Showing results by author "[Translated] M. P. Lynch" in All Categories

Attacks to the neck and fingers are always good indications of a serious work on self-defense, and Hans Reuter’s 1922 manual has both. Indeed, when the “first wave” of Jiu-Jitsu hit the West at the dawn of the 20th century, it featured all of those nasty old battlefield techniques the samurai were so fond of - bone crunching “finish him!” type moves which are perforce largely left to the side in modern scholastic Jiu-Jitsu circles. Indeed, you cannot cultivate the supreme sport of physical chess to its highest degree if everyone involved hobbles out of the dojo in a neck brace ...

“A gentleman had seized the enemy’s guard while holding his own point to the man’s stomach. The enemy brought in his left hand and, grabbing the foible of the gentleman’s sword with a heavy glove, he broke the blade off and plunged the point into the one who had seized his guard, killing him.” And you thought smallswording was dainty! Not even close - this was a matter of settling scores through blood, and Master-of-Arms André Wernesson Liancour had dedicated his life to perfecting his art. While he did make use of the foil for instructional purposes, his teaching was entirely ...

Formerly published under the title Hand-to-Hand Combat, this 1917 manual has been revised and colorized for clarity's sake. The Great War was entering its third bloody year, and even the proud and stubborn French command had to concede that old methods weren't working. To be sure, in a hypothetical situation wherein two infantrymen were rushing at one another across an open battlefield, the soldier with the 20 inch "épée bayonet" fixed on the end of his 51.2 inch Lebel 1886 rifle would appear to have the clear advantage over the German adversary with his shorter Mauser with Seitengewehr ...

With an entire section dedicated to hair pulling, including a hair based throw, this 1712 manual falls squarely under the heading of Rough & Tumble fighting, and is a hidden gem belonging to the rich realm of Historical European Martial Arts. The images produced by Flemish engraver Romein De Hoogue (also Romeyn de Hooghe) are elaborate, violent, and amusing all at once. Dip into Europe's rich martial past with Ye Olde Ruff & Tumble.