Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

46 Boxing, European
marked the end of a “round.” The down man was given thirty seconds to
get back up; it was illegal to hit a down man, and wrestling below the waist
was not allowed. Broughton also advocated the use of gloves in training.
As an innovator of technique, he is known for “milling on the retreat,” or
blocking while moving back in order to draw an attacker into one’s
punches, compounding their force. By the end of the century Daniel Mendoza,
a British-Portuguese Jew, refined the art by incorporating footwork,
choreographed combinations, lateral movement, and fighting from a
crouch. At 5 feet, 7 inches, and scarcely over 160 pounds, Mendoza’s
unique strategies enabled him to defeat much larger men and lay claim to
the championship of England.
“Broughton’s Rules” remained in effect until the Pugilists Protective
Association, in an attempt to make boxing safer, issued the “London Prize
Ring Rules” in 1838 after another death in the ring. Further revisions of
these rules in 1853 and 1866 (by which time boxing was actively outlawed)
banned choking and head butting, but still did not limit the number or
length of rounds. In the interest of safety and fairness, weight classes were
first introduced in the 1850s: heavy (over 156 pounds), middle (134–156
pounds), and light (under 134 pounds).
In 1866, a new set of rules was issued that completely revolutionized
the art of boxing and that serves as the basis for the governance of the sport
today. The “Queensbury Rules,” named for the marquis of Queensbury,
consisted of twelve clauses, prohibiting wrestling altogether and mandating
a 24-square-foot ring, three-minute rounds with a one-minute rest period
after each round, and the use of gloves. Subsequent revisions limited the
number of rounds to twenty, set the minimum glove weight at six ounces,
and introduced a scoring system of points.
The manifestation of the art of boxing in sport and spectacle has become
a significant source of revenue and a nexus for social commentary.
The martial art of boxing reaches its highest level in the professional athletes
who perform in the prize ring. Boxing continues to be a primary self-defense
technique employed by several military institutions and by law enforcement
agencies such as the FBI. Boxing instruction remains widely disseminated at
urban youth centers run by the Police Athletic League and YMCA. Bruce
Lee’s Jeet Kune Do and Israeli krav maga borrow heavily from boxing’s arsenal.
Boxing is also the striking art of choice of many martial artists, such
as shootfighters (modern, professional no-holds-barred competitors) and
grapplers, determined to augment their primary nonstriking skills.
The philosophy of boxing is simple: “Hit and don’t get hit.” Despite
the simplicity of this premise, over the centuries the art has been developed
to such a degree that it is often referred to as a science—“the sweet science.”
Boxing is both an art and a science, as boxers learn strategic moves