Why, Bartitsu, My Dear Watson

A little interesting martial arts-related something for Holmes fans and history buffs:

Bartitsu: The Sherlock Holmes Way of Self-Defense

"Is this a good weapon?" Mr. Donnelly, clutching the umbrella, asked a crowd of several dozen here last weekend at the Steampunk World's Fair, an annual steam-age science-fiction festival. "It is if it's in my hands at the time of attack."

Other items in the Bartitsu arsenal include walking sticks, top hats, snuffboxes, handkerchiefs or "any item a gentleman would have at his disposal," says Mr. Donnelly.

The system was long thought to be part of the fictional world of Sherlock Holmes. But in the past decade, a handful of martial-arts enthusiasts, historians and Holmes scholars have rediscovered Bartitsu by piecing together archival newspaper and magazine clippings from turn-of-the-century London, among other sources. These include such articles as a "Defense Against Hooligans," tips on "Conducting a Person Out of the Room," or methods for overcoming an "assailant who seizes you by the waistbelt."

 Hat tip to the Vodkapundit.

Interesting Trivia: Balaclava

Believe it or not, one of my nicknames at my fraternity was Cliff (yes, as in my old college idol, Cliff Clavin). I was a bit of a trivia buff and I still have my letters shirt with the name sewn on to prove it!

Today's little known fact involves a common article of clothing during the winter months:

Lexical Investigations: Balaclava

During the Battle of Balaclava in 1854, British troops were underprepared for the cold Ukrainian winter, and unlike their French counterparts, who were allowed to wear as many layers as required to stay warm, the British were expected to adhere to their uniforms. The poor conditions caused a scandal in Britain and motivated civilians to donate money and knit warm clothing for the troops using government-issued patterns and regulation yarn, including a wool cap to be worn under their helmets. The British referred to these caps as Balaclava helmets, and later just called them balaclavas