Early Reviews for “Bartitsu: The Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes”

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 25th April 2011

Reviews are coming in for the new documentary (available here) and they are good …

Bartitsu: The Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes reveals an exciting world of Victorian ruffians, garroting panics, militant suffragettes, and physical culture, as well as the colorful life of Bartitsu’s founder Edward Barton-Wright … music by the steampunk band Abney Park creates a moody atmosphere of Victorian danger, excitement, and heroics. Through interviews, re-enactment, archival images, and contemporary footage of neo-Bartitsu students, the “lost” martial art is brought to life.

– Rachel Klingberg: read the full review here.

Here’s the problem – what to do when you love a good punch up, but public brawling is incompatible with your image as an amenable, if damp-stained, man of letters? The answer is “Bartitsu,” a nineteenth-century martial art developed specifically to transform the upright classes into killing machines, and whose unusual history has been revealed in an excellent new documentary …

– Andrew McConnell Stott: read the full review here.

Sleek and engaging … fascinating … a superbly watchable piece of martial arts history …

– Bullshido.net martial arts movie reviews: read the full review here.

Posted in Documentary, Reviews | Comments Off on Early Reviews for “Bartitsu: The Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes”

Bartitsu Demonstration in Oxford (1902)

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 25th April 2011

Thanks to Chris Amendola for tracking down this review of a circa January 1902 Bartitsu exhibition in Oxford, U.K. It appears that Barton-Wright also toured his “troupe” to Cambridge University during this period.

Though it was only a small audience which gathered at the Town Hall on Tuesday last week to see the exhibition of the Bartitsu school of self-defence, those who were present had no reason to regret having come. The feats of the two Japanese champions were really somewhat extraordinary, and we should not like to have to hazard a guess as to the secret of their skill; possibly it may have been something in the way of disposal of force, some system of balance. That it was perfectly genuine was soon discovered by those who tried to test it; that it was not a matter of mere strength was clear from their bouts with Mr. Whittall of New College, who, though obviously the stronger man, was overcome by the Japanese in the end. Not the least remarkable of their exploits was the way in which they managed to avoid getting damaged in falls in which it looked as if they must be killed, or at the least knocked senseless. Altogether it was a very interesting performance.

Posted in Canonical Bartitsu, Exhibitions, Jiujitsu | Comments Off on Bartitsu Demonstration in Oxford (1902)

In Memoriam: Roger Lafond (1913-2011)

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 13th April 2011

We regret to announce the death of savate and la canne master Roger Lafond on April 8th, 2011. He was 97 years old.

Roger Lafond’s martial arts and combat sports lineage can be traced back to the early origins of la boxe Française as an organised system of self defence, via his father and grandfather, who were both named Eugene, through E. Quillier, the Leclerc brothers and to Charles and Hubert Lecour.

During the Second World War, M. Lafond served five years as a prisoner of war, instructing his fellow prisoners in French martial arts. He refused to teach the enemy officers and guards, protesting that this would be fraternisation.

After the War he was instrumental in the revival of la boxe Française in Paris. He established numerous clubs and, in 1955, created his own unique blend of French and Japanese martial arts, which he referred to as la Panache. In the late 1960s he was among the trainers for the cast of the popular British television spy series, The Avengers.

As recently as two years ago, Maitre Lafond was still teaching students at his Parisian school. He was featured on several martial arts-themed documentary series, including an episode of The Human Weapon.

His funeral was held in his home town of Le Perreux sur Marne.

Posted in Biography, In Memoriam, Savate, Video | Comments Off on In Memoriam: Roger Lafond (1913-2011)

“Bartitsu: The Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes”

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 28th March 2011

Announcing the long-awaited DVD release of the first feature documentary on Bartitsu, the “gentlemanly art of self defence”!

At the end of the Victorian era, E.W. Barton-Wright founded Bartitsu as a pioneering “mixed martial art” combining jiujitsu, kickboxing and self defence with a walking stick. It was also the means by which Sherlock Holmes was said to have defeated his arch-nemesis, the evil Professor Moriarty, in their famous battle at Reichenbach Waterfall.

This groundbreaking documentary was shot on location in Italy, Switzerland, England and the USA. Through numerous interviews, animations, re-enactment sequences, rare archival film footage and historical images, it explores the history, rediscovery and modern revival of Bartitsu.

Please visit the Freelance Academy Press website to view a new preview trailer and photo gallery, read an article about Bartitsu and the documentary production, and to place your DVD order!

Posted in Documentary | Comments Off on “Bartitsu: The Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes”

More Bartitsu SteamPunkery

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 27th March 2011

Allen Reed will be teaching classes at the Oklahoma Steampunk Exhibition in April:

Vigny’s Walking Stick Defense

Do you know a rogue and a scoundrel who deserves to be thrashed on the steps of his club? Then this is the class for you. The class will provide a short introduction to the use of the walking stick or cane for self defense. Prof. Reed will have a few loaner canes/sticks for use during the class but recommends bringing your own.

English Bare Knuckle Boxing

Every gentleman and woman should learn to defend themselves with their bare hands against the hooligans and thugs who prowl the streets of our big cities. This class will introduce the student to the basic stance, blows and defenses of English pugilism.

Posted in Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, Seminars, Vigny stick fighting | Comments Off on More Bartitsu SteamPunkery

Conan Doyle and Houdini: Private Investigators

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 27th March 2011

Not one, not two, but three upcoming media productions will pose the question; what if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini had teamed up as detectives?

In reality, master escapologist Houdini and Sherlock Holmes creator Doyle were close friends during the early 1920s, until disagreements over the reality of the “supernatural” strained their mutual admiration too far. Houdini was an arch-skeptic, wise to the tricks of confidence swindlers posing as spirit mediums, while Doyle was a passionate believer in, and defender of Spiritualism.

Dreamworks has acquired a script called Voices from the Dead from screenwriter J. Michael Straczynski (Changling, Babylon 5), about Houdini and Doyle joining forces with a medium to solve a bizarre series of murders in 1920s New York.

Jon Vinson’s self-published comic book series, Edge of the Unknown, is scheduled to be adapted into a live-action movie by Jack Reher (Red Machine). This project teams Houdini and Doyle in 1923 Hollywood, where they solve a supernatural mystery with the aid of horror author H.P. Lovecraft.

Meanwhile, Syfy has started pre-production on a series called Among the Spirits, based on a self-published graphic novel by Steve Valentine and Paul Chart. The series will center on Houdini and Doyle as, with the help of a policewoman, they use steampunk technologies to try to solve apparent hauntings.

Chances are very good that we can look forward to some fine antagonistic action from these projects …

Posted in Fiction, Pop-culture | Comments Off on Conan Doyle and Houdini: Private Investigators

Baritsu in “Art of Deduction: Inside the Mind of Sherlock Holmes”

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 24th March 2011

A stylised baritsu fight sequence performed by teen and college-age actors in the play Art of Deduction, which recently featured at the Weathervane Playhouse in Akron, Ohio. Director John Davis also choreographed the fight scenes.

Posted in Baritsu, Video | Comments Off on Baritsu in “Art of Deduction: Inside the Mind of Sherlock Holmes”

Edith Garrud: the Votes are In!

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 22nd March 2011

As reported in this earlier post, the Islington Borough Council recently ran a poll to determine which five of ten candidates, all former residents of, or events associated with Islington, should be commemorated with permanent memorial plaques.

We’re pleased to announce that suffragette and jujitsu pioneer Edith Garrud was among the top five candidates. The final results were:

– John Wright (founder of the Angel Theatre) – 634 votes
– Author Douglas Adams – 489 votes
– Suffragette Edith Garrud – 356 votes
– The Peasants’ Revolt at Highbury – 290 votes
– Boat club pioneer Crystal Hale – 274 votes

Edith Garrud may have been among the original female students of the Bartitsu Club in Shaftesbury Avenue. She later ran her own jujitsu school and became the chief trainer of the Suffragette Bodyguard, the group of twenty-five women who volunteered to physically protect the leaders of their movement from arrest and assault. Her achievements are recorded in the book Edith Garrud: the suffragette who knew jujutsu.

The results of the Islington Borough Council’s poll are now available online and her plaque will be unveiled later this year. We will endeavour to post updates regarding the unveiling ceremony.

Thanks to all who voted and congratulations to Edith Garrud’s descendants, who lobbied for her inclusion in the People’s Plaques scheme.

Posted in Suffrajitsu | Comments Off on Edith Garrud: the Votes are In!

Hooligans, Beware!

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 14th March 2011

Perhaps the ultimate expression of self defence for bicyclists was the Simms Motor Scout, which rolled off the production line in 1898. While intended for wartime use, the Motor Scout would have made a fearsome first line of defence on the mean streets of Victorian London …

Posted in Antagonistics, Edwardiana | Comments Off on Hooligans, Beware!

Bartitsu Art

Posted on February 9, 2020 by BartitsuSociety
  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 14th March 2011

Thanks to the talented German graphic artist Christoph Roos, who has created these dynamic renditions of a Bartitsu street fight, circa 1900:

Posted in Antagonistics, Fiction, Hooliganism | Comments Off on Bartitsu Art