#old school boxing

[californiababylon]

Ali.

[historicalfightingguide]

Practical Boxing; Offensive and Defensive Advice for Street Combat by Julien Leclerc

“ INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR

 The method which I present to the reader is to my regret that of Charles Lecour; I have made several additions in English boxing. It is composed of kicks and punches. 

With the exception of kicks aimed higher than the waist all kicks are thrown by the old method, called “savate”, when taught in their low dives and pimphouses, a method of little aristocracy, born on street corners, in terrible brawls where the relative value of these various blows were clearly established, where little by little there were perfected. All matters of punching come from English boxing. Our cousins over the Channel, graced by the public assaults which are frequent among them, are better edified than ours on the merit of inferiority of such and such attack or such and such guard and I have nothing better to do than to benefit from their example. 

The present method, born of the ring and pavement, is thus essentially practical and I assure that a gifted pupil who possess this thoroughly is almost invulnerable. 

French boxing has only the aim of allowing pupils to make in assaults more or less graceful blows, which have some effect on the spectators. 

It must uniquely place you all the same, in a serious combat, able to overcome rapidly and certainly an adversary of strength superior to your own. 

My method is, for the part on kicking, what I call technically a “low method”, that is to say composed especially of attacks to the legs; these attacks are very effective, given the extreme sensitivity of the tibia, ankles, knees etc… 

The speed with which we perform and develop in one action and direct with minimum trajectory rend them at once very rapid and very violent. One of my pupils cannot, for example, hit with a low chassé in the street without putting his adversary thoroughly out of the fight; in addition it does not compromise the balance of the body as do high blows. 

Punches are, thus as has been said, pure English boxing. One will come to double the point of view on their rapidity and hardness that one will at first have pain to reconcile. They form into one a very serious system of defence and it is only in story books that kicks overcome, when brought against each other, the English game. 

This has often served the legend of a Parisian waif defeating the champion of London with a full kick in the face. 

Clearly French Boxing causes more arguments than English boxing; but do not forget the latter makes an integral part of the former and that a French boxer does not have the advantage over an English boxer who has equal skill and training. “

5th Edition, 1904 PARIS ERNEST FLAMMARION, EDITOR 26, Rue Racine Translated P.T. Crawley, 2015

The full pdf with the actual techniques and principles explained in detail can be found here.

Ringen discussiongroup!  is a good place to check out if you’re interested in historical wrestling variants, as are  HEMA Grapplers  and Scholars of Fiore dei Liberi.

The first group focuses on ringen, the second is about more general historical wrestling types,the third on armizare, the wrestling portion of which is called abrazare.

If you’re interested in learning about historical forms of boxing or as it was often called pugilism check out  HEMA pugilists

If you are interested in more modern forms of unarmed combat do check out  Southpaw's Mixed Marxist Arts Club

[californiababylon]

'Sonny Liston : The Champ Nobody Wanted' by A.S. "Doc" Young

Biography from 1963.

[ronnansink-blog]

1. The Importance of Foundational Footwork Powerful strikes, whether a punch or a kick, start from the ground up. Think of your feet as the roots of your fighting stance. They provide stability and control your balance. Like a bicycle’s handlebars that direct where you’re going, your feet guide your body’s movement and position you for offensive or defensive maneuvers. Proper footwork allows you to generate force efficiently, transferring energy through your legs, hips, and core, before it finally explodes into your striking arm or leg. Key idea: You can’t throw a strong punch if you’re off-balance. Without stable footing, your energy dissipates, and your strike loses speed and power. 2. Old-School Movement Mechanics Old-school boxers are famed for their elegance and efficiency in the ring. They understood that every move should have a purpose: nothing wasted, nothing flashy for the sake of it. This means: Shifting Weight Gradually When old-school boxers move, their weight transitions seamlessly from one foot to the other. The stance remains wide enough for balance but narrow enough for quick pivots. Small, Precise Steps Large, clumsy steps leave you vulnerable. Instead, small steps allow for greater control. Boxers could retreat quickly or advance aggressively, depending on the situation, all while maintaining stability. Maintaining a Centered Posture Leaning too far forward or backward disrupts the kinetic chain of a punch or a kick. The old-school greats always stayed upright, distributing weight evenly, ready to unleash at a moment’s notice. 3. Generating Power Through Your Feet Footwork doesn’t just help you move; it amplifies your strike’s power. Think of a whip: the initial crack begins at the handle and travels through its length. Likewise, your strikes begin in your feet, with a push off the ground. This force spirals through your legs, twists your hips, and finishes in your fists or feet. Each link in this kinetic chain needs to be properly aligned and activated: Feet Push Off the Ground Press down and spring upward or sideways to generate momentum. Knees and Hips Rotate This rotation increases torque, vital for both punches and kicks. Core Tightens A strong, stable core transfers energy more efficiently from the lower to the upper body. Shoulders and Arms (or Legs) Release Finally, the force reaches your extremities, creating a clean, explosive strike. 4. Drills to Strengthen Your Footwork To move like an old-school boxer, you need to train your footwork meticulously. Here are a few drills: Shadowboxing with Emphasis on Footwork Move around as if an opponent were in front of you. Concentrate on balance and quick pivots, rather than just throwing punches. Agility Ladder Drills Practice stepping in and out of an agility ladder. Focus on quick, light steps and maintain a low center of gravity. Pivot and Step Drill Stand in your fighting stance. Pivot on your lead foot, turn your hips, and step through with the rear foot. Return to stance. Repeat, focusing on smooth transitions. Light Sparring Ask your partner to concentrate on foot movement, forcing you to adapt. Keep your steps precise and deliberate, never crossing your feet. 5. Applying Old-School Techniques to Modern Training Whether you’re training in boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA, or even a traditional martial art, the foundation remains the same: energy originates from your feet. Modern fighters benefit from the lessons of old-school boxers by combining time-tested footwork with advanced strength and conditioning methods. Keep these principles in mind: Stay on the Balls of Your Feet Staying light on your toes makes you agile and able to shift weight quickly. Maintain a Bladed Stance (or Adapt to Your Sport) In boxing, a bladed stance maximizes reach and defensiveness when one shoulder is closer to the opponent.

[whobloidlostingublerland]

Is strange when people you know, but don’t know well pass away. I have only interacted with this man very briefly in 2016-2018. When my brother started training at his gym. I knew he had survived cancer & had adopted tree boys with his wife. I knew he had good as well as bad. As all of us do. I saw him be kind & encouraging to my brother. I saw him joke & hug & kiss his wife. I saw him organize fundraisers for his gym.

I knew he worked with the homeless population. But I also saw him yell & kick his dog while he was tried to a wall at the gym the two or three times I went. Other gym goers also yelled at him to shut up & it infuriated & upset me. I wanted to help the animal but I never knew how to. I didn’t see the dog again. But knew his wife adored him, I can only hope she did the best she could for him. I acknowledge all of the good he did. I thank him for being kind & supportive to my brother. It was, finding his gym after being bullied at school several years that helped him so much. But just for me personally, once I see you be cruel to an animal, I will stand a little further away from you & not fully trust you, bc you are not a safe person in my eyes. I thank him for all of the good he did in his life. & I am sorry he died in such a horrible way, no one deserves that. I feel for his wife & kids. his whole family, his boxing family. But I really don’t know how to feel, since death has been around me since August. & I have been stuck in a very dark place since. I wish his family all well. & hope he is in a better place & at peace.

But I didn’t really know him & I don’t know how you are suppose to feel when someone you interacted with so briefly passes. Like you are aware of this person & you had more interaction with them than you do the majority of the population, but is still not enough to feel him a friend. But to some level it still affects you because you had a connection with him.

[fightersonly-blog1]

Old school boxing training