Category Archives: Edwardiana

Staging the Streets: The Theatricality of Science in Fin-de-Siecle Martial Arts

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 27th May 2016 By Peter Katz, Pacific Union College “A Fight Which Was None of Your Own Making”: Martial Arts and the Theater of ScienceAs they near the conclusion of their 1890 … Continue reading

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Inside the Bartitsu Institute (1914)

Though E.W. Barton-Wright appears to have largely abandoned the self-defence field when his original Bartitsu Academy of Arms and Physical Culture closed during 1902, he retained the name “Bartitsu” with reference to his new endeavour. The Bartitsu Academy had featured, … Continue reading

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“Making the ‘Knock-Out’ Safe” (The Sketch, September 18, 1907)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 20th December 2016 In 1907 this unusual ring design – equipped with nets reminiscent of the safety equipment used in circus acts – was tested as a way to reduce the danger … Continue reading

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Happy Holidays

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 25th December 2016

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“The Bold Suffragette” (1910)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 18th January 2017 This caricature of suffragette jujitsu trainer Edith Garrud, and accompanying poem titled “The Bold Suffragette”, first appeared in the Wednesday, 13 July 1910 edition of The Sketch.

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“’Engagement’” Rings: Knuckle-Duster Jewellery” (1911)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 18th January 2017 Subtitled “Ingenious Weapons Favoured by Apaches – for ‘Engagements’ with Law-Abiding Citizens”, these pictures were originally published as a photo-feature in The Sketch of Wednesday, 1st March 1911. Nick-named in honour … Continue reading

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“Injudicious Ju-Jitsu” (circa 1910)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 25th January 2017

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Martial Arts Displays at the Japan-British Exhibition of 1910

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 28th January 2017 Although jiujitsu had been introduced to England circa 1900 via the efforts of E.W. Barton-Wright, Yukio Tani and Sadakazu Uyenishi, the Japan-British Exhibition was the first opportunity for many British citizens … Continue reading

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“Fearsome Armour of the ‘Human Porcupine’” (1910)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 20th February 2017 From the Dundee Evening Telegraph of 10 January, 1910: ARMOURED RUFFIAN HAS DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH POLICE. One Killed and Three Wounded. Paris is no stranger scenes of violence in the streets, … Continue reading

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“Why Not Invent an English Art of Ju-jitsu?” (1905)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 2nd March 2017 The following anonymous letter to the editor was originally published in the St. James’s Gazette of March 9th, 1905. Sir, —Jujitsu seems to be the fashionable graven image of … Continue reading

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