Bartitsu School of Arms 2012 video

**DdlR** · Posted On: 9/22/2012 3:34am

A "video memoir" of the recent Bartitsu School of Arms seminar/conference held at the Forteza Fitness and Martial Arts studio in Chicago.

The aim of the School of Arms is to continue the cross-training experiments (pre-WW1 jujitsu, catch wrestling, classical boxing and the Vigny method of stick fighting) that were left as a work-in-progress when the original London Bartitsu Club closed down in 1902.

The three-day event began with a field trip to the historic Hegeler Carus Mansion in LaSalle, IL and an extended tour of the mansion's gymnasium, which is believed to be the oldest surviving private gym in the US. Back in Chicago that evening, School of Arms participants joined the audience of the play "Susan Swayne and the Bewildered Bride", an action/comedy/drama set in the late Victorian era and featuring some Bartitsu-influenced fight scenes.

The video features excerpts from the two days of cross-training with instructors Allen Reed, Keith Jennings, Tony Wolf and Mark Donnelly as well as some informal sparring matches and highlights from the Antagonisticathlon (a Sherlock Holmes-themed martial arts obstacle course).

**DdlR** · Posted On: 9/24/2012 10:16pm

For anyone in the Chicago area who may be interested in a closer look at the School of Arms venue, Forteza Fitness and Martial Arts (shown in the video above), they are holding an open house this weekend as part of this event - http://ravenswoodartwalk.org/ . The weekend will include demonstrations and mini-classes in Bartitsu, historical fencing, Forteza Combatives self defense, etc.

***DerAuslander*** · Posted On: 9/25/2012 7:27am

That looked like a great time. Wish I could have been there.

**kelvis** · Posted On: 9/25/2012 8:23am

That did look fun. Was there a bar in there serving pints of ale? There should be!

**DdlR** · Posted On: 9/25/2012 8:59am

That looked like a great time. Wish I could have been there.

Next time ...

**DdlR** · Posted On: 9/25/2012 9:01am

Originally Posted by kelvis

That did look fun. Was there a bar in there serving pints of ale? There should be!

Our venue for dinner and drinks on Saturday night was the Victorian themed side-room of a local bar, just two blocks away from the School of Arms. Perfect way to end a day of Bartitsu.

**xxax** · Posted On: 9/25/2012 10:50am

Sherlock Holmes knew this! Well if he were a real person that is...

**Tom .C** · Posted On: 9/25/2012 11:25am

Originally Posted by xxax

Sherlock Holmes knew this! Well if he were a real person that is...

Are you the fucker that stands up and yells "it's not for real" during the movies? If you are, just stop that.

**DdlR** · Posted On: 9/25/2012 11:46am

Blatant plug - Forteza Fitness and Martial Arts, the headquarters of the Bartitsu Club of Chicago, is also currently running a project towards turning a dusty old store-room into a neo-Victorian style ladies' and gentlemen's clubhouse. It will include a lending library, art gallery of rare 19th century martial arts prints and a multi-media learning center (plus a secret passage entrance). All info., including video, at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cr...house?a=498944 .

**kelvis** · Posted On: 9/25/2012 11:47am

Originally Posted by DdlR

Our venue for dinner and drinks on Saturday night was the Victorian themed side-room of a local bar, just two blocks away from the School of Arms. Perfect way to end a day of Bartitsu.

That's awesome!