The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man (15 page)

The overhand punch.
You’ll have to do some work to open up your opponent so you can land this
sockdologer
. Try some high jabs to the head and a few fakes. When your opponent drops his guard, you’re ready to throw your power punch. End with a jab from your nondominant hand so that your dominant hand is ready to throw the overhand punch.

Bring your jab back while simultaneously throwing your overhand punch. Increase the power of your punch by pushing off your back foot and twisting your hips much like you would swing a baseball bat. Don’t aim at his face, but rather a couple of inches behind his face. That way you’ll have maximum power when your fist lands on your opponent’s ugly mug. A well-executed overhand punch will leave your opponent
catawamptiously chewed up
.

Overhand punches do leave you vulnerable after you throw them, however. So keep your jab hand up by your face to protect against any counters. Spinning away from your opponent after you throw the punch can also create distance between you and him.

Figure 3.4 A well-executed overhand punch will leave your opponent beaten and destroyed.

Basic Jujitsu Techniques

Shoulder lock.
If your opponent throws a punch at you, step back and deflect the strike with a downward block. Quickly strike your opponent with your right palm in his right shoulder. With your right hand now on your opponent’s shoulder, pull it down while you place your left arm under his right arm. Now put your left hand on top of your right hand. Your opponent should now be doubled over with their right arm resting on your left shoulder. In this position, strike your opponent in the face with a knee.

Sweeping ankle throw.
This move will take your opponent’s feet out from under him. Grab your attacker by the coat lapels. If he’s not wearing a coat, grab his shirt where the lapels would be. Pull him forward quickly while sweeping your right foot into his left foot. If done correctly, this should take your opponent to the ground where you can establish more control.

Basic Cane Fighting Techniques

The jab.
The jab can be performed with either the point or the butt of the cane. Using the point is more effective and will cause greater pain. Perform the jab by quickly stabbing your opponent and retracting your hand quickly. The quickness of the jab makes it a difficult move to defend.

The thrust.
The thrust is similar to the jab in that you use a stabbing motion. It differs from the jab because it’s delivered over a longer distance and requires full extension of the arm. Standing in an attack position, quickly lunge forward and extend the tip of the cane toward your attacker. For added oomph, put as much of your body weight behind the thrust as you can.

Cuts.
Cuts can be performed either high or low, in up, down, right or left directions. A cut is performed with a chopping motion. Downward cuts are probably the strongest motion and are also the most difficult to defend.

Basic Savate Techniques

Chasse crossie kicks.
A chasse lateral kick is performed by crossing the rear foot behind the lead and then lifting the knee of the kicking foot toward the opposite shoulder. Add a hop before you strike. You can then strike with your foot aiming for the head, torso or thighs of an opponent.

Coup de pied bas.
This is a sweeping kick aimed at the lower legs of an opponent. The kick is performed by pivoting the kicking foot from the hip. Your leg remains fully extended. You can either try to sweep an opponent off his feet or simply aim for his knees or ankles to inflict some pain.

Figure 3.5 The coup de pied bas is a sweeping kick aimed at the lower legs of an opponent.

Defensive Bartitsu Moves

Barton also included some creative and effective self-defense techniques that used improvised weapons and surprises and were well-suited to the gentleman fighter.

Using a Cloak or Overcoat to Defend Yourself

Using your cloak or overcoat is an effective defensive tool, even when an attacker is brandishing a knife. While walking in the street, wear your overcoat draped over your shoulders without passing your arms through the sleeves. If your assailant attacks, take your right hand and grab the left collar of your coat and, in one sweeping motion, shroud your opponents head with the coat. Your attacker will be surprised and momentarily blind, which gives you plenty of time to punch him in the gut or give him several licks to the head.

Figure 3.6 If your assailant attacks, take your right hand and grab the left collar of your coat and, in one sweeping motion, shroud your opponents head with the coat.

You can also choose to slip behind your opponent while you have the coat over his head, grab his ankle with your left hand and simultaneously push his back so that he falls forward on his face. From here you can put your opponent in an appropriate jujitsu hold until the police come.

Figure 3.7 Slip behind your opponent while you have the coat over his head, grab his ankle with your left hand and simultaneously push his back so that he falls forward on his face.

Using a Hat to Defend Yourself

A hat can also be used to distract or temporarily blind an attacker. When an attacker gets near you, take off your hat with a sweeping motion and burrow your opponents face into it. Either wallop him in the gut or take him down to the ground to put him in a submission hold.

A hat can also be used as a shield to defend yourself from punches or attacks from knives. Grasping the hat firmly by the brim in your left hand, hold the hat away from your body to the side. If an attacker makes a thrust at you with a knife, catch the blow with your hat and deliver a blow to the attacker’s face with your free hand.

Break Down a Door

You’re in a burning house and you need to escape and the door is on fire. Or your loved ones are in a burning house and you’re locked out. Or perhaps a loved one is stricken with a medical emergency and is locked inside a room or in their house. What to do? Be a man, dammit! Break down that door! You know you’ve always wanted to.

If you have watched enough movies, your next move is a no-brainer … run at the door shoulder first, right? Wrong. This technique may be uber-manly, but it will probably dislocate your shoulder. It’s better to employ a more forceful and well-placed kick.

Find which way the door opens by checking the hinges. Kicking a door down is best employed on a door that swings away from you. If the door opens towards you, you might as well be
milking the pigeon
.

Kick to the side of where the lock is mounted (near the keyhole). This is typically the weakest part of the door.

Using a front kick, drive the heel of your foot into the door. Give the kick forward momentum and keep your balance by driving the heel of your standing foot into the ground. Don’t kick the lock itself; this could break your foot.

The wood should begin to splinter. Today many doors are made of soft wood and are hollow. They should give way fairly easily, especially since a deadlock bolt extends only an inch or less into the door frame. Older completely solid doors will prove more resistant. Just keep on kicking until the door gives way and you can save the day.

Avoid jump kicks. While you may be tempted to employ this manly move, jumping, even if preceded by “the crane,” diminishes your stability which causes you to lose power.

Perform the Fireman’s Carry

“A hero is a man who does what he can.”

—Romain Rolland

The fireman’s carry is hands-down the manliest way of carrying a person to safety. And it not only looks awesome, it’s actually an effective way to distribute someone’s weight, allowing you to haul them over long distances with minimal strain.

Figure 3.8 The fireman’s carry is an effective way to distribute someone’s weight, allowing you to haul them over long distances with minimal strain.