So, you’ve seen the new Sherlock Holmes 2 trailer with all the fight-y and explode-y and a cross-dressing Robert Downey Jr., but if you’re still disgruntled that Hollywood made Holmes into an Action Star, then think again.
Sure, the World’s Greatest Detective is known for taking down the baddies using his brains more than his biceps, but it doesn’t mean he couldn’t handle a round of fisticuffs in his stories. In fact, in “The Adventure of the Empty House,” Holmes explains that he fought with Professor Moriarty using a fighting style called “baritsu.” Conan Doyle had misspelled a real Victorian-era martial arts style called bartitsu, and only in recent years have martial artists, neo-Victorians, Sherlockians, and steampunks alike started to revive this lost art.
On July 23rd & 24th, come to Antagonistics!, an instructional seminar about bartitsu brought to you by the New York Nineteenth Century Society and NYC Steampunk. You can visit their website to sign up for the seminar for one or both days.
People who don’t feel like getting their tailcoats dirty can also stop by The Way Station on Saturday, July 23rd at 7 PM for “A Study in Scarlet,” where bartitsu instructor & award-winning author Prof. Mark P. Donnelly will be giving a lecture about this martial arts form over tasty period drinks.
Ay-leen the Peacemaker owns a sharp parasol and isn’t afraid to use it. She also runs Tor.com Steampunk on Facebook and Twitter as well as the multicultural steampunk blog Beyond Victoriana.
