What is Bartitsu?

Baritsu is the fighting art recently featured in the newthe doors to his training center in 1903 due to lack of
Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey Jr.attendance and the fact that many of his instructors
Bartitsu is named after it's founder Edwardabandoned him to start their own schools. After that
Barton-Wright who created the style as a method ofknowledge of Bartitsu was diminished by many of it's
self defense in the 1800s. It was popularized in London,instructors and practitioners dying off during the first
England as the gentleman's fighting style against streetworld war.
hooligans. Bartitsu could possible be considered one ofKnowledge of the art has been carried on through the
the first types of MMA which combines techniquesInternational Bartitsu Society. Today Bartitsu is being
from boxing, cane or stick fighting, Savate ( a Frenchrevived and taught around the world from Russia to
kicking style) and wrestling from Judo and Jujitsu.the USA. One upcoming seminar taught by Tony Wolf
Edward Wright develop this form after his manywill be held at the School of Acrobatics and New
travels and training with masters from around theCircus Arts in Seattle on March 6th 2010. Tony Wolf
world including Japan. Even more revolutionary washas been a martial art instructor, professional wrestler
that Bartitsu was one of the first fighting or martial artsand fight director/ stunt coordinator for many films.
to be taught to women.Details of more upcoming seminars and training events
So what happened to Bartitsu and why haven't mostcan be found on the society's website.
people heard about it? Unfortunately Edward closed