Customer Reviews

The Science of Boxing: Rules and Articles on Training: Generalship in the Ring and Kindred Subjects

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book was written as kind of a start-up book on boxing, written in 1893(!), but the basics are very sound. The author trained, and trained with, many of the champions of the day, when Marquis of Queensberry was still new to the scene. While he teaches gloved boxing, it was still a lot like the bareknuckle style that preceded it. There was very little footwork, mostly just shuffling to get a better position, and the stance was very open, with the hands held a little lower. However, a jab was still a jab, and a hook was still a hook. The differences I noticed compared to today's boxing was that the fist appeared to be held with the knuckles aligned vertically, and it looked as if the uppercut was more of a swing with the back of the hand. The author actually goes into pretty good detail about how the body moves to create the punch, and how the fist should be when punching. He explains basic techniques, then provides the counters to them before moving on, and most of the moves have accompanying photos. On the down side, according to the photos' numbers, a few are missing, though they're never mentioned, and the photos for the moves are hardly ever on the same page as the technique. The section in the back of the book on training is still a little useful today, but I wouldn't treat is as the gospel of boxing training. Overall, a very good book for the beginner on learning how to punch, but it won't make you Ali overnight.

but this is an excellent book all the same. If you're new to the sport, or even if you're a vet seeking to oil the gears a bit, this is truly a valuable source. I come, as my name suggests, from an old-school background anyway. My father saw to that. Kid Blackie and John L. were names that I just about wore on my sleeve from my earliest childhood days, and when the Kid became the Mauler, that name went straight on my chest - even though I always carried his name by honor. So, with Donovan's book, I have a bit of a bias and approach it with a sense of warmth and respect anyway. But, even without all that, it has the bare bones that many books do not - invaluable knowledge, information and skills. You take this up, practice it, get past the 1893 photos, and you're in for a fantastic learning experience. You really shouldn't pass this one up.

I fought in the pros for 8 years and in the amateurs for 6 and this is the best book on boxing I have ever read.
I give it to my friends as a present for birthdays, graduations and retirements

Quite simply the best book ever written on the Manly Art.
Hooray for the publisher for re-issuing an important piece of American ring (as well as literary) heritage.
Despite giving away 70 pounds, the author went the distance with John L. Sullivan before he went on to write this beautifully illustrated book, which belongs in the collections of all those interested in history, literature and sports.

What an opportunity to learn boxing from an actual bare-knuckle champion. Donovan's book was endorced by such greats as Bob Fitzsimmons and Peter Jackson, and should be of great interest to any boxing historian. Also, it is a great opportunity to learn boxing skills from someone who actually fought such greats as Jack Dempsey "the Nonpareil", Jem Mace, and John L. Sullivan, just to name a few. Doyle Studio Press has done a great service to the sport of boxing by reprinting this fine work.

The Science of Boxing is an important piece of America's literary heritage as well as a superior book of instuction in the manly art. I agree wholeheartedly with Raymond Miller's review.

A question for the detractor: What WILL make you Ali overnight?

"Donovan's Science of Boxing" is truely just that -- empirical, objective, analytic and very systematic. Donovan is of a Boxing generation that practiced both bare-knuckle fisticuffs and the [then-new] gloved-in-the-ring-sport of Boxing -- this work was first published in 1893. Despite that date, the very photo on the cover of this recent 1994 reprint -- looks like a Hypermodern "Peek-a-Boo" Guard -- tucked-in vertical guard-arms with fists just to the side of cheeks and ears. The first photo inside this book shows a Foul Pivot Blow -- the cuff in fisticuffs -- a vicious spinning forearm smash. We see something like this in some modern kickboxing via Spinning Backfists -- but not like this bloody old clothslining head-splitter. Many of the on-guard postures are un-crouched with fists aiming foreward towards the foe -- such a guard is longer, looser and lower than usually seen nowadays -- coming from an era without BIG gloves to hide behind -- and kicks, trips, throws and tackles to guard against. The stance has feet about one-and-one-half feet apart [fairly narrow], with feet almost in a T-stance and balance over balls-of-feet. The on-guards, shifting, punching and tie-ups look remarkably like older Savate -- coming from a similar era of bare-knuckled kicking, boxing and grappling. There are even a few half-clinch tie-ups of attacking-arms -- as in older Savate. The whole punching style uses way more vertical fists than usual nowadays. All-in-all almost something like an "1893 Jeet Kune Do". Crouching, closing and clinching, while not recommended much, are described well. Much of all of this is re-appearing in recent mixed-Arts full-contact sparring -- such as very similar on-guards. Especially appreciated is the spot-on well-organized presentation from topic to topic -- with moves and counters in good order -- very clear, sharp and rational +++

This book is a delight to read. It was written in another era when the outlook was simpler and men fought standing up and toe to toe. There are some real golden nuggets in the book i.e. the backknuckle uppercut, that are not found in today's boxing books. One thing is certain - old style boxers were a tough breed. Worth every cent!!

The book is an important part of America's literary heritage as well as a significant piece of ring history.

It's interesting to note that Mike Dononvan, as a middleweight, went the distance in a match with the great John L. Sullivan during the bare knuckle era, and that he went on to instruct Teddy Roosevelt and serve for years as Athletic Director of the New York Athletic Club.