The Practical Value of Boxing

The Practical Value of Boxing as a means of
defence against Attack by Hooligans
By "Gunner" Moir

Several publicists and others with axes to grind have carefully proved to their own entire satisfaction that an Englishman's natural weapons really belong to the museum. The services which they and the knowledge of how to use them rendered during many centuries are no longer asked of them. The recently - boomed craft of wrestling has been placed on a pedestal for general worship, and it is pointed out with vehement assertion that the game of the mat will be found far more effective for dealing with a hooligan that will the noble art of fisticuffs. Well, the professional wrestler certainly earns more money nowadays than the average professional boxer, so I suppose that the general public are satisfied as to his superior merit. I fear that it has been my custom generally to join issue with the opinion of the majority, but I certainly think that in a genuine set-to the boxer would always carry my money, even though I had to lay very heavy odds.

Further, I would unhesitatingly assert that for practical purpose, the noble art of self-defence will be found far move valuable as a means of self-defence than either wrestling or even ju-jitsu, especially if the boxer himself has taken a few pains in acquiring a smattering of both these arts, neither of which by themselves would possess any particular advantage over even a good rough and tumble fighter.

Now the gentle hooligan is first and foremost a rough and tumble fighter who, whatever be his merits as a stylist, is a firm believer in the " all-in" principle. He will use a knife, or stick, or the buckle-end of his belt- a most unpleasant thing to be stuck by - while, of course, he will miss no opportunity of using his boots, especially if these be thick and heavy, in your stomach, or on your shins; these also he finds particularly useful for stamping with on your face should you be so unfortunate as to go down.

In the disagreeable event of your running up against one of these gentry, and such a misfortune may easily befall you, you have to decide on taking one of two courses, the first of which is to retreat as speedily as possible, and the second that of standing up and "facing the music." I take it that the latter will be the one which will commend itself as being the more congenial, to say nothing of being certainly the more dignified and possibly the safer, particularly if your assailant happens to prove fleeter of foot, besides which your evident determination to put him through the mill may remind him of an important engagement elsewhere.

We will suppose, however, that he is " all-out" for blood, and that the question of superiority between you has to be decided right there, in which case you will do well to remember that you are very probably " up against a singularly stiff proposition," in which, though your study of the " Noble Art" will prove of no mean assistance, you will nevertheless be somewhat hampered by habits which have become almost second nature to you. In the first place, you will find it best to stand rather more edge on to him, as he attacks, than you would when engaged in a bout with the gloves. Should he come in with his arms whirling and intent to use his fists only, you can soon shift yourself into a comfortable posture, while if he comes kicking you will be well placed to guard with your left leg raised, with the foot turned well in, so as to take his kick well on the outside of your leg, where it won't hurt much, instead of on your shin where it would be serious. If practised carefully an excellent stop against a kicker is to stand rather square, and as he delivers his kick to raise your front leg so as to meet his shin on your heel. If the timing is accurate the kicker will collapse with a broken leg, but it must be accurate or you will come off badly.

If, however, you do not fancy taking a kick on your calf, and are not sure of your ability to meet it with your heel, you will find one portion of the tricky work of the schools useful, and that is of course a smart slip or side step and pivot, which will leave him to rush madly past you when, of course, you should let him have it good and hard in the jaw or neck.

By the way, if his rush gives you reason to retreat, it is best to go wide as well as back, and to do it in one movement, for the hooligan as a rule is a great believer in the virtues of " high-kicking" and that variety of la savate is unpleasant if successful.

Which reminds one that some slight knowledge of la savate is by no means valueless in such circumstances, but as already mentioned, the boxer would in any event, do well to acquire some knowledge of wrestling, either in one form or another. Such knowledge will no way diminish his abilities for rapid movement, so essential to success in the ring, but will also prove of real practical value should he be called upon to put his fists to serious use in defence of his life, limbs or property. And in the case of ruffianly assault it is his life, which will be in danger. For he must be scrupulously careful to avoid being floored under any circumstances. When down he can have little hope of escaping serious attention from the feet of the " gentle" hooligan.

And there are several methods whereby one may lay oneself open to a fall in defending oneself against a street attack, especially when, as one is almost sure to do, you and your adversary get to close quarters.

He may, for instance, get your head" in chancery". An unpleasant position in itself, but a lightly dangerous one, if your enemy converts it into " cross buttock," by stooping and swinging his hips round under you as he bends you over and then lifting you on to his shoulders to hurl you in a heap on to the ground. A most dangerous and deadly throw which he will almost certainly aggravate by falling on top of you, when shaken as you would be, we would be able to take it out of you at his leisure.

A Cross-buttock throw

In order to guard against this throw, don't waste time in pasting his chest and kidneys, as you would with an ordinary fair fighter, but supposing he has your head under his left arm, bring your right hand up from behind and seize him by his left shoulder, then t keeping your right leg behind his left, pull him back sharply over your knee or hip on to his back, hitting him in the face with your free hand as hard as you can as he goes. If your head should be under his right arm reverse proceedings.

Another useful throw which my be found profitable in this species of combat, should your antagonist have let go at your face and missed, his hand passing over your shoulder, is to grasp his extended arm with your opposite hand, and pushing the heel of your other hand hard up under his chin, forcing back his head, back-heeling him the while just below the knee, with your right or left leg against his corresponding one, according to circumstances; to throw all your weight forward, when he will come down pretty heavily.

A block to the back-heel.

Even if caught napping at this and only able to parry when pushed so far back as to be unable to throw your balance properly forward you can avoid being thrown, and by thrusting you fingers into his nostrils or eyes, compel him to draw back. An unpleasant move perhaps, but remember that your life is at stake.

Should you be yourself so caught in this awkward hold, your only method of escape is to step well back with your rear foot, so as to increase your stability, free your "clicked" leg as soon as possible and meanwhile jab him in the face as hard as you can with your free hand. In any event you are in a very awkward position, and cannot hope to do yourself much good until you can free yourself, for with your chin forced back and all your energy concentrated on bracing yourself up with your rear leg, your short arm jab will not be very effective.

Back heeling a man, after you have shaken him with a punch.

Many street roughs will I know sheer off at once if you show that you are prepared and able to defend yourself, but there are others quite willing and able to make you go all the way, and it is well to remember that, since there is no quarter given or expected with these gentry, one should be always prepared for a set-to at close quarters, seeing that one of you is bound to rush the other and in the excitement liable to miss one's hit, or at best get it home without decisive effect, when the man who knows how to bring off a good fall will have heavy odds in his favour. The " flying mare" is another useful throw in these circumstances and is therefore well worth practising, while a good " crutch hold" is a useful grip to slip quickly on to a " rusher." In fact practically every catch, trip, hold, chip, and throw will be found of value.

Against a man who has a fancy for knife work you must get hold of his knife hand at all costs, and having gripped it pull it towards you, then dive between his legs and catch hold of his thigh, and pulling him on to your shoulders, from which you should have no qualms about pitching him on to his head.

The man who uses a knife or revolver deserves and should receive no pity whatever. But be on your guard against his jamming his knee into your face as you dive for his thigh. The knee drive in the face is a far more effective as well as a more certain reply than any " upper- cut" against a "butter."

The knee upper cut, with which a "butter" may be countered.

When set upon by a gang it is perhaps wisest to reflect that discretion is the better part of valour, but if unable to take to your heels, and forced in consequence to turn and do battle, pick out your biggest opponent, jump in and hit him hard, and pray to your guardian angel that you may " down him" and so scare the rest.

"Knocking Out" a beaten man.

In any event you have my best wishes and sincerest sympathy.

Special thanks to Tony Wolf for supplying this article .

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