Category Archives: Edwardiana

Johannes Josefsson: Iceland’s Colourful “King of Wrestling”

Posted on December 22, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 7th August 2017 Due in no small part to the publicity surrounding Bartitsu circa 1899-1902, the first decade of the 20th century saw some substantial popular interest in “exotic” fighting styles.  Japanese … Continue reading →

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“Baritsu (sic) and Bluff” – a Critical Article on Bartitsu from 1901

Posted on December 22, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 19th August 2017 The anonymous author of this article from the Pall Mall Gazette of 27 August, 1901 turns a sharply critical eye to E.W. Barton-Wright’s promotion of Bartitsu.   Noting for the sake … Continue reading →

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The Christmas Truce of 1914

Posted on December 22, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 20th December 2018 In this holiday season marking one century since the end of the First World War, we depart from our usual coverage of Edwardian-era antagonistics to highlight the events of … Continue reading →

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“Ju-Jitsu Corps”: A Novel Venture Which Has The Official Sanction (1914)

Posted on December 22, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 19th November 2017 This little-known initiative was widely publicised during December of 1914 and January of 1915: A new corps has just been formed with the unusual title of the “Ju-Jitsu Corps.” … Continue reading →

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“The Umbrella: A Dangerous Weapon” (1900)

Posted on December 22, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

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”

Posted on December 22, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

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

Posted on December 22, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

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)

Posted on December 22, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

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)

Posted on December 21, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

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)

Posted on December 20, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

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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