Bartitsu: The Forgotten Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes
When Victorian England Searched for a New Form of Self-Defense
At the end of the nineteenth century, London was the largest city in the world. The capital of the British Empire was experiencing unprecedented economic growth, but it also faced serious social problems. Crime, street violence, and gang activity were common concerns among the city's residents.
It was in this environment that one of the most innovative self-defense systems of its time was born.
Bartitsu.
Today, the name is best known because of its connection to Sherlock Holmes, but its real history is far more fascinating.
Many martial arts historians consider Bartitsu to be the first truly modern self-defense system and one of the earliest predecessors of mixed martial arts.
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| Photo sourced from: https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2018/04/22/bartitsu-in-the-american-context/ |
The Man Behind Bartitsu
Bartitsu was created by Edward William Barton-Wright.
Born in England in 1860, Barton-Wright worked as an engineer and traveled extensively throughout the world.
During his time in Japan, he encountered traditional Japanese martial arts.
The experience left a profound impression on him.
At a time when most Europeans knew very little about Asian fighting systems, Barton-Wright recognized their practical value.
After returning to England, he decided to create a new method of self-defense that combined the most effective techniques from various martial traditions.
The Birth of a Revolutionary System
In 1898, Barton-Wright officially introduced his new system.
The name Bartitsu was derived from a combination of his surname and the word Jujutsu.
For its era, the concept was revolutionary.
Rather than relying on a single martial art, Bartitsu combined multiple fighting systems into one comprehensive method of self-defense.
Today this approach seems perfectly normal.
At the time, however, it was a radical idea.
Boxing, Savate, and Jujutsu Under One Roof
Bartitsu was built upon four primary pillars.
English boxing.
French Savate.
Japanese Jujutsu.
And the art of cane fighting.
The goal was not to create a competitive sport but rather a practical self-defense system suitable for real-life situations.
Boxing provided effective punching techniques.
Savate contributed powerful kicking methods.
Jujutsu supplied throws, joint locks, and grappling skills.
Cane fighting offered practical solutions in an era when gentlemen commonly carried walking sticks as part of everyday attire.
The Art of the Walking Stick
One of the most distinctive aspects of Bartitsu was its emphasis on cane fighting.
In Victorian England, a walking stick was far more than a fashion accessory.
It was a common part of daily life.
Barton-Wright recognized that it could also serve as an effective self-defense tool.
Students learned striking techniques, defensive maneuvers, counterattacks, and methods of controlling opponents.
Today, many researchers regard Bartitsu as one of the most significant historical European systems of cane combat.
The Bartitsu Club of London
In 1899, the famous Bartitsu Club opened its doors in London.
It was much more than a martial arts school.
It became one of the world's first training centers dedicated to an integrated fighting system.
Japanese Jujutsu instructors, boxing experts, and Savate specialists all taught at the club.
Its members included military officers, professionals, and members of London's upper classes seeking practical self-defense training.
Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Baritsu
The most famous chapter in Bartitsu's history is connected to Arthur Conan Doyle and his legendary detective.
In the story The Adventure of the Empty House, Sherlock Holmes explains how he survived his deadly encounter with Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls.
During his explanation, Holmes states that he used a martial art called "Baritsu."
For decades, readers wondered what this mysterious fighting style could be.
Today, most historians agree that Conan Doyle was almost certainly referring to Bartitsu and that the word "Baritsu" resulted from a spelling or editorial mistake.
Ironically, this mistake became the greatest advertisement the system would ever receive.
The Decline of a Pioneer
Despite its initial success, Bartitsu did not survive for long.
The Bartitsu Club closed its doors in the early years of the twentieth century.
Financial difficulties, limited public awareness, and changing social conditions contributed to its decline.
For many decades, Bartitsu was largely forgotten.
The Revival of Bartitsu
Towards the end of the twentieth century, martial arts historians began rediscovering Barton-Wright's work.
The connection to Sherlock Holmes attracted researchers, collectors, and martial arts enthusiasts.
Gradually, organizations dedicated to studying and reconstructing Bartitsu emerged around the world.
Today, several groups continue to preserve and revive the techniques and training methods of the original system.
Bartitsu as a Precursor to Modern Mixed Systems
Perhaps Bartitsu's most important legacy lies in its philosophy.
Long before the emergence of modern self-defense systems and decades before the birth of MMA, Barton-Wright understood that no single martial art possessed all the answers.
His idea of combining techniques from multiple disciplines according to practical needs was remarkably ahead of its time.
What seems obvious today was truly revolutionary in the late nineteenth century.
The Legacy of a Forgotten Martial Art
Although Bartitsu never achieved the popularity of Judo, Karate, or Jujutsu, it occupies a unique place in martial arts history.
It was one of the earliest comprehensive self-defense systems of the modern era.
It successfully combined Eastern and Western fighting traditions at a time when such an approach was almost unheard of.
And thanks to a brief mention in the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, it eventually passed from obscurity into legend.
The Bartitsu Society
Tony Wolf – The Bartitsu Compendium
Edward William Barton-Wright Articles (Pearson's Magazine, 1899–1901)
Journal of Asian Martial Arts Archives
The Conan Doyle Encyclopedia
The Sherlock Holmes Society of London
The Bartitsu Society
The Adventure of the Empty House by Arthur Conan Doyle
Historical European Martial Arts Research Publications (HEMA)
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