The Islington Borough Council (London, UK) has included Edith Garrud in a list of ten local historical figures who may have memorial plaques erected in their names. Edith Garrud was almost certainly the first female professional jujitsu instructor in the Western world and was the star of one of the earliest martial arts movies ("Ju-jitsu Downs the Footpads" in 1907). In 1913 she became famous for training the elite all-female Bodyguard unit of the British suffragette movement. Armed only with jujitsu and wooden Indian clubs, the Bodyguards risked life and limb in fighting police and angry crowds trying to silence the leaders of the movement, who were attempting to gain the right of women to vote in elections. Edith kept teaching martial arts for many years and finally passed on at the age of 99 in 1971. Only those five figures who get the most votes will receive memorial plaques. You can quickly and easily vote for Edith Garrud at http://www.islington.gov.uk/Leisure/heritage/heritage_borough/bor_plaques/default.asp . Feel free to pass the message on to others who may be interested.
Thanks. Edith was an interesting and significant figure in UK martial arts history, so I hope we can gather as many votes as possible.
Voted, massive fan of martial arts and someone who greatly respects the suffragettes. Two in one I guess.
Just reviving this thread to note that Suffragette jujitsu pioneer Edith Garrud did receive her commemorative plaque, due to popular acclaim: http://www.bartitsu.org/index.php/2012/07/unveiling-of-edith-garruds-plaque-in-london/ She was also recently commemorated with a "portrait sculpture" near the Finsbury Park station in London: http://www.bartitsu.org/index.php/2013/04/a-new-honour-for-jujitsuffragette-edith-garrud/ ... and the Jujitsuffragettes will "star" in an upcoming graphic novel series called "Mrs. Pankhurst's Amazons": http://www.bartitsu.org/index.php/2...-thrilling-tale-of-suffragette-super-heroine/
