Self defence for the Victorian Lady, Gentleman, and Gentlebeing, with the cane.
Join us with instructor Lorne Williams, as we learn how to defeat 19th century ruffians and the patriarchy with the walking cane, umbrella, or parasol.
The class will be run for eight weeks. All skill levels welcome. Loaner canes and protective equipment will be available, though the more people with their own kit the better!
Schedule
First session Tuesday 24 February 6:30 PM – Bentleigh Uniting Church
Then every Tuesday at 6:30 PM until,
Last session Tuesday 14 April 6:30 PM – Bentleigh Uniting Church
What and why with a cane?
In the late 19th century and early 20th century there was a new fad for physical fitness and mysterious eastern martial arts, amongst the well to do.
This was driven by the movement of rural populations to the cities of Europe and the Americas as a result of the industrial revolution. This caused a lot of poverty and some of the highest crime rates in recorded history.
In short the toffs were anxious about being mugged by Apache gangsters on the streets of Paris with knuckle dusters and knives. While, the suffragettes needed fighting techniques to fight off police and protest busters as they fought for the right to vote with style and elan.
In this course we will explore the systems and methods they developed, which mixed indigenous English and French fighting methods for the sabre, and fists with eastern art of jujitsu and other methods. These methods were published in news paper articles and books from the time.
