The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-27
PUGILISM IN FRANCE.
How the "ManIy Art of Self Defense"
Is Practfced There.


deserted street one night last week.
Before either could get within knife
range of him, the young Partisan had
laid them out with kick in the groin
apiece.
Il could not have done it with Amer
lean boxing" he says. In street at
tacks it is the quick, instructive move
ment that counts, and the leg is long
er than the arm e"
Does it come natural to you to let
out one of those long-reaching kicks 2
] asked.
Half the training of French boxing
is to keep your man off with a nervous,
threatening foot. If he comes in, he
gets it on the solar plexus, or the shin
bone. or the neck But it is only by
courtesy that he does not get it in the
groin, as Charlemont gave it to Dris-
COLI"
This young Partisan. a gilded youth,
takes almost daily practice al the cele-
brated Bayle Academy OF Boxing in the
Avenue Wagram. There with him
met Kid Lavigne, the pugilist, taking
his pleasure as an American in Paris.
What do you think of the manly
art of kicking in the stomach l ask
ed Kid Lavigne.
1T all depends on what you want it
sci any one to try it as a manly exer-
else of a bright afternoon along Sixth
avenue: but to defend yourself in a
deserted street, ii is something f1erce!
Wouldn't the other man kick, too|'
ITS trained kicking" answered Kid
Lavigne, who has been sufficiently
around the gay French capital to get
we'll posted. They learn to use their
right leg like an ARM"
And keep their balance?"
Yes; and keep their balance"
Besides ourselves, there were two
Englishmen present; and the talk
turned naturally to the celebrated
match between Prof Charlemont and
Jerry Driscoll English bruiser. Up to
the time of this historic battle, which
took place in October, 1899, English
sports had always scoffed at the 'sa-
vate," not only as a manly exercise,
but also as a system of defense.
II could not give you better idea
of English opinion previous to 1899
than by citing the boxing bout at the
Pelican Club when they matched
French professor, whose name l for
got, against Donaghue," said one OF
the two Englishmen. "Donaghue had
never seen 'savate.' but the gold
tempted him. So they told him to look
out for kicks and turned him loose on
the French professor, who wore can
vass Shoes
"Well?"
well, a kick in the stomach sent
Donaghue flying before he realized
what he was up against"
THAT would have settled him had
the other worn heavy Shoes" observed
my young Paris sport.
THE next time the Frenchman fent-
ed with the gloves; and though the
Irishman retreated seemingly out of
distance, the Frenchman, swinging
round on one leg, caught him una
wares with another singing kick. The
1rishman went down again. His sec
onds told him to get close; but Donag-
hue was still at sea with the method
of the visitor. and went to the floor
third time. But at last, in the fourth
and final rounds. Donaghue-contin-
ually warned to get close and stay
there'-punched the professor so
around the ring, that the latter asked
permission to put on his heavy shoes!
That settled it," continued the
Englishman. "A general murmur went
up from the Pelicans. They gave the
light to Donaghue. That was all right
But for the life of me | cannot under
stand how that match proved the in
1erlorlty of French boxing as a system
OF self-defense. Yet you will constant
~ hear the Pelican Club match refer
red to as such proof and the majority
OF EnShshmen continue to have false
ideas of the 'savate'"
The celebrated Charlemont-Driscoll
night to finish in October. 1899. had
one serious effect on French boxing
II anolshed as great" blow the
heretofore dreaded coup de pied
bas, or low kick on the shinbone
OF your adversary.
was told that Charlemont could
break my leg in fifteen seconds. but
mat could have bit of a fight and
then lie down in the first round" said
Driscoll afterward. This sort of talk
showed the French confidence. for the
man who gave it to Driscoll were lead
ing Paris sports. The fight came of in
private riding academy; tickets were
$ZO each; half the gilded youth of Paris
were present, and young Baron Henri
de Rothschild, who acted as doctor
had full line of bone-setting ma
terial in readiness.
Wang! Charlemont's heavy foot
came crashing down on Driscoll's tibia.
IN the celebrated low kick" The
Frenchman wore heavy street shoes.
Wang and biff! Three times he came
down on DriscolfS tibia-yet there was
Qothing broken. He must have legs of
YonNh' exclaimed Prof. Victor Cas-
tares.
A brief account of this fight will give
the best possible idea of what French
boxing is not-because its most effective
Kick was barred. True, Charlemont
has always been blamed in their hearts
by Englishmen, because in the last
round his adversary was laid out by a
disputed blow in the forbidden spot.
They seem to forget that had it been
fight for self-defense, the blow could
have been frankly delivered in the first
round-as the low kick" was. in fifteen
seconds.
First Round-Driscoll, an experienced
bruiser, once the pride of the British
navy, took three bad shin kicks and
got back only once on the French
mans heart. Both wore eight-ounce
gloves. After receiving the blow on
the heart the Frenchman, clinching.
got him by the neck in a peculiar
wrestler's grip.
Break away" called the English
present.
Break his neck" cried the French.
The men were parted. This was an
injustice to French boxing as a system
of defense.
Second Round When the French
man launched his kick Driscoll stepped
back from it and then rushed in and
planted some fierce blows with the
eight-ounce gloves. This round ended
in a general row among the specta-
tors the Frenchman having clinched
and thrown Driscoll heavily. 1t was
agreed that this sort of thing be barred
another practical injustice to the
French system.
Third Round. The referee, who had