The Birth of Bartitsu
In 1898, Edward William Barton-Wright, a British engineer, returned to England after spending time in Japan, where he learned jujitsu. Combining jujitsu with Western boxing, Savate (French kickboxing), and cane fighting, Barton-Wright created a unique self-defense system he called “Bartitsu.” This new martial art was intended to help people in urban environments defend themselves against street thugs.
The Bartitsu Club
Barton-Wright opened the Bartitsu Club in London in 1900, where he invited the best martial artists from around the world to teach. The club attracted notable Victorian gentlemen and became a hub for learning various fighting techniques. Bartitsu was taught as a “gentleman’s” form of self-defense, focusing on unarmed combat and the use of canes or walking sticks as weapons.
Sherlock Holmes and Popularity
Bartitsu gained some popularity after Arthur Conan Doyle featured it in his Sherlock Holmes stories. In The Adventure of the Empty House, Holmes refers to it as “baritsu” when explaining how he survived his encounter with Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls.
The Decline and Revival
Despite its brief popularity, Bartitsu faded into obscurity after the club closed in 1902. However, in the late 20th century, martial arts enthusiasts rediscovered Bartitsu through historical documents, reviving this unique blend of Eastern and Western fighting techniques.
The Lost Victorian Martial Art 🥷
The Birth of Bartitsu
In 1898, Edward William Barton-Wright, a British engineer, returned to England after spending time in Japan, where he learned jujitsu. Combining jujitsu with Western boxing, Savate (French kickboxing), and cane fighting,… pic.twitter.com/eDboC4OjYB— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TBBOB2) August 21, 2024