Simple Throws – Ashi Harai – Ankle Throw
In this article we look at De Ashi Harai (also spelled De Ashi Barai), it is a classic foot-sweep technique in Japanese martial arts which relies entirely on timing and unbalancing your opponent rather than using raw physical strength1. The Relaxed Grip Establish a...
Cane Techniques: How to defeat a boxer
When E.W. Barton-Wright formulated Bartitsu at the turn of the 20th century, he faced a unique tactical problem: how does a lady or gentleman armed with a simple walking stick defend against a fast, aggressive pugilist who intends to close the distance and overwhelm...
An Actor’s Guide to Bartitsu
Introduction: The Victorian Street-Fighting Art Making a Comeback Bartitsu—the Victorian street-fighting art made famous by Sherlock Holmes—has enjoyed a steady resurgence in modern media, from the dapper agents of Kingsman to characters like JP in Street Fighter. We...
Hikiotoshi (Pulling Down Throw)
In this article we look at the Hikiotoshi, a drop down pulling throw, demonstrated by Emily Diana Watts who wrote The Fine Art of Jujitsu in 1906 and was a student of Sadakazu Uyenishi, one of the original instructors at the Bartitsu club. The pictures below have been...
Oxford – Learn to Fight Like Sherlock Holmes
Oxfordshire Theatre Makers Present Learn to fight like Sherlock Holmes: Bartitsu, the gentlemanly martial art of the cane, the grapple, boxing and bicycle. Simon Mandarino is an historical martial artist, pugilist, fencer and Master Instructor at the Linacre School of...
The Hunt for Moriarty
For anyone interested in Sherlock Holmes, Bartitsu, or both, this is a superbly crafted production. The hunt for Moriarty delivers the kind of excitement and immersion that only live theatre can provide.The storytelling and acting are of the highest caliber, intelligent, engaging, and faithful to the spirit of the characters. Furthermore, the fight scenes, though few, are executed to an exceptionally high standard. Seeing such technical choreography performed live adds a layer of tension and authenticity that truly honors the “Sherlockian” martial arts tradition.
The Masters’ Next Moves: What the Bartitsu Club Instructors Did After Soho
The Bartitsu Club of Arms and Physical Culture, founded by E.W. Barton-Wright in 1899, closed its doors in London’s Soho around 1902. But the closure was far from the end of the story. It served as a launchpad for the principal masters and their associates, who went on to spread their respective arts—Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and cane fighting—across Britain and Europe, shaping the early 20th-century martial arts landscape.
The legacy of Bartitsu wasn’t just the club itself, but the decentralized propagation of its core disciplines by these pioneering instructors.
4 Week Bartitsu Workshop Sussex
Learn the Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes!
Bartitsu is the unique Victorian-era martial art—a thrilling blend of boxing, savate (French kickboxing), cane fighting, and jiu-jitsu, famously practiced by Sherlock Holmes.
This course is designed specifically for absolute beginners, regardless of your fitness level or martial arts background.
An Interview with Duncan McNulty, Insight to one of the longest running Bartitsu Clubs
I have been keen and excited to do post this article for some time, Duncan, in my knowledge and opinion, runs the longest consecutive Bartitsu club to date, meeting on a regular weekly schedule. I’ve been keen to understand the success of his club, but also more about...
Introductory Bartitsu Course – September 24
Course Details: This course comprises 8 x 90 minute weekly sessions and costs just £40 in total. 3rd September 2024 – 22nd October 2024 Tuesdays 6.30 pm – 8.00 pm 📍St. Andrews Church of Scotland, Gratham Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 1QXWhat Is Bartitsu? Bartitsu is a...