Botta Secreta Productions

Purveyors of defensive tactics and technique for use against vulgar criminals and duels of honor since 1594. Established 2007.

Belabor them as you see fit!

BSP offers a great and affordable opportunity to explore Historical Swordplay and other alternate expressions of fencing that no longer fall under the purview of the modern Olympic sport of fencing. Come and join us and learn blade and body movements that were used on the battlefield, on board ship, and for prize fighting. See the article about BSP's demo team here:http://www.bartitsu.org/

Photos

Edwardian Ball Bartitsu demo

by Tom Badillo

Singlestick at Edwardian Ball

by Tom Badillo

Edwardian Ball Bartitsu demo

by Tom Badillo

Singlestick at Edwardian Ball demo

by Tom Badillo

2008 Singlestick Tournament Rules - used at The Great San Francisco Dickens fair

These rules are based on the World Stick Fencing Federation Tournament Backsword and Cudgel Rules.

An attempt has been made to maintain the form and flavor of 19th century stick fencing with the addition of modern protective equipment. It should be noted that period cudgel, singlestick and backsword players fenced without any form of protective equipment and that the bouts were fenced until one of the fencers had his "head broke," meaning that an inch or more of blood was drawn on the victim's forehead.

These rules mean to maintain the forms of early singlestick play while removing most of the pain and risk of concussions.
For this tournament, a bout will be played for 5 points or a total of 3 minutes.

Groups

San Francisco Bay Area T…

4 members
eLearning Discussion Gro…

7 members

2009 March 1 Tournament

5 members
Leadership Group

3 members

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Members

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Latest Activity

Tom Badillo left a comment for Colonel Sir Harry Flashman VC

16 hours ago

Tom Badillo added a blog post

No Title

In preparation for Lowell's in house tournament hosted by the dean of students, the class on Sunday afternoon was focused on FMA WEKAF style tournament play but with padded stick since it will be a high school event. 5 students - 4 returning / 1 ne…

yesterday

Tom Badillo commented on David Charles's blog post 'Catch as catch can'

Very Stormy night in San Francisco . . . Last night practice broke out into two session David and Richard did empty hand throws and takedowns; Daniel, Kim and I did stick (kali 5 count drills) and knife; then both session came together to perfect th…

on Friday

David Charles added a blog post

Catch as catch can

on Friday

Classes Held in San Francisco

BSP holds classes at Raise the Bar Fitness Center on Wednesday Nights
2535 Judah St
San Francisco, CA 94122-1437

Wednesday Nights - 2010 at Raise the bar fitness
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Bartitsu, the martial art of Sherlock Holmes - cane work
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/mamatas_12_09/

Thursday nights - 2010 at Lowell High School
http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4DKUS_enUS299US299&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=lowell+high+school+san+francisco&fb=1&gl=us&hq=lowell+high+school&hnear=san+francisco&cid=0,0,449667673424545825&ei=PYI-S8y4N4WXtge0nYmKCQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQnwIwAA
7:00 - 9:00 PM Filipino Combative Arts and Bartitsu empty hand

We also offer instruction in:
19th Century Northern Italian Saber

Saviolo's Rapier
Spanish knife: Navaja,
English Singlestick: the martial art for Steampunk
Please contact Tom Badillo at bottasecretaproductions@yahoo.com for more information.

Martial Arts taught via Web based seminars

In the 21st century, we find ourselves learning concepts and techiques written down several hundred years in the past. Many times we do not have a subject matter expert close at hand. So try the techique with our training partners, but how can we be sure we are doing the tecnique correctly? I've read many, many threads (out on yahoo groups) of folk trying to convey a technique and it took dozens of postings to get it right.

Well what if we could have a seminar on martial techniques via the web?

Botta Secreta Productions is currently working on web based interactive seminars so students from all over the world can ask questions about their technique, clarify a concept or misunderstanding of the written text.

For more information, email us: bottasecretaproductions@yahoo.com

Blog Posts

After actions report - BSP Sunday FMA tourney prep session

5 students

- 4 returning / 1 new

15 minute warm up with double baston

… Continue

Posted by Tom Badillo on February 8, 2010 at 10:02am

Catch as catch can

Richard brought in some Judo gis and so we suited up and rehearsed a hip throw or two and then transistioned to some ground work. Richard and I had a bit of a chuckle when he informed me, with tongue firmly in his cheek that the move that I learned in 1976, the gillotine, was only invented 5 years ago or so by some guy with a bunch of videos.I didn't realize that we were such a bunch of visionaries at Mason Junior High.

Posted by David Charles on February 5, 2010 at 12:18am — 1 Comment

Thank you

I'd like to thank the entire BSP demo team for their hard work and dilligence in making the Bartitsu demo at the 2010 Edwardian Ball a fantastic success. The team leapt into the unknown and came out of the void with smiles on their faces after their performance. They had the crowd roaring with our tag line: BELABOR HIM AS YOU SEE FIT

We look forward to seeing any of the photos and video shot at the ball. Please keep an eye out on your social networks and let us know where the image have… Continue

Posted by Tom Badillo on January 24, 2010 at 9:08pm — 2 Comments

A Sigh of Relief and Satisfaction

The Edwardian Ball is done and i am wrecked. Our gig was a sucess even with all of the variables that were thrown at us even while we were out there performing. I am wrecked. I have a a bruised shoulder and I have kinks all over my body it was gratifying to be accepted as part of the cadre of performers and I am told that some of the other performers actually helped clear our performance area on the ballroom floor. The ladies were a real hit. Crystal's head hook and belaboring was great and drew… Continue

Posted by David Charles on January 24, 2010 at 9:00pm — 1 Comment

Edwardian Ball here we come . . .

The entire group has been hard at work designing the demo we are scheduled to deliver at the Edwardian Ball this Saturday: http://www.edwardianball.com/2010.html

We'll be demoing the cane, empty hand, rondori and might have Mr. Barton-Wright give us some notes while he is there!

Hope to see you there!

Posted by Tom Badillo on January 19, 2010 at 8:48pm