The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-30
Johannes Certainly Would
Be a Card In a Battle
Royal.
BY Hugh S. Fullerton.

During the worldwide hunt of five
years for white hope" to beat Jack
johnson, which eventually resulted in
the development OF the awkward
giant, Jess Willard, one spot was over
looked. The promoters seeking a
champion failed to try Iceland. and
missed a man who could defeat Jess
Willard, Jack johnson and Sam Lang
ford in the same ring inside OF three
rounds at most-provlded they will
fight him at his own style OF going
CLAWS.
This man is Johannes Joseffson, the
Icelandic stranger. though why
stranger is hard to tell. Having seen
him in action, and witnessed what he
can do and how he can do it, would
back him against any three men in
the prize ring, permit all three to at
tack him at once, and take his emu
of the argument.
He does not claim to be champion
fighter, although he is champion of
Iceland at China, a game that the
Islanders have played for 300 years,
and which they have developed into
an art of self-defense that outrivals
flu jitsu, is faster and more damag-
ing than the French savate, and com
pared with boxing is a tame and IN
scientific sport. JoscfHson, China
champion of Iceland, is with the Ring
ling shows, with two Icelanders al
most his equals in skill and speed of
eye, hand, feet and head.
The champion Is not tall. He has
the head of a Viking. wonderful Shout
ders and chest and legs corded like
trunks of tree.
He consented to show a few tricks
when l interviewed him. l assumed
the position of a boxer, and In two
EaNanAa hn kfnlaH rnlIy
tho point of the chin. so lightly that
n knew he judged the distance to n
hair, before l could throw a guaru
over or break his guard he seized my
left wrist, butted his head onto the
point OF my jaw. pulled me across
his back and dropped me on my feet,
unhurt but astounded. Then he
laughed.
al have seen and studied your wrest.
hing and boxing" he said THE box
ing is fine. l have tried it, but when
boxing cannot refrain from using my
feet as is our custom. The feet and
legs are much better natural weapons
than the arms. One kick fairly land
ed is knockout.
'I do not know that / could whip
Willard. You see it is for defense,
and not meant for assault. If Willard
should attack me asSuredly | could
defeat him quickly for he would be
at my mercy. Neither his strength
nor his skill with his fists would avail
him anything.
"He could not defend himself At
salose quarters could perhaps lay him
low with my head or, perhaps, break
his leg with twisting leg grips.
81 have seen your Gotch wrestle.
He is great man.. Perhaps, If train
ed, he would be great at CLAWS. His
great strength. coupled with knowl-
edge of grips that we use would make
him wonderful. He has small skill
with his legs and feet, and at kick
ing would be helpless. Our best men
: can land kick with even greater &C.
curacy than your boxers land with
their fists. l could kick Wizards Jaw
easily in spite of his great strength
and for backward kicking while break
ing from clinches he would be help
less.
Many of the twists and grips are
the same as in jiu jitsu. The Icelandic
method is much more effective in
thatwe use all of natures weapons.
Some tricks are very deadly. 1t
would not be hard to kill a man with
out weapons"
Joseffson weighs about 205 pounds,
Is about 80 years old and has prodig-
ious strength.