The Doc Savage Method of Self-Defence

(A new series of explanatory and instructive lessons in means for self-development and self-protection.)

By KENNETH ROBESON

(Because of the success of the previous lessons in self-training and jujitsu, the present series of articles on self-development and self-protection has been compiled by Kenneth Robeson, based on the general principles followed by Doc Savage. Although these articles are in the form of instructions, they are not to be construed as a course of development in any respect, nor are the statements made to be taken literally as a course of training by anyone unless so advised by his personal physician. This precaution we wish to urge upon all readers merely because there is no exercise, no diet or physical movement which might not prove injurious to someone whose condition is particularly unsuited to it.)

ONLY because the previous lessons and exercises which were printed in this magazine were greeted with such enthusiasm, and the readers insist on getting more, was it possible to secure these additional pointers which may prove of great benefit to those who study them.

However, it is only fair that we ask our readers to consider these instructions in the spirit in which they are given. This is not an attempt, in any way, to give you a course of instruction which may build you up to be a fighter, a wrestler, a jujutsu expert, or a perfect specimen of manhood. True, the exercises that will be given will all be of beneficial nature, and the instructions as to protecting one's body, or striking blows to prevent the other person from hitting you, are all effective and capable of developing your ability along those lines. But primarily these things are here to be used as a base for further progress along these lines; they are given here that they may give you a good start for more specialized training if you wish to continue such training.

Furthermore, we earnestly advise readers who wish to make a practice of following this course to be certain that they are in a position to benefit by them, and not to overdo them. It is sound advice to suggest that your family physician be consulted, for in many cases he will be able to point out special deficiencies which can be overcome only by a particular means. The instructions which will be given here cannot possibly claim to be effective in all cases, and are not to be accepted in that light. They are here for your interest, and to serve as a means to a better end by thus arousing your interest.

1. The Psychology of Defence

ONE of the late Knute Rockne's famous football statements was that "a good offence is the best defence." That is a sound statement to be made for football, where the final score is what counts, and where, to win, your score must be more than the other fellow's. In other words, you can't win anything by avoiding a football game; you can't talk the other team out of a game (except by talking them into a forfeit!) and you can't score any points yourself merely by defending your own goal line. But that policy does not necessarily hold as best in the principle of self-defence. True, if you outhit the other fellow, you win the battle; but in most cases, you get some scars of the fight yourself. It is more logical, therefore, to avoid combat, provided you gain the same point.

The purpose of self-defence is to avoid encounter if possible. The person who strikes the first blow is never fighting in self-defence. Often it takes only a little bit of self-control to keep from striking a blow, and thus avoiding all the unpleasantness of battle. Tact and diplomacy are weapons just as effective as huge fists and powerful strength; use them to advantage. There is a line of demarcation between diplomacy and cowardice, but human tempers being what they are, there is little danger that the average person will overdo diplomacy to the point of cowardice. It is rather in the opposite direction that we must watch — not to lose tempers too quickly.

2. The Feint

You have no doubt watched boxing bouts, or seen motion pictures of bouts, and wondered at all the arm movement and the few blows that were actually struck. Possibly seventy per cent, if not more, of the boxer's actions with his hands are apparently futile; he starts blows which never land, or even come close to landing.

It might be, in many cases, that the blows were intended to land, but clever footwork on the part of the opponent resulted in their failure. But it is also true that a great many of these attempts are merely attempts, and not actual desire to strike blows. They are nothing more than "feints" — attempt to distract the attention of the opponent, to put him in a position which will make him more vulnerable for a more effective blow.

A feint is any blow which is aimed at a certain part of the body without any intention of having it reach that part. Its purpose is to cause the opponent concern enough to make him attempt to block it. In doing so, he naturally relaxes on his guard, and while he leaves himself open, the other arm is ready to take advantage of it with a telling blow.

Since the feint is intended to deceive the opponent, it is necessary that it be done in a way that will accomplish that purpose. It's got to be impressive in order to be effective; your other blow cannot be telegraphed at the same time you are feinting, otherwise there will be no advantage in it.

If you wish to lead your opponent into a face opening, feint for the body, preferably for a point just above the stomach. This will make him lower his face guard almost automatically, and while you quickly retard the blow aimed at the stomach, your other hand can do its effective work at the face. If you seek to land a body blow, then feint for the face, thus bringing your opponent's guard up, and leaving his body unprotected.

In order to make your feint effective, step in shortly with your left foot, and follow with your right. This gives your feint all the appearance of an actual blow. As you retract your feint, continue to step in with your left, and follow with your right, to further increase any power in your blow.

Perhaps your opponent is as clever as you are in the use of the feint. He may "feint" you into an awkward position by foreseeing what you intend to do, and be all set to strike in when you prepare to deal your blow. It is important, therefore, that you do not forget your guard while you are feinting. Be ready to use the relaxed arm which began the feint as a means of defence. And above all, watch your footwork, as well as the footwork of the opponent, so as not to give yourself away. Any one who has done any fighting realizes that it is more important to watch your opponent's feet than it is to watch his hands; the feet tell which way the effective blows will come; the hands may show only the fakes.

3. The Waist Hold

PERSONAL struggles are not always a matter of smashing each other with fists. There are no rules when it is a matter of defending yourself against some one else, and bodily contact is, likely as not, going to be very important in the struggle. What wrestlers call the "waist hold," or "waist lock," will serve as a very effective means of defence.

First, rush at your opponent and push one forearm up against his chin, forcing his face upward. This will give you a clear field in seizing him about the waist. If you happen to be at your opponent's rear, grab hold of his right hand with your own left hand, and by lifting it high, duck beneath. Then, whether from front or back, put both arms around his waist, holding them tight fey grabbing your own hands at the wrists and pressing tightly either into your opponent's stomach or the small of his back. It is essential that you exert a great deal of force in this hold.

Now pick your opponent slightly off his feet, and swing him either to right or left. Be careful that he does not attempt to trip you with his feet. As you swing him, toss him toward the ground and fall heavily upon him, letting your entire weight serve as additional force in pinning him to the ground. All this must be done very rapidly, or else your opponent might be able to get a breaking hold on you.

Should your opponent gain the advantage and get this hold on you, you may try to trip him as he attempts to swing you; you might grab both of his arms and attempt to pull them apart, or if you have the opportunity, put your arms around his neck and, by getting down low, attempt to toss him over your back. The success of this hold on the attack depends upon speed. If you do it quickly enough, your opponent will not have time to attempt another hold. Once you have this hold solidly, it is almost impossible for your opponent to avoid a fall.

4. Exercise

YOUR best asset in self-defence is the development of your body to its fullest extent. If you present a formidable appearance, people will not be eager to attempt to fight with you. It is rarely that a big man, or one who, regardless of size, shows a "tough" appearance, is bullied. Perhaps your body is not of the type that can be developed in size, but any one can, by exercise and proper training, make himself look as fit as the best of them, and that will serve as a warning signal to any one who seeks to pick a fight needlessly.

Developing your breathing is one of the best exercises you can do, whether for the purpose of making yourself a better fighter, or generally for improving the health of your body.

Stand stiffly erect with your hands held close to your sides, palms flat and fingers pointed toward the floor. Now begin drawing in breath, at the same time lifting your arms up and away from you, touching the hands, back to back, directly over your head. Do this with fair slowness. When your hands are above your head, your lungs should be full of fresh air. Now exhale while you drop your hands back to their original position, all the air having left your lungs just as your hands come back t0 your sides. You can alter this exercise by lifting your hands to the front and directly above your head, at the same time leaning backward slightly from your waist.

Another good breathing exercise is to place your hands, bunched into fists, at your sides, just above your waistline, where they will press firmly, though not tightly, against the bottom of your lungs. Now try breathing regularly, taking only slightly heavier breaths than your ordinary ones. You will notice that your lungs feel a slight restraint from the force of your hands. Repeat this for a minute or two, being careful not to attempt to force your hands against your lungs, but merely keep them there firmly enough to feel their pressure. This exercise will develop your ordinary breathing to a great extent.

A very simple exercise for the development of your thighs and legs, and for keeping down any weight around the stomach, is "bicycling" while on your back. Lie down on your back, putting your arms at your sides to hold your body up somewhat — be sure that your body rests mostly on your shoulders, not on the entire length of your back — and start "pedalling" an imaginary bicycle with your legs. Do this for only a few minutes at first, and daily increase the duration of this exercise until you do it for as much as half an hour. If you really keep all your weight on your shoulders, you will find that this is far from an easy exercise; it takes a lot of energy to keep it up. But you will also find that your legs, thighs, and stomach muscles have improved tremendously.

In taking any breathing exercises, it is necessary, of course, that you take them when the air is at its freshest. Breathing exercises taken at night, just before retiring, are in most cases not as effective as those taken early in the morning. First, except in unusual circumstances, the evening air is still filled with much of the dust and dirt of the day, and therefore not as refreshing as the brisk early morning air. Second, deep breathing exercises taken in the morning are remembered, and you unconsciously follow them at least for a while during the early part of the day. You can develop this trait so you continue them all day. At night, in your sleep, you will not follow them as readily, but will relapse to your ordinary way of breathing.

5. Diet

WHEN it comes to diet, there are countless ways of suggesting foods, both as to quantity and types, as well as times and methods of taking various kinds of foods. Although you can find diets specified for the development of any particular part of your body by the dozens, there is always one catch to any generally prepared diet: how will it work with me? If you need calcium, let us say, it is logical to assume that a diet which has a great deal of calcium content would be the solution. Ordinarily, it would be; but there is always the possibility that the fault does not lie with the lack of calcium in what you have been eating, but in the fact that your body does not assimilate that calcium. Under such conditions, you could eat calcium by the ton, and your body would still suffer from lack of it. It is, therefore, the best policy not to depend too much upon any special diet, unless you have gone to your family physician and gotten his advice. Whatever diets, or foods, may be suggested here, therefore, are given merely as general suggestions, and should not be depended upon for particular results.

It is most essential that your diet contain a large variety. Sticking close to one type of food, even if it is the best, will make you lose many of the nutritious qualities of other foods. Your body is so constructed that it will assimilate most of the foods which are common to our tables, and you will do well to taste foods which you have never felt a particular inclination to try. Possibly your lack of one food will be more than made up for by trying a different one which may have some of the same qualities.

Vary your diet as much as possible — unless you have instructions from your physician to do otherwise. Instead of having orange juice every morning, alternate with pineapple juice, tomato juice, prune juice, and other fruit juices. Vary your cereals in the same manner. Do not approach any food with the idea that it will not agree with you. There are many foods which you know, or feel, you will not like. If you do not like them, there is not much sense in continuing to eat them, as you lose much of the benefit they give you by your attitude. This may sound a bit far-fetched, because our stomachs should not be affected by our minds, but as a matter of fact tests have tended to prove this. Sometimes you will learn to like them. If not, try to like a substitute. But no matter what your opinion of a food, do not pass judgment upon it until after you have tried it.

6. Regularity

One of the clearest lessons which proficiency in anything, whether it be sport, business, or art, always gives us is that constant practice, no matter how slight it may be but taken at regular intervals, is one of the most important essentials in such excellent development of any phase of our lives. People who wish to disparage some one's skill at a game, for example, invariably say, "Well, he ought to be good; he practices enough." They little realize that, in that statement, instead of disparaging the victim, they are giving him the highest praise.

If you are by nature so fitted that accomplishing something to perfection is no effort at all, you deserve very little credit for it. But if nature has not given you everything that you need for a particular sport or task, and you develop such needs by constant trial, by always striving to accomplish what seems impossible for you, then you really deserve all the credit that can be given you. For we can be trained to do things; we can build up our bodies as well as our minds to become proficient in the things we wish to excel in. But it takes practice, and lots of it; it takes regular habits, and sacrifices which the average person is unwilling to grant.

A strong, healthy body, well-proportioned, with a great deal of strength, is the ideal which we all seek. But we do not all get strong bodies; some of us do not even get healthy ones. The only thing to do, therefore, is to take steps to develop our bodies as much as we can, and to make up for what we cannot attain in them by training our minds to be quicker than the other fellow's brain, even though his body may be superior to ours.

If you decide to improve a certain part of your body and carefully check over the exercises necessary for that, you must make up your mind that you will be faithful to your course day after day, and be willing to do that for a long time before you notice results. And you will also have to realize that there is a limit to your prowess, no matter how faithfully you may fellow the advice of instructor or physician. Don't be like the man who figured out a perfect way to be able to lift a cow with one hand. He reasoned that he could easily lift a calf on its first day. Then, if he kept on lifting that calf every day, his strength would naturally be able to cope with the slight additional daily increase in the calf's weight, and thus, by the time the calf would be a huge sized beast he could still lift it with one hand! It is good reasoning, perhaps — but it doesn't work.

Regularity, therefore, should be the keynote of any one's plans for improvements. Regular hours of going to sleep; regular hours of rising; regular habits of eating, of exercise, of business. Such regularity need not be so ironbound that it will be a task, but it should be stern enough to overcome petty causes of disruption. Do not let it become so severe that it, in itself, will be a constant cause of irritation, for then you lose all your benefits.

7. Food.

To realize the value of foods and their part in developing the body, you must realize the task of the stomach and its process of manufacturing energy and body materials out of the food we eat. If you were to manage a factory in which some special thing is produced, you would readily accept the advice that production must be systematic if you are to get anything out of it. You must arrange things so that they come in the proper order, and you must plan the work so that units are moved along at the right speed.

Your stomach has the same job, and you should remember that when you eat. For this particular instance, let us not worry so much about the food itself, as we consider the manner in which you eat it.

If you run for a time then rest up, you get your wind back shortly and then are ready to run again. If you set out for a constant run, no matter how slow, of hour upon hour, you could exhaust yourself more quickly. So do not expect your stomach to do what your legs can't, for your stomach is a much more delicate organ. Our lives are so built, from a business and social standpoint, that we have three meals a day. Generation upon generation of our forefathers were accustomed to this, so that, whether we want it or not our bodies become automatically capable of following such a system. The stomach expects three meals a day — but it also expects some rest in between. It cannot work all the time without the least bit of rest in order to prepare for a renewal of a heavy job.

Therefore, eat your three meals a day — eat three heavy meals a day if you like — but once you have eaten a meal, give your stomach a chance to digest it. Do not keep on throwing little odds and ends of food into it throughout the day, between meals, or any time at all. Every time you do this, the stomach must start the secretion of new fluid, to be able to absorb the new food thrown in, or else attempt to digest that feed along with food which was consumed earlier, and which is, by this time, being handled by the proper digestive fluids. The result is a little uncomfortable adjustment until things are straightened out again.

The simplest rule to follow in regard to food is to eat your meals regularly — meals that agree with you — and let food alone in between meals. If you must eat something every now and then just to keep your jaws moving, choose the lightest and most easily digested foods. If you're in any doubt, don't eat anything between meals.

8. Trick Hold

But now let's get down to action, after the previous bits of general advice. Suppose you're going down the street, not bothering any one, when suddenly a bully steps in front of you and decides to have some fun at your expense. You may or may not be able to put up a good fight, but even if you do beat him in the end there's some punishment ahead for you. In many cases, these picked street rights arc merely for effect, and if your opening move Is such as to put the challenger on his guard, all fight leaves him rather quickly.

Here's a good way as any to let him know that you mean business. Step right up to him, and as he makes a move to dive at you, get in between his arms and reach for the lapels of his coat. Grabbing these firmly, pull them backward over his shoulders and down against his arms. This will pin his arms to his sides very effectively, and he will have to rip his coat before he can move them from that position, unless you help him. The nice part of this trick is that it can be done quite as easily from the front as from the rear. If you manoeuvre yourself into a position at the rear, reach over his shoulders and thus pull his coat back, pinning down his arms. When he realizes what fix he's in, the average bully will lie more than glad to call it quits.

The trick works just as well with overcoat, topcoat or suitcoat.

9. Strangle Hold.

The wrestling profession has a very effective and a very dangerous hold known as the "strangle" hold. It is exactly what it implies; a hold which aims to cut off the wind of the victim and thus make him easy to handle. This hold is considered so dangerous that amateurs usually are not allowed to use it in their wrestling matches, but the professionals have made it a well-known hold. A word of caution, however, is not amiss here. Should you attempt to develop your skill in this hold, be sure than you do it carefully. A bit too much pressure may cause serious damage to the victim.

The strange held consists of the use of one arm applied with some force to the region of the Adam's apple, while the other arm pushes the head toward the first arm, thus causing stronger pressure against this region.

When applying the hold from the front, put your left forearm under your opponent's chin, close up against his Adam's apple. Exert as much force as possible. At the same time, put your other arm behind your opponent's neck and push the head down, thereby increasing the pressure against the Adam's apple.

A fairly efficient way of breaking this hold is for the victim to use as much force as he can against the opponent's elbow, thus decreasing the force which is pressing against the Adam's apple. The other arm may reach for the opponent's wrist and attempt to wrest it away. This defence hold is basically used against all forms of the strangle, as the only thing you can do is to grab the opponent's arm and try to push or pull it away.

To apply the strangle from the rear is even easier. Reach one arm around the victim's neck and pull his body toward you. Your elbow becomes a lever which can assert a great deal of strength against the victim. To further increase the power of your hold, push your other arm against the back of the victim's head, thus exerting force from both front and rear.

The strangle hold can be administered just as easily, and just as effectively, when the victim is near the ground, on all fours, or in other than standing position. The same method is followed. Get one arm around the front of the neck, using as much force as necessary. With the other arm, force the head downward, thus increasing the pressure. This hold will likewise automatically push the victim further toward the ground.

10. Effective Blows

Success in beating an opponent depends upon the effectiveness of the blows you land. There is nothing more discouraging than to have the range, land the blows, and find that they leave no damage in their wake. The net result of a fight like that is that you get yourself all worn out while your opponent gets more and more confidence in his own ability as opposed to yours.

There are several blows which are famous for their effectiveness. Ability to deliver these blows will do a great deal-to turn the tide of battle in your favour. If they will not put your opponent out of commission altogether, they will at least weaken him to such an extent that you can finish him off some other way, or with a repetition of the same blow.

The "solar plexus" blow, which won a world's heavyweight championship for Robert Fitzsimmons back in 1897, when he knocked out Corbett, is one of the most effective. It is dangerous, and probably the most painful of any blow. The "solar plexus" is the region of the pit of the stomach, and a strong blow struck there, unlike many other blows, will not put a man "out," although it makes him unable to do anything about it. It causes cramps so that he doubles up in pain, or falls to the floor, and although he continues to hold on to consciousness, he is utterly helpless.

Another effective blow is at the liver. A strong, short blow to the liver will do a lot of damage and put your enemy out of the running very readily. It is not as dangerous or painful as the solar plexus blow, but is almost as effective.

Aiming for the heart is another means of stopping your opponent in a pinch. A solid blow struck over the heart will interfere with the heart action enough to slow up your opponent sufficiently to give you an opening for a second blow. Such a blow also is felt for some time. Naturally, any tampering with the heart can prove dangerous, and a blow such as this should not be used except in extreme necessity.

Under ordinary conditions, there is such a thing as sportsmanship, and blows which may possibly do real injury to a person should not be used. There are other blows which can knock a person out and do no real damage, except for the momentary unconsciousness which they produce. A clean knock-out punch is more to be desired than any of the other painful variety of punches.

The point of the jaw is the best spot to aim at for a clean, sharp knock-out. This can be accomplished by letting go a haymaker which lands either on the point of the jaw or the side of the jaw, or possibly even along the side of the head. Sufficient force behind one of these blows will knock a man out. However, it is not necessary to have a full swing; a short, strong jab to the jaw-can be just as effective. A slight twist of the fist as it connects with the chin is of help. Be sure that your fist is held tightly, and the blow is struck with the knuckles, for most effect.

11. Exercise

If you want to develop your lungs, your chest, arms and neck, here's a simple exercise that will help a great deal toward accomplishing this. Lie down on the floor, flat on your chest. Then put both arms at your sides, bending the elbows so that the palms are flat on the floor. Now, being certain that your entire body is kept rigid, try lifting yourself up from the floor, and letting yourself come down again so that only your chin touches the floor. Repeat this exercise until you start getting tired. You will find it a pretty hard trick, and one that, if done right, will certainly develop your lungs, arm muscles, and even shoulder and neck muscles.

For a variation, lie flat on your back, and try doing the same thing. Be sure that your heels remain on the floor; that your knees remain stiff, and that when you drop to the floor, you catch yourself just before you actually do rest on the floor. This means that your arms have to be holding up your entire weight all the time, and the extra force needed to lift your body up and down certainly makes them do some hard work.

Another good form of developing breathing is to play games with yourself while you're out walking, or while you go about your work or business, especially if it happens to be out of doors. Breathing comes so naturally that we fall into easy habits about it, and never think of adjusting them. The next time you go for a walk, try holding your breath for three or four steps, then taking a deep breath. You'll have to take a healthy deep breath if you hold your breath for a while. Then, for the next three or four steps, be intent upon exhaling every bit of air that is in your lungs. When it comes time to breathe again, you'll find yourself taking a deep breath because of necessity, and not just because you planned it so.

12. "Taking It"

No matter how good you may be in a match fight or a rough-and-tumble, your final success does not depend entirely on how you can "dish it out." It depends a great deal on how you can "take it," too. Telling blows, when they land, wear down any opponent, no matter in what excellent condition he may be. Invariably, every fighter has to take blows while he gives them. The difference between the good fighter and the poor fighter is that the good fighter knows how to take the hard blows and make them feel slight, while the poor fighter gets worn out from the beating his opponent gives him, thus lessening the power of his own punches.

If you are in the prize ring, you know exactly under what conditions you are fighting; there are blows which cannot be struck; there are times when your opponent cannot make a move against you. But when you're on your own, with nothing but your ability and ingenuity to help you, you face a bigger problem. You must, under such conditions, be ready for anything.

The secret of being able to beat the other fellow is not necessarily in avoiding being hit yourself. It might be much better for you to take blows — plenty of them — and give the other fellow the impression that he's doing something. Actually however, you should learn how to take those blows without damage, conserving your energy for the moment when, in the enthusiasm of administering blows, your opponent lets himself wide open for a good, telling blow.

The best place to take these blows is where they hurt you least. Block his blows with your arms. No matter how hard his blow, you will not feel it much on your arm because, at the moment the blow strikes, your arm automatically moves back with the blow, thus taking away most of its force. Taking other blows around your shoulders is another good spot. Your shoulders present a tough part of your system; it takes a great deal to show any effect on them. Let your opponent pommel away at them; he is probably doing more damage to his own hands and wrists than he is to you.

If, however, you find yourself unable to avoid a blow and must take it in the face, on the chin, the head, or in other weaker parts of your body, then your best bet is to retreat with the blow, thus taking all the sting out of it. You will be surprised how much "punishment" you can take without really feeling it. The blows may sound hard; they may look good; but if you develop the skill of gliding along with them, instead of against them, they will be almost harmless. That's the answer to many of the wrestling exhibitions which have made that sport so popular. To the spectator, it appears that the two wrestlers are murdering each other, the way the opponents toss each other around. They fall with heavy thuds, with loud groans. Yet, the next night, in a different town, they can repeat the same performance. Why? Because they know how to fall and how to grunt. Of course, there is more faking to some of these matches .than you would get in a real fight, but, still, it's the fact that they know how to take it when it comes that makes the game possible for them.

13. Under Control

Strength and power are to be desired only insofar as we are able to control them and put them to use for the best purpose. Power in itself is worth nothing if you cannot direct it accurately. In the same manner, we should remember that whatever training or exercise we do should be done "under control"; in such a way that we know exactly what we're striving to gain by our efforts, and riot merely for the sake of exercising. Unless your exercise is methodical and well planned, it may do you more harm than good.

The great American habit is to go after things hammer and tongs; the feeling that if you do anything at all, you might as well do it for all you're worth. That's why men don't stop at nine holes of golf, or eighteen — but take another round, and maybe start on a third. Quite a few who don't know when to stop are stopped out on the course by sudden illness. The same is true of the tennis players who spend a whole afternoon playing a fast game; the bicyclists who never go out unless they have time to cover twice as many miles as they can with comfort, and these miles at the highest speed they can maintain. And so on it goes, regardless of the sport; always get in every bit you can, because it might not be until next week end, or the week end after, when you get another chance to play your favourite game.

The theory of proper exercise is not to push your muscles to the breaking point in order to develop them; that is more apt to strain them than to build them up. Whatever you do, be careful that you "warm up" first; that you do it in moderation.

It is far better, when you indulge in your favourite game, to stop just before you get tired, rather than to keep on going until you simply have to quit. If you insist on doing more, you'll find that changing to another game will give you just as much thrill, and will keep you from getting tired so quickly. The use of other muscles, of different faculties, in the second game or exercise, will let you rest those muscles used hard in the first, and thus balance up your benefits. Whatever you do, if you want to become well trained physically, do not concentrate on your sports. Better to spread your athletic activity out for the entire week, even if only in slight measure, because that will do you a great deal of good. Don't force yourself; don't wear yourself out. Keep everything under control, and you will find that you enjoy your sports much more than when you go the limit. That's one American habit we should do our best to overcome; we should try to adopt a saner, quieter attitude toward our likes, as well as toward our dislikes.

14. Your Feet.

Possibly the only time you think about your feet is when your shoes pinch you, or when someone steps on them. Then you find out that they're rather tender; and also, that they're quite important. We will leave the care of your feet to a later instruction; right now we will deal with their importance in an encounter with your opponent.

A firm footing is one of the strongest assets in a fight; but a firm footing does 'not mean that you have to plant both feet stolidly on the ground and hold them there. Rigidity is not the best thing for shocks and strains; you'll notice that all huge buildings, bridges, and other structures do not attempt to stand solid against the wind or vibration; they sway with it; they're flexible. Were they not, the Empire State Building might crack at the first strong wind; our huge bridges might cave in at the first concerted movement of traffic over them.

So, by firm footing, we mean a footing that keeps you set strongly, yet is flexible enough to allow you to weave in and out with the action, moving your body one way or another — for or against your opponent, depending on his own moves and what you think you can make of them to your advantage.

Never put yourself in a position where you are caught flat-footed. First, this is not the strongest position to hold your own balance if you are hit or shoved against. Second, you will more readily fall when flat-footed than any other time, for your centre of balance is more easily upset. Instead, always stand lightly on the balls of your feet; be ready to move in any direction, and whenever any blow, shove or movement tends to upset you, you can adjust your stance momentarily to take care of the new move; even if you can't, you are in a position to catch yourself before you are down, thus preventing a knockdown.

Another important thing in the use of your feet for self-defence is that they can be used on the offence just as cleverly as your hands. No implication is given here that kicking is advisable, for certainly it is not the sporting thing to do. However, you can quite easily entangle your foe by the use of your feet and legs, and tripping is an aid — and a legitimate manoeuvre — in a free-for-all.

In a hand-to-hand struggle, try planting one of your legs behind that of your opponent. If it is planted there solidly, a slight shove against your opponent's chest will either push him over, or unbalance him sufficiently to give you a good opening for another blow or hold.

Another good trick is to tangle your foot with both feet of your opponent, if he has them held close together. The fact that two of his feet are tangled as against one of yours, and that you do the act purposely while it gets him unawares, gives you a big advantage. While he is seeking to untangle himself, you get your possible chance for a good blow.

Entwining your leg about that of your opponent is a fine way of keeping him close to you, as well as handicapping his actions. In such a case, he is carrying the weight and burden, while you are just "hanging on."

Further use of the feet and legs in various holds will be treated later on,

15. Chancery Holds

A strong hold in general wrestling — in which your arm reaches around your opponent's neck and uses heavy leverage to throw him — comes under the heading of the chancery hold. It has various methods of approach and execution; there are variations of it, and it is used in connection with any number of other holds. This fact alone shows that it is an important trick in fighting, and one that should be mastered by anyone who wishes to defend himself successfully. You must not only know how to use this hold, but also how to defend yourself against it when it is used on you.

To get the chancery hold from the side, place your arm around the side of your opponent's neck, grasping the wrist of that arm with your other hand. Exert as much pressure as you can, as this will cut your opponent's wind and generally make it tough for him. While you are doing this, push him ahead of you with the intention of throwing him over on his back, with you falling on top of him.

The same hold can be applied from the front, with the pressure exerted either on the side of the neck, or on the back. In this hold, pull the opponent forward, in order to twist him over on his back, or make him fall flat on his face, while you fall on top of him. You may, also, be able to swing him against your foot and trip your opponent. In tripping your opponent, you will have to pull him close to you, holding him slightly behind the side on which you have the hold. Let the foot on that side sweep forward and then swing back, .twisting about your opponent's forward leg. A quick shove and twist will put him on the ground.

This trip is simpler if you get your original hold from the back. With your body practically in line with that of your opponent, all you have to do is put your foot immediately behind his firmly, and then pull his body over. This will surely give you a fall over your opponent.

In attempting to break any hold or advantage which your opponent has, the first thing is to attempt to lessen the damage being done by whatever hold is punishing you. Exerting pressure in the opposite direction is the first remedy. This will make your opponent strive even harder. Then you can use your cleverness by changing tactics and going along with your opponent, but being sure that just before he can give you a final throw, you find the opening which will swing him off balance and possibly change the hold to your benefit. By using your opponent's own momentum and his own position for a start, you get the advantage.

If your opponent is in the least bit slow with his holds or moves, you can always find a loose spot or an opening and serve out punishment instead of taking it.

16. Infighting

Infighting is a highly complicated and interesting phase of the professional fighter. To an amateur, or to any one who finds himself in a position where he must defend himself, some knowledge of infighting should be invaluable, for most scuffles are at close quarters.

Infighting allows for no long-range blows; it gives you no time to swing or plan. You've got 'to work fast; you've got to pick your spot, and you've got to put everything you have into the shortest of jabs.

Because the blows are short and fast, avoiding them is more difficult than to "duck" the haymaker swings. You'll find it hard to avoid these blows if you seek to go away from them, for they move faster than your body can. The best way to avoid them is to go toward them, but on a different angle. Duck "into" and under the blows, rather than away from them, and you stand more chance to avoid being hit. At the same time, ducking into the blow gives you a better chance to return another blow for the one you seek to avoid, and puts more force into it.

Rapidity of punches in infighting, counts; every one of them, if they have any strength behind them, will have its effect; and a rain of punches always tends to demoralize the other fellow and make him run for cover. Keep piling them at him so fast that he'll have no chance to plan an attack on you.

17. Training Exercise

Getting the proper training by exercise that is not dull and routine will make your self-development more enjoyable. One good means of developing most of the muscles of your body is to get two sticks about three feet long, and at each end put a knob, or some other form of block or grip which will make it easy to hold. You hold one end of each stick in each hand, and let your companion holds the other ends of the sticks.

Hold the sticks at about chest level, and attempt to force your ends against your companion; have him, at the same time, attempt to push back with all his might. By having to handle both sticks, you can make it quite a battle, and the pushing back and forth will give you all the exercise you will want for one session.

18. The Eyes

No one will argue the fact that speed and deception form an invaluable aid in either defence or offence. It's not the force of the swing that counts; it's the speed with which it is delivered and placed. In the same manner, on defence, it is not alone your swiftness that means everything; you've got to see what is coming before you can act to avoid it or counteract it. Which brings us to the matter of eyes and their importance in any struggle.

You may say to yourself that one's eyesight must be pretty bad if he cannot see a smashing fist coming his way, or if he cannot notice some body shift or movement of his opponent. True, your eyesight would have to be very bad to miss seeing such moves, but the point is that it is the speed with which /you see those moves that counts. If your eyes do not bring your brain the clear message the very fraction of a second in which it occurs, you are handicapped that much in defending yourself or adjusting your attack. Even the fraction of a second may mean the difference between blocking a blow, or slipping one of your own through your opponent's open guard while he is attempting to hit you.

There can be no better illustration of the importance of swift eye apprehension than any boxing match wherein one fighter successfully closed one eye of his opponent. From that time on, the man with the injured optic is at a distinct disadvantage, and usually it is the point of the fight that means a break for the other fellow!

The eye is probably the most delicate organ of the body, and as such it should not be subject to any exercise, remedy, or "cure" that is not advised by a competent practitioner. Certainly you should follow only the advice of one who is experienced, and who is properly accredited in his profession. Thus, it is not within our province to suggest any method of improving the eyes, for the chance of damage is great. The only thing we wish to state here is that you can best protect your eyesight by being careful of it at all times.

Do not ever subject your eyes to any excessive strain. If you must, of necessity, do so, be sure you give them a chance to rest up immediately. Do not feel that as long as you do not get a nerve-racking headache, that you have not overworked your eyes. You can quite easily note the tired feeling in your eyes, and if you are smart, you will stop at the first sign of such feeling and give your eyes a rest.

Again, let us caution you against following any advice in regard to eyes which is not approved by your own physician, or by some specialist whom he recommends. You are always the loser if you do otherwise.

19. Jabs

In many cases, the telling punch in a fight is the '"knockout" blow. That, of course, is the punch on which they pay off — if you put it over. However, if you do not bring forth the knockout punch, and the fight goes to a finish, the winner is decided by the number of blows landed, and their effect. In a rough-and-tumble there is no one to count the blows, but the same rule still holds. The fellow who hits most often, even if all the blows are not as hard, has the better chance of winning out in the end. The important thing to remember about these blows is that each one takes its toll; that while your blow, even if ever so slight, is being made, it serves to prevent your opponent from giving you a telling blow, and makes him realize that you are in a position to give him even a harder blow at any moment.

These "jabs" have a technique all their own. The best way to administer these blows is to have them start from your shoulder, and go either straight out or down. An, upward jab is not as effective as a downward one, because you cannot get as much power behind it. Also, when the jab is coming from above, the upper part of your fist is in contact with the opponent, and therefore is apt to do more damage than if the lower part did the striking. When using the jab, add a slightly twisting motion to your fist.

If you only wish to jab your opponent for the mere sake of landing on his body, a straight-arm jab will do the trick, but it really does no damage. In order to get the full force behind a jab, put your shoulders and your entire body into it; bear down heavily, and twist at your waist in the direction of the blow so that the entire weight of your body goes into it. Naturally, your effective jab comes when you are stepping forward and into your opponent, not when you are backing away from him. If you follow the system of putting everything you can into the jab, you will find that very often it may prove to be the deciding blow, for it can carry almost as much dynamite as many blows which require a wider swing.

Because the jab is, to a large extent, an "annoyance" weapon, you must learn to keep your other hand busy while you are engaged in jabbing. Either use it as a false lead, or to protect your body, or in readiness to strike a telling blow while your opponent is trying to avoid the jabs.

20. The Nelsons

Anyone who has read anything about wrestling, or talked to wrestlers, must realize that the holds which carry the name "nelson" must be rather important ones in the repertoire of a wrestler. Almost everyone has heard of the "half nelson." But there are a number of others. There is the "quarter nelson," the "three-quarter nelson," the "full nelson," and even the "further nelson."

Let's start off with the one that is most popular — the half nelson. This hold is a quick way of tossing your opponent on his shoulders, and can be applied without too much danger to yourself. First, put your left arm under your opponent's left arm, with your hand grabbing the back of his head and pushing it down to the floor. Naturally, this hold can only be applied when your opponent is on his hands and knees. With your other hand holding on to his side, push with your chest against his body. Now, your left hand should be pulling the opponent's head toward you, while your left arm continues to use its leverage in lifting his shoulders upward and pushing them over.

If he doesn't turn over easily enough, it may be because you do not exert enough pressure and leverage with your left arm. Then, move your right arm over to help your left, at the same time keeping your chest forced against his body in order to help push him over. Use your legs in order to brace yourself. Of course, the hold can be applied from either side.

The quarter nelson begins about the same way that the half nelson starts. Put your right hand — or left hand on the other side, if you prefer — on the base of your opponent's head. Now put your other arm beneath his arm — on your side — and grab your own arm, thus locking your opponent's one arm in yours, at the same time pushing down on his head. He is in a tough spot, and when you start pulling his head toward you, at the same time using your leverage to lift up his shoulder, the twist to put him flat on his back will come quite easily.

The three-quarter Nelson uses the half nelson for a start. Once you have the half-nelson grip on your opponent's head, put your other arm beneath his chest and reach around so that it clasps right on top of the hand which is holding his head. This puts both your hands encircling his neck, near the base of the head, with one of your arms beneath his body and the other beneath an arm. Every bit of force you exert in pulling his head toward you is that much leverage in twisting his body over, and he is bound to be flat on his back before you realize it yourself!

The full nelson is somewhat like the three-quarter nelson in that both your hands grasp the opponent's head. Go after your opponent from the back, and above him; put one arm beneath one of his, the other beneath his other arm. Now reach both your hands toward his head, clasping one just at the base of the head, and putting your other hand on the wrist of the hand which is holding his head. This gives you plenty of force to push his head down and toward you, thus throwing him over.

The further nelson is a half nelson applied on the jar side of your opponent, instead of on the near side. Instead of putting your right arm under your opponent's right — you being on his right side at the time — reach over his back and put your left arm under his left, while you brace yourself with your free hand and your feet. Then pull your opponent's head toward his chest, at the same time using your arm to force him over onto his shoulders.

Although the nelson holds are effective, there are ways of breaking them, and sometimes the nelson can prove to be a boomerang. The common ways of trying to escape from these holds is to "bridge" your body, or try to kick yourself over your opponent, or twirl out of his hands by a side twist.

21. Sleep

Although you may go to a great deal of trouble to get yourself the proper exercise, the proper diet, and other regulations which you fondly believe will build you up, you may not get very far because you forget the one essential — rest. Your body consumes energy every time you exercise. In most cases, it consumes only such energy as would otherwise be wasted, and it keeps the body working to produce new energy, thus keeping all its functions in normal balance. However, the body cannot be replacing used-up energy all the time; it must have a time to rest. The best rest can be secured by sleep.

You do not need a great deal of sleep, but you need it in the best way. You have often experienced a very logy feeling after a long sleep. That's not because you've had rest, but because you've had so much more than usual that your body isn't accustomed to it. When you rest in sleep, the thing to do is to get your sleeping schedule organized as well as you have all your other activities. You can be refreshed by a surprisingly small amount of sleep, if you take that sleep regularly, and see that you get plenty of air while you are sleeping. Do not be afraid of the air; if you feel cold, get yourself extra covers. Also, learn to wake up definitely when it is time to get: up. That extra ten or fifteen minutes of sleep which you get after you shut off the alarm clock is not at all as good as you think it is; first of all, you only half sleep, because you know you must get up; and instead of getting an extra fifteen minutes of sleep, you probably only get about half that much, for it takes you some minutes to get back into your slumber — if you do get back into it.

22. Leg Holds

Since our legs are our only means of upright support, they prove rather important in any struggle. A slowing-up of leg-work is the dread of all fighters, and almost every champion has found his doom not so much in the force of the other fellow's blows, but in his own inability to be fast enough on his feet to outbox the challenger. When age comes, there is nothing that can be done about it; but while your legs still have the strength of youth, they are mighty important.

The same holds true of the other fellow, so if you can, in some way or other, pull his legs out from in under him, you have him practically whipped. Here are a few ways in which you can do this trick.

Facing your opponent from the front, you can easily secure what is called a double leg hold by rushing forward quickly, butting your right shoulder against your enemy's stomach, and reaching both your arms around his body to have them grasp his legs just above the back of the knee. Now, by pushing against his stomach with your shoulder, and pulling his legs toward you, you will be able to push him over backward, and have your body fall on top of him. When you get a man down in this manner, he is bound to stay put for a while.

Once you have him on the floor, you can carry your conquest a bit further by quickly pushing your arms just beneath his back, moving your body well up between his legs, and thus being able to keep him in this helpless position with his head down and his body held firmly by you. You can even do this before he has hit the floor.

You must be careful, however, that he does not get a chance for a "scissors" grip on you with his legs, and also watch for his counters to your move. He may, in turn, be able to grasp your legs while you have him in this position, and thus nullify your work. Or he might, when you first attempt to make the double leg hold, push your head down as your shoulders are heading for his stomach, and thus even be able to shove you to' the floor.

23. The Punching Bag

So many of the suggestions offered here necessarily require an opponent upon whom you can practice the holds. If no friend is available, you need not sit around doing nothing, because there are always exercises and motions which will aid your speed. One of the best things of this type is either the light or the heavy punching bag, both of which can serve to improve your blows to a great extent.

Everyone is familiar with the light bag, since it is easier to handle, a great deal cheaper than the heavy bag, and because it is practically a "standard" toy for youngsters. This bag is a lightweight, pear-shaped affair, fastened to a ceiling or other support, sometimes with a cord also fastening it to the floor, but mostly without it. The bag, when hit, bounces against its board and thus comes back in the direction from which it was hit, ready for another tap.

It is this constant return to the boxer which makes it interesting, and which also serves to correct some mistakes. If you hit the bag squarely, it will come back at you squarely for another crack. If, on the other hand, you have a tendency to make all your blows "haymakers," the bag will come back at you from the same angle at which it was hit, thus ruining your co-ordinated effort. Any twists, turns, or other inconsistencies in your jabs will be likewise reflected.

The secret of punching the light bag, therefore, is to make ail your punches straight and steady, without any turning of the wrist, swinging of the arm, or anything else. Your timing must be perfect, because the bag's timing is automatic, and if you want to keep it tapping away in a manner to resemble a machine gun, you've got to balance your timing with its rebound.

The bag should be so adjusted that it is lined up with your chin — the bottom of the bag on a level with the bottom of your chin. Thus, you will have to hit straight from the shoulder in order to hit it right. Later, if you are in training for any particular person, the bag can be adjusted to approximate the height of your opponent, and your blows can accordingly be trained for most effect.

Keep hitting the bag with one hand only, until you get a perfect rhythmic effect. Then try the other hand until you get equally proficient. After that, use both hands, alternate your hands, and generally keep changing around — at the same time never missing a beat! You'll get a big kick out of being able to keep the bag humming to almost any rhythm you wish.

Another punching bag is the heavy bag, and its use and purpose is altogether different. The heavy bag is a long bag, looking something like an old log, which is suspended from one end. Sawdust or some other soft heavy material is used to fill it. Because of its weight, you have to strike at it differently, the idea here being to develop force above everything else. Striking the heavy bag is a job, and the force you exert is reflected in the distance to which you push it back. But in using the heavy bag, do not attempt to hit it as it rebounds, because the weight is apt to do damage to your wrist. Always hit it as it is standing still, or going away from you, and put all the body strength you can into the blows, straight from the shoulder.

24. Defence

The fact that victory in a fight does not always depend upon the blows you land as much as it does upon the blows the other fellow misses may sound a little bit wrong when taken literally, but you'll find in practice that it is pretty important. Of course, the blows that finish the fight are the ones that you land; but the preparation for those blows may well come in the blows that your opponent misses! Therefore, knowing how to make him miss consistently is very important. First, it saves you a great deal of bodily punishment, and thus keeps your strength and power at its maximum. Second, an opponent whose blows never seem to land where they are supposed to go is soon rattled and put sufficiently off his guard to be open for a telling blow.

You can avoid blows by side-stepping, by feinting, or by parrying. Side-stepping depends, of course, upon the speed of your legs. By keeping your feet constantly in position for quick and easy movement, you will be able to get out of the way of many a hefty wallop. The satisfaction of seeing a tough blow whiz by your face is worth quite a bit; and as the blow goes by, your opponent is naturally not fully covered, and thus you may find an opening.

Stepping into a blow and ducking your head or twisting your body to avoid it is another good method. This gives you an added advantage in the fact that any blow you may strike in retaliation has the benefit of your movement toward your opponent, instead of away from him.

You don't always have to avoid a blow to miss it. Taking blows does not mean taking punishment, if you know how to take them. Your shoulders, for example, can take a great deal of punishment without making you feel it, so that pushing your shoulders into the way of , some blows is as good a way as any of blocking them so that they do not fall on more dangerous territory.

A most effective way of blocking blows is to parry them with blows of your own. When your opponent, for example, swings at you with his right, it is very easy to get your left on the inside of his right, sliding it along his arm right up to his face! First, you block the force of his blow entirely by getting your arm up against his. Second; you have a perfect guide to lead right up to his face, which is naturally unprotected while he is preparing his hefty swing. Of course, your blow will not carry enough power to do extreme damage — unless you are fortunate — but it will be doing double duty in saving you a blow. Even if, in such cases, your opponent does land his blow, its strength has been sapped from it.

Another important effect of blocking such blows is that it invariably gets your opponent off balance, and thus gives you a chance to put in a good blow before he can erect a proper defence. Remember, at the same time, that you should keep your own defence up, just on the chance that he might set himself up quickly enough to take advantage of any opening.

Whatever advantage you gain in blocking or parrying, you should always be ready to capitalize on it by following up with blows of your own. The best time to attack is, when the other side is baffled; and a blow that doesn't land is one sort of bafflement, so be ready to launch your attack.

25. "Retreat"

As a bit of general advice in the way of self-defence, a very good statement to make is that you learn how to "retreat" with blows; that is, how to take the sting out of your opponent's attack. If you can avoid your opponent's blows by quick footwork, by ducking and weaving, so much the better. But no matter how clever you are, you'll probably find that you must take some of the other fellow's punches, so you might as well learn how to take them in the easiest way.

It is not easy to acquire this ability of riding out your opponent's blows, but it is one of the most important qualifications of a good fighter, especially in self-defence, where your purpose is not so much to injure the other fellow as it is to show him that you are his equal, and that he cannot injury you.

In the matter of blows struck with the fists, as in boxing, the way to do this is to let your head swing back in the same direction as the blow, and somewhat to the side. This will result in the "glancing" blow which may look hard, but really does no damage at al! It saves you a great deal of punishment and it makes the other fellow think that you are mighty tough to be able to take his blows without minding them. Thus our action serves a twofold purpose, both of which makes the battle go your way more rapidly.

In a closer tussle, where your opponent grabs at your body and tries to swing you this way or that way, a similar policy can be followed in many cases to advantage. If a person tries to push you over, you can resist and match strength with him, or you can let your body go in the direction he is pushing, but before you lose your balance, twist to one side. Result: he keeps on pushing in that direction, and goes down by his own force.

When you are not in a position to do a fade-away of this sort, you should take advantage of every bit of leverage in resisting holds that your opponent may have on you. Most holds can either be broken or held to a deadlock, so neither contestant gets anywhere, and one of them will have to let go. Whether you are the first to let go or not, be sure you are ready to take advantage of such a break in order to get a new grip. Sometimes it will pay you to let go first, so that you can be prepared to get another hold immediately; other times, you'll find that letting the other fellow change grips may give you a better chance to get at some weak spot in his armour while he is making the change.

26. Overhauling

If people took as much interest in the care of their bodies as they do in the care of their cars or other mechanical equipment and appliances around the house, the health picture of this nation would be vastly improved. Because our

body can take a great deal of punishment without going to pieces, we are prone to let it take everything. Then, when something finally does go wrong, we wonder why.

Probably the greatest amount of illness — at least the illness that can easily be avoided — comes during the change of seasons. Our body readily adjusts itself to a change of temperature, even though the change be sudden and big, but we make it worse by the manner in which we wear our clothing, and how we go about it. The most common fault is "rushing" the season. When early springs brings forth a nice sunny day, we immediately think that summer is here, and go out in the lightest clothing we can find. A resulting cold, or general stiffness, has us wondering — when actually the answer is very simple. The day looked nice and warm, but it was really chilly, with a biting wind. Our body, accustomed to protection from such weather, cannot work miracles, and as a result the sudden chilling brings on a cold, or even worse.

It is quite possible that you might overdo this from the other angle; of wearing too much clothing, thus causing heavy perspiration, which in turn may net you a cold. However, the uncomfortable feeling that this condition causes you is generally a check; if you're too warm, you know it, but you don't always realize when you're letting yourself open to a cold.

Another danger that should be avoided is in doing too much of any one thing, or overdoing general exercises when you get to doing them. When you break in a new car, you are supposed to do so many hundred miles at a speed lower than average. The idea is to give everything time to break in smoothly. You do not press the car to its limit, in order to do the breaking in more quickly; yet that is what many people attempt to do with their bodies, and wonder when it seems to do more harm than good. Instead of putting in all your exercises in a strenuous weekend of all kinds of athletic activity, do a little exercising every day, and leave some of your week-end period for rest as well as for exercises.

And most important, spread your exercises; do various types, various kinds.

Don't do just the kind that develop only one part of your body at the expense of others. You'll have more fun and more interest — and get more benefit out of them — if you make your exercises cover everything.

Periodic examinations are essential if you are to keep your body at its best at all times. Remember, it is not the sudden serious illness that does most of the damage; it is the small irritation, the slight fault that begins almost unnoticeably and continues growing that suddenly shows itself to be a menace. Paying a regular visit to your dentist and your doctor seems somewhat expensive, but it is one thing that pays big dividends. You'll find that the examination given you by a dentist is not too expensive, and if he catches a small cavity at the beginning, it will result in a saving, as well as avoiding possible pain, for a small filling is less expensive than a larger one. An examination by your family doctor also proves quite inexpensive, for he will be able to spot any possible sign of oncoming ailments and tell you what to do about them.

To advise a visit to a physician upon the slightest discomfort is not always best, unless you can afford to do so. There are a great many slight ills and ailments which we must undergo, doctor or no doctor. But if any such discomfort repeats itself, or shows any tendency to increase, the only thing to do is to go to a qualified practitioner. It is foolish as well as dangerous to attempt to give any advice or rules in regard to such troubles, for symptoms are not exact, and so many other things may enter into the matter that only an individual study can show exactly what is right or wrong.

So, remember, that if you want to keep your body at its best, you must give it the consideration and attention that you give to any other complex mechanism ; for our body is the most complex and wonderful bit of mechanism that has ever been devised, and it should get its share of attention!

Source: “Doc Savage” 1938/9