Wrestling Lessons 1&2

You're strolling along the banks of the Seine and suddenly it hits you: "I must learn to wrestle immediately!" A few strides toward the Quai du Louvre brings you to a green metal book stand brimming with texts of every kind et voil? - there is a copy of Fran?ois le Bordelais' La Le?on de Lutte.

Bordelais (1849-1933) was a master of the sport in France at the end of the 19th century. As a smaller grappler in a field dominated by giants, he won the admiration of the crowd by beating his opponents through technical skill alone, and for this same reason he came to be known as the greatest instructor of his era. In 1899 he put forth his first manual followed by the second in 1907, both of which were superbly illustrated by A. Lefort des Ylouses. Here both brief texts have been combined into one.

French wrestling is a distinct national version of the sport which is neither Greco-Roman, Freestyle, or American Catch wrestling - and the author makes clear that while he is well acquainted with the pain-inducing techniques of the latter style, he is an advocate of a purely sportive form. Even a great fan of Catch Wrestling can appreciate the gentler, more widely applicable art of wrestling solely for the pin: There are few endeavors which work every part of the body so thoroughly as grappling, and bringing this kind of mind-body benefit to as many as possible is a laudable goal.