- Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 29th September 2013
Georges Dubois was something of a Renaissance man; a professional sculptor, Olympic athlete, author, theatrical fight director and fencing teacher who famously challenged Ernest Regnier (a.k.a. “Re-Nie”) to a savate vs. jiujitsu contest in 1905.
Dubois was also a pioneering French revivalist of historical combat systems, including Renaissance-era rapier and dagger fencing as well as the “ancient combats” of the gladiatorial arena. See this new article by Phil Crawley on Dubois’ reconstructions of the fighting styles of the Murmillo and Retiarius.