Category Archives: Physical Culture

“A Fight in the Gymnasium”

Posted on December 28, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 29th September 2011 A curious illustration of unknown provenance, presumably from a circa 1900 book or “Boy’s Own” magazine story. Either the fellow in the red shirt is far stronger than he … Continue reading →

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“Art of Manliness” Guide to Basic Indian Club Swinging

Posted on December 27, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 19th March 2012

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The Bartitsu School of Arms 2012 in Text, Video and Images

Posted on December 27, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 16th September 2012 The second annual Bartitsu School of Arms and Physical Culture was a three-day conference and training seminar held in Chicago between September 7-9, 2012. The event was hosted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Bartitsu School of Arms, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, Jiujitsu, Physical Culture, Savate, Seminars, Sparring, Video, Vigny stick fighting | Comments Off on The Bartitsu School of Arms 2012 in Text, Video and Images

Protecting History: Vandalism at the Historic Hegeler-Carus Mansion Gymnasium

Posted on December 26, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 2nd February 2013 The Hegeler-Carus Mansion in the town of La Salle, Illinois, contains what is believed to be the oldest preserved residential gymnasium in the United States. As the only known remaining example of … Continue reading →

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Exercising on Board the Titanic

Posted on December 26, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Courtesy of 3Dhistory.de, a colourised image of the on-board gymnasium of the ill-fated RMS Titanic. As a physical culture enthusiast, it’s likely that former Bartitsu Club member Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon would have made use of this gym prior to the night of April … Continue reading →

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The Forteza Gymuseum

Posted on December 26, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 27th March 2013 The Gymuseum at the Forteza Fitness and Martial Arts studio in Ravenswood, Chicago is a unique “living museum” collection of antique physical culture apparatus, mostly dating from the period 1880-1910. Many of the … Continue reading →

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Indian Clubs in “Doctor Who”

Posted on December 26, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 31st May 2013 The malicious minions of the evil Mrs. Gillyflower (Dame Diana Rigg) wield Indian clubs as weapons in this nicely-researched scene from the Doctor Who episode, The Crimson Horror. In reality, Indian clubs … Continue reading →

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Old Time Strongman Morning Routine

Posted on December 24, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 4th October 2015 The Art of Manliness offers this short morning workout routine based on Adrian Peter Schmidt’s 1901 manual, Illustrated Hints for Health and Strength for Busy People.

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Samantha Swords at the Gymuseum

Posted on December 24, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 25th June 2014 Samantha Swords experiments with a pair of antique Indian clubs on display at the Forteza Gymuseum, home of the Bartitsu Club of Chicago.

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Inside the “Hilltop Dojo” of W.E. Steers (1909)

Posted on December 24, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 10th July 2014 These excerpts from the article “The Dwelling-House of an Apostle of Health” (“The House Beautiful”, Sept. 1909) offer a further glimpse inside the extraordinary dojo constructed in W.E. Steers’ Hilltop … Continue reading →

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