Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

An Exhibition of Old-School Fisticuffs

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 7th August 2018 Bartitsu instructor Alex Kiermayer (in black pants) and his colleague Christoph Reinberger perform an exhibition of bare-knuckle pugilism at the Coburg Zeitreise 2018. Although this is clearly a friendly demonstration rather … Continue reading →

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Yukio Tani vs. the Cornish Wrestlers (Western Morning News, 12/11/1926)

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 7th August 2018 There follows a detailed account of three encounters between former Bartitsu Club instructor Yukio Tani and a trio of Cornish wrestling champions. Although the rules aren’t entirely clear, they … Continue reading →

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“The Perfect Lady’s Weapon”

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 6th August 2018 Writing in The Sketch of December 1st, 1958, journalist Marjory Whitelaw looks back to the Edwardian era, when “perfect ladies” carried concealed pistols and knew just where to point them. THE first … Continue reading →

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Brutal Cane Fighting in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on July 10th, 2018

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Boxe Française Historique: a Reconstruction of Classical Savate Sparring

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 24th May 2018 The recent HEMAC historical martial arts conference in Dijon, France included this fascinating reconstruction of 19th century Boxe Française – Savate sparring by members of the Fédération Française des Arts Martiaux Historiques Européens. … Continue reading →

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“The Man They Cannot Hang” vs. Sadakazu Uyenishi

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 19th May 2018 In common with most athlete/showmen of his time and place, John Clempert (1878-1940) was not averse to spinning some tall tales about his past exploits. He claimed, among other … Continue reading →

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The Bartitsu School of Arms: Beamish Museum, 2013

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 12th February 2013 Announcing the third international Bartitsu symposium, to take place at Beamish Museum near Newcastle, UK, between September 14th and 15th, 2013. Update: the Google Groups email list for the … Continue reading →

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“Mongrel Sports” (1906)

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 3rd July 2018 The following article was originally published in the December 2nd, 1906 edition of The Referee, a then-popular sports newspaper.  The journalist remarks upon a proposed upcoming contest arranged by … Continue reading →

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“Sports de Defense” Postcards on Video

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 31st January 2018 Thanks to Rodney Bennett for sourcing and compiling this video, which consists of a series of self-defence postcards featuring French jiujitsu pioneer Ernest Regnier (a.k.a. “Re-Nie”). The caption of postcard … Continue reading →

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“Police Jiujitsu at the Crystal Palace” (1905)

Posted on December 16, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 31st January 2018 In this cartoon from the Penny Illustrated Paper of March 4, 1905, the illustrator imagines a jiujitsu contest between two constables at a police fete held at the famed Crystal Palace … Continue reading →

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