Judo Jigaro Kano

Bartitsu, The Fighting Style Of Detective Sherlock Holmes

The latest blockbuster movie starring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as his trusted asstistant, Dr. Watson, puts some serious martial art skills on display.

People have been asking me what style it actually represents and I must admit I had to do some research which has been a lot of fun.

Here is what I found out:

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author and the creator of the literary figure, better known as Sherlock Holmes, referred to his main character’s fighting style as ‘Baritsu’, which turns out is just missing one letter to be entirely correct.

The martial art is called ‘Bartitsu’ and was named by E.W. Barton-Wright.

Barton-Wright had lived in Japan in the late 19th century and studied Jiu-Jitsu, among others with Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo.

Returning to his native London, he conferred with several martial arts experts in boxing, Savate, walking-stick fighting and Jiu-Jitsu, to create his own system which would incorporate several aspects of a ‘Gentlemanly Art of Self Defence’.

Bartitsu became very popular in the very early 20th century, not only among men, but among women, who also very effectively used their umbrellas to defend themselves against big city London thieves and criminals.

Unfortunately, there was a falling out between Barton-Wright and his Japanese star student/instructor and his successful Bartitsu self -defense system along with school literally vanished overnight.

The Bartitsu Society that is reviving this century-old self-defense system provided the following video documentary. Enjoy!