Defensive Gymnastics (1838)

Images from the 2008 edition of Baron Charles de Berenger's book on "Defensive Gymnastics" (1838). Baron de Berenger's self defence system used canes, umbrellas, pistols, boxing, wrestling and even snuffboxes to beat ruffians and footpads at their own game.

De Berenger also offered advice on "manly courage", what to do if threatened by a mad bull, how to survive a shipwreck, and many other important survival tips for an early 19th century gentleman.

The 2008 reprint includes over fifty new pictures and a new introductory essay. It is available from Lulu Publications: http://www.lulu.com/content/4405775 .

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Defensive Gymnastics
• self defence
• self defense
• history
• de Berenger
• boxing
• wrestling
• stick fighting
• canes
• 19th century

[megasayajinsongoku99]

what is this art ?  A mix from Savate and cane de combat ?

[ZenWolfDances]

@megasayajinsongoku99 - there is no apparent influence from either savate or la canne. De Berenger's system combined English boxing and wrestling with various self defence tricks of no specific national origin.

[makaiev]

bartitsu?

[ZenWolfDances]

@makaiev - no, this was about seventy years before Bartitsu. Similar stuff, though.

[Tengurengu]

This is as gentlemanly as it is badass. One cannot practice such techniques without a huge curly moustache.

[graytart101]

nice video, loved the gun behind an umbrella trick :D

[YouthFist76]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrNormalton]

1:12 Knee to the head or nostril to the leg?

[schizoidboy]

From what I had seen in a book called The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe, many techniques from that time are similar to the ones modern martial artists practice. It isn't so much that all these methods are new or taken from other countries or cultures, I think there are some techniques that are actually universal, for instance hip and shoulder throws are found in East and West styles.

[davidjrosen]

Defeat that ugly, uncouth ruffian!  ;-)