Bartitsu in Vancouver, Canada

**DdlR** · Posted On: 8/11/2010 8:37am

The Academie Duello is one of the world's premiere Western martial arts schools and has recently added regular Bartitsu classes to its schedule. Details at http://academieduello.posterous.com/...rtitsu-program .

I've visited the Academie and it's an amazing facility; a huge, dedicated WMA training center in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Well worth stopping by if you're in the city.

**Petter** · Posted On: 8/12/2010 11:05pm

I agree; but clearly you should add your opinion to the review.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 8/13/2010 8:57am

Done.

**Petter** · Posted On: 8/23/2010 1:35pm

This has now begun; initial thoughts here.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 8/23/2010 1:55pm

Thanks for that. Sounds like David (I assume) is hitting all the right notes.

Re. the jujitsu content and falling/floor surface issues mentioned in your review; the canonical Bartitsu material is all based on ko-ryu kata, with an emphasis on tripping and joint manipulation takedowns rather than high-amplitude throws. The neo-Bartitsu material covered in the second volume of the Compendium, though, does include a full range of judo-type hip and shoulder throws and ne-waza. Most modern Bartitsu groups take a similarly eclectic approach to the grappling content, drawing from the full range of pre-WW1 "British jujitsu" sources.

The weekend Bartitsu seminar held at the Academie in April experienced no problems with the throws and falls, although likewise most of the drills were geared towards controlled (though improvised) self defense scenarios rather than full-on sparring.

**Petter** · Posted On: 8/23/2010 1:56pm

David sounds right—I’m just astonishingly bad with names.

This does allay some concerns!

**Permalost** · Posted On: 8/23/2010 4:35pm

Wait, falconry?

**Petter** · Posted On: 8/23/2010 4:40pm

Originally Posted by CodosDePiedra

Wait, falconry?

Falconry is not an ongoing class, but there are occasional falconry workshops. The falconer, Joanne, sometimes keeps three birds in the salle for acclimatisation.

I think the basic idea is that the focus is on swordplay as per Capoferro and Fiore, as well as scholarly analysis thereof, but related activities in the broad sense of “other stuff knights did” are taught as interesting and historically relevant enough to be connected. (The number and diversity of workshops is kind of overwhelming. Armour-making, umbrella self defence based on cane fighting, you name it.)

**Permalost** · Posted On: 8/24/2010 10:36am

That's damn cool.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 10/02/2010 2:32pm

http://www.bartitsu.org/index.php/20...-of-vancouver/

A summary of the inaugural month of the Bartitsu Club of Vancouver by instructor David McCormick. In that Bartitsu is such an obscure style, he's obviously doing a great job in establishing a successful ongoing training course.