, Isthmian or Nemean games, and how for ten months the Athletes

underwent preparatory training in the Gymnaasion at Elis under the careful tuition of

accomplished Masters, and how the greatest Statesmen, Poets, and Warriors contended

for the Olive Crown, and how Alcibiades, the finest formed man of his age, owed his

exquisite and superb physique to his training for the Olympian games?

"He deemed it no small part of his renown

To wear the Olive with the Laurel crown."

Our purpose is not to dwell on the past; but no one familiar with the history of the

Grecian or Roman people, can fail to realize the fact, that to out-door sports and games

they were indebted for their stalwart warriors, warriors that made Rome the mistress of

the world. It was only when effeminacy and luxury pervaded the masses of the nation that

the seven-hilled Queen fell before the conquering arm of the Goths and Vandals. We

presume no one at the present day will deny the advantages (not only to the sedentary,

but to everyone) of wise and systematic physical training. The union of strength and

beauty in the human form is the greatest point to be achieved, and if 'Mens sana in

corpore sano' is the greatest of blessings, it can only be obtained by a judicious exercise

of all the powers of the mind and the muscles of the body acting in harmony; therefore

we do not fear contradiction in asserting that out-door sports and gymnastic exercises

promote cheerfulness, 'clear the cobwebs from the brain', excite a healthy circulation of

the blood, and brace and harden the muscles. How many earnest students have defeated

all their efforts for the elevation of mankind, by a neglect of this most obvious principle

of husbanding and strengthening their physical resources; dooming themselves to a life of

suffering and premature grave. We could quote many illustrious examples of this neglect

of the body, in the over anxiety for the development of the intellectual powers. Though

perfect harmony is perfect beauty, and though the immortal soul, the ever active mind of

man, are gems of priceless value, not less worthy of preservation and care is the casket in

which they are enshrined.

But our work is not a treatise on medicine-and we must not frighten our readers, nor must

we commit the worst of offences in this wide-awake age by becoming prosy. Our object,

then, in this volume is to give a correct and reliable Manual on the "Art of Self Defense",

not founded on 'obsolete' rules of aby-gone age, but on the practical results of our own

experience adn observation, and we trust, with a clearness and precision that will render it

invaluable to the pupil and interesting to the amateur and general reader. We also give

such hints on training as will be useful to all persons engaged in sedentary pursuits.

Even those who look with horror and disgust on the Prize Ring are willing to allow that a

scientific knowledge of self defence is desirable simply as a means of self preservation

and protection, and certainly the philanthropist, of two evils will choose the least, a 'free

fight', which, as Shakespeare says, may end in 'bloody noses and cracked crowns', being

far preferable to the wholesale butcheries that have too often disgraced the civilization of

our large cities.

Man is a pugnacious animal. the organ of combativeness is largely developed in many

heads, and has just as legitimate a place as reverence of ideality, and though

Phrenologists term it a propensity, (in contradistinction to the moral and intellectual

organs,) it enters largely into every enterprise in which courage and energy are

indispensable. Without it, George Stevenson would never have spanned England with

railroads, or our Fulton set his first steamer floating in majestic beauty on the fair bosom

of the Hudson. Wisdom should teach us, not to ignore either its existence, or power for

good or evil, but how wisely to guide and control it. It is a well known fact that

professional pugilists are generally men of great forebearance under provocation, and we

are satisfied that a thorough knowledge of the 'Art of Self Defence' renders man not

quarrelsome but forebearing, for they feel it is glorious to possess a giant's strength, but

cowardly to use it like a giant. Therefore, on the score of good manners and breeding, we

suggest a thorough cultivation of this manly accomplishment. But we must bring these

preliminary remarks to a close, trusting our labors will not prove entirely in vain. As

physical training is exciting attention in this country, we hope our little book may be the

means of attracting the notice of those who have hitherto given little thought to the

subject, that its hints may be acted upon, and that its judicious system of training may

plant the rose on many a faced cheek and that we may see the rare combination of

physical beauty, strength and gentleness, united to those moral adn intellectual qualities

that ever mark the true gentleman.

Contents

THE ARM

THE FEET

THE HEAD

THE BODY

SPARRING

Blow Number One

Blow Number Two

Blow Number Three

Blow Number Four

Blow Number Five

Blow Number Six

Blow Number Seven

PARRYING

Parry Number One

Parry Number Two

Parry Number Three

Parry Number Four

Parry Number Five

Parry Number Six

Parry Number Seven

FIBBING

Cross and Counter Fibbing

GETTING THE HEAD IN CHANCERY

GETTING THE HEAD OF OF CHANCERY

WRESTLING AS ACCESSORY TO BOXING

SIDE-FALLS

CROSS-BUTTOCKS

STRIKING THE BAG

INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING

TRAINING

CORPULENCY

The Arm

As a motive power for offense of defense, it would be a mere waste of our time as well as

that of our readers, were we to expatiate upon the propriety of the heading to these pages.

The arm is literally the principal motive power physically given to man for offense and

defense. This is self evident. Who, possessing the ordinary instinct of pugnacity common

to humanity, ever received a blow that did not at once acknowledge the favor by 'hitting

out' straight from the shoulder? Who that is about to receive one, does not instinctively

place himself as rapidly as possible in the best natural position to ward it off?

Whether a man is of an extremely bellicose disposition or othewise, the disposition to

return or parry a blow is instinctive and cannot be wanting in his normal condition.

With or without a weapon, it may be considered invaluable. To the honor of the Anglo-

Saxon blood, let it be said that the tendency to use a weapon is rarely evinced, either by

the American or Englishman, save the cause of quarrel be one which blood alone can

wipe out, or there is such a manifest disparity in age or physical strength between the

parties as to render such a trial of the question between them in its results, a prejudged

certainty.

Let me then indicate to my readers the best manner in which they can employ the original

weapons of defense which they inherit from their primary progenitor, Old Adam.

To administer a blow with sharp and telling effect, it is absolutely necessary that you

should be precise and clean in your delivery; otherwise, instead of injuring your

opponent, you are liable to disable yourself. This must, as a necessary consequence,

render you liable to defeat, even though you may be infinitely stronger than your

adversary. To avoid this, your first attention should be given to the position of your arms.

They should invariably be disposed in an easy attitude, (which, because it is easy, is

certain to be graceful,) as ready to repel an attack efficiently, as to retaliate upon, by

assailing, your adversary.

The position of the arms, will, however, have to be varied according to your own

capabilities. No specific or invariable rule can be given which is applicable to every kind

of figure, disposition, or weight.

There are perhaps in the world no two pugilists whose position is precisely alike when

they spar or right. As no two poets treating the same subject would deliver themselves of

the same numbers-as no two painters when embodying the same subject could treat it in

perfectly the same manner, and as no two men possess exactly the same lineaments-so it

is almost an impossibility for two pugilists to take exactly the same attitude, however

nearly the physical conformation of one man may approach the other. However, while we

state this, there are rules without the observance of which neither the poet nor painter can

do anything worth looking at. So there are rules for the position of the arms, which you

would do well to attend to, if you intend covering yourself or punishing your opponent.

Should there by any chance or ignorance be unobserved, the unavoidable certainty would

be that your frontispiece would be so elaborately ornamented by your assailant, or at all

events your body would be so cruelly punished, that you might find it extremely

unpleasant to be visible to your friends for the ensuing two or three weeks. Under these

circumstances you may in all probability find it as well as not to attend to them.

In the first place, the hand should be properly closed, or, as the phrase is, the fist should

be properly made up. This is a matter of much importance and will require practice. The

fingers should be clenched (not too tightly,) and the thumb so doubled down outside of

them that when the arm is in proper position for

action before your adversary, he can see no portion of it above the knuckles. If the hand

be rightly held the knuckles form a sort of arch, and if at the moment the blow be given,

the hand be clenched with all your might it cannot but be effective.

In the next place your left arm should be extended at about two thirds of its whole length

and the extremity of the arm should range just below the level of your shoulder. The back

of the hand should be turned downward, but at the same time the hand should be slightly

turned upward from the wrist. By this postition the back of your knuckles will be thrown

exactly upon a line with the face of your opponent.

The advantage of this position of the left arm, is self evident, and nothing could well be

easier or less fatiguing, and while its powerful propelling muscle is scarcely in full

tension, it is capable of complete and prompt exertion at any monent for offense or

defense.

Secondly, your right arm should be extended across your body, your finger knuckles

touching the nipple of the left breast. This must necessarily bring the knuckles of the back

of your hand immediately towards your adversary's face.

This position is even easier than that of the left arm while its advantages are precisely the

same. In each of them your elbows should be evenly squared, so that when either arm is

put in motion, it will just clear the body either in drawing back or advancing.

Thirdly, when you are sparring you deliver or push out each arm alternately, throwing out

the one arm, as you recover or draw back the other, so that when the one arm is out from

the body, ready to repel or attach, the other is quietly at rest, prompt to seize upon a

chance for any mischief which may court attention.

In laying down these for the position of the arms, we have expressed ourselves in the

simplest manner possible. Brevity is said to be the soul of wit. Whether it is or not, this

we do know, that while teaching the science of sparring, we have invariably found that

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