» Botta Secreta

Victorian cane fighting at the San Francisco Dickens Fair

Bartitsu Society — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:49:30 +0000

Thomas Badillo of the Botta Secreta historical martial arts club demonstrates a cane flow drill at the 32nd annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco.

Botta Secreta Bartitsu demo for Nova Albion

Bartitsu Society — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:29:40 +0000

A montage of images from Botta Secreta Productions’ Bartitsu demonstration for the Nova Albion steampunk convention in Emeryville, California, March 12-14.

Bartitsu seminar in San Francisco

Bartitsu Society — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:17:50 +0000

The Botta Secreta historical martial arts school will be hosting a Bartitsu seminar in San Francisco from 6:30 PM to 9:30PM on Thursday, March 18, 2010. The venue will be at Lowell High School:

View Larger Map

This seminar, taught by Tony Wolf, is open to both beginners and advanced martial artists and will introduce the study of both canonical and neo-Bartitsu. The canonical material is based on E.W. Barton-Wright’s classic c1900 articles, “The New Art of Self Defence” and “Self Defence with a Walking Stick”. These sequences provide a platform for training in neo-Bartitsu, continuing Barton-Wright’s experiments in cross-training between jiujitsu, fisticuffs, low kicking and the Vigny system of walking stick fighting.

Equipment: Please bring suitable exercise clothing, including shoes, and a sturdy cane (crook handle preferred), or strong, smooth dowel approx. 36″ long.

Fencing masks, boxing gloves and judogi jackets are useful, but are
not required.

Please contact bottasecretaproductions@yahoo.com for all other details.

Botta Secreta to perform at Steampunk Exhibition

Bartitsu Society — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:58:18 +0000

Fresh from their successful demonstrations at the San Francisco Edwardian Ball, the Botta Secreta team will next be exhibiting singlestick fencing and Bartitsu at the upcoming Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition, March 12-14, 2010 in Emeryville, California.

See the Steampunk Exhibition website for all details.

Bartitsu at the San Francisco Edwardian Ball

Bartitsu Society — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:57:32 +0000

On January 22nd and 23rd, nine gentlemen and suffragettes from the Botta Secreta historical martial arts school performed a Bartitsu exhibition at the Edwardian Ball, a SteamPunk event held in San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom.

The audience, almost all sporting the latest in neo-Victorian finery, was wowed by an action-packed ten minute antagonistic extravaganza combining Vigny stick fighting, pugilism, wrestling, savate, jiujitsu, singlestick fencing and navaja knife combat in the Spanish tradition.

The display (narrated by “E.W. Barton-Wright” himself!) has also introduced a new catchphrase to San Franciscan SteamPunks: “Belabour him as you see fit!” was the battle-cry of the night.

“Keep diving with your stick between peoples’ legs, upsetting them right and left,” – E.W. Barton-Wright, 1901