bartitsu

Since the late Victorian/early Edwardian era was the heyday of the walking stick, the claim that a single gentleman, skilled in bartitsu, could beat away a band of ruffians armed with “cudgels, knives, shillelaghs, bonkers, batons, and even truncheons,” was immensely appealing.

The Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes | Edwardian Promenade 2010

In the film Homes employs a martial art system called bartitsu, also known as the

Kung Fu Cinema 2009

In the film Homes employs a martial art system called bartitsu, also known as the

Kung Fu Cinema 2009

Of course "bartitsu" doesn't work as a Japanese word, where "baritsu" seems at least possible; so I'd say that Doyle improved it, though perhaps purely absent-mindedly.

Sherlock Holmes (2009) Steven Barnes 2009

Though bartitsu was adopted by women, jiu-jitsu was taken up by women and children with alacrity, and the former in particular were avid martial artists, as newspapers and periodicals expressed the need for unprotected women to arm themselves in case of assault.

The Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes | Edwardian Promenade 2010

However, there are a few incidents within the trailer which I did approve of, such as the inclusion of bartitsu (baritsu to Conan Doyle), an Anglicized form of martial arts created in the late 19th century.

Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes (2009) | Edwardian Promenade 2009

From what I've heard, bartitsu fighting is featured.

Boing Boing 2009

Barton-Wright spent the next four years promoting and developing this new sport (a portmanteau of jiu-jitsu and his own surname) in London by opening up a school devoted to bartitsu, holding public demonstrations, conducting interviews, and writing copious articles and a book expounding on the physical and mental benefits of the sport (this was the era of “Muscular Christianity”).

The Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes | Edwardian Promenade 2010

Unfortunately for Barton-Wright, bartitsu declined in popularity by 1903 and was actually eclipsed by jiu-jitsu, as taught by the Japanese martial artists he invited to England.

The Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes | Edwardian Promenade 2010

After the closure of his school, Barton-Wright turned to physical therapy, and if not for the mention (though misspelled) of this short-lived fad by Conan Doyle, bartitsu would have remained a footnote in history.

The Martial Art of Sherlock Holmes | Edwardian Promenade 2010