Category Archives: Edwardiana

“Charley Smiler Takes Up Ju-Jitsu” (1911): a Unique Filmic Glimpse Back Into British Jujitsu and Suffrajitsu History!

A number of short silent films featuring jujutsu were produced and/or screened in London during the very early 20th century. The intriguing list of titles includes: HE LEARNED JU-JITSU – SO DID THE MISSUS (1905) JIU JITSU DOWNS THE FOOTPADS, … Continue reading

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Tomoenage at the Bath Club (1899)

E.W. Barton-Wright demonstrates the tomoenage (stomach throw) during one of his first major Bartitsu exhibitions, held at the famous Bath Club in London. This illustration has been adapted from the original, which appeared in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News … Continue reading

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Bartitsu Newspaper Archive

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 4th October 2009 The new Bartitsu Newspaper Archive includes over two hundred pages from the Daily Mirror and Daily Express newspapers, mostly dating from the first years of the 20th century. Many of … Continue reading

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The Mysteries of the Embok Kwai (1900-1902)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 4th March 2017 “… he was initiated into the Order of the Embok Kwai, the sole purpose of which is to teach, perpetuate and protect the secrets of jiu-jitsu.” – The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1st … Continue reading

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The Eccentric Evolution of Boxing Armour

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 14th June 2010 The first patented suit of boxing armour was registered with the US Patent Office in 1895. Joseph Donovan’s invention offered protection to the most vulnerable parts of the boxer’s … Continue reading

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“Baritzu” in Australia (1906)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 10th September 2011 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous rendering of Bartitsu as “baritsu” is now understood to have been due to a simple mistake. It’s most likely that Doyle, searching for an … Continue reading

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“A Fight in the Gymnasium”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 29th September 2011 A curious illustration of unknown provenance, presumably from a circa 1900 book or “Boy’s Own” magazine story. Either the fellow in the red shirt is far stronger than he … Continue reading

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“I am a Woman, but no Weakling” – Judith Lee, Lady Detective

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 29th November 2011 He stopped – there was silence. The bell rang again. I was just about to suggest again that he should go and see who was at the outer door … Continue reading

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Paintball, Edwardian-Style – “Bloodless Duelling” with Wax Bullets, Circa 1908

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 6th December 2011 The origins of the combat-simulation game of paintball are usually traced back to the early 1980s, when air-powered paint pistols used by foresters to mark difficult-to-reach trees were adapted for sporting … Continue reading

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A Happy Holiday Season

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 24th December 2011 In the same spirit, we offer what is possibly the only historical example of Bartitsu poetry – from the Western Times newspaper, Thursday 22nd of August, 1901:

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