Category Archives: Biography

The Martial Athletics of Diana Watts

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 1st May 2010 Even before Edith Garrud began teaching jiujitsu classes for the women and children of London, Emily Diana Watts was pioneering the way for female martial arts instructors in the Western world. … Continue reading

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In Memoriam: Master-at-Arms John Waller

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 22nd April 2018 The international historical European martial arts and stage combat communities mourn the recent passing of John Waller, who was a modern pioneer in both fields. Possessed of a life-long … Continue reading

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The Martial Shenanigans of Leopold McLaglen

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 13th May 2018 Captain Sydney Temple Leopold McLaglen (1884-1951) was one of the most colourful “characters” of the early 20th century jiujitsu scene.  Charismatic, moustachioed, broad-shouldered and towering at 6’7″ in height,  McLaglen … Continue reading

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“The Repair Shop” Restores a Portrait of Yukio Tani

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 18th August 2018 A unique oil painting of former Bartitsu Club instructor Yukio Tani has been restored in commemoration of the London Budokwai’s centenary anniversary. Tani was among the original group of … Continue reading

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Bartitsu Club Fencing Master – Captain Alfred Hutton (1903)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 28th February 2019 A newly-discovered photograph of Captain Alfred Hutton, who is now famed as a pioneer of historical European martial arts reconstruction and of the establishment of competitive fencing as an English … Continue reading

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Who Was the Bartitsu Club’s Mysterious “Instructor Hubert”?

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 1st September 2017 The roster of instructors at E.W. Barton-Wright’s Bartitsu School of Arms included Pierre Vigny (savate and walking stick defence), Yukio Tani and Sadakazu Uyenishi (jiujitsu), Armand Cherpillod (wrestling and … Continue reading

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Mary Russell, the “Flying Duchess”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 7th October 2018 Emily (Diana) Watts‘ 1905 book The Fine Art of Jujutsu is historically significant as the first Japanese unarmed combat manual to have been written by a woman, and also the first … Continue reading

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“The Man They Cannot Hang” vs. Sadakazu Uyenishi

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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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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In Memoriam: Robert W. Smith (1926-2011)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 7th July 2011 By Tony Wolf The evening of July 1st, 2011 saw the passing of pioneering American martial artist, scholar and writer Robert William Smith. A short biography recording his many … Continue reading

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