Defending against a punch is a priority for many people when learning self-defence. We are aware both instinctually and through the media that an unarmed person can lash out with a fist and knock out teeth or render a victim unconscious with a blow to the head.

Our second beginner's lesson in the Bartitsu program concerns striking with the hands. How does one punch correctly? What is the best defence against a punch?

(This is part two of a series on the component parts of Bartitsu following the four-week structure of our course Fight Like Sherlock Holmes. Click here for part 1: Jujitsu in Bartitsu.)

Pugilism And Its Evolution

Bare-knuckle boxing is both a sport and a method of self-defence. Modern boxing, which also existed at the time of Sherlock Holmes, is known as "Marquise of Queensbury Rules," and refers to the sport of boxing which features large gloves and 3-minute rounds (among other conventions.) Although some of the principles of modern boxing are applicable to self-defence, the reality of bare-knuckle boxing is more immediately applicable because one doesn’t wear large mitts in public, except perhaps in Northern Canada.

So if you’re concerned about a street fight or sudden attack, you should look at what methods and tactics are common to all forms of pugilism, and especially those that are preferred by bare-knuckle boxers.

Face Realities

The techniques of pugilism are based on the facts of striking:

Hitting the hard bones of the skull will hurt and potentially break the hand. It’s called the Boxer’s Fracture.
The wrist must be perfectly aligned or it will be sprained by a punch
Knocking a strong man unconscious is difficult
Striking the diaphragm with a fist can crumple the body by knocking the wind out of the lungs
Blocking or absorbing bare-knuckle strikes on bare forearms or hands is painful and tiring

The foundation for the stance is similarly fact-based:

An aggressive person will try to look bigger by showing both shoulders, feet nearly side-by-side. The pugilist stands with one leg forward to minimize exposing the groin and the “mark” at the bottom of the sternum.
The lead hand is extended to keep the opponent away
The trailing hand is laid across the mark to protect it, and ready to strike out to the opponent’s mark
The toe of the lead foot points to the opponent to facilitate balanced motion and aiming straight
The trailing foot is not in a direct line with the lead foot, to facilitate a passing step without tripping oneself or making a slower circular step to avoid it.
The knees are bent and the entire body is kept in motion so any reaction is rapid

Just Beyond Your Reach

If you can grab your opponent’s wrist, or be grabbed by them, you’re in jujitsu measure and you should switch to a grappling mindset. If you are just beyond that distance, it is more likely that your opponent will try to strike you, and your mindset should be to strike first, and transition to jujitsu when one of you closes that distance.

Bridging that gap means that the attacker will need to step forward and throw a straight punch. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so the most efficient punch should finish with the arm straight forward, whether that be the forward hand (a lead punch) or the trailing hand (a cross punch.)

The other option, which was espoused by modern boxers, is to take a larger step forward and throw a round punch to the side of the head, into the ear or jaw. The use of this hook punch came to prominence because the padded gloves made covering the front of the face easy. It’s difficult to sneak a padded fist in between the defender’s two padded fists, but easy to avoid by hooking the hand around the side.

Defending the Straight Punch

The best defence is not to be there. Obviously, not getting into a fist-fight will accomplish this, but bare-knuckle boxers realized that the head is mobile and a small side-step can easily evade a direct punch. We call this quick lateral movement a “slip” and it is our primary defence against straight punches.

There are many types of blocks, parries and guards in boxing, but only the slip will eliminate all impact from the attack, and permit the fastest counter.

The Clinch, or Where’s the Ref?

It surprises some students to learn that matches of fisticuffs under London Prize Fighting Rules could continue for hours and they had no time-limits for rounds. They would take 20-second breaks whenever one fighter was downed. Unlike modern boxers, though, you could send your opponent to the mat with a punch or a throw (as long as any grip was above the belt.)

The modern term “clinch” is used when to boxers get close and wrap their gloves behind their opponent’s head or back. With padded gloves any grip is going to be ineffective, and throws are not only against the rules, they are nearly impossible to execute. The referee will separate two fighters who end up in a clinch because the first fighter to disengage would fall victim to a hook, so both fighters generally want to keep holding on, and are therefore equally unable to take effective action.

On the other hand, a bare-knuckle boxer could easily grab their opponent's arms, neck, or around their waist and use various throws and holds. Here are some techniques that were taught in traditional boxing:

Headlocks (called “chancery”)
Cross-buttock throw (also known as hip-throws)
Back-heel throw

Pugilism Curriculum

When you complete Fight Like Sherlock Holmes, just by participating, you should be able to demonstrate the following skills by the end of the course. You will then automatically earn your green sash. There is no test at this level.

Green Sash (Fight Like Sherlock Holmes, 1 month):

Stance, footwork, milling
Jab
Lead
Cross
Slip to lead-cross combo (inside and outside)
De-escalation stance

Once you begin participating in green sash classes, you will have the opportunity to get skills signed off toward your Blue Sash. After a few months, you will likely be ready to test for that rank. The full list of skills is longer than this, but here are the pugilism-related competencies that will be expected of you:

Blue Sash (3 month minimum, test):

Hook
Milling for entering
Lead guard
Elbow guard
Chopper or hammer-fist

Now once you've been working with us for at least a year, you will be ready to demonstrate a series of accomplishments that set you apart as an intermediate student of the art. Here is what will be desired in a student testing for their red sash, pugilism-wise:

Red Sash (1 year minimum, test):

The 4 straight punches from slips
Pummelling or sticky hands
Core strength

Learn Bartitsu from Scratch

Join us for ongoing training in Bartitsu by signing up for the introductory course “Fight Like Sherlock Holmes” at Academie Duello. The first class is on close-range fighting using jujitsu. The second class will feature the boxing concepts that we talked about today, and the practical skills to apply it. A new round starts every month, and you can choose a section that fits your schedule: Mondays or Wednesdays from 8 pm - 10 pm or Saturdays from 2 pm - 4 pm.

This is part 2 of a series on Bartitsu’s Component Arts. Come back in 2 weeks for part 3.

Head of Stage Combat at Academie Duello and certified Instructor with Fight Directors Canada. Head of Bartitsu at Academie Duello, the longest continuously running Bartitsu program in the world.
Read more from David McCormick.