You know the expression about teaching a man to fish instead of giving a man a fish. In the case of self protection, sometimes it’s a matter of teaching someone to fish compared to giving them a picture of a fish. Indian Vodafone Initiative Tony Wolf posted this video on the Bartitsu.org blog, along with some commentary: The […]
This week’s post is not about packing up and changing address, even though I will be going on vacation for two weeks. We’re going to take a quick look at movement in the sport of boxing and self-defence other than the straight lines presented in basic pugilism. Reading Material Some of this discussion is a […]
E. W. Barton-Wright wanted “to impart to peacefully disposed [people] the science of defending themselves.” Bartitsu has been used by various groups including police and security forces, as well as Suffragettes who were defending themselves against the police. I’ve worked in security since 2009, and it is important to follow the Use of Force model […]
This week, we’ll take a look at at a video that compares Pentjak Silat with Krav Maga (in French). Their goal, as stated by Frank Ropers at the start of the session, is to show both schools that their styles mesh together very well. From a Bartitsu perspective, I love using this type of thing […]
This weekend there’s a gathering of steampunk enthusiasts in Portland, Oregon called Gearcon. Steampunk, like cyberpunk, is a genre of speculative fiction, a fashion trend and a community of fans with shared interests. In literature, it’s usually an alternate history of the Victorian era in which mad scientists played a much larger role. The fashion is […]
It is very common for untrained people to punch with their palms down. I don’t know if it’s something that naturally feels right, or if it’s subconsciously learned from watching movies, boxing matches or other people. It is often taught as the correct way to punch in many Eastern martial arts. Is there anything wrong […]
SUFFRAGETTE is the first ever feature film to tell the inspirational story of the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement who risked everything in the fight for equality. I’m sure we’ll see a longer trailer before the release date at the end of October 2015. Update: the above trailer is the official trailer from […]
Today, a poll: I want your opinion for a new logo for Fight Like a Gentleman and the Bartitsu classes at Academie Duello. Without further ado, here are the candidates: Please email your vote and comments to: david@playfighting.ca.
If you enjoy training with Indian clubs but you’d like some more variety and challenge, the next stage is the Gada mace. The two-handed grip for the “360” is more common among Western enthusiasts, and a great place to start to learn control of the swinging weight. The exercise is great for the shoulders and […]
An article from 1928 about H. G. Lang’s walking stick advice posted on Bartitsu.org reminds us of some of the prominent features of Bartitsu, especially suppleness. As Tony Wolf, author/editor of the Bartitsu Compendium and organizer of the Bartitsu Society remarked, this short newspaper piece gives us “nothing groundbreaking”, but here’s the clipping and my […]
