Category Archives: Antagonistics

“Mrs. Pankhurst’s Bodyguard: On the Trail of ‘Kitty’ Marshall and the Met Police ‘Cats'”

Posted on April 25, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

Self-defence historian Emelyne Godfrey’s long-awaited new book is now available from Barnes and Noble and other booksellers. Some of the most extraordinary narratives of the radical women’s suffrage movement are those of the Bodyguard – a secret society of martial … Continue reading →

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Dr. Emelyne Godfrey Reviews The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

Posted on December 31, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

Boasting over 600 pages, the long-awaited third edition of the Bartitsu Compendium is a real treat, being an exploration of Bartitsu yesterday and today, ideal for both new students of martial arts as well as the general reader. This anthology … Continue reading →

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Announcing The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

Posted on December 7, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

Published 120 years after the Bartitsu School of Arms in London closed its doors for the last time and marking the 20th anniversary of the modern Bartitsu revival movement, the Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III is now available from Amazon. Over … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Baritsu, Bartitsu School of Arms, Biography, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Editorial, Edwardiana, Fencing, Fiction, Hooliganism, Humour, In Memoriam, Instruction, Interviews, Jiujitsu, Mysteries, Physical Culture, Pop-culture, Reviews, Savate, Seminars, Sherlock Holmes, Sparring, Suffrajitsu, Vigny stick fighting, Wrestling | Comments Off on Announcing The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

“Speculations on the Slungshot”

Posted on August 31, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

A recent search through the archives revealed this long-forgotten, 2007-vintage article speculating on the martial use of the Monkey’s Fist or slungshot, a weapon associated with ruffians (especially sailors on shore-leave) rather than with ladies and gentlemen. The article was … Continue reading →

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Self-Defence Shoes (1955)

Posted on August 7, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

As reported in some American newspapers during September of 1955, an Italian shoemaker was producing “self-defence shoes” for women tired of being harrassed in the streets of Rome. Although probably created more as a promotional stunt than as a serious … Continue reading →

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Pierre Vigny Strikes a Pugilistic Pose (June 7th, 1899)

Posted on September 17, 2021 by BartitsuSociety

Bartitsu Club savate and stick fighting instructor Pierre Vigny is pictured striking a classic boxing stance in this promotional photo, which was originally published in the Boxing World and Mirror of Life, a popular London sporting journal at the very … Continue reading →

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An Update on the Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

Posted on September 17, 2021 by BartitsuSociety

As announced in January, work has begun on the production of the third volume of the Bartitsu Compendium, a series that began with the publication of Volume 1 in 2005 and continued with Volume II in 2008. After that the … Continue reading →

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Early 20th Century French Self Defence Manuals Translated by M.P. Lynch

Posted on July 30, 2021 by BartitsuSociety

A heads-up that a number of rare French antagonistics manuals, most dating from the period immediately following the brief Bartitsu Club era, are now available in English translation via Amazon, courtesy of M.P. Lynch. All the translations are available for … Continue reading →

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“The King’s Man” Trailer Promises a Melange of Gentlemanly Mayhem

Posted on June 5, 2021 by BartitsuSociety

Delayed several times due to the pandemic, The King’s Man – a prequel to the popular Kingsman series – is currently set for release in December of 2021. As this trailer demonstrates, alongside copious sword, knife and gun-play, the suave … Continue reading →

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American Jiu-Jitsu in the “Walled City”

Posted on May 27, 2021 by BartitsuSociety

The following passage is excerpted from “The Walled City: a Story of the Criminal Insane”, written by Edward Huntington Williams and originally published in 1913. It describes an apparently un-named, but at least partially codified system of self defence and … Continue reading →

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