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Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies: A Nineteenth-Century Treatise on Boxing, Kicking, Grappling, and Fencing with the Cane and Quarterstaff
This 19th-century self-defense manual—written by a master swordsman—will appeal to fencers and martial artists as well as fans of Victorian-era culture, steampunk, and American history
Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery was a master swordsman who participated in more than fifty duels, fought under twelve flags, battled gangsters, and was constantly involved in the great conflicts and upheavals of his time. In the 1870s, he began writing his magnum opus—a series of newspaper articles that are now collected here for the first time in Self-Defense for Gentleman and Ladies .
In this book, Colonel Monstery presents a unique look into the Victorian-era fighting world. He describes styles such as British “purring” (shin-kicking), Welsh jump-kicking, and American rough-and-tumble fighting, in addition to providing illustrated instruction in the art of gentlemanly self-defense with a cane, staff, or one’s bare hands. Fifty rare drawings and photographs from the period illuminate Monstery’s world, while an extensive glossary of terms and an introductory biography of Colonel Monstery—including fascinating details of his many duels as well as his groundbreaking devotion to teaching fencing and self-defense skills to women—update his text to make it accessible and useful to gentlemen and ladies of any era.
Contents
Colonel Thomas Hoyer The Unknown American Martial Arts Master
I. Introduction.
II. The Logic of Boxing.
III. Standing and Striking.
IV. Advancing to Strike and Feinting.
V. Simple Parries in Boxing.
VI. Parries with Returns.
VII. Effective or Counter Parries in Boxing.
VIII. Offence and Defense by Evasions.
IX. Trips, Grips, and Back-Falls.
X. Rules for a Set-to with Gloves.
XI. Observations on Natural Weapons.
XII. The Use of the Cane.
XIII. The Use of the Cane (continued).
XIV. The Use of the Staff.
XV. The Use of the Staff (continued).
Monstery's Rules for Contests of Sparring and Fencing
Glossary
Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery was a master swordsman who participated in more than fifty duels, fought under twelve flags, battled gangsters, and was constantly involved in the great conflicts and upheavals of his time. In the 1870s, he began writing his magnum opus—a series of newspaper articles that are now collected here for the first time in Self-Defense for Gentleman and Ladies .
In this book, Colonel Monstery presents a unique look into the Victorian-era fighting world. He describes styles such as British “purring” (shin-kicking), Welsh jump-kicking, and American rough-and-tumble fighting, in addition to providing illustrated instruction in the art of gentlemanly self-defense with a cane, staff, or one’s bare hands. Fifty rare drawings and photographs from the period illuminate Monstery’s world, while an extensive glossary of terms and an introductory biography of Colonel Monstery—including fascinating details of his many duels as well as his groundbreaking devotion to teaching fencing and self-defense skills to women—update his text to make it accessible and useful to gentlemen and ladies of any era.
Contents
Colonel Thomas Hoyer The Unknown American Martial Arts Master
I. Introduction.
II. The Logic of Boxing.
III. Standing and Striking.
IV. Advancing to Strike and Feinting.
V. Simple Parries in Boxing.
VI. Parries with Returns.
VII. Effective or Counter Parries in Boxing.
VIII. Offence and Defense by Evasions.
IX. Trips, Grips, and Back-Falls.
X. Rules for a Set-to with Gloves.
XI. Observations on Natural Weapons.
XII. The Use of the Cane.
XIII. The Use of the Cane (continued).
XIV. The Use of the Staff.
XV. The Use of the Staff (continued).
Monstery's Rules for Contests of Sparring and Fencing
Glossary
216 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2015
34 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 17, 2023
Very interesting. A short, concise resource for 19th century fighting instruction.
I'm using this as research for THE REANIMATOR'S SOUL. I do wish there were more images/diagrams as I am a very visual person.
I'm using this as research for THE REANIMATOR'S SOUL. I do wish there were more images/diagrams as I am a very visual person.
December 6, 2022
This could, as other reviewers has said, use a lot more illustrations and photos. If you were starting from nothing in martial arts east or west, you'd want more than the written descriptions. If you have a background in boxing, fencing, etc it's fairly easy to follow and get the gist, after which you can scroll back through for details.
This book did exactly what I wanted it to, bring the 19th century practice of these arts alive.
This book did exactly what I wanted it to, bring the 19th century practice of these arts alive.
February 3, 2018
A short but comprehensive treatise on fisticuffs, plus a bit on fighting with the cane and staff, augmented by a modern editor’s summary of Col. Monstery’s fascinating life.
February 2, 2015
This book is divided into two parts: the first is a biography (of sorts) of Colonel Monstery, while the second is a treatise by the Colonel on self-defense.
The biography of the Colonel was written by the editor Ben Miller. Monstery was born in Denmark and spent much of his childhood in that country where his family were members of the minor aristocracy. During his life he fought for over twelve countries, either on the side of the government or the rebels. He also fought on the Union side where he was awarded his title of Colonel.
Monstery was world known as a master swordsman (foil, sabers, knives, canes, quarterstaff and others) and duelist. He was known to have participated in over fifty duels as the principle or a second/advisor.
Because of his renown he was constantly besieged by men looking to be trained by him. Monstery would only train those who wanted to learn to defend themselves or their family, from a bully or ruffians on the streets. The anecdotes that are presented by Miller are mostly from newspapers of the time (1870s forward).
The second section (the Treatise) was actually written by Monstery in the late nineteenth century. They address the correct was to box (bareknuckle or with gloves), and styles of self-defense, including both unarmed and armed methods. They then include the use of a wide variety of fighting styles and weapons, as well as touching upon issues of health, exercise, diet and longevity.
The Treatise is actually a collection of columns that the Colonel had written for a newspaper. The Treatise is very straight forward, with descriptions of where to place your hands and feet; when to advance and retreat, and how to blunt your adversaries attack. It reads like a computer manual as is just as fascinating.
I truly enjoyed the first section, the biography of Monstery, but even though the second part is informative, it was way past me in figuring out how to use his instructions. Interesting artifact of the Victorian era.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com
The biography of the Colonel was written by the editor Ben Miller. Monstery was born in Denmark and spent much of his childhood in that country where his family were members of the minor aristocracy. During his life he fought for over twelve countries, either on the side of the government or the rebels. He also fought on the Union side where he was awarded his title of Colonel.
Monstery was world known as a master swordsman (foil, sabers, knives, canes, quarterstaff and others) and duelist. He was known to have participated in over fifty duels as the principle or a second/advisor.
Because of his renown he was constantly besieged by men looking to be trained by him. Monstery would only train those who wanted to learn to defend themselves or their family, from a bully or ruffians on the streets. The anecdotes that are presented by Miller are mostly from newspapers of the time (1870s forward).
The second section (the Treatise) was actually written by Monstery in the late nineteenth century. They address the correct was to box (bareknuckle or with gloves), and styles of self-defense, including both unarmed and armed methods. They then include the use of a wide variety of fighting styles and weapons, as well as touching upon issues of health, exercise, diet and longevity.
The Treatise is actually a collection of columns that the Colonel had written for a newspaper. The Treatise is very straight forward, with descriptions of where to place your hands and feet; when to advance and retreat, and how to blunt your adversaries attack. It reads like a computer manual as is just as fascinating.
I truly enjoyed the first section, the biography of Monstery, but even though the second part is informative, it was way past me in figuring out how to use his instructions. Interesting artifact of the Victorian era.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com
November 21, 2025
Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery remains one of the most astonishing martial figures of the nineteenth century. Born in Denmark, he became a globe-trotting soldier of fortune who fought for twelve different nations, served in multiple wars and revolutions, and survived at least fifty-one documented duels—with pistols, swords, knives, and on several occasions, with nothing but his fists. He carried more than twenty combat wounds and lived through situations that would have ended most men’s careers, yet maintained a disciplined training regimen grounded in fencing, pugilism, and practical self-defense. A master of the sword, cane, quarterstaff, dagger, pistol, and bayonet, he was also a renowned instructor whose students included the legendary Ella Hattan (“Jaguarina”), one of the most successful female fencers in American history. Ben Miller’s edition recovers a nearly lost record of a man whose life embodied both the science and the spirit of real combat.
As a lifelong martial artist with nearly two decades of training in Hawaiian Kenpo (a cousin of Kajukenbo) and Doce Pares Eskrima—along with earlier foundations in Taekwondo, Shotokan, Muay Thai, and even some Ninjutsu—I came to this book with a background in evaluating techniques under pressure. Over the years I’ve stress-tested traditional forms, cross-trained in military and law-enforcement combatives, and studied contemporary realism-focused writers such as Rory Miller (Meditations on Violence), Loren Christensen, Mark McYoung, and Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (On Combat). But I’ve also tried to absorb wisdom from older and wider sources: medieval and Renaissance treatises like Fiore dei Liberi’s Flower of Battle, early modern dagger and sword manuals, the rough-and-ready world of catch-as-catch-can wrestling, and the brutally efficient methods of W.E. Fairbairn and Eric Sykes, whose WWII combative systems shaped modern close-quarters doctrine. I’ve learned from Kelly McCann’s practical street-combatives and even Beaumont’s championship-level street-fighting insights. My reading has included Musashi’s Book of Five Rings, indigenous and tribal combat traditions from across continents, Filipino and Indonesian Silat lineages, historical European martial arts, and the countless systems—famous and obscure—that humans have built in their struggle to survive violence.
All of that is to say: I’ve spent a long time searching for what actually works. And I’ve tried to build curricula that help real people—especially women—use practical tools to defend themselves, with or without weapons. Alongside this, as a Muslim who values the martial Sunnahs of horsemanship, archery, wrestling, and disciplined self-development inherited from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and preserved through centuries of Islamic cultures, I’ve always believed that combat training sits within a broader ethical, physical, and spiritual frame. Reading Monstery, I could feel a resonance across time: a man who understood that martial arts without truth are empty.
What makes Monstery’s treatise so refreshing is his total commitment to substance over style. Like the best modern combatives instructors, he rejects anything theatrical, excessive, or impractical. His teaching blends strikes, grappling, kicking, weapons, and situational awareness into a unified system rooted in experience—not speculation. His famous saying, “Live long by the sword,” is a deliberate inversion of the old proverb, expressing his belief that fencing and disciplined martial training form the core of a long, healthy life. He distrusted the era’s obsession with bulky muscles and heavy lifting, arguing instead for balanced strength, mobility, and functional conditioning—the kind developed by pugilists, swordsmen, and practical fighters.
The book shines in its clarity: he treats boxing not as a sport but as a survival tool; he breaks down cane and stick work with an economy that would satisfy any Eskrimador; he approaches knife and dagger fighting with the realism of someone who has actually bled on the ground; and his sword instruction reflects a lineage of American and European dueling systems no longer widely practiced today. His experiences—whether on the battlefield or in the dueling yard—bleed through every line. You feel the depth of a man who trained, taught, fought, recovered, and kept refining.
For readers interested in martial realism—anyone who values what is functional over what merely looks good—Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies is a rare and powerful text. It reminds us that real fighters across every culture, era, and system converge on the same truths: practicality matters, psychology matters, adaptability matters, and traditions must be tested against reality or they die. Monstery was not a grifter, not a fantasist, and not a choreographer. He was a man who survived fifty-one duels, multiple wars, transcontinental travel, and a lifetime of combat—and insisted that martial arts remain grounded in reality, substance, and disciplined practice.
This book is more than a historical curiosity; it is a living lesson. I recommend it without hesitation.
As a lifelong martial artist with nearly two decades of training in Hawaiian Kenpo (a cousin of Kajukenbo) and Doce Pares Eskrima—along with earlier foundations in Taekwondo, Shotokan, Muay Thai, and even some Ninjutsu—I came to this book with a background in evaluating techniques under pressure. Over the years I’ve stress-tested traditional forms, cross-trained in military and law-enforcement combatives, and studied contemporary realism-focused writers such as Rory Miller (Meditations on Violence), Loren Christensen, Mark McYoung, and Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (On Combat). But I’ve also tried to absorb wisdom from older and wider sources: medieval and Renaissance treatises like Fiore dei Liberi’s Flower of Battle, early modern dagger and sword manuals, the rough-and-ready world of catch-as-catch-can wrestling, and the brutally efficient methods of W.E. Fairbairn and Eric Sykes, whose WWII combative systems shaped modern close-quarters doctrine. I’ve learned from Kelly McCann’s practical street-combatives and even Beaumont’s championship-level street-fighting insights. My reading has included Musashi’s Book of Five Rings, indigenous and tribal combat traditions from across continents, Filipino and Indonesian Silat lineages, historical European martial arts, and the countless systems—famous and obscure—that humans have built in their struggle to survive violence.
All of that is to say: I’ve spent a long time searching for what actually works. And I’ve tried to build curricula that help real people—especially women—use practical tools to defend themselves, with or without weapons. Alongside this, as a Muslim who values the martial Sunnahs of horsemanship, archery, wrestling, and disciplined self-development inherited from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and preserved through centuries of Islamic cultures, I’ve always believed that combat training sits within a broader ethical, physical, and spiritual frame. Reading Monstery, I could feel a resonance across time: a man who understood that martial arts without truth are empty.
What makes Monstery’s treatise so refreshing is his total commitment to substance over style. Like the best modern combatives instructors, he rejects anything theatrical, excessive, or impractical. His teaching blends strikes, grappling, kicking, weapons, and situational awareness into a unified system rooted in experience—not speculation. His famous saying, “Live long by the sword,” is a deliberate inversion of the old proverb, expressing his belief that fencing and disciplined martial training form the core of a long, healthy life. He distrusted the era’s obsession with bulky muscles and heavy lifting, arguing instead for balanced strength, mobility, and functional conditioning—the kind developed by pugilists, swordsmen, and practical fighters.
The book shines in its clarity: he treats boxing not as a sport but as a survival tool; he breaks down cane and stick work with an economy that would satisfy any Eskrimador; he approaches knife and dagger fighting with the realism of someone who has actually bled on the ground; and his sword instruction reflects a lineage of American and European dueling systems no longer widely practiced today. His experiences—whether on the battlefield or in the dueling yard—bleed through every line. You feel the depth of a man who trained, taught, fought, recovered, and kept refining.
For readers interested in martial realism—anyone who values what is functional over what merely looks good—Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies is a rare and powerful text. It reminds us that real fighters across every culture, era, and system converge on the same truths: practicality matters, psychology matters, adaptability matters, and traditions must be tested against reality or they die. Monstery was not a grifter, not a fantasist, and not a choreographer. He was a man who survived fifty-one duels, multiple wars, transcontinental travel, and a lifetime of combat—and insisted that martial arts remain grounded in reality, substance, and disciplined practice.
This book is more than a historical curiosity; it is a living lesson. I recommend it without hesitation.
January 13, 2018
There it was, that dashing bar-fight scene where Sherlock Holmes (played by Jeremy Brett) fights Mr. Woodley as a gentleman. The scuffle ends with victory for Mr. Holmes, the prostration of Mr. Woodley and the applause of the pub patrons. The fighting style looks odd when compared to more modern versions of Sherlock Holmes, but there is a historical twinge to the scene. In the 19th Century England and America there were men putting themselves forward as experts in self-defense, some of whom had personal experience. On U.S. soil Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery was one of these. From December 1877 to January 1879 Monstery wrote several articles on self-defense in the New York magazine "The Spirit of the Times". These articles have been reclaimed, re-collected and republished in the 216 page glossy hardback "Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies: A Nineteenth-Century Treatise on Boxing, Kicking, Grappling and Fencing with the Cane and Quarterstaff" by Ben Miller, award-winning filmmaker, author and fencer.
"Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies" begins with a short and delightful biographical sketch of Monstery. Miller chronicles Monstery's martial progress and exploits from adolescence to adulthood. These include his thirst for training in various forms of Western martial arts, which encompassed fencing, saber-fighting, broadsword, and boxing. After serving as a soldier of fortune under twelve different flags, he established his training school in Baltimore, San Francisco, Oakland, New York and Chicago. In these schools he trained many people to defend themselves in real-life circumstances against local rouges and ruffians. Because of Monstery's breadth of training and personal combative experiences, he adapted his training in unique ways; "his system was ultimately intended for self-defense without gloves" and so he advocated "a guard position somewhat different than those in other treatises of the period" (40). Further, he developed a striking style that seems to come close to certain Asian Martial Arts' strikes: "to establish a line of power from the shoulder to the knuckles of the second, third and forefinger. The principle is the same in fencing" (ibid.). The biography succeeds in describing that Monstery's approach was not only born in the sanitized training school, but also on the streets and ships' decks.
The remainder of the tiny volume are the articles Monstery wrote for "The Spirit of the Times". They include his own sparse sketches and diagrams. Much of the material seems to assume that the reader has a modicum of working knowledge in fencing and boxing. Though it was written for the then average reader, it comes across more as a guide to instructors on how to teach his particular approach and to guide their trainees. Since there is a meager visual display in the book, and the writer assumes more from his readers than may have been realistic, it makes it difficult to conceptualize how a move is to be accomplished, and what it will look like. Nevertheless, a trained martial artist will quickly recognize the genuineness of the material, even with its eccentric properties. Economy of motions looks to be the reigning principle governing all actions.
"Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies" may not be the most expert and expeditious training manual in personal protection, nevertheless it is a well-done historical resource. It also contains some nuggets of gold, both in in fighting and in fighting as a gentleman or lady. It is an easy read, and will enhance the martial artist's historical perspective in American fighting styles. Additionally, the volume should find its way into the lending library of any dojo and self-defense school to show how striking principles and situational awareness are not esoteric aptitudes, but recognizable traits in any genuine martial art. I recommend the book.
"Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies" begins with a short and delightful biographical sketch of Monstery. Miller chronicles Monstery's martial progress and exploits from adolescence to adulthood. These include his thirst for training in various forms of Western martial arts, which encompassed fencing, saber-fighting, broadsword, and boxing. After serving as a soldier of fortune under twelve different flags, he established his training school in Baltimore, San Francisco, Oakland, New York and Chicago. In these schools he trained many people to defend themselves in real-life circumstances against local rouges and ruffians. Because of Monstery's breadth of training and personal combative experiences, he adapted his training in unique ways; "his system was ultimately intended for self-defense without gloves" and so he advocated "a guard position somewhat different than those in other treatises of the period" (40). Further, he developed a striking style that seems to come close to certain Asian Martial Arts' strikes: "to establish a line of power from the shoulder to the knuckles of the second, third and forefinger. The principle is the same in fencing" (ibid.). The biography succeeds in describing that Monstery's approach was not only born in the sanitized training school, but also on the streets and ships' decks.
The remainder of the tiny volume are the articles Monstery wrote for "The Spirit of the Times". They include his own sparse sketches and diagrams. Much of the material seems to assume that the reader has a modicum of working knowledge in fencing and boxing. Though it was written for the then average reader, it comes across more as a guide to instructors on how to teach his particular approach and to guide their trainees. Since there is a meager visual display in the book, and the writer assumes more from his readers than may have been realistic, it makes it difficult to conceptualize how a move is to be accomplished, and what it will look like. Nevertheless, a trained martial artist will quickly recognize the genuineness of the material, even with its eccentric properties. Economy of motions looks to be the reigning principle governing all actions.
"Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies" may not be the most expert and expeditious training manual in personal protection, nevertheless it is a well-done historical resource. It also contains some nuggets of gold, both in in fighting and in fighting as a gentleman or lady. It is an easy read, and will enhance the martial artist's historical perspective in American fighting styles. Additionally, the volume should find its way into the lending library of any dojo and self-defense school to show how striking principles and situational awareness are not esoteric aptitudes, but recognizable traits in any genuine martial art. I recommend the book.
January 6, 2018
An interesting book about a XIX century Master of arms. I'd say the stories are better than the technical part of the book which is too simplistic and not really enlightning.
Not quite what I expected. Still an interesting overview on a real european Martial artist from other century.
Not quite what I expected. Still an interesting overview on a real european Martial artist from other century.
November 15, 2017
Loved every bit of this book. The story of Monstary is incredible and someone should immediately make it into a movie. The lessons taught are slightly outdated, but the principles of self defense taught herein are still strong.
July 9, 2021
Fascinating book on a very interesting individual. Cant wait to get the full bio. Some of the views contained within might be considered outdated, but should be taken for what they are, a product of there time. A very enjoyable read throughout.
September 5, 2022
A lot of fun to read.
IMO, most of the information is pretty dated, but oddly foreshadows a lot of the information learned over my 44 years in martial art and combat sport.
And, if half the stories of Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery are true, he was a real badass!
IMO, most of the information is pretty dated, but oddly foreshadows a lot of the information learned over my 44 years in martial art and combat sport.
And, if half the stories of Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery are true, he was a real badass!
July 12, 2024
The biography is incredible, the last real man...
August 3, 2024
You need to interpret this as a historical text first and foremost. Boy, would the bodybuilders and gymnasts have something to say about Monstery’s opinions on the peak male form! Lol
It’s a bit of a dry read if you’re reading for pleasure, because it goes into each action of the art in minute detail. It’s good for a reference for Victorian era boxing.
It’s a bit of a dry read if you’re reading for pleasure, because it goes into each action of the art in minute detail. It’s good for a reference for Victorian era boxing.
May 11, 2015
Completely fell for the title and pre-ordered months ago. While a good read in itself, Monstery takes the cake. His life is utterly fascinating; his experiments with his poor son-Interesting, I laughed aloud at the outcome, but maybe I shouldn't have. Monstery's comments about women were also a highlight and surprising to read, especially considering that they were published as a running series. Now to hunt down a biography. Oh-and also imparted a tidbit of info concerning Victorian hair-styling for men. Ever wonder how the Edgar Allan Poe hair got its shape (or Monstery on his author photo on back cover?) well, this book solved that mystery as well!
June 19, 2022
An incomplete collection of out of context techniques, poorly written and slapped together, with a adoring preface of Monstery. Monstery covers two punches, two types of boxing parries, a single style of kick, a headlock and a few swings of varying sticks and calls it a "treaties on boxing, kicking, grappling and fencing with cane & staff". I had hoped for a comprehensive work and got a smattering of basic skills stuck between poor anecdotes. If you were unfamiliar with martial skills this book might seem impressive, but if you've done any training for more than a few months you easily realize what a joke this book is.
June 3, 2015
Hmm, I guess it would be interesting in person, but showing a person how to use any weapon should be experienced first hand. I have no doubt that the author was a great fighter, but this book was best left in the 1800's in my opinion. Loved the photos.
August 2, 2015
I received Self-Defense for Gentlemen and Ladies: A Nineteenth-Century Treatise on Boxing, Kicking, Grappling, and Fencing with the Cane and Quarterstaff as a first reads contest. Thank You.
I found the biography section very interesting, and his instruction on fighting was quite informative.
I found the biography section very interesting, and his instruction on fighting was quite informative.
March 28, 2016
I received this as a first read. Wow what an unique fun book. I enjoyed not just the writing in this book but the whole experience of reading this one. Definitely a fun departure from what I usually read and even have seen. Great read!
August 2, 2016
A lot of fun to read.
IMO, most of the information is pretty dated, but oddly foreshadows a lot of the information learned over my 44 years in martial art and combat sport.
And, if half the stories of Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery are true, he was a real badass!
IMO, most of the information is pretty dated, but oddly foreshadows a lot of the information learned over my 44 years in martial art and combat sport.
And, if half the stories of Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery are true, he was a real badass!
May 31, 2015
I found the first paragraph most interesting. The remainder is a good primary source for a historian. I would been more interested if current drawings or photos were used to illustrate the rest.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews