If one approaches Bartitsu as a series of tricks or techniques, one merely has to choose the correct response for the situation. This begs the question: How does one correctly assess the situation?
For effective self-defence, a person must not only repeat effective movement patterns, but use them when the time is right. Tactics and strategies in fighting are often far more effective than any perfect move because everyone, including your assailant, has a plan. Defeating the plan or expectation can cause people to freeze while they rethink what to do next.
You don’t want to be the one to freeze, so having effective strategies for general situations will keep you in charge. The problem is that the street thug is already defeating your plan if your only plan was “have a nice walk after dinner.” That is, unless your nice walk included a conscious decision to also take note of any dangerous things in your surroundings.
1. Awareness
The first strategy is the most important: to be continually aware of one’s environment.
In the Street: Where are the exits? Which way would you run if you had to? A little paranoia can go a long way: just ask yourself when entering a new space whether there are possible threats or danger around. When you turn a corner, pay attention to the people and the structures around you.
Being mentally prepared is the most important part of avoiding surprise and the “sucker punch”.
Your Advantage: Within the fight, it is also important to use awareness. Try to never close your eyes (flinch), or turn your back on your opponent.
The Ruffian’s Disadvantage: Whenever possible, you should prefer to be behind your opponent, using arm-bars and chokes.
2. Avoidance
The main goal is to avoid dangerous situations early. Awareness is only as useful as your reactive avoidance.
In the Street: If you can get away from a dangerous person before an encounter, then you’ve succeeded in self-defence. Go around suspicious neighbourhoods, maintain some space around you, and don’t hang around violent people.
Your Advantage: Try not to rely on blocks or covering up for your protection; instead, try to use mobility to slip to the side of any oncoming attack.
The Ruffian’s Disadvantage: Once you’ve slipped their attack and you can strike back, keep them moving backward so they never have an opportunity to avoid you.
Once you’ve created an opportunity to escape, do so.
3. Alignment
Keeping the spine straight and vertical is the attitude with the most balance.
In the Street: Walking in an upright manner will actually lessen the chance you’ll be attacked because you won’t look like a victim.
Your Advantage: When tripping or throwing your opponent, don’t lean over, or you may find yourself on the ground with them. When launching punches and kicks, remain balanced.
The Ruffian’s Disadvantage: Using joint manipulations and surprise, try to keep your opponent from proper alignment. A punch to the mark should cause them to bend forwards. A kick to the knee will cause them to stumble. A choke should bring them into an awkward position while you remain upright.
4. Action
Learning which actions are effective at different ranges, and how to perform those actions quickly and correctly for your body is the core of martial arts.
In the Street: Distance dictates action, so choose your stance based on your range. Showing your palms makes you look weak and is a universal sign of “I don’t want to fight”, but can still be used for defensive action if it comes to that.
Your Advantage: Strikes should have a full extension of the limb. Controlling the elbow direction will be the difference between an effective lock and a useless one. Know when to hold the stick in one hand or with two.
The Ruffian’s Disadvantage: Encourage them to attack you in ways you expect and have a good reaction for. Show openings as invitations, and exploit their actions.
5. Adaptability
The walking stick is part of Bartitsu because it was so common for a gentleman to walk with one. Today, that might be your umbrella, used in a similar manner.
In the Street: Use your environment to make it inconvenient to attack or surround you. Put a barrier between yourself and the suspicious person, even if it is the curb of the sidewalk, it may cause a fall.
Your Advantage: Can you fight using your bag as a distraction or a means of grappling? Do you know the jacket trick? Can you use a pen as a dagger? Even throwing loose change can disrupt the assailant’s plan.
The Ruffian’s Disadvantage: Always assume the unarmed man is concealing a knife.
Year in Review
I highly recommend visiting Bartitsu.org for Tony’s Year in Review. It has links to all major Bartitsu-related stories throughout 2013, and a reminder that the revival of Bartitsu is a world-wide phenomenon.
Holiday Schedule
We had our last Bartitsu session of 2013, so classes will resume on Saturday 4 January, 2014. Have a great holiday season and a safe New Year’s.
Head of Stage Combat at Academie Duello and certified Instructor with Fight Directors Canada. Head of Bartitsu at Academie Duello, the longest continuously running Bartitsu program in the world. Read more from David McCormick.