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Thread: Donald Walker - Pioneer of American Self-Defense

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    Default Donald Walker - Pioneer of American Self-Defense

    I found this page quite interesting and revealing.

    http://ahfaa.org/bruteforce.htm

    This book was written by Donald Walker in 1840. Looking at the illustrations where one can see some basic blocks, Throws and Joint locks or even a lesson of learning how to fall.

    What makes this interesting to me is the fact that could Mr. Walker been the first instructor to teach self defense here in the US ?

    Your thoughts ?
    Last edited by Prince Loeffler; 10th May 2006 at 08:41.
    Prince Loeffler
    Shugyokan Dojo

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    I have a few other things from about that time.

    I don't know if he would be first here in America - I doubt it.

    First book or pamphlet - now that would be interesting to figure out...

    From what I've seen, often sword maestros would have walking stick/h2h as an offering also.

    but thanks for the link - I didn't know about that book!

    mew
    Margaret Welsh

    "It's more fun when they do it to themselves." Barbara Hambly

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    Quote Originally Posted by mews
    I have a few other things from about that time.

    I don't know if he would be first here in America - I doubt it.

    First book or pamphlet - now that would be interesting to figure out...

    From what I've seen, often sword maestros would have walking stick/h2h as an offering also.

    but thanks for the link - I didn't know about that book!

    mew

    You know, I didn't even think about the "first" martial arts book angle. One can only imagine walking in the bookstore in the 1800's looking for the Martial Arts section.
    Prince Loeffler
    Shugyokan Dojo

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    Walker was British rather than American.

    As far as I know, the first martial art text to be published in the Americas was The Compleat System of Fencing by Edward Blackwell of Williamsburg, Virginia. The publication date was 1741.

    The singlestick section of Walker's book appears at http://ahfaa.org/walkersinglestick.htm . The wrestling appears at http://www.geocities.com/cinaet/walker.html .

    You can buy a bound version from Lulu.com. See http://www.lulu.com/content/74232 .

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    Quote Originally Posted by Prince Loeffler
    I found this page quite interesting and revealing.

    http://ahfaa.org/bruteforce.htm

    This book was written by Donald Walker in 1840. Looking at the illustrations where one can see some basic blocks, Throws and Joint locks or even a lesson of learning how to fall.

    What makes this interesting to me is the fact that could Mr. Walker been the first instructor to teach self defense here in the US ?

    Your thoughts ?
    About 2 years ago I saw a European fighting style from Talhoeffer in the Armouries in Leeds. The sword positions using a 2 handed grip is the exact same as the Japanese styles. So if you look through the books of the time from the 16th century onwards you get to see what locks, punches ETC are the same. European fighting is as similar as what the Japanese systems are, but with more grand names like Pommel side of head .

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    Quote Originally Posted by Joseph Svinth
    Walker was British rather than American.

    As far as I know, the first martial art text to be published in the Americas was The Compleat System of Fencing by Edward Blackwell of Williamsburg, Virginia. The publication date was 1741.

    The singlestick section of Walker's book appears at http://ahfaa.org/walkersinglestick.htm . The wrestling appears at http://www.geocities.com/cinaet/walker.html .

    You can buy a bound version from Lulu.com. See http://www.lulu.com/content/74232 .

    Thanks Mr. Svinth.
    Prince Loeffler
    Shugyokan Dojo

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    Thank you for the Lulu.com reference, Mr Svinth.

    I think a new book will be sprouting from my shelves soon. (they breed in the night, I swear...)

    mew
    Margaret Welsh

    "It's more fun when they do it to themselves." Barbara Hambly

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