Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

“To Invite an Attack”: Tactical Guards in Canonical Bartitsu Stick Fighting

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 24th October 2015 It is always most desirable to try to entice your adversary to deliver a certain blow, and so place yourself at a great advantage by being prepared to guard … Continue reading

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Gandhi on Jiu-jitsu (1905)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 30th May 2014 Some wry commentary on jiujitsu from Mohandas K. Gandhi (Indian Opinion, April 2, 1905): The eyes of Europeans are slowly being opened. Narmada-shankar, the Gujarati poet, has sung: The Englishman rules, … Continue reading

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“How to Use a Walking Stick in Self Defense” (1914)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 31st May 2014 This tongue-in-cheek cartoon, originally published in Life Magazine of August, 1914, may have been inspired by Andrew Chase Cunningham’s book, The Cane as a Weapon.

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The Jiu-Jitsu Waltz (“The Scrap Book”, Vol. 4, 1907)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 31st May 2014 A FRENCH WOMAN AND A JAPANESE MANAMAZE LONDON WITH A NEW STUNT. The novelty of the summer in London is the jiu-jitsu dance in which Mlle. Deslys and S. … Continue reading

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Tools and Weapons of the Suffragette Bodyguards

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 8th June 2014 A collection of Suffragette bodyguard weapons and tools confiscated by police following the infamous “Battle of Glasgow” brawl, which took place at St. Andrew’s Hall on the evening of March 9th, 1914. … Continue reading

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Presenting Miss Persephone Wright …

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 11th June 2014 A special advance glimpse of Miss Persephone Wright, radical suffragette and Bartitsu-trained bodyguard, who stars in the Suffrajitsu graphic novel trilogy to be published by Jet City Comics.

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Mark Donnelly seminar for the Nutmeg Bartitsu Society (Connecticut)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 11th June 2014 Instructor Mark Donnelly will be teaching another seminar in Connecticut on June 15. Interested parties should RSVP to Twin Dragons Martial Arts by calling (203)265-1516.

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Armand Cherpillod in 1905

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 16th June 2014 A promotional postcard featuring Bartitsu Club wrestling and physical culture instructor Armand Cherpillod, shown posing in typical early 20th century jujitsu garb. According to his 1929 biography, Cherpillod was invited … Continue reading

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Samantha Swords at the Gymuseum

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 25th June 2014 Samantha Swords experiments with a pair of antique Indian clubs on display at the Forteza Gymuseum, home of the Bartitsu Club of Chicago.

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“Skill Against Strength” (1899)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 2nd July 2014 This somewhat tongue-in-cheek review/essay, inspired by Bartitsu founder E.W. Barton-Wright’s first self defence articles for Pearson’s Magazine, was originally published in the Australian newspaper Table Talk on April 21, … Continue reading

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