Edith Garrud: the Suffragette who knew jujutsu
Announcing the publication of a new book for teenage readers, or indeed for any reader interested in the true story of Edith Garrud, who taught jujutsu to the secret Bodyguard society of the English women’s suffrage movement.
Edith and her husband William were among the first generation of English jujutsu instructors, having learned the art from Bartitsu Club instructor Sadakazu Uyenishi and other notables.
The book details Edith Garrud’s life and career as a self defence instructor in Edwardian London and the adventures of the jujutsu-trained Bodyguard society in protecting their leaders from arrest and assault. My hope is that it will inspire some young people, especially girls, to stand up for what they believe in and enroll in martial arts training.
Suggested for ages 12 and older, includes 29 illustrations.
To view a free PDF preview and to order online, please visit the virtual bookstore.
Tags: book, Edith Garrud, Jujutsuffragettes, Suffragettes
Events, History, Pop culture | Bartitsu Society Saturday, 15th August 2009
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By Martin Williams, Friday, 9th October 2009 @ 12:53 pm
Dear Tony Wolf
Congratulations on your book on my great aunt, Edith Garrud. You seem to have done your research very well and what you say about her fits with what I know. You have fouund out much more about her than I have, hoewver, and I would be very grateful to know where to look to learn more.
She said little to us about her time as a sufferagette but she did mention the cartoon in Punch Magazine which you used on the book cover. Her early background is not made clear in the records because her mother, Clara Williams, was not married when Edith was born. She was brought up by her aunt and uncle. I still have the letter she wrote to my mother when I was born, and other pieces of our family story she gave us when she was in her nineties.
I will order the book today and look forward to reading more of my great aunt, and would be most grateful to hear from you.
with thanks and best wishes
Martin Williams
By Tony Wolf, Saturday, 10th October 2009 @ 3:35 am
Hi Martin,
it’s great that we’re hearing from the descendants of so many of the people associated with the Bartitsu Club and the early British jiujitsu scene.
My main sources for this book were:
Crawford, Elizabeth. “The women’s suffrage movement, 1866-1928″ 2001, p240
Garrud, Edith. “The World We Live In: Self-Defence”, Votes for Women newspaper, March 4, 1910, p355.
Mackenzie, Midge. “Shoulder to Shoulder”, 1988
Raeburn, Antonia. “The Militant Suffragettes”, 1976, p96
Wilson, Gretchen. “With All Her Might: The Life of Gertrude Harding, Militant Suffragette”, 1998
Winn, Godfrey. “Dear Mrs. Garrud – I wish I’d known you then … ” Woman Magazine, June 19, 1965
… and a collection of newspaper reports, advertisements and so-on from the Daily Mirror, Daily Express etc., roughly 1908-1918.
Virtually every scrap of information I picked up during my research appears in the book in some form or other, and I really hope you enjoy it. By the same token, I’d be very interested to hear more about Edith’s life based on your family records. You can email me at tonywolf@gmail.com .
My best,
Tony Wolf
By James, Sunday, 18th October 2009 @ 10:09 pm
Martin, you can search through some of the newspaper articles Tony referenced by going to http://www.evernote.com/pub/labete/bartitsunewspaperreferences#Thumbs/
By bill endell, Monday, 31st May 2010 @ 3:23 pm
I should be most interested in seeing this book – I am her grandson and could, perhaps, add to your knowledge since ‘Garry’ lived with us for years. I cam well remeber both her and William, her husband.
By Bartitsu Society, Monday, 31st May 2010 @ 4:42 pm
Hello Bill,
I’d be very interested in any more information on both Edith and William. My email is tonywolf@gmail.com – hope to hear from you soon!