“Schools where men are taught to defend themselves" (1903)

[A.M.]

A re-printed article from the New York Tribune (1903) at Bartitsu.org:

http://www.bartitsu.org/index.php/20...treet-rowdies/

I thought highwaymen died out in the early 19th century

[DdlR]

For most practical purposes, they did, but the term was still occasionally used as slang to describe muggers, etc.

[judoist]

Very nice. Is this only a stick art, or is there any unarmed training? If there is, from which style did it come from?

[DdlR]

Although it isn't identified in the New York Tribune article, the method described is obviously that of Pierre Vigny, who also taught savate and boxing. During his time as an instructor at the Bartitsu Club he also picked up some jiujitsu, and Vigny later hired his former Bartitsu Club colleague, Sadakazu Uyenishi, to teach jiujitsu at his (Vigny's) self defense school as well.

[Eddie Hardon]

French are snooty, self-centered, jingoists

That looks about right. My word but they were snooty, self-centred and considered us Brits as beneath them or as issuing a bad smell.

I was in Mauritis a short while ago and this came across even on the BA flight back to Blighty.

It's only a matter of time....:occasion1

[judoist]

Although it isn't identified in the New York Tribune article, the method described is obviously that of Pierre Vigny, who also taught savate and boxing. During his time as an instructor at the Bartitsu Club he also picked up some jiujitsu, and Vigny later hired his former Bartitsu Club colleague, Sadakazu Uyenishi, to teach jiujitsu at his (Vigny's) self defense school as well.

That is one well-rounded system. All of that unarmed training + stick fighting, would surely run over most like a steam roller...

[judoist]

Cool picture. Sort of reminds me of those old jujutsu sketches from the Nihon-shoki.

[Ningirsu]

Cool picture. Sort of reminds me of those old jujutsu sketches from the Nihon-shoki.

Also looks like a halfsword thrust to the neck.

[The_Beak]

In such a crisis the first blow counts. At such a time neither endurance nor strength is as important as quickness. There is only one round, and in most instances there is only one blow. The man who gives it first, and gives it right, is the victor. One does not need to be an experienced boxer or wrestler, for his adversary on such occasions is not likely to observe the Marquis of Queensberry rules or the laws of the Greco-Roman school of wrestling. Foul means are fair at such times.

Lol at turn of century Street v. Sport

Tactics which might supplement those of the London stick men have been Introduced into the United States Navy. They are trick catches which are for the most part based on the Japanese system of wrestling. A sailor renders an assailant powerless simply by twisting his muscles the wrong way. It is called the leverage system, for the reason that it tends to pry a victim’s joints apart by using the bones as levers one against another. Should a New Yorker combine both the tactics of the London stick man and the United States naval wrestler, it is safe to say that the police of this city would have far fewer holdups and burglaries to record than at the present time.

Olde timey mma it seems

[DdlR]

Barton-Wright's introduction of jujitsu in 1898 led to several eclectic systems during the first decade of the 20th century; his own Bartitsu method (1899-1902), Vigny's system, Jean Joseph Renaud's "defense dans la rue", Longhursts' "Combined Self Defence and Attack", etc. In modern terms they would be somewhere between MMA, RBSD and Dog Brothers.