Arts & Culture

B2 September 9, 2013 Arts & Culture www.TheEpochTimes.com/Arts SAMIRA BOUAOU/EPOCH TIMES Jesse Barnick (L) Brad Gibson (R) combating in Bartitsu on 18th Street, New York City, Aug. 18. Reviving Bartitsu, the Way English Gentlemen Fight SAMIRA BOUAOU/EPOCH TIMES BY AMELIA PANG Pennsylvania to New York City society is in Chicago, while who founded the Bartitsu Club EPOCH TIMES STAFF every month to train in Bar- a few others are scattered in of New York City in August 2011. titsu. It is a 19th century form remote places such as New Zea- “But once I knew enough people of martial arts that English gen- land. Many believe it is worth who wanted to learn, I hired an NEW YORK—They are lone war- tlemen and ladies learned to the long distance travel. instructor and brought him to riors forging a path for the revi- defend themselves with walk- “It’s never going to be like the New York.” talization of a lost art of combat. ing sticks and umbrellas. millions of people who practice It began as a modest group Some travel from as far away as The second closest Bartitsu karate,” said Rachel Klingberg, of dojo-less students, with var- ied martial arts experience, training in Central Park once a month. But as winter threatened to disperse the group, The Soci- ety for Martial Arts Instruction took the group in and offered them a dojo. Advertise in one of the city’s Today, New York’s Bartitsu club has taught around 150 highest quality arts sections students, with generally 12 stu- Jesse Barnick (L) and Rachel Klingberg (R) combating in Bartitsu dents per class. Most just try on 18th Street, New York City, Aug. 18. one class, while experienced martial artists who have a pen- modern objects. session on Aug 18. Reach over 100,000 weekly local readers chant for science and Sherlock That’s where physics and bio- “I will absolutely be coming to Holmes fall in love with this mechanics come in. more classes,” Rush said. “The charming form of combat. “I’m much more interested teacher is really awesome.” Place your ad with editorial that is insightful & informative The classes incorporate Neo- in the science than the art. I’ve Barnick has studied martial Bartitsu, which explores ways found that Bartitsu just has arts since 1986, and has been Integrity in our business and our reporting have earned the to apply traditional Bartitsu loads of it,” said Jesse Barnick, teaching since 1996. He is a con- trust of readers and advertisers methods of fighting with mod- the elected Bartitsu instructor tract IT specialist living in New ern everyday tools such as keys, for the New York club. Jersey, who also teaches mar- Call 212-239-2808 today. water bottles and cellphones. tial arts privately. His students “It’s definitely still applicable include police officers and ex- to modern self defense, except military members. for the walking stick,” Kling- He began studying Bartitsu berg said. in 2011, when he met Kling- “Certainly joint locking and berg in another martial arts [certain methods of] kicking Bartitsu is the class. They were both research- are very applicable, especially art of the small ing the history and methods of for women because it doesn’t Bartitsu. require strength,” she said. outwitting the Bartitsu is, above all, the art of strong. Neo- Sherlock Holmes the small outwitting the strong. and Bartitsu “Neo-Bartitsu preserves the idea Bartitsu preserves When walking canes went out that if an object is in your hand the idea that if of fashion so did Bartitsu. And it can be used for self defense,” it would have remained for- Klingberg said. an object is in gotten if it weren’t for a spell- “Although cellphones are not ing error Arthur Conan Doyle designed for striking, you can your hand it can made in one of his Sherlock use its corners to apply a lot be used for self Holmes stories. of pressure. The same can be Some believe that when Arthur done with any rigid object in defense. Conan Doyle was pressured by your hand,” said Mark Don- Rachel Klingberg, monetary gains to bring back nelly, an expert in armed com- founder of Bartitsu Club Sherlock Holmes from the dead, bat who has researched Bartitsu he flipped through a copy of for years. of New York City The Strand, the British maga- “But the nature of threats zine where his series was pub- are different today, we are not lished, and read an article about cast in same light as Victorian After each class the students Bartitsu. But he misspelled it as gentlemen. The reason we are and teachers discuss questions, “baritsu” in his story. attacked now may be entirely theories, and ideas such as how “He dropped a ‘t.’ And it’s funny different from why a Victorian using force from a particular because that missing ‘t’ is prob- gentlemen would be attacked,” part of one's body adds more ably the only reason why Bar- he added. power to a strike. titsu is remembered today,” Neo-Bartitsu is subjective; “It’s a little more scientific Klingberg said. “People read there’s no documentation. than my usual approach to the Sherlock Holmes stories Teachers and students look at martial arts. I come from Tae and were determined to find black and white photographs Kwon Doe and Aikido,” said out what it is.” www.theEpochTimes.com to surmise how the late founder Joseph Rush, 19, a first-time Bar- would teach it today with titsu student who attended a SEE BARTITSU ON B3.

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