How The Suffragettes Were Masters of Jiu-Jitsu: Suffrajitsu
Channel: World History Decoded
Date: 2023-03-05

How The Suffragettes Were Masters of Jiu-Jitsu: Suffrajitsu 

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has became one of the most in trend martial arts in recent years, thanks to the UFC and figures like Joe Rogan. One of the most intriguing aspects of Jii-Jitsu is that technique genuinely beats strength to some degree at least, a feature that the suffragettes of over a century ago realised in their campaign for women’s voting rights in the UK. 

On the 18th of November 1910, a group of around 300 suffragettes were met by police and crowds outside Parliament. Things turned violent, with women beaten and assaulted by both police and men in the crowds. Many suffragettes were seriously injured, and 2 even died, with 100 going on to be arrested. This day is known as Black Friday. As the campaign for women’s votes became increasingly violent on both sides, women looked for ways to defend themselves. 

They turned to a Japanese martial art that developed in the 1530s: Jiu-Jitsu. Jiu-Jitsu as a martial art, and the later Brazilian adaption, known as Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, which was developed by the Gracie brothers initially In 1925, emphasises the use of leverage and strategy to allow a smaller, weaker opponent to beat a larger one, using your opponent’s strength against them. It goes without saying that this martial art, which emphasises technique over strength, allowing David to beat Goliath, was highly appealing to the suffragettes. 

In the lead up to World War 1, Edith Garrud, a tiny women who was only 4ft 11, became a jiu-jitsu instructor to the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), better known as the suffragettes. Garrud first saw Jiu-Jitsu in action when her husband went to a training session in 1899, and she was initially struck by the use of strategy and began taking lessons. 

Garrud had been regularly running suffragette-only classes before Black Friday, and this only intensified after the violent tipping point. She also wrote for the WSPU's newspaper, Votes for Women, about the utility of Jiu-Jitsu for their struggle, defeating larger, more powerful opponent. 

The Pankhursts also endorsed the martial art. As Sylvia Pankhurst, daughter of Emmeline, said in a 1913 speech: "The police know jiu-jitsu. I advise you to learn jiu-jitsu. Women should practice it as well as men."

Sources:

BBC News - 'Suffrajitsu': How the suffragettes fought back using martial arts https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34425615 

Aja Dang - 5 Choke Hold Defenses Women MUST Know | Self Defense | Aja Dang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V4vEyhWDZ0 

Scotsman - The Battle of Glasgow: Scotland's 'hidden' history of suffragettes and self-defence from 'Suffrajitsu' to Indian clubs https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/scotlands-hidden-history-of-suffragettes-and-self-defence-3302979 

Documentary about Edith Garrud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwxaXbNeD3E 

Historic UK - Votes for Women https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Votes-For-Women/ 

#internationalwomensday #jiujitsu #ufc 

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:58 Japanese and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
1:29 Suffragettes and Jiu-Jitsu 
2:16 Pankhurst's and jiu-Jitsu 
3:10 My Jiu-Jitsu Experience
5:46 Royce Gracie and the UFC
9:10 Women Get Voting Power