New New WMA/fitness gym planned for Chicago

**Permalost** · Posted On: 12/19/2011 12:18pm

Originally Posted by GenericUnique

If you were unaware, there's The Schola San Marco close to San Diego. No idea what they're like, just found with the HEMA Alliance Training Partner Finder.

Cool, maybe I'll check it out if I end up in North County. Interestingly enough, one of my training partners teaches at the NC Aikikai.

**Soldiermedic** · Posted On: 12/19/2011 1:43pm

I really hope there is a steampunk themed juicebar attached to this facility

**MGM** · Posted On: 12/21/2011 2:50pm

Congratulations to all involved in making this happen. If I ever got to Chicago I would love to stop by for a few lessons.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 1/09/2012 10:29pm

The website for the new WMA gym is under construction; in the meantime ... http://www.bartitsu.org/index.php/20...-martial-arts/

**DdlR** · Posted On: 1/19/2012 4:37pm

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

Located in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood, the Bartitsu Club of Chicago offers regular, progressive training in the “lost martial art of Sherlock Holmes”.

History

At the end of the Victorian era, E. W. Barton-Wright combined jiujitsu, kickboxing and stick fighting into the “New Art of Self Defence” known as Bartitsu. Promoted via exhibitions, magazine articles and challenge contests, Barton-Wright’s New Art was offered as a means by which ladies and gentlemen could beat street hooligans and ruffians at their own game.

Thus, the Bartitsu School of Arms and Physical Culture in London became the headquarters of a radical experiment in martial arts and fitness cross-training. It was also a place to see and be seen; famous actors and actresses, soldiers, athletes and aristocrats eagerly enrolled to learn the secrets of Bartitsu.

In early 1902, for reasons that remain a historical mystery, the London Bartitsu Club closed down. Barton-Wright’s art was almost forgotten thereafter, except for a single, cryptic reference in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventure of the Empty House, wherein it was revealed as the method by which Sherlock Holmes had defeated Professor Moriarty in their fatal battle at Reichenbach Falls.

Our premise

Bartitsu was abandoned as a work-in-progress one hundred and ten years ago, but what if Barton-Wright’s School of Arms had continued to thrive? In collaboration with other Bartitsu clubs and study groups throughout the world, the Bartitsu Club of Chicago is proud to pick up where he left off, reviving and continuing the experiment into the new millennium.

Our approach

E.W. Barton-Wright recorded the basics of his “New Art” via lectures, interviews and detailed articles, which form the nucleus of “canonical Bartitsu”. These methods are practiced as a form of living history preservation and also as a common technical and tactical “language” among modern practitioners.

“Neo-Bartitsu” complements and augments the canon towards an evolving, creative revival as a system of recreational martial arts cross-training.

Our venue

Forteza Fitness, Physical Culture and Martial Arts (4437 North Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60640) is the ideal venue for reviving Bartitsu. Directly inspired by Barton-Wright’s School of Arms, Forteza features a unique late-19th century theme; brick walls and a high timber ceiling enclosing 5000 square feet of training space, including a “gymuseum” of functional antique exercise apparatus.

Our classes

Beginning January 31st, 2012, Bartitsu classes at Forteza run from 6.30-8.00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The price for a six-week block course is $125.00, with a $25.00 discount for participants who have attended the introductory seminar on January 22nd.

A typical class includes calisthenic warm-ups, specialized movement drills, study of the canonical sequences and neo-Bartitsu “combat improvisation” training. Participants should wear comfortable exercise clothing and bring a change of shoes for the class.

Contact Rachel Jennings at racheljennings79@gmail.com to book your place in the first ongoing Bartitsu course in Chicago.

Our instructor

New Zealand citizen and Chicago resident Tony Wolf is one of the founders of the international Bartitsu Society. A highly experienced martial arts instructor, he has taught Bartitsu intensives in England, Ireland, Italy, Australia, Canada and throughout the USA. Tony also edited the two volumes of the Bartitsu Compendium (2005 and 2008) and co-produced/directed the feature documentary Bartitsu: The Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes (2010).

**DdlR** · Posted On: 1/23/2012 10:34pm

www.youtube.com/watch?v=url_GOJd_GE

A short video impression of the intro. seminar on Sunday. Note that the venue (Forteza Fitness and Martial Arts) is still under construction - the personal training area, WMA shop etc. will be installed over the next several months.

**Mordschlag** · Posted On: 1/26/2012 8:54pm

Looks like it will be a fantastic place. I find myself getting more and more interested in Bartitsu and even single stick (despite my dickish comments about the latter in the past), and I hope some of this will either become more popular on the west coast or that my travels will eventually take me to a place where it is popular.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 1/26/2012 9:04pm

There are active clubs in Seattle, San Francisco and Vancouver (Canada).

The latest on the gym is that the personal training area is now being installed and the the owners have done a deal with a local stunt team, who will be bringing in all their equipment (crashmats, etc.)

**DdlR** · Posted On: 2/18/2012 2:17pm

We've been running regular classes in medieval Italian fencing, rapier, Bartitsu, personal training and self defense at the Forteza studio for the past three weeks. A local stunt team is also training at the studio.

The main training floor and personal training area are complete (with room for refinements) and the waiting and reception areas have been installed; currently under construction are the WMA pro-shop and the changing rooms, and lastly the library/members lounge to be completed during the summer.