The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-05-22
]. l. SULLIVAN ON BOXING.
The RudimsntS Of the Art Taught In
an Hour.
says Nearly Everybody Can Learn
20 Handle the GIOVes well, Hut
All Can't Expect 60 be Clever.

yOuA LIZ oulNlNhu WNltGd IN AbllONb "
the Pittsburg Dispatch:
Very broad-minded, liberal physicians
will tell you that there is no better exer-
else for young man than boxing. By
this l don't mean slugging or knocking
your opponent out. But a good, active,
friendly bout, two or three times a week,
is better than all the medicine in the
world. It gives young man confidence,
strength, activity, manliness, grace,
clear skin and good digestion.
The woods are full Of so-called "pro-
fessors" Of the manly art Of self-defense
who make the innocent youth believe 1t
wonderfully difficult to become q good
boxer, when the fact is really 1t is very
simple. There Is also large number Of
pretentious books published here and in
England on boxing that generally tire or
confuse the ambitious reader SO thor
oughly at the start that he soon becomes
discouraged and gives up the sport in
utter disgust. II may seem a little bold
to say, but will guarantee to teach any
well put-up young fellow Of ordinary in.
telligence the rudiments Of boxing in half
an hour, 30 that he will be able to con-
tinue on without further instruction and
become a clever boxer II he devotes the
proper time and attention to the art.
l don't mean by this to make him q
professional or ring general in half an
hour, but simply to give him sufficient
knowledge to start out Just as l did
thirteen years ago, and work his way up
to the top Of the art. OF course expect
the young fellow to learn the remainder
by close observation and hard practice.
No professor" or master Of sparring can
ever claim me as a pupil. What I know
about boxing l picked up from time to
time by hard experience and intelligent
observation. l belong to no school Of
boxers, and have copied no special mas
ter's style, and l always fight according
to my own judgment. l have always
considered it very necessary that young
man in order to become an accomplished
boxer should have brains as well as mus
Gle. 1 never knew a thick.headed fellow
yet to become skillful in the manly art.
A good boxer must be clear and cool
headed, quick to decide, with a keen per-
ception, always able to size up his man at
all stages Of the game, and know exactly
what he's doing, even when he's punched
into dazed condition.
1 generally box with my body, from
the waist up, extended somewhat for
ward. Perhaps at times my body is
straight up. seldom lean back. OF
course a good deal depends upon whom
l am fighting and under what rules. So
with holding your hands; with some men
you can adopt high guard and others
will require lower one. II young man
finds he can do effective work by extend
ing his left, like Jack Dempsey, let him
do 90. II, on the other hand, my style
suits him, all right-whichever is the
most easy and natural.
Learn how to stop q blow before you
attempt 10 deliver one. Two novices Of
equal size, weight, and knowledge will
generally find 1t more difficult to avoid q
punch than to give one. The first thing
a professor" will teach q pupil is to
stand in position. He will show him
how to turn his toes out, spread his feet
30 many inches apart, and will try and
convince the young man that his style
and position is really the only correct one
in the world. Now consider this Is all
rot. My advice is to stand in whatever
way is best suited to your purpose
whichever way you can hit your oppo-
nent the straightest and hardest blow,
and avoid a return by getting away
quickly.
l have seen in my time a great many
athletes jump, and don't remember Of
ever seeing two jumping the same way.
So with boxing, the position that suits
you best Is certainly the proper one for
you to assume. II your opponent leads
with his right at your head throw 1t off
with your left. II be leads with his left
do the same with your right. II he sends
his right at your body ward it of with
your left. Do likewise with your right il
he leads with the left for the body. These
are really the four principal and simple
points in boxing, in fact the very rudi-
ments.
Don't take any stock whatever in q
system that teaches you TO punch more
with one hand than with the other. Try
always to be q good two-handed boxer.
Learn to strike straight and clean |;
swinging blows nearly always leave an
opening for your opponent. Il is always
well to do your leading with the left, re-
serving your right for q good opening.
Wherever you hit your man with one
hand, let the other fist land in the same
spot Il possible. It will be very much
more effective.
Always watch your opponent direct in
the eyes. You will soon learn to tell by
this when and where he intends to smash
you. Just as soon as you see him about
TO lead shoot your left into his face, and
the force Of his coming toward you will
increase your blows considerably. Hyou
have not time to do this throw of your
opponents blow as explained above.
Novices should be careful about ducking;
n Il n very danvanoua game even for