Indigenous Ability

A thoughtful question from Affiliate Rough ‘n’ Tumble Coach Mitch Mitchell prompted me to offer the following advice regarding these two common items of frontier weaponry. First, the part of Coach Mitchell’s Question/Observation that prompted what follows. “ Am I on the right track or holding my danged knife wrong?  Bowie designs are manifold. My personal preference falls toward a flat spine knife with a half-guard because a spine-side guard or broken spine jams up my thumb on a sincere stab in sabre grip.  For me anyway, a nice, straight, full-power stab with a hammer grip on the high line is impossible and anyway it's is a wrist killer.” His observation/complaint is common and one that leads to wisdom. I will also point out that to discover that certain tactics and grips are wrist killers can only be garnered via experience, that is, hard post training. If we stick with mirror play, shadow play, or tit for tat [ zumbrada] flow drills with a partner u...

In what now adds up to 43 years [and counting] of loving research in the area of old-school dealers of pain I have come across many unusual blows and quite a few sources naming this or that bit of the human anatomy ideal for delivering a walloping blow. What follows are the targeting observations of an old-timer himself, boxing journalist Earl Raab, writing in 1943, on what he found to be the Top Five Targets from the Bareknuckle Era. ONE-“Beneath the Ear” There are many resources that put targeting the ear fairly high on the list but in Mr. Raab’s findings this bit just below the ear delivers many happy returns. TWO-“Between the Eyebrows” An ungloved blow here was found to give a high-percentage percussive effect. THREE-“The Pit of the Stomach” This would later be called “The Solar Plexus Punch” as made world-famous by Bob Fitzsimmons.  FOUR-“The Heart” A highly coveted blow and ungloved it still has exceptional disconcerting wallop. A pa...

The following is from The Sioux City Journal circa 1880s regarding a “Rough & Tumble Duel” that took place between two farmers, Duggan Points and Will Moss. At the heart of the duel, the charms of one, Miss Sallie Craig. The vicious character of the duel is part and parcel of the rough and tumble tradition. I warn, the account is violent and the character of even witnessing such spectated murder is questionable. Keep in mind, this was a planned for rough and tumble duel, the accounts of impromptu duels are far more dire. “The place of the fight was agreed upon as halfway between the respective residents. A man from Loveland seconded Moss, and Point’s brother acted as his second. The fight was not to be conducted to any specified rules, but in the most approved rough-and-tumble style. About sixty people were on the ground, among whom was the girl over whom the contest was caused, to witness the brutal affair. The seconds stood with cocked revolvers in hand and warned n...