Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

“’Engagement’” Rings: Knuckle-Duster Jewellery” (1911)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 18th January 2017 Subtitled “Ingenious Weapons Favoured by Apaches – for ‘Engagements’ with Law-Abiding Citizens”, these pictures were originally published as a photo-feature in The Sketch of Wednesday, 1st March 1911. Nick-named in honour … Continue reading

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“Injudicious Ju-Jitsu” (circa 1910)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 25th January 2017

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Martial Arts Displays at the Japan-British Exhibition of 1910

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 28th January 2017 Although jiujitsu had been introduced to England circa 1900 via the efforts of E.W. Barton-Wright, Yukio Tani and Sadakazu Uyenishi, the Japan-British Exhibition was the first opportunity for many British citizens … Continue reading

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Bartitsu Workshop at Sherlocon 2017 (Rome, Italy)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 31st January 2017 Moments from the Bartitsu seminar at the recent Sherlocon 2017 Sherlock Holmes fandom event, which took place at the Nuovo Teatro Orione in Rome, Italy.  Aimed at interested novices, the workshop … Continue reading

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Pierre Vigny’s London Self-Defence Exhibitions (June-July 1899)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 31st January 2017 Here follow two further reviews of the series of self-defence exhibitions organised by Bartitsu founder E.W. Barton-Wright during mid-1899, to benefit Pierre Vigny, who had then recently arrived in London. Vigny … Continue reading

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The Belt as a Weapon (1890)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 17th February 2017 Bartitsu founder E.W. Barton-Wright frequently referred to the utility of Pierre Vigny’s stick fighting art against common street weapons, including the fearsome, heavy-buckled belt favoured by gangsters in large … Continue reading

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“The New Art of Self Defence for Women” (Yorke’s Peninsula Advertiser, 28 May, 1909)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 17th February 2017 There is no chivalry among footpads. It not infrequently happens that a woman finds herself suddenly in a position where she must fight or surrender. The woman who knows … Continue reading

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“Self-Defence with a Bicycle” Video from the 2017 Dreynevent

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 19th February 2017 A humourous and enlightening demonstration of Self-Defence with a Bicycle, animating the lessons of Marcus Tindal’s eccentric 1901 Pearson’s Magazine article. The demo took place at the recent Dreynevent historical European … Continue reading

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“Fearsome Armour of the ‘Human Porcupine’” (1910)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 20th February 2017 From the Dundee Evening Telegraph of 10 January, 1910: ARMOURED RUFFIAN HAS DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH POLICE. One Killed and Three Wounded. Paris is no stranger scenes of violence in the streets, … Continue reading

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“The New Art of Self Defence: A Clever Display” (1898)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 20th February 2017 From The Sporting Life – 29 October, 1898 Anything absolutely new with regard what no one will deny is an ancient and honourable pastime (we refer to the noble art) must … Continue reading

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