As Bartitsu is a martial art that aims to borrow from every effective method, especially with the goal of peacefully resolving a violent situation by disrupting an attacker's balance, grappling arts of every type are great to learn from. We will be exploring many of the moves from these videos in Bartitsu classes focused on jujitsu.
Ninjutsu for Israeli Police
First, we're going to look at a recording of a workshop for Israeli Police in the Ninjutsu way of dealing with common attacks. There is an interesting format, where we first look at how trained police officers deal with certain movements, which may be effective and direct, but inelegant compared to the ninjutsu way shown in comparison.
There is an abundance of arm bars and head manipulation takedowns. It becomes clear with repetition that going to the outside or the opponent's back is the best place to be.
Gracie Jujitsu for Self Defense
Here is an instructional video from an old VHS tape showing Gracie Jujitsu's answer to many types of attack, which is the format of the original Bartitsu articles. For example, in this video, it only names the attack as "Front Choke" then shows the response maneuver done cleanly at low speed, but without giving it a name or the principles involved. The New Art of Self Defence by Barton-Wright similarly has sections called "How to Overthrow an Assailant who Attempts to Strike You in the Face", then shows a series of photographs depicting the correct response with little use of jargon.
These are the topics covered, in order presented:
- Front Choke: Shoulder Throw
- Single-Hand Collar Grab: Arm Bar (ref. Bartitsu Compendium v.II: p.95)
- Shoulder Grab: Elbow Lock
- Two-Handed Collar Grab: Double-Elbow Lock to Hip Throw
- Front Bear-Hug Over Arms: Shoulder Throw (ref. Bartitsu Compendium v.II: p.101)
- Front Bear-Hug Under Arms: Head Twist (ref. Bartitsu Compendium v.II: p.100)
- Front Head Lock: Sacrifice Throw
- Punch (Right Cross): Lead Block to Hip Throw (ref. Bartitsu Compendium v.II: p.261)
- Head Lock from Behind: Shoulder Throw (ref. Bartitsu Compendium v.II: p.97)
- Head Lock from Behind Bending Back: Slip to Fireman's Throw
- Bear-Hug from Behind Over Arms: Double-Leg Hip Throw
- Bear-Hug from Behind Under Arms: Knee-Bar Takedown (ref. Bartitsu Compendium v.II: p.101)
- Front Kick: Catch and Toss
- Push Against the Wall (Double-Lapel): Slip to Knee strike
- One Hand Choke Against the Wall: Slip to Elbow strike
- Head Lock from the Side Bending Down: Sacrifice Throw to Arm Bar (ref. Bartitsu Compendium v.II: p.98)
- Head Lock from the Side Bending Down with Punch: Slip to Hammer Lock (ref. Bartitsu Compendium v.II: p.98)
- Head Lock from the Side with Throw: Single-Leg Pick-up Throw
- Club Attack at Close Distance: Block to Disarm
- Club Attack with Side Slip: Block to Back Heel Throw (ref. Bartitsu Compendium v.I: p.204)
- Club Attack from Far Distance: Block to Hip Throw
- Club Attack with Swinging Action: Bear Hug Over Arms to Pick-Up Throw
- Side Kick (Round Kick): Wrap to Reaping Throw
- Head Butt: Double Block to Knee Strike to "Silat Throw"
Many Ways to Hold and Takedown
Jujitsu and Ninjutsu are just two grappling arts. At Academie Duello, our main focus is Abrazzare or Italian wrestling, especially as Fiore explored. The more arts you add to your fight vocabulary, the more you'll see the underlying principles and commonalities between them.
Most grappling arts, jujitsu in particular, aim to use leverage and joint weaknesses with the goal of a smaller opponent defeating a larger opponent. If the issue were weight or physical strength, there would be no martial art, only the art of eating and getting stronger. The techniques do not belong to a specific art, but to the joints of the student and their assailant.
Although good technique is vital, taking the initiative and acting as early as possible with definite intent will always grant the benefits of surprise and momentum. Making your opponent react to you means you control the situation.
Holiday Hours and Seminars
A reminder to my students that I will teach at each of the seminars held over the holiday period if you specifically let me know in advance that two or more of you are coming. The first workshop is for Body Mechanics; the second is on Combatives.
We will have no class on Wednesday the 25th and Wednesday the 1st, and the Saturday in between, 28 December.
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.