1919 
 Copy 2 
 
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SELF DEFENSE 
 
 FOR THE INDIVIDUAL 
 
 With 
 
 Illustrations 
 
 By BILLY C. SANDOW 
 
 Revised from the Author's System of Rough and Tumble 
 
 Wrestling and Hand-to-Hand Fighting Taught by him 
 
 in the U. S. Army during the World War. 
 
 Price 50 Cents 
 
Copyright, 1919, Billy G. Sandow 
 
 UmTO UTKO. * fT«. «M , M5HUTH, I 
 
BILLY C. SANDOW 
 
 Physical Culture Expert ; Instructor U. S. Army 
 
 Manager and Trainer of Ed "Strangler" Lewis 
 
 Introduction 
 
 It has been necessary to revise my book on In-fighting for the U. S. Army, which was 
 published as a text on the subject at Camp Dix, N. J., in order to have it conform to the 
 needs of the civilian as a means of self-defense against the thug or thief. 
 
 That a practical method of self-defense for civilians serves a need is a well-established 
 fact. And that the system best adapted to one's need should be other than a knowledge 
 of the so-called manly art of self-defense, or boxing, is one of the lessons learned from this 
 great war. The students of war early discovered that boxing served no other purpose 
 than the double one of teaching the leads and parries of the bayonet and the building up 
 of a fighting spirit. It was the experience of our Allies, and later of the U. S., that there 
 was need for some other method of hand-to-hand fighting. 
 
 The Infantry School of Arms, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, made a study of trench warfare. 
 Early in 1918 it published a confidential booklet entitled "Hand to Hand Fighting," under 
 the authority of The Training Committee, War College Division, General Staff. It is break- 
 ing no confidence to quote two pertient paragraphs from the introduction. They are as 
 follows: 
 
 "Experience has shown that a disarmed man coming to blows in the trendies with a 
 disarmed enemy soldier has almost always lost his head and confined himself with striiij- 
 
gling uselessly, because he did no1 know any blows or holds which would have sufficed until 
 someone came to the ai<l of our or the other of the adversaries. 
 
 "Never use your fists, as the list is the least effective of nature's weapons; it is prac- 
 tically impossible to put an enemy hors de combat with the fist, since the military equip- 
 ment protects the solar plexus, and the most violent blow on the point of the chin has no 
 other effect than that of cutting cleanly the skin." 
 
 These two paragraphs prove conclusively that self-defense is not boxing; that some 
 other form of combative skill is necessary. As proof that wrestling has long been con- 
 sidered a more certain and practical form of self-defense let me quote from an article by 
 Dr. B. F. Roller, the noted heavyweight wrestler, which appeared in the New York Herald, 
 Oct. 10, 1915: 
 
 "For sometime the adherents of boxing appropriated the word 'manly,' and called 
 boxing 'the manly art of self-defense.' As a matter of fact lighting is never justified 
 except in self-defense, and as self-defense anything that is necessary and effective is manly. 
 In my opinion, however, when self-defense is necessary there are other methods fully as 
 manly and much more effective than boxing." 
 
 This same former American champion wrestler challenged Jess Willard, following his 
 victory over Johnson, to go to the gymnasium with him, and before a jury of newspaper 
 men and city officials settle for all time the question of which is the better method of 
 self-defense — boxing or wrestling. Willard did not accept the challenge. 
 
 The author of this book had the good fortune to have his system of In-fighting taught 
 at Camp Mix, Camp Hancock, and at various other camps and cantonments in the U. S. A. 
 He was also privileged to study the various systems formerly used. In editing this book 
 his object has been to publish only such holds and blows as one in civil life would be called 
 upon to use when attacked by the bully. In short, the system explained in the following 
 pages is a simple and practical way of rendering helpless an opponent in the least pos- 
 sible time. 
 
 Attention is called to the tact that this system of self-defense is not a text book for 
 the clean sport of wrestling. It is a short cut to successful self-defense, and his experience 
 in teaching his more elaborate system for use in warfare permits him to state that the 
 lessons contained in this book may be learned in a period of two weeks if one devotes an 
 hour a day to its mastery. 
 
 It is the author's hope that those who study this system may never have need to 
 use it. The student must ever remember that the knowledge gained from a study of these 
 pages must never lie applied except when he is compelled to defend himself. 
 
 A few extracts from letters of various officers of the U. S. Army are printed on 
 another page. They clearly show the official military opinion of my system of In-fighting 
 used in the service. 
 
 (Signed) BILLY C. SANDOW. 
 
 Rochester, X. Y., January 25, 1919. 
 
 Hints for Beginners 
 
 Study the leverage and you will have no difficulty in beating your man. This system 
 is the most natural method, the most effective under all circumstances, and requires no 
 special preparation in the way of clothing. 
 
 When you are the under man keep on moving constantly, thus not only preventing 
 your opponent from securing a hold, but also enabling you in the change of position to 
 secure a good hold on him. 
 
 Go through the motions quickly and with vim, whether on the defensive or offensive. 
 
 Be as aggressive as possible, then your opportunities for success will be increased. 
 
 This system is an unsurpassed means of self-defense. Get behind your opponent as 
 quickly as possible as it is the safest position. In all wrestling a position behind is con- 
 sidered one of great advantage, especially among high class professionals. There are many 
 methods of getting behind; the best one is given here, namely, the go behind originated 
 by the author. 
 
 Under certain conditions you can convert an adversary's resistance to your own good 
 ends. For instance, suppose you wished to turn him to the right, force him to the left 
 and he, thinking that you are in earnest, will resist by exerting his strength toward his 
 right side. Now your moment for determined, definite action has come. Your foe is strain- 
 ing in the very direction you desire him to go, so, swift as a Hash of light you change 
 your tactics and force him to the right. Your power will thus be supplemented by his own, 
 if you are quick, for he will not have had time to correct his error. 
 
 Once a small man masters this system he is no longer despised, he can overcome brute 
 force and physical strength. 
 
 ©CI.A51322 
 
No. 1 — THE GO BEHIND 
 
 No. 1 — THE GO BEHIND ORIGINATED BY "BILLY" SANDOW 
 
 It is possible to break an opponent's leg by a quick ground throw. This is a great weapon of 
 attack from a standing position, and is the best defense for all front attacks. 
 
 The aggressor throws himself forward, feet first, and plants his right or left heel, as the case may 
 be, from the standing position used, in the opponent's ankle, kicking his feet from under him and 
 knocking him down with your left or right leg, as the case may be; you grapevine the victim's leg. 
 By grapevining is meant to lock both legs around opponent's limb, locking your own feet, at the ankle. 
 Then grasp the toes and ankle and apply the twist or shoot forward and apply the strangle hold. 
 
 No. 2 — THE GO BEHIND 
 
 When the aggressor is in position 4 he is out of reach of all harm and is safe! 
 rolls and other holds and at the same time in a position to secure any one of the 
 or holds. 
 
 beyond all : 
 many different b 
 
 Page Three 
 
No. 3 — THE GO BEHIND 
 
 Photos No. 1 and 2 show the aggressor in the act of throwing his body forward, the throw is simi- 
 lar to that of a man sliding for a base. 
 
 No. -i - THE GO BEHIND 
 
 This position >lu>ws the culmination of the go behind. After throwing your opponent to the 
 ground, the attacker can now move forward and secure strangle and head butt from the rear, see Plate 
 No. 27. 
 
 Page Four 
 
No. 5 — THE GO BEHIND 
 
 Illustrates correct position of go behind. When the aggressor strikes the opponent's ankle he 
 destroys the opponent's equilibrium, so this clever throw will send your opponent sprawling. 
 
 No. 6 — THE GO BEHIND 
 
 If the aggressor fails to. knock his man down he dives at the opponent's left foot, the right hand 
 grasps the heel on the outside, the shoulder strikes solidly against the inside of the opponent's knee, 
 which is grasped at the same time by the aggressor's left hand. The opponent's knee is quickly flexed 
 and he is forced to the ground. 
 
 Page Five 
 
No. 7 — THE GO BEHIND 
 
 The opponent is held with your leg. The aggressor raises the left foot and plants it in the oppo- 
 nent's knee. This method is effective and will throw the opponent to the ground. 
 
 . kick just below the knee cap. As a 
 A hard blow with the flat of your foot 
 
 No. 8— THE GO BEHIND 
 
 Hooking the toe of one foot behind your opponent's ankle, 
 means of defense it is almost invincible if properly performed. 
 will break your opponent's leg. 
 
 If you merely wish to throw your opponent, just pull his ankle forward and push against his knee 
 until he falls backward. 
 
 Page Six 
 
No. 9 — FRONT STRANGLE 
 
 Grab the head, bringing it forward and down; drive knee into jaw and apply full strangle hold, 
 driving thumb into ''Adam's apple.'' After securing strangle hold, drop opponent to ground imme- 
 diately so as to prohibit him from obtaining any other hold on you. 
 
 Note: — A strangle hold always means the placing of one forearm across the front of your oppo- 
 nent's neck. This should be strengthened by use of the other arm. The aggressor's forearm is pressed 
 against the neck and the thumb driven into the "Adam's apple." Complete strangulation is only a 
 matter of time. It takes a strangle hold but a few seconds to render a man absolutely incapable of 
 effective resistance. 
 
 The rear strangle can be secured in two ways. If you are face to face rush at your opponent, 
 butting him in the jaw or jab two fingers in his eyes; jump to his side and rear, at the same time 
 bringing the arm forcibly across the throat, and pull him backward, then take a full strangle hold, at 
 the same time drive right foot to back of opponent's right or left knee throwing him out of position and 
 force him to the ground and strangle. 
 
 Page Seven 
 
No. 11— BACK STRANGLE 
 
 Bring the left arm around your opponent's neck, the forearm is brought forcibly against the 
 throat, now grasp the left wrist with the right hand, and pull your opponent backward. 
 
 To make the hold even more powerful, aid your arm by pushing the opponents forward with your 
 head and shoulders at the same time pulling backward. 
 
 Page Eight 
 
. ■' 
 
 v- 
 
 No. 12— AEM AND LEG HOLD 
 
 In obtaining this hold, both movements are secured at the same time. To secure the leg hold, 
 strike down, forcing arm through crotch, then continue, the arm following through to obtain hold. With 
 the other hand grasp the opponent's near arm at wrist to secure leverage, your head passing under his 
 arm pit. The opponent is then in position to be thrown over shoulder by raising body up quickly, using 
 neck and back as main leverage points. The whole movement must be executed rapidly to be effective. 
 
 No. 13 — ARM AND LEG HOLD 
 
 When your man is in the position shown in Plate 13 you can throw him forward to the ground 
 with force enough to stun him or knock him out. 
 
 Page Nine 
 
No. 14 — FLYING MARE 
 
 Seize opponent's wrist with both hands, step in with back to your opponent, twist arm from you 
 
 and draw it over shoulder. With arms as lever, bend forward quickly, giving your hips an upward 
 
 twitch and pull forward on the imprisoned arm. The defensive man is plunged headlong over your 
 shoulder. 
 
 No. 15 — BLOCK FOR WAIST LOCK FROM BEHIND 
 
 When your foe obtains the waist lock, you luck one or both of his arms between elbow and shoulder. 
 If only one is secured, raise shoulders and roll to that side, bringing opponent to the ground, then other 
 disabling holds will follow. It is very necessary that his arms be grasped above elbow or he can work 
 out of the hold. Be sure your opponent's feet are off the ground before you attempt to throw him, the 
 defensive man is then thrown sidewards over the hip of the aggressor. 
 
 Page Ten 
 
No. 16 — ANOTHER BLOCK FOR WAIST LOCK FROM BEHIND 
 
 If your opponent's hold is low, reach back and grasp nearest foot, pull it up, straddle and sit on 
 he leg, at the same time using your weight. Then fall backward and at same time give foot a sharp 
 wist and release hold, turn quickly as opponent falls and follow up with throat attack. 
 
 No. 17 — ANOTHER BLOCK FOR WAIST LOCK 
 
 Reach up and catch hold around his neck, draw his head forward, go down on right knee and pull 
 opponent with you; quickly shift to a strangle hold. This is a good defense for a short man to use 
 when attacked from the rear. 
 
 Page Eleven 
 
No. 18— ATTACKING LEG FROM REAR 
 
 Attack opponent from rear by grasping opponent's left ankle with your right hand, at the same 
 time strike him with your right shoulder and raise the leg as high as possible, throwing opponent on 
 his face. 
 
 Page Twelve 
 
No. 19 — FOLLOW UP FROM No. 18 
 
 When the defensive man is brought to the ground, the attacker steps over with his right leg and 
 straddles and sits on the near leg of the defensive man above the knee, grasps the foot and raises up 
 over the attacker's leg. This plunges the head of the defensive man forward on his face. The 
 imprisoned leg should be drawn up as high as possible to give the longest leverage, in which position 
 it is possible to break the leg. 
 
 No. 20 — TOE HOLD OVER THE LEG 
 
 When the foot is forced forward as shown in plate 19 the attacker brings the opposite thigh againsl 
 the imprisoned leg, at the same time rolling his weight forward on the victim's foot, enabling the 
 attacker to hold his opponent with his limbs, attacking his throat with both hands. 
 
 Page Thirteen 
 
When first coming to a clinch it is quite natural for an opponent to reach in for a body hold. This I 
 affords an excellent opportunity for you to secure the wing lock. Slip your arm over and above the' 
 elbow of your opponent's extended ami and jerk him toward you, keeping his arm pinned to your side. I 
 
 No. 22 — FOLLOW UP FROM No. 21 
 
 Now drive the palm of your right hand to his chin, nt the same time stepping in with your right 
 foot, pivoting on your left. Now bend forward, forcing your opponent backward hold your leg firmly 
 on the ground and bend the upper part of his body over your hips. With your back to the opponent 
 hold his arm tightly and closely to you. the hips are placed well under the weight of opponent. The 
 mistake is commonly made here in dropping to the knees before the opponent's feet leave the ground. 
 The proper way to execute this hold is, after turning the back to the opponent throw your hip back- 
 ward, forcing the opponent from you until his feet leave the ground. Then pull down on his right arm 
 and at the same time push violently backward against his chin, forcing him to the ground. 
 
 Page Fourteen 
 
No. 27 — STRANGLE AND HEAD BUTT FROM THE REAR, ON THE GROUND 
 
 After throwing your opponent to the ground with the go behind, force his head back with strangle 
 old, at the same time butting opponent with your head. By applying full pressure on strangle hold it 
 impossible for an opponent to break away. 
 
 No. 28 — HAMMERLOCK 
 
 Seize wrist with both hands, giving wrist sudden twist toward 
 )end opponent's arm up his back by a sharp blow at the elbow. 
 ;o break at shoulder. At the same time apply back strangle hold. 
 
 body. Raise arm and slip under: 
 Jerk arm up suddenly, causing it 
 
 Page Seventeen 
 
No. 29 — BACK HAMMER 
 
 Another method of warding off straight blow or knife attack. If opponent leads with his righ 
 ward off the blow by blocking his arm with your left at his wrist, stepping: to his side cross your righ 
 a.rm over his elbow and lock your hands at his rear, force the imprisoned arm upward by applying 
 pressure upward at the wrist and downward on the upper part of the arm. The opponent can be heli 
 securely with one hand by grasping the shirt with your right hand after forcing his right up the back 
 This leaves your left arm free to further cripple your opponent. 
 
 Page Eighteen 
 
Extracts From Communications of 
 
 Various Officers Dealing With 
 
 Sandow's System of In-fighting 
 
 Taught in the U. S. Army 
 
 The Division Commander fully realizes that all organizations are being taxed 
 under the present schedule, hut considers that a man possessing a knowledge of 
 "defensive wrestling" so dangerous to an enemy that the time given to this 
 instruction will be extremely well spent. — Headquarters 87th Division National 
 Army, Camp Dix, N. J., July 19, 1918. BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL 
 STURGIS. 
 
 The School of Wrestling and Fighting conducted by Mr. B. C. Sandow in this 
 division, was a decided success. — Major General Sturgis to Commanding General, 
 Camp Dix, N. J., July 16, 1918. 
 
 It is my belief that this course is much more valuable than boxing as an 
 asset to a man in a hand to hand combat, in which all rules of sportsmanship are 
 laid aside. — G. H. Farrell, Major Infantry, U. S. A., Commanding, to Commanding 
 Officer, 3rd Group MTD MGTC, Camp Hancock, Ga., ixov. 16, 1918. 
 
 I believe that this work given by Mr. Sandow is of inestimable value to a 
 man, both while in the service and after his return to civil life. It imparts to 
 the men a confidence in their ability to protect themselves on the defensive and 
 to put their opponent out of business when on the offensive. — John D. Austin, 
 Major, Infantry, U. S. A., Camp Hancock, Ga., to Commanding Officer, Nov. 25, 
 1918. 
 
 The bearer, Mr. B. C. Sandow, has just completed a course of instruction with 
 the officers of this Division which has proven of such great value that the Com- 
 manding General, General Sturgis, has recommended that it be taught in con- 
 nection with the School for Bayonet Fighting, for officers, at Ft. Sill, Okla. This 
 course, in his opinion, is much superior to boxing. 
 
 Mr. Sandow is an expert at this line and his course of instruction as given 
 at this camp, has proven extremely valuable. — A. R. Harris, Major, General Staff, 
 Assistant Chief of Staff, 87th Division, Camp Dix, N. J., to Commanding Officer, 
 Infantry School of Arms, Ft. Sill, Okla., July 23, 1918. 
 
 I think you will agree with me when I say that too much attention has been 
 given to boxing at the various camps, this to the exclusion of wrestling. I would 
 suggest that such men as Mr. Sandow and other authorities on wrestling be 
 utilized to give instruction at the various camps. Perhaps a selected class of 
 officers or civilians could be trained and then sent around to teach the system. — 
 J. Drain, Major, The Infantry School of Arms, Fort Sill, Okla., to Major W. B. 
 Loughborough, U. S. Infantry, General Staff, Washington, D. C, August 13, 1918. 
 
 I believe this course is much more valuable than boxing. — General Sturgis, 
 Camp Dix, N. J. 
 
Do You Want a Good Physique? 
 
 Do You Want Perfect Health? 
 
 Do You Want to Make Life Worth Living? 
 
 OF COURSE YOU DO 
 
 SCIENTIFIC 
 PHYSICAL CULTURE 
 
 C, My years of experience as a professional athlete 
 enable me to speak with authority on Scientific 
 Physical Culture. 
 
 C, My course will build you up and give you a good 
 muscular development. This course will broaden 
 your shoulders, deepen your chest, develop your 
 arms and tone up your liver and every other organ 
 of your body. 
 
 C. Why pay $50 to $100 for a course of Physical 
 Culture when you can get a full course for $5.00? 
 
 Remember that the $5.00 covers the cost 
 in full for my Complete Course of 
 
 PHYSICAL CULTURE 
 
 Don't Delay. Write To-day. Send Your Weight 
 and Measurements 
 
 BILLY C. SANDOW 
 
 121 Gregory Street, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 
 
 1919 
 
 B D - 7 5. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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