Category Archives: Physical Culture
The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame in Belfast, NY
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The Oldest Gym in America?
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Tuesday, 21st April 2009 Among the interests of the Bartitsu Society is the study of 19th century physical culture; the panoply of diverse exercise systems that were practiced in public and private gymnasia throughout … Continue reading
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“A Fight in the Gymnasium”
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Thursday, 29th September 2011 A curious illustration of unknown provenance, presumably from a circa 1900 book or “Boy’s Own” magazine story. Either the fellow in the red shirt is far stronger than he … Continue reading
Posted in Antagonistics, Edwardiana, Physical Culture
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“Art of Manliness” Guide to Basic Indian Club Swinging
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Monday, 19th March 2012
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Protecting History: Vandalism at the Historic Hegeler-Carus Mansion Gymnasium
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Saturday, 2nd February 2013 The Hegeler-Carus Mansion in the town of La Salle, Illinois, contains what is believed to be the oldest preserved residential gymnasium in the United States. As the only known remaining example of … Continue reading
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Exercising on Board the Titanic
Courtesy of 3Dhistory.de, a colourised image of the on-board gymnasium of the ill-fated RMS Titanic. As a physical culture enthusiast, it’s likely that former Bartitsu Club member Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon would have made use of this gym prior to the night of April … Continue reading
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The Forteza Gymuseum
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Wednesday, 27th March 2013 The Gymuseum at the Forteza Fitness and Martial Arts studio in Ravenswood, Chicago is a unique “living museum” collection of antique physical culture apparatus, mostly dating from the period 1880-1910. Many of the … Continue reading
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Indian Clubs in “Doctor Who”
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Friday, 31st May 2013 The malicious minions of the evil Mrs. Gillyflower (Dame Diana Rigg) wield Indian clubs as weapons in this nicely-researched scene from the Doctor Who episode, The Crimson Horror. In reality, Indian clubs … Continue reading
Posted in Physical Culture, Pop-culture, Suffrajitsu
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Old Time Strongman Morning Routine
Originally published on the Bartitsu.org site on Sunday, 4th October 2015 The Art of Manliness offers this short morning workout routine based on Adrian Peter Schmidt’s 1901 manual, Illustrated Hints for Health and Strength for Busy People.
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