Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

“The Bartitsu School of Arms and Physical Culture” (Monday, 25 November 1901)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 3rd February 2017 The following article, originally published in The Sporting Life, offers fresh details on the multi-style assault-at-arms staged at the London Bartitsu Club during late November of 1901. Several references may … Continue reading

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“… a performer of rare merit”: Pierre Vigny’s Demonstration at the Salle Bertrand

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 1st February 2017 From the Pall Mall Gazette of Thursday, 04 May 1899: It is not often that the London people have such an exhibition of fencing and kindred feats of arms … 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

Posted in Antagonistics, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Savate, Vigny stick fighting | Comments Off on Pierre Vigny’s London Self-Defence Exhibitions (June-July 1899)

Bartitsu Stick Sparring from Chile, Mexico, Germany and the USA

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 14th December 2016

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“Have at you, Sir!”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 13th December 2016 Instructor Jesse Barnick (right) of the Bartitsu Club of New York City demonstrates a Vigny canne attack.

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Understanding Victorian Cultures of Violence: The Utility of Experimental Archaeology and Practical Hermeneutics

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 28th November 2016 Click the link below to read Liam Hannan’s thesis on Victorian “cultures of violence”, including an analysis of six canonical Bartitsu jiujitsu kata and stick-fighting set-plays: UNDERSTANDING VICTORIAN CULTURES OF … Continue reading

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“Gaby Deslys as a Jiu-jitsu Artist” (1907)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 21st November 2016 French music hall star Gaby Deslys – famous for her “Jiujitsu Waltz” – is shown throwing Sorekichi Eida in this 1907 publicity photo. Note that the term “Jap” held no pejorative meaning … Continue reading

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Bartitsu Announced as “Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate” Achievement

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 19th September 2015 Fans of Victorian-era action/adventure are looking forward to the October 23 release of Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, which will feature “Bartitsu” as a special achievement. The achievement award will be unlocked if players master … Continue reading

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Bartitsu Kicks Posterior in FX’s “The League”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 19th September 2015 Bartitsu has been both parodied and showcased on the FX Network’s popular comedy series, The League, which concerns the misadventures of a group of fantasy football league players. In the recent episode … Continue reading

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Miss Phoebe Roberts, “Champion Lady Ju-Jitsu Wrestler of the World”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 15th April 2017 Alongside Edith Garrud and Emily Diana Watts, Phoebe Roberts (1887-1955) must be accounted as one of the first female jiujitsu instructors in the Western world.  She was certainly the youngest; Miss Roberts … Continue reading

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