Sherlock Holmes and Jiu Jitsu
Greendistantstar
sustaining any number of cuts and bruises in workouts. One of his mantras is "you have to be
comfortable being uncomfortable", rising above physical pain. He has so many fights in his films, he
says, because he likes watching them. His Sherlock Holmes is also a jujitsu master. According to
Conan Doyle, he says, Holmes knew about martial arts before anyone in the West did."
GDS
"Let's roll!"
Dan Winsor
wrote:
I seem to remember Kirk posting about Holmes' MA in the past. Kirk?
You still around?
As to Guy Ritchie, well heck if he's studying JJJ and Karate and
willing to get a bit bruised or cut, then he certainly is an expert in
*my* book. Somehow I have this image of him in his huge castle in
Scotland (right?) being "comfortable being uncomfortable" by having
the temperature in his workout studio a degree too high while his
personal trainer yells at him to hit the focus mits harder.
--
Dan Winsor
Soy un poco loco en el coco.
I can't believe it's not a Badger!
Subj: holmes jj
Eastern Martial Arts, in this case "Baritsu" (yes, misspelled, either
on accident or deliberately) was merely an exotic plot device for C-D
to resurrect Holmes. It fit well with Holmes character and well
established Martial proclivities. Originally, it was, in fact,
"Baritsu" - which most scholars believe was in reference to Barton-
Wright's "Bartitsu" martial art. That being a Victorian era JKD/MMA-
like mixing of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu/Judo with Western methods including
Wrestling, Boxing, and a peculiar version of la Canne stick fighting.
However, in American editions of the story, "Baritsu" was, for some
reason, changed to "Jiu-Jitsu" by the editors which, in total, is
probably close enough given what else C-D says of Holmes physical
pursuits.
According to C-D, Holmes was experienced at Shooting, Boxing,
Singlestick, Fencing, and "Baritsu." He was much more a man of action
than the Rathbone flicks portrayed him. In fact, he was very much a
Renaissance Man with interests ranging from Music and the Arts through
Sciences and to Martial Arts and "Physical Culture."
Of course, he also had his "demons."
All that said, I'm really looking forward to the movie and we in the
Bartitsu Society hope that it will help to establish for modern
viewers the fact of Victorian era Western martial pursuits. The
director and fight choreographer both have good reputations in this
light and the previews, though not exactly 100% period accurate, look
pretty cool.
Peace favor your sword (IH),
Kirk
Mark Goldberg
> All that said, I'm really looking forward to the movie and we in the
> Bartitsu Society hope that it will help to establish for modern
> viewers the fact of Victorian era Western martial pursuits. The
> director and fight choreographer both have good reputations in this
> light and the previews, though not exactly 100% period accurate, look
> pretty cool.
>
> Peace favor your sword (IH),
> Kirk
I had an affection for the manly, intelligent, solitary citizen Holmes,
and of course, the brilliant deducer of criminal behavior, that was
Holmes. But I had my doubts about this one and I read about eight or so
reviews and the one's I respect say it's more than a bit of a dud... if
you expect the Holmes you're wanting to see. The story is convoluted,
and unlike the brilliance of Sir Arthur's mystery telling, there's no
way to actually figure out reasonably- which was a hallmark of Doyle's
story telling.
I liked the british TV version of Homes about 15 yrs ago?, and I liked (
some will snicker at this one ) the Young Sherlock Holmes from the 80's.
That one was actually quite more like Conan Doyle and refreshing and
gave hints as to why Holmes would become as we see him as an adult.
Doyle never wrote this but the movie doesn't insult the original in this
portrayal. Some reviewers, not on the movie payroll as such, are calling
it a bit tedious and I have a feeling this one, I'll see when it hits
the old blockbuster shelves <sigh>
As for this one, my bias was the director, Guy Richie, who along with
his then wife, Madonna, fucked up a completely terrific movie- 'Swept
Away', which was a very good movie and story and done so well in the
early 70's.
I remember the early 70's had a pretty good Holmes movie- 'the seven
percent solution' with Holmes meeting Sigmund Freud and them doing a
fine mystery and adventure story. I of course, enjoyed the scene with
Freud taking on the bigot- a travis type bs bully- and giving him his
comeupance- with the Dr Watson fellow giving him a pat on the shoulder
after the encounter and entoning to Freud...'Stout Fellow' :^)
Mark
SPORTfighter
Hes studies BJJ not JJJ.
saying he does JJJ is not fair.Its like calling an astronomer and
astrologer.
Rabid Weasel Lawson
Back during the time periond in question for this (fictional) story, JJJ
still had all the newaza that BJJ is associated with, particularly the
"British Jiu Jitsu" stuff. Back then Judo wasn't the only JJJ that had
shiai and randori.