Pierre Vigny

Who is Pierre Vigny?

Pierre Vigny was a French master-at-arms who was active during the late 19th century and early 20th century. He specialised in French savate 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.