How Philippine Martial Art Form Was Main Ingredient In Modern Boxing
The styles and techniques of modern boxing can be traced to The Philippines and a martial art form named pangamot. Pangamot translates to “maneuvering of hands” or “bare fist.”
In the final decade of the 19th century, United States warships sailed to The Philippines as part of the military assistance extended to Philippine insurgents fighting to overthrow Spanish rule. To help pass the time while in port, the American sailors organized boxing matches and tournaments.
The sailors used the formal boxing stance of the day – hands kept little more than waist high, palms up, and extended from the body, something like where the arms wind up when dirt is shoveled. It was the style of famous heavyweight boxers such as John L. Sullivan, James J. Corbett, and Paddy Ryan.
It was a roboti...
