The Art and Practice of Boxing by the Celebrated Pugilist

**lklawson** · Posted On: 10/13/2009 6:35pm

I have republished The Art and Practice of Boxing by the anonymous "Celebrated Pugilist."

As always, the ebook download is free.

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperbac...boxing/7782112

Special thanks to Michael Ruhala for providing the original scans.

Blurb:

Writing in 1825, the anonymous “Celebrated Pugilist” penned his boxing manual simply titled, “The Art and Practice of Boxing.”

This early boxing manual, as is typical, teaches footwork, striking, blocking, and training details. This includes specifics of diet and exercise, as well as grappling.

However, the “Celebrated Pugilist” deviates from the norm in two important ways. First, he dedicates an unusual amount of his text to discussion (and derision) of methods and strategies which, though technically legal under boxing rules of the time, he considers “unmanly.” Second, he cites an earlier Wrestling text, Sir Thomas Parkyn’s “In-Play” for advice and description on performing some of the grappling and throwing which were part of orthodox boxing of the period.

He includes in his text images of nine techniques which he apparently considers either confusing or foundational, rounding out his relatively short text with a recitation of Broughton’s rules which, like this manual itself, were authored before the adoption of the London Prize Ring rules of 1838.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

**SaintHamish** · Posted On: 10/13/2009 6:42pm

Is there a specific point to this thread? Do you want me to read the book?Hmmm.....

**lklawson** · Posted On: 10/13/2009 8:17pm

Originally Posted by sainthamish

Is there a specific point to this thread?

To let my friends and friendly acquaintances here on BS know about the latest antique manual I have republished.

Do you want me to read the book?Hmmm.....

You must be fairly new here. Nice to meet you.

Read it if you want. If you do, you'll probably get a chuckle over the author's discussion of how "unmanly" boxers fight and what sort of techniques the "lower classes" use.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

**jkdbuck76** · Posted On: 10/13/2009 10:21pm

I wonder if this old book rails on t3h chun, or savate?

I'm too damn tired to read tonight. I'll check it out during lunch tomorrow.

I'm surprised nobody is out there trying to peddle "lower-income class chuan" or something.

**lklawson** · Posted On: 10/13/2009 11:27pm

Originally Posted by jkdbuck76

I wonder if this old book rails on t3h chun,

No. It was written in 1838, well before Chinese, or even Japanese martial arts gained the attention of the Brits. Some say even before the "real" development of Wing Chun (though that's both highly speculative and very controversial).

or savate?

No. Though if you'd have asked him, the author would have, no doubt, given you an ear full about how superior "proper" English Boxing was to anything "the frogs" could create.

I'm surprised nobody is out there trying to peddle "lower-income class chuan" or something.

I'm sure there are Sifu's who will trade chores and upkeep of the Kwoon for training.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

**X_plosion** · Posted On: 10/14/2009 1:30am

Thanks again for another interesting resource.

**IMightBeWrong** · Posted On: 10/14/2009 2:06am

Always nice to get a free read. Thanks!

**kwan_dao** · Posted On: 10/14/2009 4:49am

Thank you again for yet another wonderful addition to my digital bookshelf.

Just browsed through the text a bit and found this jewel:

Sparring is absolutely necessary to form a complete pugilist,
being the only proper introduction to Boxing, as it affords an
opportunity of realizing whatever principles the scholar has been
taught, or of trying the success of any new plan. No manoevers,
no attitudes, ought to be adopted, unless by way of experiment,
but what may be used in actual fight.

Amen!