Gouging (fighting style)
Encyclopedia
Gouging was a form of fighting in the back-country United States
, primarily in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Also known as rough-and-tumble fighting, it was often characterized by the objective of gouging out an opponent's eye
, and typically took place in order to settle disputes. Though gouging was common by the 1730s in southern colonies, the practice was waning by the 1840s, by which time the Bowie knife
and revolver
had made frontier disputes more lethal.
Though it was never an organized sport, participants would sometimes schedule their fights (as one could schedule a duel
), and victors were treated as local heroes. Gouging was essentially a type of duel to defend one's honor that was most common among the poor, and was especially common in southern states in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
When a dispute arose, fighters could either agree to fight "fair," meaning according to Broughton's rules, or "rough and tumble." According to Elliott Gorn,
Noses, lips, and genitals, could be disfigured in these fights, but Gorn notes:
The practice spread at least as far west as rural Missouri, where "a particularly dextrous fellow could pluck his opponent's eyeballs from their sockets with one good thrust of the thumbs." This disfigurement may have been subsequently construed as a visible sign of dishonor. Though the practice was widespread, it was "best suited to the backwoods," according to Gorn.
An act passed by the Virginia Assembly
in 1752 begins by remarking that many mischievous and ill disposed persons have of late, in a malicious and barbarous manner, maimed, wounded, and defaced, many of his majesty's subjects, then very specifically makes it a felony
to put out an eye, slit the nose, bite or cut off a nose, or lip, among other offenses. The Assembly went on to amend the act in 1772 to make it clear that this included gouging, plucking or putting out an eye.
Court cases and legal rulings in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arkansas provide ample evidence of the history of this type of fighting. Though legend sometimes amplifies the brutality
of these fights, Gorn emphasizes the historical reality of these events:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, primarily in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Also known as rough-and-tumble fighting, it was often characterized by the objective of gouging out an opponent's eye
Eye-gouging
Eye-gouging is the act of pressing or tearing the eye using the fingers, other bodyparts, or instruments. Eye-gouging involves a very high risk of eye injury, such as permanent eye loss. It is disallowed in combat sports, but some self-defense systems teach it...
, and typically took place in order to settle disputes. Though gouging was common by the 1730s in southern colonies, the practice was waning by the 1840s, by which time the Bowie knife
Bowie knife
A Bowie knife is a pattern of fixed-blade fighting knife first popularized by Colonel James "Jim" Bowie in the early 19th Century. Since the first incarnation was created by James Black, the Bowie knife has come to incorporate several recognizable and characteristic design features, although its...
and revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
had made frontier disputes more lethal.
Though it was never an organized sport, participants would sometimes schedule their fights (as one could schedule a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
), and victors were treated as local heroes. Gouging was essentially a type of duel to defend one's honor that was most common among the poor, and was especially common in southern states in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
When a dispute arose, fighters could either agree to fight "fair," meaning according to Broughton's rules, or "rough and tumble." According to Elliott Gorn,
Noses, lips, and genitals, could be disfigured in these fights, but Gorn notes:
The practice spread at least as far west as rural Missouri, where "a particularly dextrous fellow could pluck his opponent's eyeballs from their sockets with one good thrust of the thumbs." This disfigurement may have been subsequently construed as a visible sign of dishonor. Though the practice was widespread, it was "best suited to the backwoods," according to Gorn.
An act passed by the Virginia Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
in 1752 begins by remarking that many mischievous and ill disposed persons have of late, in a malicious and barbarous manner, maimed, wounded, and defaced, many of his majesty's subjects, then very specifically makes it a felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
to put out an eye, slit the nose, bite or cut off a nose, or lip, among other offenses. The Assembly went on to amend the act in 1772 to make it clear that this included gouging, plucking or putting out an eye.
Court cases and legal rulings in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arkansas provide ample evidence of the history of this type of fighting. Though legend sometimes amplifies the brutality
Tall tale
A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true and factual. Some such stories are exaggerations of actual events, for example fish stories such as, "that fish was so big, why I tell ya', it nearly sank the boat when I pulled it in!" Other tall tales are completely...
of these fights, Gorn emphasizes the historical reality of these events: