Glenburn's New Writeups

Cane fighting (thing)

2003-10-10T18:04:45Z

The carrying of a cane, or walking stick, is so much a fashion and is such a universal and ancient practice, that is would almost seem to be the survival of an instinct implanted by the habit or necessity of carrying some more substantial club for self-defence. The game of single-stick was formerly well known and practiced, and it is surprising that whilst all other branches of sport in and out doors, have their conspicuous positions in the world of athletics, the art of single-stick up to the present date is so little understood.

Single-stick practice has indeed fared even worse than the foil. Canes are carried just as much as ever by the sterner sex, but in the main they are merely carried as mute companions. The usefulness of the cane as a weapon is overlooked.

In view of these facts, I am prompted to write upon the subject and explain, as clearly as it is possible to do in writing, what a trustworthy friend a walking-stick becomes in the hands of one who knows how to…

La Canne (thing)

2003-10-10T17:38:38Z

At the turn of the century, a western European stick fighting system was enjoying the same degree of popularity as Eastern martial arts are today: The French system of La Canne ('The Cane')could be taught as a competitive sport, as a method of self-defence, or as a combination of both. There are numerous local and regional variants of the system in its early days, involving different striking patterns and body movements.

Many of these depended upon the respective teacher's background and other combative systems, such as foil, sabre, broadsword (even epee play) frequently being supplemented with techniques taken from French boxing, wrestling and even ballet. In the last decades of the 19th century, one La Canne instructor gained notoriety for his system's combative effectiveness. His name was Pierre Vigny. Little is known about his life. That which we know is derived mainly from a (very rare) manual adapted and published by the Superintendent of…

pugilism (thing)

2003-10-10T16:07:45Z

The sport of modern boxing is so well established that it is difficult to imagine it ever being different – or at least, different and effective. We tend to view the sport as having reached the final evolutionary stage of fistic athleticism, being the product of many centuries of "doing it wrong" before we finally "got it right." From the blows delivered to the guards used, we imagine that our modern boxing has the monopoly on pugilistic truth.
What this belief doesn't take into account, however, is that boxing is a sport, and as such is the direct descendent of a more combative art form: bare-knuckle pugilism. Reaching its zenith in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this martial art is different from modern boxing in several key ways. It is these differences that allow it to be equally effective as a sporting form, and much more effective as a combative form. This article will examine one major difference between bare-knuckle pugilism and modern boxing – the use of gloves. …

The New, Short and Easy Method of Fencing : Chapter V (thing)

2003-10-10T15:57:35Z

This is a transcript of the original work by Sir William Hope

CHAP. V.
How a man is to parie or defend himself, from either blow or thrust, upon the hanging guard in seconde.

Being to preceed to my directions, as well for the defence as offence, flowing from this excellent hanging-guard; the explication of it would appear to come in very properly in the beginning of the chapter, where I am to treat of the parade, or defence that may be drawn from it: But having done it exactly already in the first chapter, to which I remit the reader, I intend at this time to save myself that trouble; especially seing such a repetition would be altogether superfluous: and therefore, I shall in place of it offer to him a very necessary advice or precaution, particularly if he be altogether a novice, and has never been at fencing school; Because if he be already well grounded in the art, and consequently a piece of a sword-man,…

The New, Short and Easy Method of Fencing : Chapter III (thing)

2003-10-10T15:42:44Z

This is a transcript of the original work by Sir William Hope

CHAP. III.
Where some Objections are Answered, that may be Stated against the Usefulness of this Hanging Guard.

MAN is Naturally so selfish and invidious a Temper, that except what flows from himself, he can suffer almost nothing to pass, without either playing the Critick upon it, or starting Objections, altho' never so frivolous, against it: And this, certainly hath its rise from a selfish Pride; because upon no other Ground, for the most part, do People Criticise and Censure, but only out of, I may say, an ungenerous Concern, that another person should receive the Commendation and applause, which they would unjustly claim a Right to themselves; so that it Galls them to the very Soul, to think, that others are taken Notice of , while they are overlookt and neglected.

FOR, did not this Ungentlemanly, as well as Unchristian Temper,…

The New, Short and Easy Method of Fencing : Chapter II (thing)

2003-10-10T15:19:29Z

This is a transcript of the original work by Sir William Hope

CHAP. II.
Of the Advantages that the Hanging-Guard hath over all, or most of the other Guards.

Advantage I.

By reason of its sloping Position, which takes in almost the whole length of the Body, the lower Parts thereof, particularly the Belly and Thighs, are better Defended; and consequently, a Man is not obliged to sink so low upon this Guard, for the Defence of those Parts, as he is necessitat to do upon most other Guards; in which the Position of the Sword is quite contrary, to wit, either streight and in a level, or pointing a little upward.

I have alwise found upon the Ordinary Guards, the lower Parts of the Body most difficult to defend, and that for two Reasons: First, Because upon these Guards, a Man stands for the most part pretty straight; and when Thrusts are given in upon those lower Parts, as very…