''The Art of Self Defense'' is a

cartoon A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently animated, in an unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved over time, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images ...

made by

the Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

in 1941, featuring

Goofy Goofy is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company. He is a tall, Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic dog who typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled f ...

Plot

After a brief history on the many different forms of manly arts through the years, from early man bashing each other with their primitive weapons (and kicks), to Egyptians poking at their opponents' eyes, to the Medieval Era where knights in armor hammer each other with maces, to the romantic age where chivalrous gentlemen are slapping each other with the glove, and then to early fisticuff brawling (with the lack of proper science when men are fighting as long as 75 to 80 rounds),

demonstrates the different methods of

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

. The narrator shows the audience, with Goofy as the model, learn about proper breathing exercises, skipping rope for conditioning, as well as punching the bag to measure coordination, agility, and developing the skill of "covering up", and shadow boxing ''literally'' against his shadow, normally used for perfecting form and timing. The shadow makes his appearance as the narrator explain about good sportsmanship when both fighters give a friendly handshake before they pit their skills. (The shadow gave Goofy a real vice-grip of a handshake.) Then the narrator explains the use of common blows (or punches), such as the right cross, the left cross, and the "double cross". With the motion of the slow-motion camera, Goofy is trying to deliver the uppercut against the shadow, much like a ballet dancer, but the opponent countered the blow and sends the Goof flying across the hall. Then the camera "rewinds" the scene, and resumes at normal speed, until the "frame" stops to where Goofy was almost hit by a real uppercut as the narrator explains how the course of the blow as the entire weight of the body is brought into play with terrific force and the action resumes. It's also important of not forgetting to duck (lower oneself against the blow). The shadow demonstrates more of the miscellaneous punches such as the left-hand jab,

bolo Bolo may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * Bolo, a fictional tribe in ''bolo'bolo'' by P.M. * Bolo, a character in the ''Shantae'' series * ''Bolo'' universe, a science fiction universe created by Keith Laumer * Prin ...

rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit speci ...

solar plexus The celiac plexus, also known as the solar plexus because of its radiating nerve fibers, is a complex network of nerves located in the abdomen, near where the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries branch from the abdomin ...

, backhand, and the roundhouse punch. Of course, there are rules involving fouls when the shadow hits Goofy below the belt, something that every fighter in boxing should never do, because it is very unsportsmanlike, unethical, unnecessary, and uncomfortable. (Goofy tries to protect himself by raising his pants and the beltline, but with little success as his opponent manages to find his way around the situation.) And finally Goofy feels ready for the boxing ring as he faces off a different boxer as he charges at the opponent. But the foe, sporting a Navy anchor tattoo, knocks Goofy's lights out with a left haymaker. Time ever marches on in the art of self-defense.

Production

The cartoon was one of the first to feature many replicas of Goofy at one time. The end of the short uses the

Tarzan yell The Tarzan yell or Tarzan's jungle call is the distinctive, ululating yell of the character Tarzan as portrayed by actor Johnny Weissmuller in the films based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs starting with ''Tarzan the Ape Man'' ( ...

on the soundtrack.

Voice cast

* Goofy: George Johnson * Narrator: John McLeish

Home media

The short was released on December 2, 2002, on '' Walt Disney Treasures: The Complete Goofy''.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Art Of Self Defense, The 1941 films 1941 animated films 1940s sports films 1940s Disney animated short films Goofy (Disney) short films American boxing films Films directed by Jack Kinney Films produced by Walt Disney Films scored by Leigh Harline 1940s English-language films