The Art of Self Defense in the Street

"Be aware, never be surprised" was Emile Andre's guiding principle as he worked "to create a new system that is practical in terms of its combat-readiness." Long before the advent of MMA, he asserted that "it seems clear that we ought to study several fighting sports and mold them into one system." Andre had been producing self-defense manuals since the 1880's at a time when street gangs were terrorizing Paris, and he continued to do so after the advent of the Great War. In this ultimate 1929 edition of "L'Art de se defendre dans la rue", Andre lays out a combination of those kicks, punches and grappling moves which he deems the easiest to learn while providing the best results in terms of surviving a "nocturnal ambush". He then moves on to the use of the cane, knife, walking stick, and other weapons such as brass knuckles and pistols. The study of empty handed defense systems has always been a part of humanity's martial history: The Spartans were so keen to keep their "by any means" battle-ready edge that they allowed biting and eye gouging in their regular pankration competitions! The samurai worked hard at their Daito-ryu-jujutsu in order to be able to keep on fighting when their weapon was lost, and of course karate itself is often translated as "empty hand." Krav Maga is perhaps the latest popular manifestation of a system geared toward the very real possibility that you will sometimes be caught at unawares and unarmed, and you must be able to respond with fists and feet before getting to your weapon or fleeing. Combatives is a fun and useful skill to cultivate, and with any luck you will augment your physical constitution and your hand-eye coordination without ever having to deploy such skills in the real world... but is you have to, it is there. Keep in mind that the kicks in this system are meant to be delivered by a person wearing a hard soled shoe - in this way the seemingly innocuous low kick from savate becomes an ankle-shattering fight stopper. And you can well imagine what it means to take a point kick to the groin from an adversary in a steel-toed boot! As for La Canne, it will only seem silly to you until you take a hardwood cane and whack a heavy bag with it using a fully developed cut. Indeed, staving in a skull is not beyond the power of the humble - but sturdy - cane.