MLARTC_FM.part 1.qxp

Wrestling, hip throws, armlocks (and arm-breaking submission holds),
chokes, and to some extent biting are all part of the arsenal. Elbow and
forearm blows are often used in combination. Gouging is also prevalent;
the boxer simply extends his thumb while jabbing to catch the opponent’s
eye. The boxer’s “third fist” is the head. The upper part of the cranium is
used offensively to butt as well as defensively to break a punching oppo-
nent’s hand or wrist. Boxers also attack with the fleshy part of the fist
(knife-hand edge) and palm-heel strike. Though boxing is officially an
empty-handed art, boxers have been known to load their gloves with any-
thing from plaster of Paris to lead dust (recall the studded cestus), or to
clench their fists around a solid object, such as a roll of quarters, making
their punches much more damaging.
Boxing may be distinguished from many other martial arts by the

Boxing, European 49

Korean boxer Joe

Teiken gets advice

from his manager

Frank Tabor during a

fight in California,

1933. (Courtesy of
      Joe Svinth)