A picture is worth a thousand words (that's why we all like illustrations in our fight manuals), and a video is 30 images per second... so that's a lot better. Here's a selection of Bartitsu videos from around the world: Russia If you pause at 1m30, that poster was design by me, made to look…
Category: Bartitsu
Bartitsu's Sister Weapons
There are many weapons contemporary with Bartitsu, but not included in the canonical system. Bartitsu was developed for personal defense in the street, using only what the gentleman would have at hand: the walking stick or bare hands. The personal weapons popular with proper men at that time were mainly used in the duel: the…
Bellicose Chaps
Are you up to scratch? Ready to "toe the line"? Or are you down for the count? Take a swig of aqua vitae and put up your dukes... Pugilism Some martial artists really love the terminology and the exotic names in foreign languages. Fisticuffs, on the other hand, uses English words for the techniques, but…
Steampunk Fights
Let's start with an analogy, not only because I have faith that my readers understand analogies, but also because you're guaranteed to understand this one: Jedi is to lightsabre as Steampunk is to Bartitsu Jedi don't have to use lightsabres (in fact, I'm surprised there aren't more who eschew them), it's just appropriate and therefore…
Bartitsu 10-March-2012
This week in Bartitsu Walking stick review: Reverse grip Boxing lesson: Guarding Integration: Being ambushed Please note that future installments of this weekly notice will appear in Duello's weekly newsletter. I recommend all students subscribe to it to keep track of everything happening at Academie Duello. Look for the "Email List Sign Up" on the right side…
Savate and Purring and Wing Chun
The similarities are striking. Or the kicking. Good writing does not happen through bad puns. Targeting the Shin and Knee The common advice among all practical forms of self-defence regarding kicks is: "Never use high kicks." I hope you've heard that before, so I won't spend too much time explaining the reasoning. The higher the…
Bartitsu 3-March
This week in Bartitsu: 1. Boxing review: Chancery 2. Cane lesson: Reverse grip 3. Integration: Self-defence using strikes See you tomorrow at 3pm!
Bartitsu 25-Feb
This week in Bartitsu: Jujitsu review: kick defence into throw, takedowns aided by kicks, sweeps Boxing lesson: chancery and escapes Integration: chancery and other headlocks, chancery takedowns The Introduction to Bartitsu is also happening, which means my ongoing students will warm up by themselves, then we'll merge at 3:15 See you tomorrow at 3pm…
Boxing a Kangaroo (bad idea)
We all have fond memories of this: And recently on Bartitsu.org, Tony Wolf reprinted an article from 1893 entitled "The Kangaroo as Prize Fighter" which discusses the change from the Kangaroo's natural defenses into a human-like stance. It looks like this (not pretty): I think the appaling part of the 1893 article is the closing:…
Bartitsu 18-February
This week in Bartitsu: Savate Review: Round kick or coup de pied horizontale Jujitsu Lesson: Kick defence into throw Integration: Using the round kick to improve throws Remember the slightly modified new format: 15 mins warm-up, 30 minutes for each of the three sections above, then 15 minutes at the end for sparring or conditioning.…
Bartitsu 11-February
This week in Bartitsu: 1. Boxing review: hooks, traditional and modern replies, ring and street 2. Savate lesson: round kick 3. Integration: combinations and measure New format: sparring or conditioning Skipping Heavy bag Abs (all-fours) See you at 3pm!
Some Bartitsu Websites
For my students who would like to do some research and learn more outside of class (and have access to the Internets), here are some sites of note: Forteza Fitness (http://fortezafitness.com/) Tony Wolf's new home with ongoing Bartitsu lessons. The webpage has some great images to show off the various weapons taught and information about…
Bartitsu 4-February
This week in Bartitsu: 1. Walking stick review: Preemptive strike from rear guard 2. Boxing lesson: Hooks and uppercuts, traditional and modern defenses in the ring and the street 3. Integration: The unarmed victim vs. the stick, the ruffian vs. the umbrella. Those who are joining us for the first time after the workshop…
Bartitsu 28-Jan-2012
This week in Bartitsu: The Introduction to Bartitsu workshop: Fight Like Sherlock Holmes Then, the ongoing class, featuring: 1. Jujitsu review: Standing locks and holds 2. Cane lesson: Bayonnet drills 3. Integration: Locks and disarms with the walking stick Don't miss it!
Bartitsu 21-Jan-2012
This week in Bartitsu:1. Review of Boxing: straight punches, dynamic motion 2. Jujitsu Lesson: entry to standing holds 3. Integration: chancery and escapes See you at 3pm!
The Versatile and Deadly Umbrella
On Sunday, one of our most popular workshops debuts for the new year. Here's a smattering of what we'll learn: Fairburn-Style Javelin-Style The London Riots (no laughing matter... feel free to chuckle, though): Penguin-Style (not Linux, you geeks!) Batman: Umbrella Attack (Flash game) http://dcbeyond.kidswb.com/games/umbrella-attack Poppins-Style If you can find one, I'd recommend the Poppins, which…
Bartitsu 7-Jan
Happy New Year, Bartitsuka, This week, we'll be looking at: 1. Review of cane from before the holidays: Lang's techniques 2. Savate lesson: combinations and slow work 3. Integration: Staying at long range, creating distance See you at 3pm!
A Game of Dark Knights Should Set, Not Rise.
Well, it falls out that the only thing I should write about on this quiet Thursday is the recently released second installment of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. I'm not looking forward to the rest of this article, or the fallout it may generate. It's a dangerous game. I'll change directions often, sometimes in response…
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