A report from instructor Allen Reed on his recent introductory Bartitsu seminar at the TeslaCon steampunk convention in Madison, Wisconsin. Allen will also be teaching a Bartitsu workshop in early 2012.
I drove up to Madison, WI Saturday morning (about a 90 minute drive) to teach my Bartitsu class. The class was scheduled for 10 AM and the room filled rapidly with steampunk fans who wanted to learn about Bartitsu. I was very lucky that Bruce and Bonnie Aller, two good friends and fellow WMA students, were there so I could use them as teaching assistants.
I gave a short introduction to Bartitsu and Barton-Wright and then started working on pugilism. We worked on the left lead and right rear punches and then got into blocking a right rear and then countering with a right rear punch. I then had the group work on blocking a right rear with a right elbow and then use a chopper as a counter. I finished the pugilism section by working on blocking a left lead punch as you go out side and punching to the kidney with what Allanson-Winn would call a “contracted arm” hit.
I demonstrated some of the similarities between throws in pugilism and jujutsu and talked about how throws were used for boxing matches vs. for self defense.
We then moved on to working on Vigny cane techniques. I did have some loaner canes but about half the participants still did not have canes so we had to work on these techniques slowly so everyone could share. I first had them work on “Guard by Distance” and then since we had so few canes I had them all finish with “The Best Way to Disable a Man who Tries to Rush You.”
Everyone seemed enthused and interested throughout the class. I gave out quite a number of flyers for the seminar in January and all of the business cards I had brought with me. I also sold three copies of the Bartitsu Compendia and one of my Bartitsu DVDs.
Dutch journalist Erik Noomen’s well-researched article on the history and revival of Bartitsu has been featured in the Volkskrant, one of Holland’s largest daily newspapers. Touching on Bartitsu’s connection with the Steampunk subculture and the Sherlock Holmes mythos and featuring comments by Dutch Bartitsu instructor John Jozen, Mr. Noomen’s article is an excellent introduction to the subject for Dutch readers.
An English translation of the article is now available here – Sparring with Sherlock.
Another series of Bartitsu-flavoured action sketches by the German artist Christoph Roos. You can see more at his website.
Bartitsu enthusiast Goran Dimic recently delivered an illustrated lecture/demonstration on Bartitsu for the Parni Zakon steampunk conference in Zagreb, Croatia.
The lecture included information on the origins and nature of Bartitsu and the life and times of founder E.W. Barton-Wright. Goran then demonstrated some basic fisticuffs, low kicks, a jiujitsu escort hold and some cane techniques.
The audience was enthusiastic and their response bodes well for the establishment of a Bartitsu study group in Croatia.
Instructor Mark Donnelly demonstrates self defence with a walking stick.
Thanks to Rachel Klingberg for this detailed report on Mark Donnelly’s three Bartitsu classes at the recent Steampunk World’s Fair conference in New Jersey.
Announcing the Antagonistics Weekend, a two-day long Bartitsu seminar with Professor Mark Donnelly in New York City:
Learn to fight like Sherlock Holmes! London’s Bartitsu Club was all the rage in 1899, but only recently has this lost martial art been rediscovered. Learn the “gentlemanly art of self-defense” at workshops taught by Professor Mark Donnelly, a world-renowned expert on historical combat.
Be part of history at Bartitsu’s NYC debut!
* Learn to use a walking stick, parasol, jacket, and other accessories for protection
* No martial arts experience required.
* A study in self-defense and in history.
Details
Saturday and Sunday, July 23-24, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
34 West 28th Street
Fifth Floor
New York, NY 10001
Check out the NYCSteampunk website for further information!
Tags: antagonistics, bartitsu, Mark Donnelly, New York City, nycsteampunk, Sherlock Holmes, Steampunk
Events, Sherlock Holmes, Steampunk, Training | Bartitsu Society Monday, 9th May 2011 | 
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Thanks to The Convention Fans Blog for this picture and accompanying report on San Francisco-based Bartitsu instructor Tom Badillo’s demo./class at the recent Gaslight Gathering event in San Diego.
The CombatCon event in Las Vegas is now a little over 8 weeks away. Along with numerous classes in Western martial arts (everything from Renaisance-era Italian longsword fencing to bullwhip fighting), the event will feature multiple demonstrations, tournaments and panel discussions.
We’re pleased to announce that the CombatCon film expo will include a public screening of the new documentary Bartitsu: The Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes, to be followed by a talkback session with co-producer/co-director Tony Wolf.
19th century “antagonistics” will be well-represented at the practical level as well, with taster classes in Bartitsu, bare-knuckle boxing, singlestick fencing, Italian military sabre fencing, Spanish navaja knife fighting, Victorian cane self defence and more.
Bartitsu instructor Tom Badillo will be reprising his Bartitsu demonstration from the San Francisco Edwardian Ball, the Dickens Faire and the Nova Albion Steampunk Expo at the upcoming Gaslight Gathering Steampunk and Victoriana conference in San Diego (May 6-8, 2011).
Thanks to Andrea Dubnick for this picture of Allen Reed teaching Bartitsu stick fighting at the Oklahoma Steampunk Exposition.
