Category Archives: Video

“Bartitsu – Self Defence with the Hooked Walking Stick”

German HEMA instructor Oliver Janseps demonstrates three canonical Vigny/Bartitsu hooking techniques. Crooked canes are rarely seen in action in sparring, but here’s an experimental bout from back in 2013:

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“Match de boxe: professeurs de l’École de Joinville (Leon Beaulieu’s flipbook)” – G. Méliès (c.1897 )

Recently reanimated for the first time in over 120 years, this 10-second clip of a boxe Francaise sparring exhibition between two instructors at the Joinville military school is believed to be all that remains of a lost documentary film by … Continue reading

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“The Brutal World Of Bare-Knuckle Boxing In Victorian Britain”

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Bartitsu and early British jujitsu with Tony Wolf

Martial arts podcasters Gavin Davies and David Brough interview Tony Wolf on the past and future of Bartitsu, with a bonus pro-wrestling anecdote.

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“What is the mysterious Western martial art Bartitsu, used by Sherlock Holmes?”

Martial artist Niimi Satoshi offers some creative interpretations of neo-Bartitsu techniques.

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Light Unarmed Sparring

Some more light, speculative Bartitsu-style unarmed sparring from the Highland Broadsword Society. Note the savate inflections and the moment of standing grappling. Milling the fists and destructive elbow blocks are characteristic of the “secret style of boxing” believed to have … Continue reading

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“Bartitsu” in Street Fighter 6

The incursion of Edward Barton-Wright’s New Art of Self Defence into modern pop-culture continues via the new Street Fighter 6 fighting game, in which the main villain, known as “JP”, is portrayed as a Bartitsu expert. This isn’t the first … Continue reading

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Historical Pugilism

These bouts of light, technical pugilism sparring are also a good approximation of Bartitsu boxing as alluded to and partially described, but unfortunately never detailed, by E.W. Barton-Wright. Note especially the use of “chopper” (hammerfist) punches and destructive elbow guards. … Continue reading

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Antagonistic Action in “Enola Holmes 2”

During the climactic scenes of Enola Holmes 2, Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) and the Viscount Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) exert their antagonistic prowess against a cadre of crooked coppers in a music hall, while the titular heroine (Millie Bobby Brown) does … Continue reading

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“The League” Doffs its Bowler to Bartitsu

Back in 2015, the popular comedy series The League skewered/paid tribute to Bartitsu in its episode titled “Draft of Innocence”. Better seven years late than never, here are the two short Bartitsu scenes featured in the show. For context, the … Continue reading

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