Category Archives: Hooliganism

“The New Art of Self Defence: How Bartitsu Reimagined ‘Antagonistics’ in Edwardian England”

Posted on February 16, 2026 by BartitsuSociety

Now available from Amazon, this new book is a revised, updated and significantly expanded version of the “Bartitsu Story” section of The Bartitsu Compendium, Vol. III (2022). As the third volume of the Compendium was a bookshelf-busting 629 large-format pages, … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Antagonistics, Biography, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Edwardiana, Exhibitions, Fencing, Hooliganism, Jiujitsu, Physical Culture, Pop-culture, Savate, Vigny stick fighting, Wrestling | Comments Off on “The New Art of Self Defence: How Bartitsu Reimagined ‘Antagonistics’ in Edwardian England”

“Les Apaches: the Gangster Chic of Belle Époque Paris”

Posted on March 11, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

An early heads-up that Tony Wolf will be giving a live Zoom lecture on the “Apache chic” craze of the early 20th century: At the turn of the 20th century, the exploits and styles of Parisian Apache (pronounced Ah-pahsh) street … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Antagonistics, Edwardiana, Hooliganism | Comments Off on “Les Apaches: the Gangster Chic of Belle Époque Paris”

“The Police (of the Future)”, 1886

Posted on August 23, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

The letter to the editor of the Daily Chronicle that inspired this cartoon referred to the advantages of wicker-work shields (which actually were in use by some police departments during the late 1880s) and noted that the quarterstaff should be … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Hooliganism, Humour | Comments Off on “The Police (of the Future)”, 1886

Announcing The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

Posted on December 7, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

Published 120 years after the Bartitsu School of Arms in London closed its doors for the last time and marking the 20th anniversary of the modern Bartitsu revival movement, the Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III is now available from Amazon. Over … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Baritsu, Bartitsu School of Arms, Biography, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Editorial, Edwardiana, Fencing, Fiction, Hooliganism, Humour, In Memoriam, Instruction, Interviews, Jiujitsu, Mysteries, Physical Culture, Pop-culture, Reviews, Savate, Seminars, Sherlock Holmes, Sparring, Suffrajitsu, Vigny stick fighting, Wrestling | Comments Off on Announcing The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

Le Coup du Père François Flipbook Animation (circa 1897-98)

Posted on March 5, 2021 by BartitsuSociety

“Uncle Frank’s trick” was anecdotally attributed to a “philosophical Apache”, who reasoned that it was better tactics to temporarily disable a mugging victim without endangering their life. During the early years of the 20th century, the trick attained a degree … Continue reading →

Posted in Hooliganism, Video | Comments Off on Le Coup du Père François Flipbook Animation (circa 1897-98)

“La Defense dans la Rue” Reviewed (The Kilkenny Moderator, May 1, 1912)

Posted on February 8, 2021 by BartitsuSociety

“LA DEFENSE DANS LA RUE.” This is the title of a book published by Jean Joseph Renaud — Pierre Lafitte and Co.. Paris. Treatises and booklets on self defence—generally based on some single system specially favoured by the author– are … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Hooliganism, Reviews | Comments Off on “La Defense dans la Rue” Reviewed (The Kilkenny Moderator, May 1, 1912)

“Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” fight scenes

Posted on December 29, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 29th January 2009 As an experienced stick fighter, boxer and expert in “baritsu”, Sherlock Holmes came close to E.W. Barton-Wright’s ideal of Bartitsu.  Here’s a selection of fight sequences from the classic … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Baritsu, Boxing, Fiction, Hooliganism, Sherlock Holmes, Video | Comments Off on “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” fight scenes

“Be careful with the face, boys …” – Preview of a Fight Scene from “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”

Posted on December 27, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 4th December 2011 A new sneak preview (minor spoilers) of a baritsu fight from the feature film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, opening on December 16th:

Posted in Baritsu, Fiction, Hooliganism, Pop-culture, Sherlock Holmes, Video | Comments Off on “Be careful with the face, boys …” – Preview of a Fight Scene from “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”

M. Vigny’s School of Self Defence (Daily News, 27 May, 1904)

Posted on December 27, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 30th May 2012 “All good citizens will rejoice to learn that a new and efficacious method of abolishing those pests of the streets known as Hooligans Has been discovered and put into … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Hooliganism, Vigny stick fighting | Comments Off on M. Vigny’s School of Self Defence (Daily News, 27 May, 1904)

“Waylaid by a Ruffian!”

Posted on December 27, 2020 by BartitsuSociety

Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 19th August 2012 A cautionary tale of urban maleficence. Don’t let this happen to you! Ladies and gentlemen alike are invited to arm themselves against the tide of ruffianism by attending the … Continue reading →

Posted in Antagonistics, Fiction, Hooliganism, Humour, Video | Comments Off on “Waylaid by a Ruffian!”