"We tottered together upon the brink of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me. I slipped through
his grip, and he with a horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds, and clawed the air with both his hands. But for all his efforts he could not get his balance, and over he went."
- Sherlock Holmes in "The Empty House"

Learn to fight like Sherlock Holmes! London's Bartitsu Club was all the rage in 1899, but only recently has this lost martial art been rediscovered. Learn the "gentlemanly art of self-defense" at our free study group training session. No martial arts experience required. The Club meets once a month in Chelsea for 2-4 hours of Bartitsu training consisting of Vigny cane, savate, 'scientific' pugilism, and Ju Jutsu. Curriculum includes canonical Bartitsu from turn-of-the-century instructional articles published by Bartitsu's founder, Edward William Barton-Wright, as well historic and antique training manuals of the era. Neo-Bartitsu will also be explored. Ever wanted to learn to defend yourself with a MetroCard, book of matches, or a magazine? We'll learn to use the contents of our handbags, pockets, briefcases, backpacks, or whatever you normally carry, for self-defense and combative purposes. Beginners welcome. Historical combat expert Professor Mark P. Donnelly, whose July 2011 Bartitsu seminars in New York City helped to launch the group, has kindly agreed to advise us via e-mail, telephone, and Skype.

May 2012 meeting:
Sunday, May 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Society for Martial Arts Instruction
4 West 18th Street, Third Floor
New York, NY 10011
>>RSVP on Facebook

Please bring a walking stick, parasol, and/or sturdy stick umbrella if you have one. You can purchase an inexpensive cane or stick umbrella at drugstores and gift shops. A wooden dowel or length of PVC piping approximately 36" long can serve as a walking stick; please smooth or tape any rough ends and mark one end as the "loaded" tip. Period attire is welcome, as long as you can scuffle about a bit.


Visit our Web site: www.nycsteampunk.com/bartitsu
Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycbartitsu

The New York City 19th Century Extravaganza is a three-day, all-ages expo featuring historically-focused classes, hands-on experiences, and performances highlighting nineteenth-century life in New York City. The festival culminates in a full-day of Victorian-style picnicking, performances, and celebration on the lawn of Brooklyn's Old Stone House Museum! Nearly every event is free, and there's something for everyone! Brought to you by The New York Nineteenth Century Society. Visit www.nyncs.org for more information about both the festival and the Society.

"We tottered together upon the brink of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me. I slipped through
his grip, and he with a horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds, and clawed the air with both his hands. But for all his efforts he could not get his balance, and over he went."
- Sherlock Holmes in "The Empty House"

Learn to fight like Sherlock Holmes! London's Bartitsu Club was all the rage in 1899, but only recently has this lost martial art been rediscovered. Learn the "gentlemanly art of self-defense" at our free study group training session. No martial arts experience required. The Club meets once a month in Chelsea for 2-4 hours of Bartitsu training consisting of Vigny cane, savate, 'scientific' pugilism, and Ju Jutsu. Curriculum includes canonical Bartitsu from turn-of-the-century instructional articles published by Bartitsu's founder, Edward William Barton-Wright, as well historic and antique training manuals of the era. Neo-Bartitsu will also be explored. Ever wanted to learn to defend yourself with a MetroCard, book of matches, or a magazine? We'll learn to use the contents of our handbags, pockets, briefcases, backpacks, or whatever you normally carry, for self-defense and combative purposes. Beginners welcome. Historical combat expert Professor Mark P. Donnelly, whose July 2011 Bartitsu seminars in New York City helped to launch the group, has kindly agreed to advise us via e-mail, telephone, and Skype.

February 2012 meeting:
Sunday, February 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Society for Martial Arts Instruction
4 West 18th Street, Third Floor
New York, NY 10011
>>RSVP on Facebook

Please bring a walking stick, parasol, and/or sturdy stick umbrella if you have one. You can purchase an inexpensive cane or stick umbrella at drugstores and gift shops. A wooden dowel or length of PVC piping approximately 36" long can serve as a walking stick; please smooth or tape any rough ends and mark one end as the "loaded" tip. Period attire is welcome, as long as you can scuffle about a bit.

Please note that journalists from WFUV radio and Always1895.net will be interviewing Club members at this meeting, but there is no obligation to participate in the interviews.

Visit our Web site: www.nycsteampunk.com/bartitsu
Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycbartitsu</div>

Do you want to learn to fight like Sherlock Holmes? Then save the date for a four-hour Bartitsu workshop with Mark P. Donnelly, Professore di Armes, on Sunday, March 11, in Manhattan. Visit www.nycsteampunk.com/bartitsu/seminars for more information or RSVP on Facebook for the workshop.

In addition to the workshop, the New York Nineteenth Century Society will also present a Steampunk Pub Quiz hosted by Mr. Donnelly at everyone's favorite steampunk bar The Way Station on Saturday, March 10. It's not a test, just a fun social event. Enter as individuals or teams to win fabulous prizes by answering trivia questions about steampunk and the 19th century. Or just drop by to lift a glass with us and watch the contest! Visit www.nycsteampunk.com for more information or RSVP on Facebook for the pub quiz.

"We tottered together upon the brink of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me. I slipped through
his grip, and he with a horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds, and clawed the air with both his hands. But for all his efforts he could not get his balance, and over he went."
- Sherlock Holmes in "The Empty House"

Learn to fight like Sherlock Holmes! London's Bartitsu Club was all the rage in 1899, but only recently has this lost martial art been rediscovered. Learn the "gentlemanly art of self-defense" at our free study group training session. No martial arts experience required. The Club meets once a month for three hours of Bartitsu training consisting of Vigny cane, savate, 'scientific' pugilism, and Ju Jutsu. Curriculum includes canonical Bartitsu from turn-of-the-century instructional articles published by Bartitsu's founder, Edward William Barton-Wright, as well historic and antique training manuals of the era. Neo-Bartitsu will also be explored.

January 2012 meeting:
Sunday, January 29 from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Society For Martial Arts Instruction
4 West 18th Street, Third Floor
New York, New York

RSVP on Facebook

When you arrive at the SMFMAI, please do the following:

1. Remove your shoes until you reach the training floor. No shoes anywhere in the dojo, including locker rooms, bathrooms, except on the training floor after mats are up
2. Sign the SFMAI waiver and if you are new to the Bartitsu Club of NYC, sign our waiver as well
3. Contribute a donation of $10 ($5 for students/financially challenged, $15 for landed gentry and robber barons), unless you are already a SFMAI student or staff member

Please bring a walking stick, parasol, and/or sturdy stick umbrella if you have one. You can purchase an inexpensive cane or stick umbrella at drugstores and gift shops. A wooden dowel or length of PVC piping approximately 36" long can serve as a walking stick; please smooth or tape any rough ends and mark one end as the "loaded" tip. Period attire is welcome, as long as you can scuffle about a bit.

Visit our Web site: www.nycsteampunk.com/bartitsu
See photos from the September 2011 meeting
Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycbartitsu

( larger view )

Digital painting. 16x20 inches at 400 DPI - many layers of swirling spirits in clouds and smoke, airships, buildings, and the main figure - each element decorated intensely with glyphs and scripts down to near-microscopic detail in each inch of the painting.

Come see the splendid statesman of chap-hop and his unique blend of Victorian rap, comedy, scones, and tea at Brooklyn's illustrious steampunk bar The Way Station on December 30 at 9:00 p.m. On furlough from his stately pile in England, and briefly stateside for your listening enjoyment, Professor Elemental is not to be missed. 21+ per NYC law; suggested donation: $10.

"We tottered together upon the brink of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me. I slipped through
his grip, and he with a horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds, and clawed the air with both his hands. But for all his efforts he could not get his balance, and over he went."
- Sherlock Holmes in "The Empty House"

Learn to fight like Sherlock Holmes! London's Bartitsu Club was all the rage in 1899, but only recently has this lost martial art been rediscovered. Learn the "gentlemanly art of self-defense" at our free study group training session. No martial arts experience required. The Club meets once a month for three hours of Bartitsu training consisting of Vigny cane, savate, 'scientific' pugilism, and Ju Jutsu. Curriculum includes canonical Bartitsu from turn-of-the-century instructional articles published by Bartitsu's founder, Edward William Barton-Wright, as well historic and antique training manuals of the era. Neo-Bartitsu will also be explored.

December 2011 meeting:
Sunday, December 18 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Society For Martial Arts Instruction
4 West 18th Street, Third Floor
New York, New York

At 4:00 p.m., historical combat expert Professor Mark P. Donnelly, whose July 2011 Bartitsu seminars in New York City helped to launch the group, has kindly agreed to advise us via Skype. This us an excellent opportunity to ask questions or get feedback on your Bartitsu training from one of the few people in the world with expertise in this esoteric martial art.

RSVP on Facebook

When you arrive at the SMFMAI, please do the following:

1. Remove your shoes until you reach the training floor. No shoes anywhere in the dojo, including locker rooms, bathrooms, except on the training floor after mats are up
2. Sign the SFMAI waiver and if you are new to the Bartitsu Club of NYC, sign our waiver as well
3. Contribute a donation of $10 ($5 for students/financially challenged, $15 for landed gentry and robber barons), unless you are already a SFMAI student or staff member

Please bring a walking stick, parasol, and/or sturdy stick umbrella if you have one. You can purchase an inexpensive cane or stick umbrella at drugstores and gift shops. A wooden dowel or length of PVC piping approximately 36" long can serve as a walking stick; please smooth or tape any rough ends and mark one end as the "loaded" tip. Period attire is welcome, as long as you can scuffle about a bit.

Visit our Web site: www.nycsteampunk.com/bartitsu
See photos from the September 2011 meeting
Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycbartitsu

A few fun events this weekend, featuring local legend Painless Parker and other favorite steampunk performers!

Did you miss the Oscar Wilde Walking Tour? A small group of literature students (unrelated to the Nineteenth Century Society or NYC steampunks) have requested it, so John Cooper will repeat the tour this Saturday, November 26. All are welcome - just RSVP John Cooper to attend.