Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

“Hot, Towzled, and Flabbergasted” (1901)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 22nd April 2017 An amusing account of a Bartitsu challenge contest from the Sporting Times of 7 September, 1901. Noting as usual that the term “Jap” was used as a non-pejorative abbreviation in Edwardian English. … Continue reading

Posted in Canonical Bartitsu, Humour, Jiujitsu | Comments Off on “Hot, Towzled, and Flabbergasted” (1901)

“How to Carry a Walking-Stick” (1889)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 22nd April 2017 Words of warning from the Pall Mall Gazette of 2 September, 1889: THE art of carrying a walking-stick, or even an umbrella, properly, is one that has to be acquired, and does … Continue reading

Posted in Edwardiana | Comments Off on “How to Carry a Walking-Stick” (1889)

The Circa 1970 Revival of Umbrella and Walking Stick Self-Defence

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 23rd April 2017 Much like the first decade of the 20th century, the late 1960s and early ’70s saw an increased general interest in self-defence due to a perceived rise in street … Continue reading

Posted in Antagonistics | Comments Off on The Circa 1970 Revival of Umbrella and Walking Stick Self-Defence

“What Every Woman Ought to Know” Reviewed (Daily Mirror, March 29, 1911)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 24th April 2017

Posted in Edwardiana, Fiction, Humour, Jiujitsu, Reviews, Suffrajitsu | Comments Off on “What Every Woman Ought to Know” Reviewed (Daily Mirror, March 29, 1911)

Bartitsu Stick Sparring with Experimental “Gentlemen’s Canes”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 24th April 2017 Some dynamic Bartitsu-style sparring from the Szkola Fechtunku Aramis classical fencing school in Poland. The sparring canes are made according to the school’s own design, shown in more detail below:

Posted in Sparring, Video, Vigny stick fighting | Comments Off on Bartitsu Stick Sparring with Experimental “Gentlemen’s Canes”

Bartitsu Returns to the Royal Armouries (Leeds)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 26th April 2017 Sherlock, Stock and Barrel is a Sherlock Holmes-themed event taking place at the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds, England between April 29-May 1. Notably, the event marks the return of Bartitsu … Continue reading

Posted in Canonical Bartitsu, Exhibitions, Sherlock Holmes | Comments Off on Bartitsu Returns to the Royal Armouries (Leeds)

George Dinnie vs. Yukio Tani (1908)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 27th April 2017 The following dramatic and highly detailed account is taken from the Sheffield Independent of Monday 3rd February, 1908.  It’s particularly interesting as it represents a hard-fought jujitsu-style contest taking place … Continue reading

Posted in Jiujitsu, Wrestling | Comments Off on George Dinnie vs. Yukio Tani (1908)

A 1915 Sketch of E.W. Barton-Wright

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 29th April 2017 A rare portrait sketch of Bartitsu founder E.W. Barton-Wright from The People newspaper of 24 October, 1915. At this time, Barton-Wright would have been aged about 55 and was managing his … Continue reading

Posted in E. W. Barton-Wright | Comments Off on A 1915 Sketch of E.W. Barton-Wright

Sherlock Holmes’ Bartitsu at the Royal Armouries Museum

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 1st May 2017 Scenes from the Sherlock, Stock and Barrel festival taking place at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, UK. This event marks the return of Bartitsu demonstrations to the Museum, which was … Continue reading

Posted in Canonical Bartitsu, Exhibitions | Comments Off on Sherlock Holmes’ Bartitsu at the Royal Armouries Museum

Marguerite Vigny (a.k.a. “Miss Sanderson”) Competes at the Cercle Hoche (1908)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 2nd May 2017 Founded in Paris in 1900, the Cercle Hoche was an exclusive fencing and athletic club whose amenities included a luxurious bathroom, a billiard room, a courtyard garden and a restaurant. … Continue reading

Posted in Fencing | Comments Off on Marguerite Vigny (a.k.a. “Miss Sanderson”) Competes at the Cercle Hoche (1908)