The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-07
"BOXING" WITH THE FEET.
The 'Noble Art" ms Practiced by the
Athletes of France.
New York Commercial Advertiser.

New York Commercial Advertiser,
Les Boxeurs Franchise. who made
their first appearance in a London theater
recently. may fail to convince Britisaers
of the superiority of La Savate'' over the
ordinary fisticuff encounter, but their ex-
position of the noble art OF seif-defeuse."
as it appeals TO its votaries in France may
"a. least be expected TO attract considera BILE
interest. as showing how the Use of the
pedal extremities has been brought to the
level Of a fine art.
NJ. Georges d Armoric who is in charge
Of the display, explained all about il. The
French motto in this connection appears 10
be Defense, not defiance" the argument
briefly being that il you are attacked you
should be able 10 avail yourself of all the
weapons with which nature has furnished
you. and not merely, so to speak the up
per half. The idea is, therefore, not to
provide a means Of attack but of defense.
so that II you happen to be attacked in
the street by a ruffian who does not OBJ
serve the rules OF the ring you may be
the better prepared to repci him. Whether
this highly moral principle entirely controls
the practice of the art is perhaps another
question; but such Is, at any rate. the the
DRY.
AS a preliminary to the boxing proper
according 10 the French viewsl the dis
play began by an exhibition Of the uses
TO which the walking stick or umbrella can
be put as a means of se,f-defense NJ.
d Harmonic introduced VI. Bodiu professor
AZ the Sale Casterel and Nj. Arnal pupil
at the same estabilshmenf1 who accord
inGly gave an exhibition closely correspond
ing 10 single-stck play. except that the
sticks were furnished with no guards. but
merely with loops for the insertion Of the
thumb Then came the Illustrations Of la
Savate,' showing in detail the various
forms of attack and guard. First there was
demonstration az the various guards and
ripostes with the fists alone. and then some
Idea was given OF the use or The feet.
In using his foot the boxer generally
swings round on one leg and shoots out the
other sideways sometimes shooting right
ODnG7Fnt'2 head g. me-
movement often includes quick successive
kicks at different parts or the body-for
Occasionally the kick may be running
one. straight tn the front. but In fact all
sorts Of attitudes are assumed in the de-
livery OF the blow. The kicks. il is 10 he
noticed. ara invariably defended with the
arms. the hands. of course being encased
In the customary boxing gloves
As a means of defense me foot Is seen To
advantage in what is known as the "rotIn
d'arret." which consists simply in ston-
ping your opponent by thrus,ing out the
foot al right angles against his chest
One way of meeting a kick g, ~ course. to
seize your opponents foot. II You can catch
II. He may release himself bv a jerk or
by resting his hands on the ground anil
kicking with his fore-leg but. on the other
hand, the man with the imprisoned limb
may sometimes Re hurled backward 10 the
ground.
In addition to the coup darret." a
French boxer Possesses an advantage over
an English opponent In his liberty 10 use
the back heel throw This simply means
putting the foot behind your opponents
heel and tripping him ~. or. in the al
tentative, Selling him behind the heel with
The hand. and 50 hurting him on his back
FfnGly. wrestling can be- added 20 boxing
and the proceedings made 10 assume The
aspect OF 4 mixture Of boxing. wrestling
and acrobatie feats.
The rehearsal concluded with a sort ~
combined display Of all the features Of the
French ART in the shape q, FOUR two-Tnlnuta
rounds With six-ouuce gloves. This proved
somewhat more Vigorous and exciting than
the preliminary demonstrations The third
round terminated with a kncck-i3vn KICK
on the chess. while the finale WIS reached
when he victor seized his opponent and
threw him over his head. Uu the whole
tbs display however. Is retnarkabl2 az an
exhihition q skill and agility rather than
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