Boxing Made Easy by a Pupil of Mendosa and Humphrey
In this book, the pupil of Mendosa and Humphrey, whom I will refer to as simply The Pupil, makes a clear case for learning the art of boxing using several propositions.
In the first proposition, he highlights a common situation that takes place when people have a misunderstanding that may lead to a physical altercation. When the people involved have no understanding of self-defense, they are much more likely to physically engage one another. However, if either of the persons involved has some knowledge of self-defense, he is likely to overlook the offense knowing that if a physically altercation was to take place, he could easily deal with the situation.
"If a man, ignorant of the art, is insulted in the street, he will naturally feel himself irritated, and when he reflects that a low-lived fellow treats him ill from a supposition of being more powerful than himself in point of personal strength, his resentment may be so heightened as to hurry him to commit some rash action."
In the second proposition, the Pupil highlights another common situation where the person who has learn self-defense becomes a bully of some sort and actively seeks to engage in physical altercations. For this reason, learning self-defense can prevent one from being taken advantage of by this type of bully.
"The very circumstance, that some men who have learnt to box are like to abuse their power, renders it necessary to disseminate the art to a wider extent, for the purpose of enabling others to resist the attacks of such rascals."
The pupil goes on to explain that the security having a knowledge of self-defense provides, in many instances compels one to act more gentlemanly.
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