Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

“How to start Bartitsu – la canne Vigny” with Oliver Janseps

Posted on July 3, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

This new video tutorial focusses on basic moulinet strikes in the Vigny style.

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“Fight Like Sherlock Holmes” in Germany

Posted on June 9, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Images from a recent seminar by Alex Kiermayer and Christoph “Bear-Knuckle” Reinberger.

Posted in Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, Savate, Seminars, Sherlock Holmes, Vigny stick fighting | Comments Off on “Fight Like Sherlock Holmes” in Germany

Guards by Distance with Oliver Janseps

Posted on May 13, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

German HEMA instructor Oliver Janseps offers a clear explication of Guard by Distance tactics and dynamics in this video, which is part of an occasional series.

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Vigny Cane Basics with Alex Kiermayer

Posted on April 21, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Veteran instructor Alex Kiermayer offers a tutorial in the fundamentals of warming up, striking and parrying with a cane in the classic Vigny style. If you’d like much more in the same vein, Alex’s comprehensive, multi-part instructional series Bartitsu: Historical … Continue reading →

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Irish stick sparring/Bartitsu stick sparring comparison

Posted on March 29, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

The ancient art of Bataireacht (Irish stick fighting) has undergone a modern revival closely paralleling that of Bartitsu, and this sparring clip demonstrates the close technical parallels as well. Similar to Vigny stick fighting, Bataireacht emphasizes high guard positions and … Continue reading →

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“Les Apaches: the Gangster Chic of Belle Époque Paris”

Posted on March 11, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

An early heads-up that Tony Wolf will be giving a live Zoom lecture on the “Apache chic” craze of the early 20th century: At the turn of the 20th century, the exploits and styles of Parisian Apache (pronounced Ah-pahsh) street … Continue reading →

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“Bartitsu – Self Defence with the Hooked Walking Stick”

Posted on March 9, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

German HEMA instructor Oliver Janseps demonstrates three canonical Vigny/Bartitsu hooking techniques. Crooked canes are rarely seen in action in sparring, but here’s an experimental bout from back in 2013:

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Jean Lafond, the Magician of Boxe Française

Posted on March 5, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Thanks to Jean-Pierre LeLoup for this guest-post as a tribute to his late teacher, which has been lightly edited – with the author’s permission – for clarity. At 26, Rue d’Enghien, in Paris, a plaque indicates that here is practiced: … Continue reading →

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“Match de boxe: professeurs de l’École de Joinville (Leon Beaulieu’s flipbook)” – G. Méliès (c.1897 )

Posted on March 1, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Recently reanimated for the first time in over 120 years, this 10-second clip of a boxe Francaise sparring exhibition between two instructors at the Joinville military school is believed to be all that remains of a lost documentary film by … Continue reading →

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“Titan of the Thames: The Life of Lord Desborough”

Posted on February 12, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Recommended reading is this brand-new biography of William Grenfell, Lord Desborough, whose many athletic and public service accomplishments included some intriguing associations with Bartitsu. Grenfell was the Master of Ceremonies at Edward Barton-Wright’s famous Bartitsu exhibition at the London Bath … Continue reading →

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