Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

E.W. Barton-Wright vs. the Georgia Magnet (1895-1899)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 15th April 2013  Comparatively little is known about the period that Bartitsu founder E.W. Barton-Wright spent living in Kobe, Japan. Arriving during mid-1895, he spent the next several years supervising an antimony smelting operation for E.H. … Continue reading

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“Woman’s Handiest Weapon”: the Stiletto Hatpin (New York Tribune, 1904)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 16th April 2013 The Hatpin Inflicts a Severe Wound and Can Be Got Ready for Action in a Moment “What shall we do in case we are attacked by some thief or … Continue reading

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Sparring with Crook Canes

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 16th April 2013

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Savate (Boxe Française) on Film, Circa 1898

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 17th April 2013 Attributed to the Lumiere brothers and dated circa 1898, this film appears to be one of the earliest cinematographic representations of la boxe française. The athletes may be soldiers at the famous … Continue reading

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“Woman Repels Ruffian” (Boston Globe, 1904)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 20th April 2013  Thanks to Maxime Chouinard for forwarding this item. Please click on the picture below to view it at full size. Mlle. Gelas Shows Audience Tricks by Which a Woman Can … Continue reading

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“Kano Jiu Jitsu” at the Japan-British Exhibition (1910)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 24th April 2013 Text from “The Official Report of the Japan British Exhibition 1910 at the Great White City, Shepherd’s Bush, London”.  The heavyweight wrestler standing in the top two pictures has been identified … Continue reading

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Political Jujitsu Cartoon by E.T. Reed (1902)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 25th April 2013 Possibly inspired by E.W. Barton-Wright’s coining of the word “Bartitsu”, Punch cartoonist E.T. Reed imagines the martial arts of British politicans including Joseph Chamberlain’s “Jo-jitsu” and Arthur Balfour’s “Balf-itsu”, a “peculiar method of contortionist gymnastics … Continue reading

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The Bartitsu Club of New York City at the Observatory

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 26th April 2013

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“Six Inches of Steel”: Bowie Knife Fighting Instruction by Louis Juan Ohnimus (1890)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 26th April 2013 Thanks to Maxime Chouinard for locating and forwarding this fascinating, unique technical account of close-combat instruction with the famous Bowie knife.  The article transcribed here was originally published in … Continue reading

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A New Honour for Jujitsuffragette Edith Garrud

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 27th April 2013 Jazzie B joined by, from left, Andrew Turton, Islington Council leader Catherine West and Martin Williams. Jujitsuffragette trainer Edith Garrud, music producer Jazzie B and health pioneer Florence Keen have been commemorated with a “portrait … Continue reading

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