Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

How To Make A Kingsman-Style Gunbrella (Sort Of)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 13th September 2017 In honour of (and to help promote) the upcoming release of Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The Hacksmith YouTube channel has been challenged to create a Kingsman-style weaponised umbrella: In the pedantic interests … Continue reading

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The Christmas Truce of 1914

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 20th December 2018 In this holiday season marking one century since the end of the First World War, we depart from our usual coverage of Edwardian-era antagonistics to highlight the events of … Continue reading

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Alex Kiermayer Seminar in Nürnberg

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 23rd October 2017 A photo from instructor Alex Kiermayer’s recent Bartitsu seminar for the Zanchin Kampfkunst martial arts club in Nürnberg, Germany.

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“The Fall Guy”: S.K. Eida

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 29th October 2017 The first generation of Japanese jiujitsuka to arrive in London included Kaneo Tani, Seizo Yamamoto and Yukio Tani, all of whom had been invited to the England by Bartitsu … Continue reading

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“The Champion Lady Fencer”: Marguerite and Pierre Vigny Demonstrate Walking Stick Defence (1908)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 12th November 2017 This newly-discovered image of Marguerite and Pierre Vigny shows the former demonstrating a double-handed thrust to the throat. Note that Pierre Vigny, left, is holding what appears to be … Continue reading

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The Redoubtable Toupie Lowther

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 19th November 2017 Bartitsu has received an unusual shout-out in the new biography Toupie Lowther: Her Life, by English author Val Brown. Born to a wealthy, aristocratic family in 1874, May Lowther – … Continue reading

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“Ju-Jitsu Corps”: A Novel Venture Which Has The Official Sanction (1914)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 19th November 2017 This little-known initiative was widely publicised during December of 1914 and January of 1915: A new corps has just been formed with the unusual title of the “Ju-Jitsu Corps.” … Continue reading

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Vigny Cane Vs. Doble Bastón

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 25th November 2017 In this experimental sparring match, Chilean Andres Morales (in the fencing mask with the white trim) employs the Vigny cane style opposed to the doble bastón (double stick) sub-system … Continue reading

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“The Umbrella: A Dangerous Weapon” (1900)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 26th November 2017 This article from the Bristol Mercury of May 14, 1900 is typical of many hundreds of newspaper reports illustrating the deadly potential of umbrella thrusts, whether delivered accidentally or deliberately. In days … Continue reading

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“Ju-Jitsu For The Police: Its Possibilities”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 17th December 2017 Cartoonist Ralph Cleaver imagines the ways in which jiujitsu might transform the policeman’s lot, and that of wider Edwardian society, in this series of cartoons for The Sketch.

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