Category Archives: Jiujitsu

“Apollo defeated with armlock”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 13th February 2011 This rare colour promotional postcard, circa 1906, shows former Bartitsu Club instructor Yukio Tani demonstrating a flying armbar on his new manager, William “Apollo the Scottish Hercules” Bankier.

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“The Hooligan and the Lady”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 26th January 2011 A fight scene/Edwardian-era self defence demonstration from the upcoming play The Hooligan and the Lady by Pauleen Hayes, premiering on February 24th at BATS Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand. The play is based … Continue reading

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“Society Women Wrestlers: Ladies’ Craze for Japanese Ju-jitsu” (Daily Mirror, April 4, 1904)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 13th December 2010 Impressed by the success of the Japanese system of wrestling – the Ju-jitsu — President Roosevelt has ordered it to be adapted in the. Naval Academy, where it is … Continue reading

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“Defence Against ‘Hooligans’: Bartitsu Methods in London” (1901)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 25th November 2010 An article by “S.L.B.” from “The Sketch”, April 10, 1901: Last year, a very interesting exhibition of self defence was given at St. James’s Hall, and was the subject … Continue reading

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“An Englishman’s discretion …”

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 23rd November 2010 Jujutsu can not escape the mania of would-be inventions and discoveries. In the formation of the various schools of defence, undoubtedly there has been much eclectic work done. Several … Continue reading

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Edwardian Jiujitsu Ephemera

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 21st November 2010 Thanks to Steve Childs for these early 20th century illustrations. It’s hard to tell who is the aggressor in this card by Will Adams: A rare colourised photograph of … Continue reading

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“To Conquer by Yielding”; Lafcadio Hearn on Jiujitsu

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 18th October 2010 An excerpt from Lafcadio Hearn’s “Out of the East: Reveries and Studies in New Japan”, 1895. Man at his birth is supple and weak; at his death, firm and strong. So … Continue reading

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An Edwardian Jiujitsu Exposition

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 15th October 2010 (From Womanhood Magazine, 1904) A VERY INTERESTED GATHERING assembled at Caxton Hall, Westminster, on December 20, at the invitation of Mr. Granger, Agent General for Australia, to witness a demonstration … Continue reading

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“Jiu Jitsu Lessons For Youths” (1906)

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 30th August 2010 From “The Foolish Almanack for the Year 1906 A.D.” By observing the following six rules any boy of twelve can easily protect himself from the attacks of a full-grown … Continue reading

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William E. Steers and the Hilltop Dojo

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 14th August 2010 (With thanks to the late Richard Bowen as well as to John Bowen and Joe Svinth.) William E. Steers is one of the “mystery men” of the early British … Continue reading

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