Category Archives: Edwardiana

“The Umbrella: A Dangerous Weapon” (1900)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 26th November 2017 This article from the Bristol Mercury of May 14, 1900 is typical of many hundreds of newspaper reports illustrating the deadly potential of umbrella thrusts, whether delivered accidentally or deliberately. In days … Continue reading

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“Ju-Jitsu For The Police: Its Possibilities”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 17th December 2017 Cartoonist Ralph Cleaver imagines the ways in which jiujitsu might transform the policeman’s lot, and that of wider Edwardian society, in this series of cartoons for The Sketch.

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“A Sort of Collective Santa Claus”: Sir C. Arthur Pearson and the Poor Children’s Yuletide Association

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 20th December 2017 This holiday-season article offers a departure from our usual focus on Edwardian-era martial arts and combat sports to briefly illuminate a much kinder and, therefore, more important endeavour from … Continue reading

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Sadakazu Uyenishi Saves a Drowning Man (?) in Belfast (1906)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 10th January 2019 After the Bartitsu Club closed in mid-1902, most of the instructors continued independent careers as instructors and combat sport athletes.  Although Sadakazu Uyenishi was better-known as an instructor than as a … Continue reading

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“To Defy the Hooligan: Advice to Ladies” (1905)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 6th January 2018 A satirical self-defence article from the Bristol Magpie of February 2, 1905: NOTWITHSTANDING there are already numberless systems of self defence extensively advertised and practiced, Magpie hopes to be … Continue reading

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“Now Then, Move On There!” (1905)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 9th February 2018 This cartoon from the Penny Illustrated Paper of March 4, 1905 proposes a novel method for police constables to “move on” ne’er-do-wells in the streets of London.  The technique is a … Continue reading

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“A Ju-jitsu Festival in Kyoto, Japan” (1909)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 27th March 2018 Sketch artist Tom Brown recorded his impressions of a “ju-jitsu festival” taking place in Kyoto for the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News of November 13, 1909.  He noted that he admired … Continue reading

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“Wrestlers in Court: Labourer who Wanted to Use his Fists” (1905)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 28th April 2018 This article from the  Leicester Daily Post of October 7, 1905, details a court case involving former Bartitsu Club instructor Yukio Tani.  Partly at issue was the practice of pre-arranging the results … Continue reading

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“Ju-Jitsu to the Rescue” (1913)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 30th November 2018 Here’s a newly-discovered Bioscope playbill for the short silent film Ju-Jitsu to the Rescue, which starred former Bartitsu Club instructor Yukio Tani and which played widely throughout England during late 1912-early 1913. … Continue reading

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“The Art of Self-Defence by Jiu-Jitsu Methods” (1918)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 13th December 2018 A full-page, colour ad for a 1918 film starring the notorious Captain Leopold McLaglen, whose martial arts misadventures are detailed in this article (note that his name was frequently spelled “McLaglan” … Continue reading

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