Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-28
Strong Points on the Manly Art
From Champion FitzSimmOns.
GOOD ADVICE FOR THE AMATEUR.
Some of the Middle Weights Most Effect
i've Blows Described.
FEIYTlNG THE PRINCIPAL FEATURE
WRITTEN FOR THE p1spArcH.,

q hrst-class boxer requires that one should
practice continually, taking care not to try
and learn too much in a day, but making
sure that one point is thoroughly mastered
before another is attempted.
Boxing is, in nv opinion, the greatest e1-
ercise for the attainment of physical culture
that there is, and in my opinion everyone,
be they msl, woman or child, should learn
and practice the art of self-defense. You
may not, and probably do not even wish to
become a pro fessional boxer, or even an ex-
hibition sparrer, but taking all that into con-
Eideration II is well to know how TO defend
ones self should occasion require it. Even
ii YOU are never called upon to exercise
your science in personal defense or in the
defense Of others the added strength, the
healthful feeling and the increased sense OF
power Will more than repay you Tor the time
spent in the exercise. OF course it will be
almost useless for anyone who is not in the
least interested in boxing to try to learn the
s-t OF selfdefense, and it is as much for the
purpose of making people interested In this
sport that l have prepared the following
course of instructions in sparring.
If Won are already interested in the manly
art this little article, which 1 have tried to
make IS comprehensive as possible, may
cause vour interest to increase, and if YOU
are not interested in the sport. perchance a
perusal o this article may cause an interest
10 be awakened within you.
A Few Simple Rules.
Before I start with the different points, l
want TO tell you few simple rules which
may help you considerably if you are trying
"a learn 10 spar.
In the first place, YOU should be temperate
in all things, ana when in front of your op-
pouent cool and collected. Never lose your
head for an instant. If you have quick
temper. and have a tendency to get angry
should a blow be a trife harder than you
expected, do everything in your power to
control yourself, for a man who loses his
temper when he is hit can never make a
good boxer, as when the temper is up the
judgment flies to the winds, and when the
Judgment is gone q man will rush in blind
", and is consequently at the mercy of his
opponent and soon gets the worst of the en-
counter. Another thing you must observe
Is 10 always keep your eyes open and your
mouth shut. It NAV seem foolish for me
10 caution YOU thus, but l have often
noticed good snarrers shut their eyes
when they expected a blow or when they
rushed in On their man. Now, by shutting
the ewes, they would as a matter OF course
lose sight of their man, something which
should not be done.
Suppose you were 10 rush in on your man
Rad involuntarily shut your eyes, he, seeing
this, could step out Of the way, and instead
o. rushing up against MIN as you expected
you would dash against the ropes il you
were in ring, or against the wall if you
were sparring in a room, while your oppo-
neut would have you at his mercy as you
went by. and could, with a couple of we'll
directed blows, place you at his mercy for
the remainder OF the bout. As for keeping
the mouth closed, that is so that, should
YOU be struck on the chm, the blow will not
he liable to affect you much, which, If your
mouth was open, blow on tn: chin would
rattle your teeth considerably, might break
some, or might cause you TO bite your
tongue. Then in boxing 4 person should
breathe entirely through the nose, as it ex-
panGs the lungs better.
Some Very Explicit Directions.
Never stand on one foot longer than on
the other, Tor if YOU are boxing for any
length of time and 90 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 boiv well balanced all the time.
Take especial care not TO keep the arms,
when in position, too high. as this is very
firesome. /. kept on line with the elbow,
you viii dud the position an easy cue, and
also that a blow can be struck or stopped
just AS quick if the arms are held in that
position as in any other. When sparring
with n adversary, step back from him occa-
siouallv and drop YOUR arms TO your side
i will rest you greatly. Be very careful,
however, that YOU don't drop your arms be-
lore YOU have stepped back, and don't ever
forget to put them up before going in front
Cl vour man again
Take care that you do not box violently
before two hours ter eating. 1t will injure
you. Always try to make your opponent
think you are going TO hit him in a spot
where you have no intention OF doing so.
This is done by feinting, which should be
practiced q great deal, as that is one of the
great points where the cleyerness of boxer
comes in. If you can make your opponent
think you are going to hit him in the
stomach, while in reality you intend strIk-
in- his head, he will naturally be looking
out for that stomach blow, and this will
leave his head comparatively easy Tor you
TO get at II q man equally as strong and
clever as yourself knew all the time where
YOU intended striking you would not be able
10 land your blows ouce in an age and in
consequence you must keep fooling and
blunng him in order TO land your blows.
The Left Foot to BE Lifted
Never strike the opponent without lifting
the let foot slightly from the floor; it Will
give you the secret of striking hard and
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 slightly off o! same.
As a matter of course, the first thing to be
learned in boxing is the proper position in
which to stand and hold the arms. This,
together with the lett lead should in my
opinion, constitute the first lesson in box
ing, and in fact, this first lesson should be
practised every day for long time. This
is the hardes; lesson in boxing, as you have
10 learn to do several things at once, viz:
How to lead with the left hand, also learn
the leg work and how to guard ct the same
time.
Now for the proper position: You must
stand with the left foot advanced fully Is
inches in front of the right, the heel of the
left being in line with the hollow OF the
tight. Both knees should be slightly bent
all the time, so that YOU may be able to
move forward or step back quickly. You
will find that BIZ keeping the kuees bent that
you viii be able TO get toward your antag
oaist or away from him much quicker than
if YOU keep them straight and stiff. Never
try to stand in front of your adversary, as it
shortens your reach. Keep your left side
toward him and bring your left arm up from
the seam of the pants until the hand is on
straight line with the elbow. Keep the left
shoulder slightly raised. You will readily
perceive the advantage of this when your
adversary leads at your head. Your shoulder
being high, is on line with your chin and
by lowering your hand quickly, you will re-
celve the blow either on the top OF your
head, where it will not do as much damage
20 you as it will TO your opponents hand.