Set against the dramatic backdrop of the radical women’s rights movement in London just prior to the First World War, Suffrajitsu relates the adventures of Miss Persephone Wright and her elite team of Amazons – a secret society of Bartitsu-trained bodyguards who protect fugitive suffragette leaders from arrest and assault.
Persephone is the niece of Bartitsu founder Edward William Barton-Wright, who also features in the story, and his Shaftesbury Avenue gymnasium serves as the Amazons’ secret headquarters …
Suffrajitsu was written by author and Bartitsu instructor Tony Wolf, illustrated by Joao Vieira and is published by Jet City Comics. See our sister site, Suffrajitsu.com, for more information, including the strange-but-true history of the real suffragette Bodyguard society.
Posted inFiction, Suffrajitsu|Comments Off on Bartitsu Action and Adventure in “Suffrajitsu: Mrs. Pankhurst’s Amazons”
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 12th February 2015
The release of Kingsman: the Secret Service promises to introduce a new generation of film-goers to the weaponised umbrella, a time-tested motif in anime, comic books, film, literature and television. The bulletproof Kingsman umbrella comes equipped with all manner of gadgets, from a stunning projectile launcher to a TASER bola.
However, while this fictional high-tech development in defensive bumbershootery is undoubtedly impressive, it is well worth noting that there has been a hundred-plus year history of attempts to weaponise the humble brolly in real life. These have included the development of martial arts techniques as well as the invention of actual, combat-augmented umbrellas.
Only a few years later, Bartitsu founder E.W. Barton-Wright took the subject seriously in his two-part article series for Pearson’s Magazine, explaining the use of the umbrella and walking stick in self defence. The cane/umbrella were considered the first line of defence in the Bartitsu arsenal, which also included boxing, wrestling and jujitsu.
… as well as numerous developments of the “umbrella sword” motif:
… and, of course, the Unbreakable Umbrella:
French news reports during mid-2011 suggested that the bodyguards of then-president Nicolas Sarkozy would soon be carrying a new defensive weapon – the Para Pactum umbrella. Reinforced with kevlar, the Para Pactum has apparently been tested against attack dogs and is also proof against knives, acid and thrown projectiles.
Posted inAntagonistics|Comments Off on An Updated History of Weaponised Umbrellas
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 25th March 2015
The climactic chapter of the Suffrajitsu graphic novel trilogy is now available from Amazon.com and comiXology!
In Issue #3, Persephone Wright and her team of Bartitsu-trained Amazons must race to prevent a terrorist attack that may have dire consequences for the entire world …
(… and yes, that it Persephone’s uncle – Bartitsu founder Edward Barton-Wright – to the right on the cover).
Posted inFiction, Suffrajitsu|Comments Off on Suffrajitsu: Mrs. Pankhurst’s Amazons #3 Available Now!
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 25th May 2015
Tybalt (Owen Black, left) and Benvolio (Ben Freeth, right) engage in some Bartitsu cane fighting in a rehearsal for the Court Theatre’s (Christchurch, New Zealand) production of Romeo and Juliet. This take on Shakespeare’s classic romantic tragedy is set during a stylised Edwardian era and features fight choreography by Bartitsu instructor Tony Wolf.
Learn Bartitsu, the gentleman’s form of self-defense popular in Victorian London. Mark Donnelly is an expert in the fighting style used by literary hero Sherlock Holmes. Learn to use the world around you, from umbrellas to snuff boxes. This demonstration will link the realms of history and imagination. Then get outside and enjoy the warm weather at our Steampunk Artisan Fair in the Colonial Industrial Quarter and shop around at local quality crafters’ tables. We will have a large variety of participating crafters at this event so there’s sure to be something for everybody! This event is FREE for HBMS members, and $10 for the general public.
What is Bartitsu?
“This workshop is designed to be an extensive introduction to this esoteric system of self-defense which incorporates: fisticuffs (in the scientific method); savate (use of low kicks in self-defense; grappling(judo/jiujitsu); as well as the use of numerous commonplace Victorian accessories such as walking-stick, cane, umbrella, top hat, snuff box, opera cape, handkerchief, etc. all employed in an effort to maintain ‘preservation of person and property when beset upon by ne’er-do-wells of nefarious intent’.” -Mark Donnelly, Bartitsu Instructor
Posted inCanonical Bartitsu, Seminars|Comments Off on Bartitsu Demonstration and Artisan Fair (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)