Author Archives: BartitsuSociety

“Bartitsu – Self Defence with the Hooked Walking Stick”

Posted on March 9, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

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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Jean Lafond, the Magician of Boxe Française

Posted on March 5, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Thanks to Jean-Pierre LeLoup for this guest-post as a tribute to his late teacher, which has been lightly edited – with the author’s permission – for clarity. At 26, Rue d’Enghien, in Paris, a plaque indicates that here is practiced: … Continue reading →

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

Posted on March 1, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

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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“Titan of the Thames: The Life of Lord Desborough”

Posted on February 12, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Recommended reading is this brand-new biography of William Grenfell, Lord Desborough, whose many athletic and public service accomplishments included some intriguing associations with Bartitsu. Grenfell was the Master of Ceremonies at Edward Barton-Wright’s famous Bartitsu exhibition at the London Bath … Continue reading →

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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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“The British Jujitsu Society and the influence of Kodokan Judo on early jujutsu in the UK”

Posted on January 9, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Volume 13 of the Martial Arts Studies journal offers this well-researched piece on the history of the still little-known British Ju-jitsu Society. Along with the London Budokwai, the BJJS fostered the continued study of Japanese martial arts in England during … Continue reading →

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Some “new” and unusual snippets of Bartitsu history

Posted on November 25, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

According to an item in the Morning Leader of Tuesday, 29 November 1898, the entertainments for an upcoming charity bazaar were scheduled to include: Mr. E. W. Barton- Wright (who) will on Friday and Saturday give a demonstration of Bartitsu, … Continue reading →

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

Posted on November 25, 2023 by BartitsuSociety
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Bartitsu and early British jujitsu with Tony Wolf

Posted on October 15, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

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

Posted in Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Editorial, Interviews, Pop-culture, Video | Comments Off on Bartitsu and early British jujitsu with Tony Wolf

The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III reviewed by the Martial History Team

Posted on October 12, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

After buying and surveying the first two volumes in this series, I had to buy volume III when it arrived in 2022. My copy of The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume 3: What Bartitsu Was and What it Can Be is a massive paperback measuring 8 … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Antagonistics, Bartitsu School of Arms, Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Reviews | Comments Off on The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III reviewed by the Martial History Team