Self-Defense for Suffragettes – Free Bartitsu Class and Exhibit of Suffragette Artifacts

  • Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 16th April 2014

Have you always wanted to learn a martial art or be the kind of man or woman who is truly “kick-ass” but in a genteel and civilized way? The Bartitsu Club of New York City is offering FREE Bartitsu classes at the 19th Century Extravaganza at the Old Stone House in Brooklyn on April 27. The focus will be on turn-of-the-century women’s self-defense and how it relates to suffrage movements in Great Britain and the U.S.

The classes are not just for women – they are open to everyone, regardless of martial experience. In addition to learning the self-defense tactics practiced by militant suffragettes in early 20th-century London, you’ll also get a taste of Bartitsu, the Victorian martial art most famously (and fictionally) practiced by Sherlock Holmes but historically, one of the first martial arts in the Western world to openly teach women.

Bring a study parasol, walking stick, stick umbrella, or length of wooden dowel or PVC with the rough edges smoothed (about 36″ long, depending on your height). We have extras to loan to students. There will be two classes offered, with an intermission for a special exhibit and presentation by Denny Daniels of the Museum of Interesting Things. Mr. Daniels will talk about the Museum’s suffragette collection, which includes hundreds of rare items and epherema from the late 19th- and early 20th century women’s suffrage movements in Europe and the U.S.

Learn about history, explore these fascinating artifacts, and bring it all to life with your newly-learned “suffragette self-defense” skills!

Sunday, April 27, 2014
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Old Stone House Museum
336 3rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215

SCHEDULE
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Defense with ladies’ accessories
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Suffragette presentation and exhibit
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Parasol self-defense

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