The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-05
10 BECOME ATHLETES WITHIN A FEW MONTHS
The Things to Learn Before
You Put ona Pair Of Gloves
at All-HoW to reach an
Opponent and Get
Away Before He
Knows You Have
Moved.

row to hold your arms and hands. II 10
to cllnch your fists tightly
When FIRST learning to box most boys
chaps blows half as often as they are
hurt by their own. They sprain their
wrists and thumbs because they have not
learned to clinch their hands.
In boxing the fist Is not clinched mere-
" because one wants to strike hard. Even
u you do not wish to do more. than tap
the other fellow, you must clinch your
cause a loosely clinched fist is not braced
sufficiently, and when It meets the punch.
Ing bag or the other boxers head, body
over and a very serious spraln or even
fracture may be the result. Spraned
thumbs thumb are r, due as often e. to loosely
protrude beyond the fist.
Clinch the fist as II you were trying
to prevent somebody from wrenchlng. ~
open. See that the thumb Is doubled
above the middle knuckles Of the fingers.
Never mind how big and soft the box
Ing gloves may be- the fist must be
Turn both fists with the knuckles UP.
That is the best position for enabling tho
arm muscles TO work freely and put
Swaying to and fro slightly from that
right toe, see how nearly you can reach
him without lunging SO far forward that
You get into close quarters with him,
Make a few lunges at him without real
~ trying to strike him, devotlng ali your
care to drawing back swiftly as he strikes
at you.
Keep your fists fairly close together and
upward, SO that they will protect your
chin while your arms protect waist and
ribs. A boxer would have to punch like
a steam hammer now to break through
Now. try to lure him into striking. AS
al o,,, f,ll hoo u,alI 1v, No
right toe and catch his wrist with one OF
SO that. his arm is forced to glance on,
liable for foiling a blow. but when 1t is
perfected You cannot only merely throw
twg, Moe body aon
II he Is thrown off his position Tor only
an Instant. in that instant swift boxer
on bos has a e p
| himself together.
This parry. however, is not an easy
fully, yon must let the other fellows ast
| get in pretty close. And II you fall to
throw off his arm you will discover It In
stantly By getting noble punch IN face
| or neck.
Therefore. II, a boxers not entirely sure
OF his ability to stop" his opponent with
much more certainly, By, throwing up his
arm SO as to catch the. blow on 1t direct.
But this Is only plain parry parry. and o., does
any opening. by which to attack him It
This plain parry is the most simple. OF
them all. It is the best TO use In the
case OF a straight lead" that Is.
| straight blow aimed at neck or head,
when yon. in turn. intend 10 cross, that
| is. to let drive with your fist at your
| opponent as he drives at you.
II your opponent strikes at YOU With
| the right. for thus YOU may expect 70
| reach his left side. which he has not
| only exposed by his blow. but actually
Now. when you see a boy strike IKE
a windmill remember that, no matter
! how fast or skillful he may SEEM no
! doesn't know anything about Striking.
| The correct blow Is struck with me
| shoulder muscles and has the weight of
| the whole body lnnging in behind 1t 10
When You intend to strike. your arm
| must be drawn backward 70 give the
| coming blow It's full force. Stand against
vail in the position as I, you were
boxing Now push at the wall with your So,,
I outstretched arm and hand. DO you
notice where the force comes fromI
Well the blow Is Just like push. only
| hundreds of times more swift. ana IL
must be done the same way