Category Archives: Physical Culture

“The New Art of Self Defence: How Bartitsu Reimagined ‘Antagonistics’ in Edwardian England”

Posted on February 16, 2026 by BartitsuSociety

Now available from Amazon, this new book is a revised, updated and significantly expanded version of the “Bartitsu Story” section of The Bartitsu Compendium, Vol. III (2022). As the third volume of the Compendium was a bookshelf-busting 629 large-format pages, … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Antagonistics, Biography, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Edwardiana, Exhibitions, Fencing, Hooliganism, Jiujitsu, Physical Culture, Pop-culture, Savate, Vigny stick fighting, Wrestling | Comments Off on “The New Art of Self Defence: How Bartitsu Reimagined ‘Antagonistics’ in Edwardian England”

Pugilism with Sensei Seth and Tom Billinge

Posted on December 13, 2025 by BartitsuSociety

An entertaining and informative intro. to bare-knuckle fisticuffs courtesy of popular martial arts YouTuber Sensei Seth and pugilism expert Tom Billinge.

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“The Attila Gym, Volume One”

Posted on February 1, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Author David Naimowicz’s book The Attila Gym Volume 1: Reconstructing the Original Method of Professor Louis Attila is currently available via Amazon: This volume is the author’s best attempt to assemble the light and heavy system, its principles, mechanics, repetitions … Continue reading →

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Antique English jujutsu gi discovered

Posted on March 21, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

Thanks to David Brough for passing along these images of an extremely rare antique English jujutsu gi, which was discovered inside a suitcase in an English antiques shop. The suitcase also contained a 4th-edition copy of the Text-Book of Ju-Jitsu, … Continue reading →

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Announcing The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

Posted on December 7, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

Published 120 years after the Bartitsu School of Arms in London closed its doors for the last time and marking the 20th anniversary of the modern Bartitsu revival movement, the Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III is now available from Amazon. Over … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Baritsu, Bartitsu School of Arms, Biography, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Editorial, Edwardiana, Fencing, Fiction, Hooliganism, Humour, In Memoriam, Instruction, Interviews, Jiujitsu, Mysteries, Physical Culture, Pop-culture, Reviews, Savate, Seminars, Sherlock Holmes, Sparring, Suffrajitsu, Vigny stick fighting, Wrestling | Comments Off on Announcing The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

The Oldest Gym in America?

Posted on October 17, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

This gymnasium was part of architect W.W. Boyington’s original design for the Hegeler Carus Mansion, which is located at 1307 7th St, La Salle, Illinois.  Spanning the basement and ground levels and dating to the year 1876, the unique design … Continue reading →

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Physical Culture Historians

Posted on March 22, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

This YouTube channel offers a wide range of well-produced short documentaries, lectures, instructional videos and equipment demonstrations in connection with the grand tradition of 19th and early 20th century physical culture.

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“A Hove Gymnasium: Mr. Percy S. Rolt’s Successful System” (Brighton Gazette, September 21, 1912)

Posted on February 8, 2021 by BartitsuSociety

In December of 2017 we were pleased to publish an article confirming former Bartitsu Club member Percy Rolt as the “missing link” between the Bartitsu Club and Indian Police Superintendant Herbert Gordon Lang’s 1923 book “The ‘Walking Stick’ Method of … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Bartitsu School of Arms, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, Editorial, Fencing, Jiujitsu, Mysteries, Physical Culture, Savate, Vigny stick fighting | Comments Off on “A Hove Gymnasium: Mr. Percy S. Rolt’s Successful System” (Brighton Gazette, September 21, 1912)

The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame in Belfast, NY

Posted on January 1, 2021 by BartitsuSociety
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The Oldest Gym in America?

Posted on December 29, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 21st April 2009  Among the interests of the Bartitsu Society is the study of 19th century physical culture; the panoply of diverse exercise systems that were practiced in public and private gymnasia throughout … Continue reading →

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