The Master and “Baritsu”

The largest problem concerning Japanese Sherlockiana is the meaning of “Baritsu.” This Japanese style of wrestling saved the Master’s life from Professor Moriarty in “The Empty House.”

Baritsu is widely accepted as a sort of Judo among Eastern and Western Sherlockians, but it was not called by its right name “Judo” or “Jujutsu.” Therefore, it has caused some arguments.

Count Makino, who was a member of The Baritsu Chapter, wrote a paper on this problem which was read by his grandson, Yoshida Ken-ichi at the first meeting of the society on October 11, 1948. In his opinion, Baritsu is “Bujutsu,” the martial art of the Samurai. Bujutsu includes Jujutsu, Kenjutsu (Japanese fencing), horseback riding, castle designing and all other skills for war. It is difficult for Western people to pronounce “Bujutsu” correctly.

Ralph Judson believed that it was Mr. Barton-Wright’s “Baritsu.” Both Count Makino and Judson thought that, when Watson (or Doyle) wrote EMPT, although Holmes told him “Judo” or “Jujutsu” he used the wrong word. “Bujutsu” is a vague concept, and “Baritsu” did not appear until 1899.

On the other hand, there is a unique paper on this problem. Iijima Akira thought Baritsu is not Judo, but Sumo. Sumo is traditional Japanese wrestling. In 1991, Sumo wrestlers visited London and wrestled at the Royal Albert Hall. There is a TV program on Sumo in the UK, so Sumo is becoming popular in Holmes’ homeland. Iijima believes that according to the description given by Holmes, the skill he used was not that of Judo, but that of Sumo, which is all about pushing out.

His theory is attractive, but unlikely. There are not that many people who do Sumo even in Japan. Judo is much more popular than Sumo among amateur sportsmen.

I agree with other scholars who think Baritsu was Judo. Kano Jigoro, Father of Judo, founded Kodokan in 1882. Jujutsu had been one of the martial arts, but Kano improved it to the point of being a modern sport for not only Samurais, but also children and elders, and named it “Judo.” Judson says, “It takes roughly seven years to become proficient in this art and reach instinctive actions and reactions to every kind of attack, it is likely that he started his training around 1883-1884.” If Judson is right, and Holmes was trained in Judo, he must have been one of the earliest students of Kodokan. Saigo Shiro, who was the model for the movie “Sugata Sanshiro” directed by Kurosawa Akira, received the black belt in 1883. As he studied Jujutsu before he entered Kodokan in 1882, he needed only one year to receive the black belt. In 1990, a man of seventy-nine joined Kodokan, and attended practice every morning. One year later, he passed the examination for the black belt. It is not impossible for a talented person to get a black belt in a short period of time.

I think, however, Sherlock Holmes did not need a black belt to fight with Professor Moriarty. Professor was an old scholar whose friends were books. He made evil schemes but did not conduct them by himself. He was a man of brains, not of hands and feet.

If Sherlock Holmes had a black belt, he would not have made such a scene in “The Reigate Squires.”

His words were cut short by a sudden scream of ‘Help! Help! Murder!’ With a thrill I recognized the voice as that of my friend. I rushed madly from the room on to the landing. The cries, which had sunk down into a hoarse, inarticulate shouting, came from the room which we had first visited. I dashed in, and on into the dressing-room beyond. The two Cunninghams were bending over the prostrate figure of Sherlock Holmes, the younger clutching his throat with both hands, while the elder seemed to be twisting one of his wrists. In an instant the three of us had torn them away from him, and Holmes staggered to his feet, very pale and evidently greatly exhausted.

This is recorded in “The Reigate Squires” which took place in 1887, according to a chronology of Baring-Gould. It is easy for a trained Judo wrestler to throw two men in a second. It can be concluded from this passage that Holmes did not know Judo in 1887, or if he did, he was only a beginner.

It was 1889-1891 when Kano Jigoro visited Europe to study education. Most of the time he stayed in Germany, but he also visited Britain. I think Holmes met Kano at that time in Europe or in Britain, and learned the elementary skills of Judo. Watson had already left Baker Street because of his marriage in 1889. The good doctor might have not known about his friend’s new sport.

The first foreign student of Kodokan was Captain H. M. Hughes of Britain, who started his training on August 14, 1893. I believe Captain Hughes was the Master in the Great Hiatus. Holmes found himself in need of more training in Judo at Reichenbach, and visited Tokyo to get his black belt. After that, he visited Tibet by an eastern route.

Kano Jigoro wrestled with a Russian officer on a ship on the way to Japan. The officer was much taller than Kano, so he tried to restrain him with his arms. Kano rolled his back and moved left and right so as not to be caught. The officer got irritated and stepped forward. At that moment, Kano grasped him and threw him down. It was a combination of “Koshinage” and “Seoinage.” I think the fatal match of Holmes and Moriarty had a resemblance to this match. Holmes could not bring down Moriarty (he could not take “Ippon”), but Moriarty “with a horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds and clawed the air with both his hand. But for all his efforts he could not get his balance, and over he went.”

My conclusion is: The Master was not always a master. He might have been a beginner.

Bibliography

1 The Mystery Writer’s Club of Japan Monthly Bulletin. No.1-50. Tokyo: Kashiwa Shobo, 1990.

2 Judson, Ralph. “The Mystery of Baritsu: A Sidelight upon Sherlock Holmes’s Accomplishments.” BSJ Christmas Annual, No.3 (1958) 10-16.

3 Iijima, Akira. “The Study of Baritsu.” Sherlock Holmes Kiyo, Tokyo: Vol.1, No.2, 1990.

4 “Minami Shigeo.” SERAI, No.21 (1991) 11.

5 Baring-Gould, William S. The Annotated Sherlock Holmes. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, 1967.

6 Oimastu, Shin-ichi. Judo Hyakunen. Tokyo: Jijitsushin-sha, 1976.

7 Togawa, Yukio. Shosetsu Kano Jigoro. Tokyo: Yomiuri-shinbunsha, 1991.

(The Shoso-in Bulletin vol.3, 1993)