Unlike the dozens of martial arts and self-defense options present today, back in the Old West, fighting styles were much different. Combat took forms ranging from structured and civil to downright brutal, with no holds barred, often resulting in permanent injuries for the fighters. Depending upon where a person lived, who they came into contact with, and what enemies they faced, determined what method of defense they would employ when needed. The Old West’s denizens settled their disputes physically, and here’s how scrapping in the Old West was done.
Scrapping in the Old West -The Style of No Style
The primary means of fighting in Old West towns was called “Rough and Tumble.” Simply put, this was crude fighting, with no structure and nothing off limits. The idea was to win at any cost, no matter what it took. Fighters would punch, kick, bite, gouge eyes, and pick up surrounding objects to use as weapons.
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This form of combat was similar to a modern street fight, with the objective either to completely destroy the opponent or to survive if they were the unlucky victim. Often, moves such as hair-pulling, strikes to the groin, sand thrown in the eyes, and even biting pieces of flesh from a foe’s body parts were commonplace in the seemingly lawless West. Back then, a person needed to literally fight for their life or end up disfigured, maimed, or worse.
Hitting the Ground
Far more structured than “Rough and Tumble, Wrestling was practiced as a form of self-defense, rather than a sport as it is today. Its roots were based upon European-influenced wrestling styles, specifically from England, Scotland, and Ireland. Techniques were intended to aggressively hurt the opponent with painful locks, chokes, and intense throws that sometimes broke or dislocated bones and joints. Once the fight went to the ground, the skirmish continued until one of the combatants tapped out (not unlike today’s mixed martial arts bouts) or they were choked to the point of passing out.
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Some Structured Fighting
Not everything in the Old West was barbaric. Boxing and fencing were both practiced. However, these fighting arts were mostly practiced for sport. Traveling prize fighters often engaged in bare-knuckle boxing for money. These events were highly organized and often drew spectators who watched and even bet on the bouts. Fencing took the form of Saber (foil and epee are the other two primary fencing styles) because cavalrymen at the time carried a Sabre sword at their side. It was only natural that sword training by both military men and civilians would have occurred.
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Lack of Martial Arts, As-We-Know-It
The martial arts of today were not widespread back in the Old West. Only small pockets of Asian and European martial arts were found throughout the small towns and outer settlements. One such art was Savate, or French foot fighting. This style was practiced by a small number of French fur trappers, and during “downtime,” some techniques were shared with others. Additionally, migrant Chinese workers with knowledge of Kung Fu also minimally shared it with the locals. Mind you, these interactions and sharing of skills were few and far between, and as for any large-scale teachings, they simply didn’t exist at the time.
Enter the Weapons
Naturally, firearms were part of both self-defense and overall survival in the West, but other handheld weapons were also used for both offensive and defensive fighting. The Bowie Knife, arguably the ultimate knife of the West, went from tool to weapon when needed, with wielders learning specific thrust and guarding techniques. Additionally, the Bataireacht stick-fighting system was employed by those who carried a walking stick throughout their travels. Ultimately, nearly any tool could become a weapon when needed in the Old West. Dishing out damage was easy for someone versed in using a bullwhip or a branding iron. Items within hand’s reach, like liquor bottles or farming tools, could also become deadly instruments.
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Scrapping in the Old West – Primarily, Kill or Be Killed
Although there were sprinkles of sophisticated fighting styles in the Old West, it was truly a kill-or-be-killed environment. As such, any method for someone to deliver a crushing blow or a life-ending strike was frequently used. It was not until the early 1900s that specialized self-defense systems were employed by wealthy citizens of well-developed cities. Until then, the cowboys, landowners, townsfolk, and frequent saloon patrons of the Old West did whatever it took to put an end to the physical conflicts they faced.
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