The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-10
ssTopeka Jack Johnson Gives
Few Pointers ON Art.
Start Out by Joining an Ath-
letic Club.
CAN'T all Be CHAMPIONS
Local Celebrity Gives Cheer to
Ambitious.
Valuable Hints to ~W0uld Be"
Boxers.

Topeka Jack" Johnson, now the
big husky athlete and trainer OF
fighters. advises the younger genera
ton to adopt sparring as method OF
physical culture. as feature Tor
Quickening the mind and producing
better health.
Jack has been interested In the
pastime for q number of years and
has studied 1t from all angles. He Is
familiar with the habits of practical
ly every promine mt fighter in the
country and explains this as one OF
his reasons for recommending the
padded glove as method of improv-
ing the physical condition.
Jack is breaking into the oracle
ranks as a writer.
The following is a bit of informa-
ton cleaned by the big athlete dur
ing his long experience:
Boxing Manly Art.
ITO my judgment boxing is one Of
the most manly arts and the classiest
take, for many reasons, but it has
become seemingly at this day and
time that the financial end and con-
nections with any Of the leading
sports play a great part. So in that
case we will have to give the boxing
game still more credit for 1 believe
without doubt there is not an
lean public where so much mon
ey is made and spent as there
is in the boxing game. Think
of one man receiving $4,000
for about one hour of actual work.
Yet other than this the game is great
as a health restorer. both mentally
and physically. No bone-headed
fellow ever became really clever.
skillful boxer or fighter. 1 have al
ways claimed that g. young man tc
become an accomplished boxer must
have brains as we'll as muscles.
THE first important thing in start
ing to box is to get into the proper
your left hand and foot to the front,
with the hand we'll extended, your
right hand close to your chest and
your feet not spread too far apart.
Avoid these modern crouches and
tied-up-in-a-knOt pOses One must
stand in a natural position, easy and
loose, so he can readily step back
ward, forward or sideways. Foot
work is very important. Packey Nc
Farland uses the right pose; study his
style; see how speedily and gracefully
he steps in and out. Packey reminds
me greatly of Joe Cans, but he is not
the wonderful master Of art which
poor Joe was. If you cannot see Nc
Farland in action get some of his
photos in fighting position; they will
give you better idea than can be
explained in one brief lesson.
Learn to Stop a Blow.
1T is better to learn to stop a blow
than 70 deliver one and often more diff
ficult. Two amateurs of equal size,
weight and knowledge will often find
1t easier to deliver punch than to
avoid one. so before you attempt to
learn to deliver a blow be sure that
r~f khA ND
Offset your opponents lead. If you can
make him miss constantly, he often be-
comes discouraged and tired.
The Simple Rudlments.
IF your opponent leads with his
right at your head try and stop it with
your left: if he leads with his left,
block with your right; II he sends his
right at your body ward it of with
your left. Do likewise with your right
II ne starts his left at your body. These
really are the four simple and principal
points in boxing; in fact. the very
rudiments of science Don't take any
stock in system that teaches you to
punch more with one hand than with
the other; always try to be a good two
handed boxer.
Deliver Straight and Clean.
Learn to hit straight and clean;
swinging blows nearly always leave an
opening for your opponent The swings
~ the straight ones. for the simple rea-
son that the swings do not land as
square and solid as the straight ones.
The secret of hard hitting in land
ing. It's always well to do the lead
ing with the left, reserving your right
for chance opening. Wherever you
hit your man with one hand, let the
other fist land in the same spot if DOS
sible. 1t will be very much more ef-
fective.
Watch Your Opponents Eyes.
Never lose sight of your mans ewes:
they will most always telegraph when
and where he intends to hit you. Just
as soon AS he starts to lead shoot your
straight left to the face and the force
of him coming to you will increase the
effect of your blow considerably. II
you do not think you have time to ac-
complish this. throw or your oppon-
ent's lead or blow as explained above.
BE Careful About Duclxin9.
1T takes a finished boxer to know
how to successfully duck a blow. Nov
ices should consequently be careful
about this point and not indulge in it
until they have mastered the skill. In
ducking you lose sight Of your oppon-
cnt for q few seconds and II the latter
happens to catch you with stiff upper
cut 1t may be good night to you.