Category Archives: Pop-culture

Suffrajitsu in “De Rare Jacob” (1910)

Posted on March 3, 2026 by BartitsuSociety

A satirical response to the suffrajitsu phenomenon in this cartoon from the Dutch journal De rare Jacob (1910). The caption translates as “The suffragettes haven’t been at all shy about using their feet for jiu-jitsu—rather like how the ‘weaker,’ more … Continue reading →

Posted in Edwardiana, Humour, Jiujitsu, Pop-culture, Suffrajitsu | Comments Off on Suffrajitsu in “De Rare Jacob” (1910)

“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”

“The Secret Martial Art of Charlie Chaplin’s Cane”

Posted on April 23, 2025 by BartitsuSociety

The AgelessExplorer YouTube channel offers an entertaining angle on cane-fighting and on Charlie Chaplin’s physical comedy genius in this mini-documentary.

Posted in Fiction, Humour, Pop-culture, Video | Comments Off on “The Secret Martial Art of Charlie Chaplin’s Cane”

Bartitsu and early British jujitsu with Tony Wolf

Posted on October 15, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

Martial arts podcasters Gavin Davies and David Brough interview Tony Wolf on the past and future of Bartitsu, with a bonus pro-wrestling anecdote.

Posted in Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Editorial, Interviews, Pop-culture, Video | Comments Off on Bartitsu and early British jujitsu with Tony Wolf

“Bartitsu” in Street Fighter 6

Posted on June 3, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

The incursion of Edward Barton-Wright’s New Art of Self Defence into modern pop-culture continues via the new Street Fighter 6 fighting game, in which the main villain, known as “JP”, is portrayed as a Bartitsu expert. This isn’t the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Pop-culture, Video | Comments Off on “Bartitsu” in Street Fighter 6

Dr. Emelyne Godfrey Reviews The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

Posted on December 31, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

Boasting over 600 pages, the long-awaited third edition of the Bartitsu Compendium is a real treat, being an exploration of Bartitsu yesterday and today, ideal for both new students of martial arts as well as the general reader. This anthology … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Antagonistics, Biography, Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Pop-culture | Comments Off on Dr. Emelyne Godfrey Reviews The Bartitsu Compendium, Volume III

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

Antagonistic Action in “Enola Holmes 2”

Posted on November 13, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

During the climactic scenes of Enola Holmes 2, Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) and the Viscount Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) exert their antagonistic prowess against a cadre of crooked coppers in a music hall, while the titular heroine (Millie Bobby Brown) does … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Pop-culture, Sherlock Holmes, Suffrajitsu, Video | Comments Off on Antagonistic Action in “Enola Holmes 2”

“The League” Doffs its Bowler to Bartitsu

Posted on August 31, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

Back in 2015, the popular comedy series The League skewered/paid tribute to Bartitsu in its episode titled “Draft of Innocence”. Better seven years late than never, here are the two short Bartitsu scenes featured in the show. For context, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Pop-culture, Video | Comments Off on “The League” Doffs its Bowler to Bartitsu

Umbrella-Fu in “In from the Cold”

Posted on March 23, 2022 by BartitsuSociety

In this scene from the action series In from the Cold, undercover spy/assassin Anya Petrova (a.k.a. Jenny Franklin/The Whisper, played by actress Margarita Levieva) breaks character to deliver an umbrella beatdown on an array of enemy agents. Alert viewers will … Continue reading →

Posted in Pop-culture, Video | Comments Off on Umbrella-Fu in “In from the Cold”