Edith Garrud

Edith Garrud (1872 to 1971) was a British martial artist, suffragist and playwright, and the first British woman to teach jujutsu. Born Edith Williams in Bath, she trained as a physical culture instructor, married the instructor William Garrud, and in 1899 the couple were introduced to jujutsu through Edward Barton-Wright and studied under Sadakazu Uyenishi. She later opened her own dojo in London. A supporter of votes for women, she joined the Women's Freedom League and wrote self-defence scenarios for magazines. She is best remembered for training the bodyguard unit of the Women's Social and Political Union in jujutsu, which shaped the image of the militant suffragette trained in hand-to-hand combat.