The Complete Bartitsu Study Group Guide
For the benefit of Academie Duello students who are continuing their pursuit of Bartitsu without an instructor present, I provide this outline. I recommend this format for any study group, but encourage anyone new to Bartitsu to seek out an instructor with experience before gathering a group of friends to try it out.
The monthly format is this:
Week 1: Jujitsu
Week 2: Pugilism
Week 3: Savate
Week 4: Walking stick
Jujitsu
The first week of the month, students should focus on the primary strategies of Bartitsu which come from traditional jujitsu.
In a 2-hour class, this is the schedule:
00-10: General warm up
10-15: Break falls (appropriate to each student’s level)
15-30: Review fundamentals:
- Outward wrist lock
- Arm bar
- Come-along hold
- Figure-four takedown
- Back-heel throw
30-75: Review and development of level-appropriate technique.
Green Sash will review of all jujitsu lessons:
- Head locks, neck cranks and escapes
- Lever throw and scooping ankle throw
- Collar and Elbow tactics
Blue Sash will review all jujitsu categories:
- Hip throws: Major hip throw, shoulder throw, drop throw
- Other takedowns: Spring hip throw, scissors takedown, sacrifice throws
- Locks and holds: lock flow, kimura, and head cradle takedown
75-110: One or more of the following explorations:
- sparring
- inventing or reviewing combinations that integrate all aspects of Bartitsu
- self-defence scenarios, emphasizing jujitsu responses
- learning from the Bartitsu Compendium or other legitimate sources
110-120: Cool down and stretching
Pugilism
The second week of the month, students should focus on the most common unarmed attacks: punches. The pragmatic defences and powerful strikes of bare-knuckle boxing are the best way to close distance until a jujitsu takedown is possible.
A 2-hour class should follow this schedule:
00-10: General warm up
10-15: Medicine ball throw/catch or skipping rope or shadow boxing
15-30: Review fundamentals:
- Lead punch
- Cross punch
- Slips
- Milling
30-75: Review and development of level-appropriate technique.
Green Sash will review of all pugilism lessons:
- Hooks and uppercuts
- Elbow block and Chopper
- Lead hand parries
Blue Sash will review all pugilism categories:
- Strikes: Supinated punches, pronated and over-pronated punches, edges and elbows
- Pummeling and follow-ups
- Guards: Palm-up and turtle-shell, palm-down blocks, bob-and-weave
75-110: One or more of the following explorations:
- sparring
- inventing or reviewing combinations that integrate all aspects of Bartitsu
- self-defence scenarios, emphasizing pugilistic responses
- learning from the Bartitsu Compendium or other legitimate sources
110-120: Cool down and stretching
Savate
The third week of the month, students should practice the most difficult and powerful attacks within Bartitsu: kicks. Savate was the original source of all kicks in Bartitsu and integrates perfectly with pugilism.
A 2-hour class should follow this schedule:
00-10: General warm up
10-15: Leg swings
15-30: Review fundamentals:
- Shin kick
- Evading kicks
- Knee strikes
30-75: Review and development of level-appropriate technique.
Green Sash will review of all savate lessons:
- Round kick
- Side Kick and chasse
- Stop-kick
Blue Sash will review all savate categories:
- Lead leg: Snap kick, hook kick, fouette
- Rear leg: Front kick, switch-side kick, crescent kick
- Spin kicks: Back-kick, spin hook kick, spin crescent kick
75-110: One or more of the following explorations:
- sparring (purring)
- inventing or reviewing combinations that integrate all aspects of Bartitsu
- self-defence scenarios, emphasizing savate responses
- learning from the Bartitsu Compendium or other legitimate sources
110-120: Cool down and stretching
Walking Stick
The fourth week of the month sees the quintessential tool of Bartitsu: the walking stick or cane.
A 2-hour class should follow this schedule:
00-10: General warm up
10-15: Indian clubs
15-30: Review fundamentals:
- Bayonet form blocks and the bayonet drill of attacks
- Striking and guarding in high guard
- Preemptive strike from rear guard with follow-ups.
30-75: Review and development of level-appropriate technique.
Green Sash will review of all walking stick lessons:
- Bayonet form jujitsu
- Outside guard
- Using the crook
Blue Sash will review all walking stick categories:
- Le Boucher drills
- Reverse-grip and two-handed strikes, blocks and jujitsu
- Other self-defence weapons: kubotan/knife, Bowie knife, Escrima/Kali sticks
75-110: One or more of the following explorations:
- sparring
- inventing or reviewing combinations that integrate all aspects of Bartitsu
- self-defence scenarios, emphasizing weapon responses, especially from an unready posture
- learning from the Bartitsu Compendium or other legitimate sources
110-120: Cool down and stretching