Donald Walker took a surprisingly modern approach to self-defense in his "Defensive Exercises". His system was a mixed martial art of sorts, blending Cornwall/Devon wrestling, Cumberland/Westmoreland wrestling, early boxing, Irish stickfighting, English stickfighting, and a bit of standing grappling. http://books.google.com/books?id=u98DAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=donald+walker+defensive+exercises&as_brr=1
Just got over giggling at the word "loins" (I don't know why) and I get to the part about cross-bottom techniques. They don't make em like they used to, i'll say that much.