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How to Train Historical Mayhem by Mark Hatmaker


[From the introduction to Boxing Like the Champs, Round Two, but this applies to all the historical wok we do around here. From boxing, to old school wrestling, to rough ‘n’ tumble we must dig hard to find the real gold. 
The book will be released in the Fall of this year. See our other products for more of this approach to training.]


You’ve likely heard this quote before…
 “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”


It was uttered by the Spanish philosopher George Santayana. In context, he issued it as a warning to those who seek solutions on the world stage, urging them to have a bit of long-view perspective before they plunge on merrily and or madly with this or that “save the world” scheme.
In that context, Mr. Santayana was likely sage.
But…on this smaller stage of a canvas covered ring, bordered by ropes and turnbuckles it is a bit of untruth.
Oh, but only if it were true for we lovers of fistic mayhem.
Ponder that quote again.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
How sweet it would be to know nothing of the artistry, the craftiness, the wisdom of the past masters of the sweet science and through sheer ignorance to simply blunder into their mastery.
Sounds nice, but who are we fooling?
To know how these warriors did what they did, to really know, you’ve got to look, you’ve got to study, you’ve got to dig, you’ve got to work hard to know their past.
In our case, it is only by knowing the past that we condemn ourselves to repeating it.

No knowledge of it, well, then it simply ain’t gonna happen by magic.



In this follow up to the first volume, Boxing Like the Champs, we will use our definition of “condemn” to grab a piece of history and repeat it to the best of our ability.
Contained herein are training tips, ring tactics, “secret” punches, strategies, and, more than a few “dirty tricks” peppered here and there.
These are offered in no particular order, in other words, dip and dive where your particular fist-waving taste swings you for that given training day.
I do offer this caveat. This book can be read as mere history or strategic maundering, but for we, the fighter, to be truly condemned to repeat the historic magic of these great ring men, we will have to take it to the gym, to the bags, to the pads, to the sparring partners. 
Words on pages do not translate into ability any more than being ignorant of history condemns us to repeating it.
Read on, work hard and condemn yourself to a bit of historic mastery!
[For techniques, tactics, and strategies of Rough and Tumble Combat, Old-School Boxing, Mean-Ass Wrestling, Street-Ready Frontier Scrapping & Indigenous Ability culled from the historical record see the RAW Subscription Service. http://www.extremeselfprotection.com
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