SELF

DEFENSE

FOR

THE

INDIVIDUAL

With
Illustrations

By

BILLY

C.

SANDOW

Author's

and Tumble
System of Rough
Wrestling and Hand-to-Hand
Fighting Taught by him
War.
in the U. S. Army
during the World

Revised

from

the

Price

50 Cents

G. Sandow
1919,Billy
Copyright,

UmTO

UTKO. * fT". "M

M5HUTH,

BILLY

Physical Culture
Manager

and

C.

Expert

Trainer

SANDOW
;

Instructor

of Ed

U.

S. Army

"Strangler"

Lewis

Introduction
It has

been

published as
of the

needs

to revise my
necessary
the subject at
text
on

civilian

as

means

book

on

In-fightingfor

the

Dix, N. J., in order

of self-defense
against the thug

Camp

to
or

U.

S.

Army, which
it conform
to
thief.

have

was

the

for civilians serves

of self-defense
is a well-established
a need
a practical method
best
than
the system
be other
that
And
a
adapted to one's need should
knowledge
so-called manly art of self-defense,
or
boxing, is one of the lessons learned from this
of war
that
other
students
The
no
early discovered
boxing served
purpose
great war.
of teaching the leads
the building up
and parries of the bayonet and
the double
than
one
the experience of our
of a fightingspirit. It was
Allies,and later of the U. S., that there
for some
of hand-to-hand
need
other
method
was
fighting.
of Arms, Fort Sill,Oklahoma, made
warfare.
The Infantry School
a
study of trench
entitled "Hand
to Hand
Fighting," under
Early in 1918 it published a confidential booklet
ing
the authorityof The
CollegeDivision,General Staff. It is breakTraining Committee, War
the
introduction.
confidence
to quote two
no
pertient paragraphs from
They are as
follows:
that
with
disarmed
man
a
a
coming to blows in the trendies
"Experience has shown
himself
and
with
confined
disarmed
soldier has almost
always lost his head
striiijenemy
That

fact.
of the

he did no1

gling uselessly,because

would
have
holds which
sufficed until
or
of the adversaries.
it is prac"Never
use
fists,as the list is the least effective of nature's
your
tically
weapons;
with
the fist,since
the military equiphors de combat
ment
impossibleto put an enemy
violent
the
blow
on
protects the solar plexus,and the most
point of the chin has no
effect than
other
that of cuttingcleanlythe skin."
These
two
paragraphs prove
conclusivelythat self-defense is not boxing; that some
As
of combative
skill is necessary.
other form
sidered
proof that wrestling has long been concertain and
a
more
practical form of self-defense let me
quote from an article by
Dr. B. F. Roller, the noted
heavyweight wrestler, which appeared in the New York Herald,
Oct. 10, 1915:
"For
of
the
adherents
sometime
boxing appropriated the word 'manly,' and called
As
matter
of fact
a
boxing 'the manly art of self-defense.'
justified
lighting is never
except in self-defense,and as self-defense anything that is necessary and effective is manly.
In my
there
other
self-defense
is necessary
methods
are
opinion, however, when
fully as
effective than
more
manly and much
boxing."
This
former
American
same
champion wrestler
challenged Jess Willard,following his
with
him, and before a jury of newspaper
victory over
Johnson, to go to the gymnasium
and
is the
of
better method
men
city officials settle for all time the question of which
did not
self-defense
boxing or wrestling. Willard
accept the challenge.
The
of this book
author
had
his system of In-fighting
the good fortune
to have
taught
in the U. S. A.
and
cantonments
at Camp
Mix, Camp Hancock, and at various other camps
In editing this book
also privilegedto study the various
He was
systems formerly used.
holds and
blows
in civil life would
be called
his object has been
to publish only such
as
one
someone

the

to

came

ai"l of

know

blows

any
other

the

or

our

"

to

upon

and

simple

by the bully. In short, the system explained in

practical way of rendering helpless an opponent in

attacked

when

use

is

pages

the

following

the

least

sible
pos-

book

for

time.
is called

Attention

clean

the
in

teaching his

lessons
hour

day
The

must

pages
A

its

to

is the

It

it.

use

in this

few

short

for

system

book

be

may

cut

in

use

learned

self-defense

of

successful

to

in

warfare
a

author's
student

that

hope

must

lie

never

permits

period

of

two

applied except

that

defend
U. S.
official militaryopinion of my

when

of

letters

clearly show

They
page.
in the service.

the

he

is

most

the

you

opponent
a
good

your
secure

the

that

state

if

devotes

one

the

have

never

an

the

securing

from
hold

on

of

the

way
under

to

of these

himself.

Army

BILLY

printed

are

system

of

on

In-fighting

C. SANDOW.

for

Beginners

no
difficultyin beating your man.
leverage and you will have
all circumstances, and
effective under
method, the most

are

need

study

natural

specialpreparationin
When

his experience

25, 1919.

Y., January

X.

Hints
Study

text

to

from

compelled to

officers of

various

(Signed)

is the

him

weeks

study this system may

the knowledge gained

who

those

remember

ever

from

extracts

Rochester,

is not

self-defense, and

mastery.

another

used

this system

that

tact

elaborate

more

contained

the

to

sport of wrestling. It is

man
a

clothing.
keep on moving

hold, but

also

constantly, thus

enabling you

in

the

This

system

requiresno

not
only preventing
change of position to

him.

on
quickly and with vim, whether
through the motions
as
aggressiveas possible,then your opportunities for

defensive
offensive.
or
will be increased.
of self-defense.
Get behind
This system is an
unsurpassed means
opponent as
your
sidered
quickly as possibleas it is the safest position. In all wrestlinga position behind is conof great advantage, especiallyamong
one
are
high class professionals. There
many
is given here, namely, the go behind
of getting behind; the best one
methods
originated
Go

Be

by

the

author.

Under

ends.
and

the

success

For

certain conditions
instance, suppose

he, thinking that

you

Now

moment

right side.

your

are

convert
can
an
adversary's resistance to your own
you
him
wished
to turn
to the
right,force him to the
you
in earnest, will resist by exerting his strength toward

for

determined, definite

action

has

come.

Your

good
left
his

foe is straining

him
desire
to go, so,
swift
Hash
of light you
in the very
direction you
as
a
change
will thus be supplemented by his own,
to the right. Your
tactics and force him
power
your
if you
are
quick,for he will not have had time to correct his error.
this system he is no
masters
small
Once
man
brute
a
longer despised, he can overcome
force

and

physicalstrength.

"CI.A51322

No.

THE

GO

BEHIND

"

No.

THE

BEHIND

GO

ORIGINATED

BY

SANDOW

"BILLY"

"

It

is

attack

from
The

be,

from

knocking
By
Then

possible
a

standing

him

down

grapevining

is
the

and

the

is

left
lock

ankle

both
and

leg,

the

No.

and

or

THE

the

case

GO

right

his

or

his

kicking
be;

may

limb,

is

and

left

heel,

feet

from

great

of

weapon

the
feet,

own

your

the

apply

the

as

case

under

grapevine

you

locking

forward

shoot

This

attacks.

front

plants

opponent's
twist

all

ankle,

as

around

legs

for

first,

throw.

ground

opponent's

right

apply

quick

defense

feet
the

in
or

by

best

forward,
used,

your
to

meant

toes

himself

position
with

leg

opponent's
and

position,

standing

the

an

throws

aggressor

grasp

break

to

may

him

and

victim's

leg.

the

at

ankle.

hold.

strangle

BEHIND

"

When
rolls
or

and

the
other

is

aggressor

holds

and

at

in
the

position
same

time

he

is
in

out
a

of

position

reach
to

of
secure

all

and

harm
any

one

is

of

the

safe!
many

all

beyond
different

holds.

Page

Three

No.

THE

GO

BEHIND

"

No.

Photos
that

to

of

1
a

man

and

show

the

sliding

for

in

aggressor
a

the

act

of

throwing

his

forward,

body

the

throw

lar
simi-

is

base.

GO

THE

-i

BEHIND

No.

position

This
the

ground,
No.

Page

27.

Four

attacker

the

"lu"ws
can

now

culmination
move

forward

of

the
and

go
secure

behind.

strangle

After
and

throwing
head

butt

to

opponent

your

from

the

rear,

see

the
Plate

No.

THE

GO

BEHIND

"

Illustrates
the

destroys

of

position

correct

behind.

go

equilibrium,

opponent's

When

this

so

No.

clever

THE

the
throw

GO

strikes

aggressor

will

send

your

the

ankle

opponent's

he

sprawling.

opponent

BEHIND

"

If

the

grasps

which
and

the

is
he

aggressor
heel

grasped
is

fails

forced

the

on

at
to

the
the

to.

knock

outside,
same

his
the

time

man

shoulder

by

the

down
strikes

aggressor's

he

dives

solidly
left

at

the

opponent's
the

against
hand.

The

inside

opponent's

left
of

the

foot,
the
knee

right

is

hand
knee,

opponent's
quickly

flexed

ground.
Page

Five

No.
The

opponent
This

knee.

is held
method

with

your

is

effective

leg.
and

No.

Hooking
means

of

the

defense

toe of one
it is almost

will

break

until

If you
wish
merely
he falls backward.

Page

Six

your

opponent's
to

foot

"

THE

GO

BEHIND

The
raises
the
aggressor
will throw
the opponent

8"

behind

invincible

THE

GO

to

foot
and
plants
the
ground.

it in

the

nent's
oppo-

BEHIND

ankle,
opponent's
A
properly performed.

your
if

left

kick

just

hard

blow

below
with

the
the

knee
flat

cap.
of your

As

throw

your

opponent,

just

pull

his

ankle

forward

and

push

against

his

foot

leg.
knee

No.

FRONT

STRANGLE

"

Grab

the

head,

thumb

driving

into

the
of

matter

effective

The

driven

hold

of

the

but

"Adam's
few

hold,

strangle

diately
imme-

ground

to

opponent

you.

to

the

across

front

man

your

nent's
oppo-

is

pressed

is

strangulation

Complete
render

of

forearm

aggressor's

The

arm.

apple."
seconds

full

apply

and

drop

forearm

one

other

the

jaw

hold,
on

of

placing
use

into
hold

strangle

by

into

knee

strangle

other

any

the

means

thumb

takes

It

strangle

rear

him

bringing
the

time.

securing

obtaining

strengthened

drive

down;

After

always
be

the

and

and

absolutely

only

of

incapable

resistance.

butting

force

neck

from

him

should

This

forward

apple.''

hold

strangle

"

neck.

against

''Adam's

prohibit

to

as

so

Note:

it

bringing

in

the

him

to

drive
the

be

can

jaw
forcibly

arm

time

same

the

right
ground

secured

jab

or

the

across

foot
and

in

fingers

two

to

back

throat,
of

two

If

ways.

in

his

and

opponent's

pull

you

are

jump

eyes;
him

right

to

face
his

backward,
or

left

to

then
knee

face

rush

and

rear,

side

take

throwing

him

at
at

full

your

the

opponent,

out

of

time

same

strangle

hold,

position

at

and

strangle.
Page

Seven

No.
the

Bring
throat,

make

head

and

Page

Eight

left

grasp

now

To

the

shoulders

around

arm

the
hold
at

left
even

the

wrist
more
same

your

with

BACK

opponent's
the

powerful,
time

11"

right
aid

pulling

STRANGLE
neck,

hand,
your

backward.

and
arm

the

forearm
is
forcibly
brought
backward.
pull your
opponent
the
forward
by pushing
opponents

against
with

the

your

"'
.

v-

No.
In

this
obtaining
hold, both
through
down,
forcing arm

strike
the other
arm

neck

pit.

hand
The

and

back

When
force

LEG

your

enough

is

man

to

stun

in

the
him

position
or

knock

secured

HOLD

time.
the
To
the
same
secure
leg hold,
the
continue,
obtain
hold.
With
arm
to
crotch, then
following through
wrist
arm
head
his
at
to
the
near
secure
under
leverage,
opponent's
passing
your
grasp
be
thrown
shoulder
is
in
to
then
over
by
position
raising body up quickly, using
opponent
The
whole
main
movement
must
be
executed
leverage
points.
as
rapidly to be effective.
movements

No.

with

AND

AEM

12"

are

13

"

shown
him

AND

ARM

in

Plate

at

LEG

13

HOLD

you

can

throw

him

forward

to

the

ground

out.

Page

Nine

No.

and
draw
twitch
and
shoulder.

wrist

opponent's
it

over

pull

with

shoulder.
forward
on

With

No.

When

your

foe

obtains

of the
defensive

out

Page

Ten

hold.
man

Be

is then

sure

as

imprisoned

15

BLOCK

It

your

thrown

arms

waist

shoulders

If

is

very

14

hands,

the

the

raise
is secured,
only one
holds
will follow.
disabling

both

"

Seize

and

arm.

WAIST

you

luck

roll

to

necessary
feet

opponent's
sidewards

over

MARE

in with
back
bend
forward
The
defensive

step
lever,

FOR

lock,

FLYING

"

LOCK

are

the

off

hip

the
of

is

man

of

giving
plunged

twist
your

headlong

an
over

his

arms

between

elbow

and

to
the ground,
bringing opponent
be
elbow
arms
he
or
grasped above
throw
to
ground before
attempt
you

the

from

arm

hips

you

upward
your

BEHIND

side,
his

opponent,

your

quickly,

FROM

both

or

one

that
that

to

aggressor.

shoulder.
then
other
can
work
him,
the

No.

ANOTHER

16

BLOCK

FOR

WAIST

LOCK

FROM

BEHIND

"

If
he

at

and

the

time

same

hold,

release

is

hold

opponent's

your

leg,

wist

using

reach

low,

opponent

as

ANOTHER

17

No.

back

weight.

your

quickly

turn

and

falls

follow

FOR

pull

and

backward

and

BLOCK

foot,

nearest

grasp

fall

Then

up

at

same

throat

with

it

straddle

up,

time

give

and
foot

sit
a

on

sharp

attack.

LOCK

WAIST

"

Reach

when

up

with

opponent
attacked

and

catch

you;

quickly

from

the

hold

around
shift

his
to

neck,

strangle

draw
hold.

his

forward,

head
This

is

good

go

defense

down

right

on

for

short

knee

pull

and
man

to

Page

Eleven

rear.

use

18"

No.

Attack
time
his

Page

strike
face.

Twelve

opponent
him

with

from
your

rear

right

by

ATTACKING

grasping

shoulder

LEG

opponent's
and

raise

the

REAR

FROM
left

leg

ankle
as

high

with
as

your

right

possible,

hand,

throwing

at

the

opponent

same
on

No.

19

FROM

UP

FOLLOW

No.

18

"

When
straddles
over

is

sits

possible

to

This

the

to

of

the

high

as

up

the

above

man

the

of

head

possible

as

attacker

the

ground,

defensive
the

plunges

drawn

be

break

brought

leg

near

leg.
should

leg

is

man

the

on

attacker's

imprisoned
it

defensive

the
and

the

steps

the

knee,

defensive
to

the

forward

man

the

give

with

over

grasps

longest

leverage,

his

right

foot
on

in

leg

and

raises

and
his

up
The

face.

which

position

leg.

No.

TOE

20

HOLD

THE

OVER

LEG

"

When
the
attacker

the

imprisoned
to

foot

is

leg,
hold

his

forced
at

the

opponent

forward

as

time

same

with

shown

rolling
his

limbs,

in
his

plate

the

19

attacker

forward

weight

attacking

his

throat

brings
on

with

the

the
victim's

both

opposite
foot,

againsl

thigh

enabling

hands.

Page

Thirteen

the

When

to

excellent

an

elbow

coming

first

affords
of

it

is

for

natural

quite
to

you

extended

opponent's

your

clinch

opportunity

No.

him

jerk

and

ami

for

UP

Slip

No.

in

for

arm

your

keeping

you,

FROM

reach

to

lock.

toward

FOLLOW

22

opponent

an

wing

the

secure

his

hold.

body

and

over

pinned

arm

This

to

side.

your

21

"

drive

Now

pivoting

foot,
on

hold

the
his

The

proper

and

at

tightly

Page

to

way

Fourteen

made

the
same

execute

here
this

push

violently

to

in
hold
you

his

to

forward,

you.

the

dropping
is,
until
backward

body
hips

to

after
his

chin,

the

turning
feet

against

well

his

the

back
the

leave

to

ground.

chin,

With

under

before

knees

stepping

in

forcing

your

the

weight

him

pull
to

down
the

opponent
The

opponent.

leave

throw

opponent
Then

firmly

leg
the

to

of
feet

right

your

your

back

opponent's
the

with

hold

backward

hips.

your

placed

are

time

same

opponent

your

over

the

the

nt

forcing

his

of

part

upper

from

opponent
time

bend

Now

closely

hand

right

your

the

and

commonly

forcing
the

bend

and

arm

is

mistake

left.

your

on

ground

of

palm

the

the
your

on

ground.

his

the'

above

ground.
hip

right

ward,
backarm

No.

a.rm

off

his

pressure

upward

securely

with

This

Page

leaves

Eighteen

of

blow

the

over

off
warding
blocking his arm

method

Another
ward

by

elbow
at
one

your

lock

and

the
hand

left

wrist

by
arm

your
and

grasping
free

to

29

straight
with
hands

further

on

shirt

HAMMER

blow

knife

or

left

your
his
at

downward
the

BACK

"

cripple

upper
your

your

wrist,

force

rear,

the

with

If

attack.

his

at

the
of

part

right

hand

opponent.

the

arm.

after

leads

opponent

stepping:
imprisoned

to

his
arm

The

forcing

side

upward
opponent
right

his

his

with
cross

by
can

up

righ
righ

your

applying
be
the

heli
back

Communications

From

Extracts

of

Officers

Various

Dealing With
Sandow's
System of In-fighting
Taught in the U. S. Army

Division

that
all organizations
are
fully realizes
being taxed
considers
that
of
a
man
a
schedule, hut
possessing
knowledge
that
the
time
this
"defensive
to
so
an
to
wrestling"
dangerous
given
enemy
will
be
Division
National
instruction
well
87th
Headquarters
extremely
spent.
COMMAND
BY
OF
MAJOR
GENERAL
Dix, N. J., July 19, 1918.
Army,
Camp
The

under

the

Commander

present

"

STURGIS.

The

School

division,

is

It
asset

to

laid

N.

aside.

to

in
G.

"

believe

that

Major,

work

in

U.

this

valuable
is much
than
more
as
boxing
in which
all rules
of sportsmanship
combat,
to
Infantry, U. S. A., Commanding,
Commanding
Hancock,
Ga., ixov.
Camp
16, 1918.

their

S.

after

his

to

protect

ability

of

out

and

business

A., Camp

Sandow

Mr.

by

given

service

the

opponent

Infantry,

in

General,

course

hand

to

this
in

confidence

their

this

that

Farrell, Major
MTD
MGTC,

while

men

put

H.

"

16, 1918.

hand

Group

both

man,
the

belief

man

conducted
B. C. Sandow
Fighting
by Mr.
General
Major
Sturgis to Commanding

and

success.

J., July

my

Officer, 3rd

decided

Dix,

Camp

Wrestling

of

was

when

Hancock,

is

return

of

inestimable

civil

to

themselves

Ga.,

the

on

offensive.

the

on

It

to

imparts

to

defensive

John

and

Austin,
Officer, Nov.
25,

"

Commanding

to

value

life.

an
are

D.

1918.

bearer,

The

officers

the

of

C.

Sandow,

has

Division

which

has

Mr.

this

B.

of
proven
has
recommended

General

General,

just completed

Sturgis,
Bayonet
Fighting, for
in his opinion, is much
superior to boxing.
with

course,
Mr.

School

the

Sandow

is

an

for

this

at

expert

line

this

Infantry

School

I think

given

that

utilized

to
or

Arms,

Sill, Okla., July

Ft.

at

such

give

instruction

civilians

could

at

be

believe

this

Dix, N.

J.

course

is

various

the

trained

The
Infantry
Drain, Major,
U. S. Infantry,
Loughborough,

course

R.

of

be
Ft.

and

School
General

much

more

then

Dix, N. J., to
23, 1918.

camps.
sent

that

instruction

to

as

General

Commanding

manding
Com-

attention

nection
con-

This

given
Staff,
Officer,

has

been

I would
wrestling.
be
on
wrestling

Perhaps
around

with

the

in
taught
Sill, Okla.

Harris, Major,

with
when
I say
that
much
too
me
agree
this to the
exclusion
the various
of
camps,
Sandow
Mr.
and
other
authorities
men
as

J.

Camp

it

will

you

boxing

to

suggest
officers

of

A.

"

that

instruction

value

great

officers, at

his

and

valuable.
has
extremely
camp,
proven
Assistant
Chief
of Staff, 87th
Division, Camp
at

of

course

such

selected

teach

the

class

system.

of
"

of

Fort
W.
B.
Arms,
Sill, Okla., to Major
D. C, August
Staff, Washington,
13, 1918.

valuable

than

boxing.

"

General

Sturgis,

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