Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

More Vigny/Bartitsu Stickfighting in Chile

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 21st October 2017 In the above experimental sparring bout, Andres Morales (wearing the fencing mask with white trim) sticks closely to the Vigny style in contending with an opponent fighting in a … Continue reading

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Inside the Bartitsu Institute (1914)

Though E.W. Barton-Wright appears to have largely abandoned the self-defence field when his original Bartitsu Academy of Arms and Physical Culture closed during 1902, he retained the name “Bartitsu” with reference to his new endeavour. The Bartitsu Academy had featured, … Continue reading

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“Self-Defence as a Fine Art” (London Daily News, 29 October, 1902)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 11th October 2016 Last night, his School Arms at 18, Berners-street, Professor Pierre Vigny gave a striking exhibition of the possibilities self-defence afforded by a simple walking-stick. In these days, when the … Continue reading

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Shades of Esme Beringer: Double-Weapon Fencing in “Penny Dreadful”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 12th October 2016 The final season of the popular dark fantasy/drama series Penny Dreadful introduced the character of Catriona Hartdegen, a historian, thanatologist and expert swordswoman played by actress Perdita Weeks. As the series … Continue reading

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“A man without a stick rushes at you with his fist”: an Interpretation of Captain Laing’s Second Bartitsu Set-Play

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 18th October 2016 Captain F.C. Laing of the 12th Bengal Infantry (Kelat-I-Ghilzai Regiment) spent several months of intensive training at the London Bartitsu Club.  He then produced a uniquely useful article, The “Bartitsu” Method … Continue reading

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“Attacked by a man with a stick in his hand”: an Interpretation of Captain Laing’s First Bartitsu Set-Play

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 20th October 2016 Captain F.C. Laing’s 1902 article The ‘Bartitsu’ Method of Self Defence is an often-neglected resource for canonical Bartitsu stick training. As with all choreographed set-plays, Laing’s “examples” are best approached as formalised … Continue reading

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Bartitsu in the Sporting Times (March-April 1899)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 28th October 2016 Note – The March, 1899 antagonistics exhibition at the London Bath Club was widely reported upon in the media.  Most accounts agree that the advertised Bartitsu contest between E.W. … Continue reading

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“How To Meet Hooligans” (London Daily News – Friday 23 August 1901)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 28th October 2016 The Tokio and Osaka professors of the Japanese art of self-protection are in England, ready, under guidance of Mr. Barton-Wright, not only to display their skill, but to meet any … Continue reading

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“Engaging Toughs” – The Bartitsu Sparring Video Competition

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 1st November 2016 … by engaging toughs I trained myself until I was satisfied in practical application. –  E.W. Barton-Wright, 1950 Announcing the first international Bartitsu sparring video competition, for prizes of up … Continue reading

Posted in Antagonistics, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, Editorial, Instruction, Jiujitsu, Savate, Sparring, Video, Vigny stick fighting | Comments Off on “Engaging Toughs” – The Bartitsu Sparring Video Competition

“The cumbersome boxing glove superseded” (Punch Magazine, September 4, 1869)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 6th November 2016 Cartoonist George du Maurier offers a helpful suggestion for boxers.  The caption reads: Sparring without pain or loss of temper – the cumbersome boxing-glove superseded. For more on this topic, see The … Continue reading

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