The next 4-hour workshop in the fundamentals of Victorian self-defence will be on 9 September. This will be our final Introduction to Bartitsu workshop. To better integrate students and improve the learning process, the introductory work will be spread over a month of Saturdays starting in October. Each week, two hours to Fight Like Sherlock […]

Is etiquette just silly pretension taken to an extreme in the Victorian era? Is there universal etiquette? What about the etiquette in a martial arts school? Where Are Your Manners? Etiquette is a manner of social interaction, that’s why it’s sometimes called “manners”. Modes of address, gestures including eye contact, eating rituals and clothing (such […]

Within Bartitsu, we emphasize low kicks for self-defense. The coup de pied bas is a shin kick that is very hard to guard, partly because it is difficult to see coming. Here’s the kung-fu version of this kick, which is almost identical to our savate method: The low kick that has gained popularity in the […]

Generally, I don’t worry too much about hitting exact locations, especially when I’m striking with a stick. A solid blow with a cane can shatter any bone, and failing that, will hurt like the dickens. Therefore, my advice to beginners is to strike any part of the opponent’s body that you can hit with vigour. […]

This is where I’ll be the first weekend in July: GearCon The Gaslight Explorers, Adventurers, & Romantics Convention (GEAR Con) is a celebration of Pacific Northwest steampunk and neo-Victorian creativity, taking place over three days in Portland, Oregon. Members of the public can register to meet fellow enthusiasts, attend presentations and workshops, meet authors and […]

I don’t know of any writings about using the sword-cane other than standard fencing training. Sorry. There aren’t even sword-and-scabbard fighting advice in any historical manuals I know. It’s a bit weird. I often tell stage combat students that they should know the historical, but be ready to invent new patterns of movement that suit […]

A major U.S. newspaper covered the Steampunk World’s Fair in Piscataway, New Jersey. Mark Donnelly taught and demonstrated Bartitsu, and explained the basics in an interview. Check out the article on the Wall Street Journal Website. There are pictures and a video. Here is what it looked like in the print edition (this image was […]

What’s in a name? There’s a discussion in the Bartitsu Society about the naming of Bartitsu, a point of contention and a topic I mention at the start of my workshops. Sherlock Holmes Said Baritsu Our rediscovery of this martial art started with a reference in a story called The Adventure of the Empty House […]

Everyone has heard this one. You need to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Every health source will tell you that. So, do you drink that much water? I didn’t think so. But this is the single most important nutrient you ingest every day, and the single easiest way to cleanse your […]

My new favourite book is called Jiu Jitsu Complete by Kiyose Nakae. Let’s take a look. Background I found this book at the auction of the estate of Alex Mahler. I didn’t know Alex well, but he was a valued contributor at Academie Duello, creating armour pieces for dozens of fighters, teaching others how to […]