Pierre Vigny
Encyclopedia
Pierre Vigny was a French
master-at-arms (born in Paris
in 1866) who was active during the late 19th century and early 20th century. He specialised in the French savate
style of martial arts and in the art of stick fighting
known as La canne which he heavily modified to better suit his theories of effective self defense.
In 1886 Vigny joined the Second Regiment of French Artillery at Grenoble
. Leaving the army in 1898, he founded a school of arms and self defence in Geneva
and then moved to London
, where he became the chief instructor of the Bartitsu
Club operated by Edward William Barton-Wright
. Around this time, Vigny also established a tradition of annual exhibitions of combat sports and self defence skills.
In 1903 Vigny opened his own self defence academy in London
, based at #18 Berner Street. During this period he also married a young woman named Miss Sanderson who became his assistant instructor. He continued to work as a hand-to-hand combat instructor, including an engagement training recruits at Aldershot Military School.
In 1912, Vigny returned to Geneva and established another self defence school there.
In 1923, Superintendent H.G. Lang, an officer of the Indian Police, wrote a book entitled the Walking Stick Method of Self Defence which drew largely from the Vigny system. During the 1940s, Lang's book became the basis for self defence training of tens of thousands of Jews
living in Palestine
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
master-at-arms (born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1866) who was active during the late 19th century and early 20th century. He specialised in the French savate
Savate
Savate , also known as boxe française, French boxing, French kickboxing or French footfighting, is a French martial art which uses the hands and feet as weapons combining elements of western boxing with graceful kicking techniques. Only foot kicks are allowed unlike some systems such as Muay...
style of martial arts and in the art of stick fighting
Stick fighting
Stick fighting is a generic term for martial arts which use simple long slender, blunt, hand-held, generally wooden 'sticks' for fighting such as a staff, cane, walking stick, baton or similar....
known as La canne which he heavily modified to better suit his theories of effective self defense.
In 1886 Vigny joined the Second Regiment of French Artillery at Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
. Leaving the army in 1898, he founded a school of arms and self defence in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and then moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he became the chief instructor of the Bartitsu
Bartitsu
Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1901 it was immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories...
Club operated by Edward William Barton-Wright
Edward William Barton-Wright
Edward William Barton-Wright C.E., M.J.S. was a British entrepreneur specialising in both self defence training and physical therapy...
. Around this time, Vigny also established a tradition of annual exhibitions of combat sports and self defence skills.
In 1903 Vigny opened his own self defence academy in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, based at #18 Berner Street. During this period he also married a young woman named Miss Sanderson who became his assistant instructor. He continued to work as a hand-to-hand combat instructor, including an engagement training recruits at Aldershot Military School.
In 1912, Vigny returned to Geneva and established another self defence school there.
The Vigny method of stick fighting
Vigny is best-remembered today as the founder of a unique style of stick fighting which employed walking sticks and umbrellas as weapons of self defence. Aspects of his method were recorded by E.W. Barton-Wright in a series of articles entitled Self Defence with a Walking Stick, published in Pearson's Magazine in 1902. Essay on Pierre Vigny's stick fighting method.In 1923, Superintendent H.G. Lang, an officer of the Indian Police, wrote a book entitled the Walking Stick Method of Self Defence which drew largely from the Vigny system. During the 1940s, Lang's book became the basis for self defence training of tens of thousands of Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
living in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.