The Sherlock Holmes School of Self Defence book acts as a small yet detailed guide, full of images, that elaborates on the martial art known as Bartitsu. The authors successfully root the book in its historical and literary context: the team behind the book have taken quotes from both Bartitsu founder E. W. Barton-Wright and the stories of Sherlock Holmes. The volume is presented in a clean yet purposely dated design to emphasise the era of the peak of the martial art. Link to the book on Amazon
Bartitsu presented in a compact yet detailed quirky guide
The book is presented in an easy yet elegant way to read, original photos have been enhanced and are presented with the descriptions of the techniques they are associated clearly.
The book demonstrates alot of techniques from JuJitsu and stick fighting, which makes it a great resource for those interested in those areas.
In regards on the areas of boxing, savate and the other arts that make up Bartitsu as a whole, it is a little limited which I would have liked to see more in the book.
Conclusion
Overall, The Sherlock Holmes School of Self-Defence: The Manly Art of Bartitsu is a well-produced, good-looking book and an absolute must-have for martial arts historians and Sherlockian enthusiasts alike.
The guide excels in its presentation of Bartitsu’s signature techniques – namely the detailed instruction on Ju-Jitsu grappling and the use of the gentleman’s walking stick for self-defense. Furthermore, its aesthetic commitment to the Late Victorian/Edwardian era, through its design and the use of enhanced historical photographs, grounds the instruction firmly in its context.
The only area where the book could be better is in providing more depth on Bartitsu’s European components, particularly the foundational striking arts of English Boxing and Savate.
Ultimately, these minor limitations do not detract from the book’s value. It remains a great little read and an essential resource for anyone curious about the “manly art” that saved the life of the world’s greatest detective. We highly recommend acquiring a copy.