Self-Defense Techniques in Victorian Photographs

In 1895, a photo album was published with photographs in which two gentlemen demonstrate different methods of self-defense. Stylishly dressed men show what body blows, sweeps, and chokeholds look like. Illustrations of the battle are presented in the form of paired photographs: the first shows the starting position, the second shows the final maneuver. The album is an excellent example of a teaching aid during the Victorian era, when photos became widely used for educational purposes. Although the phrase "martial arts" is usually associated with Eastern cultures, there was also a similar practice in Europe. In Viking times, there was an ancient Norse wrestling called glima, described in the Icelandic sagas and later becoming a sport in Iceland. In France, different street fighting techniques of the 19th century were combined into one complex, known as the classic savate. Here are the simplest tricks that will help to resist the attacker.