Klaus, Frank – The Art of Infighting. A Treatise on a Too-Neglected Science. With 27-Illustrations from Special Photographs

Description

Klaus, Frank ‘The Art of Infighting. A Treatise on a Too-Neglected Science. With 27-Illustrations from Special Photographs’ Athletic Publications, LTD. London. By Frank Klaus, ex-Middleweight Champion of the World. c1913-1919. VG+ condition with bright covers, straight, and exceptionally clean.

Book Summary:
The Art of In-Fighting: A Treatise on a Too-Neglected Science is a 74-page boxing instructional manual written by the German-American boxing legend Frank Klaus. It was published circa 1913–1919 by Athletic Publications Ltd. at the offices of “Boxing” magazine in London.

Klaus, who won the World Middleweight Championship in 1913, penned this work to introduce the burgeoning, hard-hitting American style of professional inside fighting to a broader audience. The text acts as a tactical deep dive into close-quarters ring mechanics, body punching, and strategic counter-offenses. Notable attributes of the book include:

• The “Science” of In-Fighting: Instructional breakdowns on techniques like side-stepping, utilizing the right jolt, executing uppercuts, and methodically rushing an opponent to the ropes.
• Unconventional Tactics: Specialized chapters covering historical inside fighting mechanics, such as the liver punch, feigning “grogginess” to bait an opponent, and strategically punching an opponent’s gloved hands or arms to numb their biceps.
• Visual Photography: Despite its short length, the guide packs a remarkable array of 27 black-and-white photographic plates. These include direct instructional poses from Klaus himself, and action shots pulled from his high-profile championship matches.
• Fitness Regimens: The closing chapters outline physical training blueprints, highlighting roadwork, moderate gym training, and the then-popular Muller system for core/abdominal strength.