The true detectives.

The world's greatest detective (no, not Batman, the other one, comes from London, wears silly hats, smokes and shoots up) had his own martial art you know.

When people think of Mr Holmes, they think of an inquiring mind, but they don't think of a man who could soundly thrash an opponent. Despite the fact that he was no bookworm when it came to thugs. Victorian London wasn't exactly a safe place. Gaslight made the shadows darker. Thugs and garotters hid around the corner and most streets were not safe to walk down.

Enter a Mr Barton-Wright. A fellow who spent an appreciable amount of time in Japan, doing railway-type things that the Empire used to be good at. A time of Isembard Kindgom-Brunel and the building of Tower Bridge. A time when the British could do anything.

So, what did this Barton Wright fellow do?

He took time during railway laying to learn aspects of oriental martial arts, specifically Ju-Jitsu. he then brought it back to London, and taught it as one aspect of a system involving historical fencing, cane fighting, boxing, savate and generally anything that worked.

Stuff happened and Barton-Wright died a pauper. The two fellows he brought over to help teach Jujitsu helped fan the Victorian desire for the Orient and ended up eclipsing Barton-Wright's self defence for ladies and gentlemen. (or as he called it, Bartitsu)

And that, really is where the tale begins. Bartitsu lays forgotten, Barton-Wright in an unmarked grave and forgotten by all those who would never have practiced Karate if it wasn't for his visionary attitude. One comment kept this fighting system alive.

It was more of a throwaway remark in The Final Problem where Sherlock Holmes explains that he defeated Moriarty by use of Baritsu. People started to wonder if it was a real system. It grew from there.

Barton-Wright published a few articles in, if i am not mistaken, the same magazine that first published Sherlock Holmes. A lot of hard work has been put into this and the articles have been collated and re-published. (Mr Beast- I believe this is where the plug should go)

This is a fascinating fighting system, and I hope it is the time for this to re-surface. The historical significance is astounding, the techniques are for civilian, suit wearing combat. So even today it could be used as an effective self defence system. (Umbrella fighting, including how to use the crook to trip, ok the hat as buckler stuff may be a little inconvenient, but then again- why not bring back hats?)

Weapons II

Last post, I covered the common weapons. So, now I should give an overview of the uncommon and complex.

Sword and Bucker- egad, this looks fun and painful. I've got no idea about the guards, except I recognise a few as tricky and deceitful, depriving your opponent of a measurement of their risk. The few bouts I have witnessed (mostly on youtube) come across as fast, vaguely confusing and relying on decent strategy so your flinch reactions don't end up killing you.

Pollaxe- It's an axe, a hammer and a spear all in one. I would call this the swiss army knife of weapons, but that makes it sound pansy. Far from it, this is more like the anti-tank gun of the medieval era.

Scythes... Yes there are sources out there that describe scythe fighting. Proper two handed big scythes.

Quarterstaff- Nothing like the Robin Hood stuff. The extra reach granted by holding it by the near quarter gives enough range that a talented staffman can take on multiple swordmen.

16th century dutch barroom brawling- still valid now, except for the chapters on throwing people by their hair and what to do when someone is trying to stab you with their eating knife.

Umbrella and bowler hat fighting. Eat your heart out Mr Steed. Someone was actually doing that on the streets of London.

And the best thing? The list is almost endless. If you master one, you have several more to learn, maybe you will be lucky enough to get your hands on a 'new' old manuscript that gives novel instructions for a known weapon. They're out there.. Somewhere. (and I have opinions about the new Fiore furore.. but that is for a later date)

Europe has been at war in one way or another since one tribe found another. Even at peace, there have been civilian ways to kill each other.