Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-10
TO BECOME A BOXER.
AN ARTICLE ON THE MANLY ART BY
CHAMPION FlTzSIMMONS-
Good Advice to Beginners-some OF the
Australian Middie-weight's Most Eff
fectIve Blows Described.
New York World


how the difficult points in boxing are
made want the reader to fully under
stand that person cannot become pro-
hcient boxer in day, week. or a month.
in fact, TO become a frst-c!ass boxer re-
qures that one should practice continual
ly, taking care not to try and learn too
much in q day, but making sure that one
point is thoroughly mastered before
another is attempted.
Before / start with the different points
want to tell you a few simple rules which
may help you considerably II you are try
ing To learn to spar.
In the first place yoti should be. tempe.
rate in all things and when in front of
your opponent cool and collected. Never
lose your head for an instant. If you have
quick temper and have tendency &c, get
angry should blow be q trifie harder than
you expected, do everything in your power
70 control yourself, for man who loses
his temper when ne is hit can never make
good boxer.
Never stand on one foot longer than on
the other. for if you are boxing for any
length of time and do this. the leg which
does the most work will become very tired
and weak. Therefore. keep shifting the
weight from one foot to the other, keeping
the body we'll balanced all the time.
Take care that you do not box violently
before two hours after eating. IL will IN.
jure you. Always try to make your oppo-
nent think YOU are going to HIM IN q spot
where you have no intention of doing so.
In everything you attempt to do. do 1t
quickly. Some teachers will tell you TO
try the different blows, slow at first, until
you get them perfect, but IN my opinion
tbia Ia afr ,f,kt m mn ruhn afartq N nv
practicing slowly can seldom, If ever, gain
speed, and slow boxer is of no earthly
use. SO practice every blow with quick
ness and snap from the start. You may not
be able to do il right the first time, but
keep practicing until yOu can do IL right.
Another thing want to warn you about
is not to box too long at time. From half
to threelquarters of an hour is long enough
for one days lesson. If you box much
longer than that or until you become
thoroughly tired out you will soon become
disguised and dissatisfied with a sport
which you would otherwise admire.
Never strike the opponent without llft-
ing the left foot slightly from the floor;
1t will give you the secret of striking hard
dnd quick. The point of striking from
the body is the ball of the right foot and
no man can learn to strike hard and quick
unless he springs lightly off Of same.
POSITION.
Now for the proper position: You must
stand with the left foot advanced fully IF
teen inches in front of the right, the heel
of the left being in line with the hollow
of the right. Both knees should be slight
" bent all the time. so that you may be
able TO move forward or step back quickly.
You will find that by keeping the knees
bent that you will be able to get toward
81 QprO
much quicker than if you keep them
straight and stiff. Never try to stand in
front of your adversary, as 1t shortens
your reach. Keep your left side to-
ward him aud bring your left arm
up from the seam of the pants
until the hand is on a straight line with
the elbow. Keep the left shoulder slightly
raised. You will readily perceive the adj
vantage of this when your adversary
leads at your head. Your shoulder being
high Is ON q line with your chin, and by
lowering your hand quickly you will re-
ceive the blow either on the top OF your
bead where il will not do as much damage
to you as il will to your opponents hand.
The right arm should be brought up across
your left breast and the head should be
held erect. At all times work from the
balls of the feet and at no time stifen the
muscles. Let the body go without any
strain. w men SlODplu1 OAOM
fill the lungs and shut of the wind. 1t
will enable you to strike much quickerand
with greater force, whilo should you be
struck it enables you TO Withstand much
harder blow than you would otherwise,
and an ordinary blow will have less effect
on YOU as YOU are braced against 1t. Re-
member TO keep your hands open at all
times until you hit. Then shut the hands
and shut oil the wind at the same time. 1t
won't take you long to find out the adyan-
tage this will give you. A man who keeps
his hands shut during half an hour of lively
boxing is sure to lose the power of his grip.
IL is q strain on the muscles of the arms
and shoulders to keep the hands closed all
the time and has tendency TO weaken q
man all over. You can test the advantage
of shutting off the wind when giving or re-
ceiving blow by practicing ON yourself;
For instance, shut of your breath and
strike yourself good, sharp blow IN the
stomach, then strike yourself in the same
spot when the breath is coming and going,
and note the difference in the effect OF the
| blows.
LEG MOVEMENTS.
After Won have got so that you can
break ground-that is, drop your
hands. walk two or three PAGES away, and
then return and take your proper place
Immediately. You should commence the
leg movements advancing a step with the
left foot. followed by the right. Then retire
q step with the right foot followed by
the left. In all cases the feet should
be kept the same distance apart. After
this advancing and retiring practice
the movement rice UGsd. When you
can do these things perfectly 1T Is
time TO begin TO try the lett lead, and night
here let me say that whenever you lead,
,l,n,h 10 Io nth no loft nr r1UhN hand
YOU should spring off the ball of the right
! foot slightly, lifting your left foot from
! the ground as you start 10 lead. This Will
| throw the whole weight of your body with
your blow. and will enable you to strike a
much harder blow than you would other
wise be able to do. In leading off with
your left you should turn the head and
| body to your right, at the same time
| guarding your face from your opponents
| blow by bringing your right arm up across
your face and about two inches IN front
| of u.
II NAV take you some time before you
will be able TO do all these things perfect
! ly. but If you spend the time OF seven or
even ten lessons in getting the position
! and left lead down perfect 1t Will be time
well spent.
Above all things don't try and advance
/ too fast, but make sure that you can exc
cute ono point well before going on, with
/ the next one. Then if it ID possible for
you to do so get some one to spar
/ with you who knows great deal
more about boxing than you do. 10y
J doing this you will find that you can adj
vance much faster than you would spar
ring with some one on the same level as
yourself OF inferior in point OF knowledge
in boxing. BY sparring often with qulcs
and clever man you will yourself gam
| quickness, while if you spar as repeatedly
| with a slow-moving boxer you VIII with
| out knowing it get slower IN your OWE
movements. Look out for this, for slow
boxer Is an abomination.
The next point should be, IN my opinion
the lead, step, and return.
LEAD, STOP, AND RETURN.
To do this you will take your position II
front of your adversary and stepping III
lead your left at his head. This lead ht
must stop with the palm Of his right hand
and then stepping in himself he lets go hli
left at your head, which you must stop II
the same manner. Now great many whe
are learning 10 spar, in stopping blow
bring up the arm straight, catchinl
the blow on the back of the hanc
or forearm. This often hurts the arm
and makes one lame. In order to avoic
this. when bringing up. the night U
stop a blow. turn the forearm abou
go that the palm Of the glove ID outward
Then the blow will land on the palm OF The
hand op1 will v,ot burt in the least. while