Introduction

I was introduced to Bartitsu through a friend of mine who wanted to put together a European Defensive Arts School (EDAS) in Brisbane. I am always up for a bit of combat fun with people who aren't going to take things personally and are willing to share and have patience in training hard.

I had never heard of it, so I started to read up on it and it's basis. I was intrigued that Edward William Barton Wright (1860 - 1951) had been introduced to jujutsu and judo in Japan and had opened his own mixed martial arts training hall in London in 1899. This style of combat was given the name of Bartitsu.

"... I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Return of Sherlock Holmes - The Case of the Empty House.

Our melting pot has been savate, wrestling, boxing, heavy and light cane fighting, jujutsu, and sword. Plus the individual backgrounds, mostly in European combat arts, of the core team. I was the only one with a significant martial arts background as well - with instructor level qualifications in karate, kung fu, ninjutsu, and aikido. Although I have had no formal qualification in jujutsu, I have studied it at various schools over the years.

The European Defensive Arts School (EDAS) was established and trains weekly in Brisbane, based on the canonical Bartitsu as provided by Tony Wolf and the Bartitsu-ka of the Bartitsu Society. We established training programs and attend living history events... I don't so much as the historical recreation is of interest only so much.

Which is what brings us to this post and introduction.

I am about to set off on the investigation and development of neo-Bartitsu canon and establish a training regime. Further, I will be documenting this canon and training documentation so that others can also participate.

This blog will provide insight and summaries of conclusions and outcomes. Join me in the journey.