Category Archives: Jiujitsu

“Jiu-jitsu Against Boxing” (1906)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 2nd October 2018 Victor Breyer’s rather intricate article from La Vie au Grand Air of January 12, 1906 illustrates some of the puzzles faced by European fighters in adapting to Japanese jiujitsu.   … Continue reading

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Yukio Tani vs. the Cornish Wrestlers (Western Morning News, 12/11/1926)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 7th August 2018 There follows a detailed account of three encounters between former Bartitsu Club instructor Yukio Tani and a trio of Cornish wrestling champions. Although the rules aren’t entirely clear, they … 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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The Bartitsu School of Arms: Beamish Museum, 2013

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 12th February 2013 Announcing the third international Bartitsu symposium, to take place at Beamish Museum near Newcastle, UK, between September 14th and 15th, 2013. Update: the Google Groups email list for the … Continue reading

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“Mongrel Sports” (1906)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 3rd July 2018 The following article was originally published in the December 2nd, 1906 edition of The Referee, a then-popular sports newspaper.  The journalist remarks upon a proposed upcoming contest arranged by … Continue reading

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“Sports de Defense” Postcards on Video

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 31st January 2018 Thanks to Rodney Bennett for sourcing and compiling this video, which consists of a series of self-defence postcards featuring French jiujitsu pioneer Ernest Regnier (a.k.a. “Re-Nie”). The caption of postcard … Continue reading

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“Police Jiujitsu at the Crystal Palace” (1905)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 31st January 2018 In this cartoon from the Penny Illustrated Paper of March 4, 1905, the illustrator imagines a jiujitsu contest between two constables at a police fete held at the famed Crystal Palace … Continue reading

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“Fiendish Science”: a Pearson’s Magazine Editor Recalls His First Encounter with E.W. Barton-Wright

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 31st January 2018 When E.W. Barton-Wright returned to England in 1898, after a three-year sojourn in Japan, he lost little time in starting to promote the then-almost totally unknown martial art of … Continue reading

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“The Eight Olympians”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 15th January 2018 By 1907 the art of jiujitsu was becoming thoroughly integrated into English popular culture. It had been written into plays and novels and was the subject of greeting cards, … Continue reading

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“Women and Self-Protection” (1922)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 6th December 2017 This article from the Pall Mall Gazette of March 17, 1922 offers self-defence advice according to the system of Professor Padian, who is described as “the Master at Arms … Continue reading

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