Mark Donnelly, a world-renowned expert in historical combat, will lead a demonstration on the Victorian martial art of Bartitsu at Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites. Bartitsu incorporated elements of fisticuffs, savate, judo, and jujutsu. The June 20 event will teach attendees self-defense techniques used by literary heroes like Sherlock Holmes. Tickets are $12 to observe or $25 to participate in training, which includes admission to an exhibition on Steampunk art and culture that will intrigue visitors of all ages.

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: LoriAnnWukitsch,ManagingDirector,610-882-0450 ext.16
E-mail:lwukitsch@historicbethlehem.org
Date: February18, 2015
Learn Bartitsu: the Gentleman’s Martial Art
Featuring Professor Mark Donnelly
BETHLEHEM, PA—Are youlookingtolearna new talent,butyouwantit to be somethingoriginaland
unique?Doyou want the perfectgiftfordad this Father’sDayweekend?HistoricBethlehemMuseums
and Siteshasthe event foryou!Come experience ourlatestSteampunkSaturdaysprogram,Learn
Bartitsu:the Gentleman’sMartial Art,toexperiencethe Victorianfightingmethodsof SherlockHolmes.
The event,happeningJune20,2015, at LuckenbachMill,featurespopularmartial arts-basedfighting
stylesof VictorianLondon.Admiredformsof self-defense,these techniqueshave beenutilizedbymany
literaryheroes,including Hamletand SherlockHolmes. Incorporatingfisticuffs,savate,andthe grappling
stylesof judoand jujitsu,Bartitsublendsmanyskillstogether. The style’s emphasisisgivenonhowto
use itemsinthe worldaroundyou,whether itbe an umbrellaora snuff box.Thisdemonstrationwill be
ledbya world-renownedexpertonhistorical combat,MarkDonnelly.Linkingthe realmsof historyand
imagination,thiseventisan excitingexperience youdon’twanttomiss.
Mark Donnellyisatelevisionproducer,screenwriter,graphic designer,historian, multi-awardwinning
author, and duelistwell-knownforhistalentsincombatfighting.Currentlyhaving20booksin print
alongwithscripting/producing over200 hoursof broadcasttelevision,Markisdistinguished forhis
historical knowledge. Studyingarmedcombatsince the age of 13, combinedwithyearsof trainingand
research,he has traveledthroughoutthe worldtoteachthese fightingstyles.If you’re lookingforan
adventure anda chance to be trained bya true professional,thisisthe time foryou. Come geta kickout
of historyandlearnfroma world-renownedexpert.
Withtiesto Steampunkandcontemporarypop-culture,thiseventencompassesmany unique
dimensions.Blendingexploration,adventure, leisure,militaryandtravel, Bartitsuisamulti-dimensional
fightingstyle worth experiencing.
Admission forthe eventis$12 to observe,orforjust $25 guestswill have the chance toparticipate in
the training.Ticketincludesadmissionintothe KemererMuseumof Decorative Arts,wherethe
Steampunkexhibitionwill bothintrigue andfascinate visitorsof all ages.
Historic Bethlehem is a not-for-profitinstitution thatbringsto life three centuriesof American history.
Historic Bethlehem tells the story of a smalltown of greatinfluence,hometo someof our nation’s
earliest settlers, to America’sfirst municipal waterpumping system,and to oneof the world’sgreatest
industrialcompanies.Historic Bethlehemis located in Eastern Pennsylvania,only a 1.5 hourdrive from
Philadelphia to the Northand 2 hourswestof New York City. Historic Bethlehemis an Affiliate of the
Smithsonian Institution and isdistinguished asa NationalHistoric LandmarkDistrict forHistoric
Moravian Bethlehem.Formoreinformation pleasecall 610-691-6055 or visit
www.historicbethlehem.org.
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