Boxing; a Guide to the Manly Art of Self Defense

This illustrated volume is part of the Spalding Athletic Library and was published in 1900.

Every boy who is interested in boxing is usually interested
in some other manly pastime and his attention is therefore
called to the list of books in Spalding's Athletic Library which
have been compiled by leading authorities as the best books
on their respective subjects. No matter how proficient one
may become he can always learn something to his advantage
from one of the books in Spalding's Athletic Library.
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Some excerpts:

THE CORRECT POSITION:

The first thing to be considered in learning to box according
to latest methods is a proper and easy position on your feet.
This point, in fact, should be given fully as much attention as
active attack and defence, and no person can hope to become
proficient in the "manly art" that does not devote considerable
time to perfecting himself along this line. Many of our leading
exponents of the science of boxing have attained their promi-
nence not so much through weight and brawn as through their
superb generalship and footwork, enabling them, often-times, to
offset an advantage of from twenty to thirty pounds in weight
held by their opponents. The graceful carriage of boxing
devotees is largely, if not wholly, due to the manipulation of
their feet and legs while sparring, and besides this attribute they
have gained strong, well-developed, though not necessarily large
muscles in their lower limbs. The circulation of the blood also
has become wonderfully improved giving a buoyancy to the
step which cannot have otherwise than a beneficial and stimu-
lating effect on the entire system.

To take the correct attitude, place your left foot in advance of
your right anywhere from ten to twenty inches, according to
height and length of leg. It is necessary at all times to main-
tain a perfect balance, dividing the weight equally on both feet.

With the feet too close together you cannot get full force into a
blow and you are easily carried off your feet by a sudden
attack; with the feet too far apart the inside leg muscles are
strained and you will find yourself unable to move quickly in
any direction to take advantage of an opening or to evade a
rush. The left foot should be placed flat on the floor, pointing
straight out in front to your opponent's left. The right should
be placed directly behind the heel of the left pointing outward at
an angle varying from sixty to seventy degrees. The right heel
should be raised from the floor at least an inch, giving an oppor-
tunity to move quickly in any direction on the ball of the foot.

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THE HANDS

The left hand is the boxer's main dependence. It should be
held toward the adversary's chin in an easy position, with the
palm turned sHghtly upward so that the knuckles will take full
effect. The elbow should be extended at varying distances from
the body according to the opponent's height. The left arm
should be worked freely, avoiding a pronounced contraction of
the muscles. The right hand is best placed across the body, the
elbow covering short ribs, the forearm turned slightly forward,
covering the pit of the stomach, and the fist being placed over
the heart. The right shoulder is usually depressed several
inches. In delivering straight blows do not permit the wrist to
bend, and clinch the fist tightest at the exact moment of landing.