Progymnasmata: The inn-play; or, Cornish-hugg wrestler.
Digested in a method which teacheth to break all holds, and throw most falls mathematically.
#PWHS #BookReview #Progymnasmata #CornishHugg #InnPlay #SirParkyns #ProWrestling
5/5 Stars
Sir Thomas Parkyns was the second baronet of Bunny, Nottinghamshire in England. For anyone who may not be aware, this was a rather important title to be bestowed upon someone at that time, not to diminish it's importance within the current structure of England. He was known as having a devotion to the science and art of wrestling, it was through his love of wrestling he would promote his primary objective as a philanthropist.
This is a very unique perspective we are offered in this book. Not only because the book is from 1727, from someone who is clearly held highly within the English Royal Family which is easy to see from the personal dedication to King George the Second, but also because it offers the reader a valuable insight into the history of professional wrestling. Whilst the book is very much practical and originally was written to explain techniques, methods, and tips to become not only a great Cornish-hugg wrestler, but also to better utilize a sword. It had an importance greater to Sir Thomas Parkyns than just simply promoting the value of wrestling, but he is trying to garner interest in the sport, to make it popular again, being a philanthropist he see's the usage of close combat such as short swords and Cornish-hugg wrestling as a way to save human lives, rather than using the gun to settle differences.
Definitely a book for the niche audience. Not everyone is going to be even slightly interested in this piece of wrestling history, but, it is one of the most interesting books I have personally read. Wrestling fans alone should not be the only ones to value this treasure though, anyone interested in protests against the usage of guns or such topics can also see a rare, early protest right here in print. The one downside to the inn-play is that it is not in modern print, but rather has been rather fancifully scanned (I'm sure it has an actual name for the process, I am unaware of it though), so we can read the book as it was originally published, you will soon get use to the unusual usage of language and in some cases the now strange letter shapes.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Review of Progymnasmata: The inn-play; or, Cornish-hugg wrestler..
Reviewer: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: Pre-2019.
Book Review: #18.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Review of Progymnasmata: The inn-play; or, Cornish-hugg wrestler..
Reviewer: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: Pre-2019.
Book Review: #18.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Progymnasmata: The inn-play; or, Cornish-hugg wrestler (third edition of the original publication).
Author: Sir Thomas Parkyns.
Pages: 106.
Published as Paperback: September 14, 2012 (originally 1727)
Publisher: ECCO Print Edition.