No comments about Sovremennyi pankration: stanovlenie universalnogo boitsa-edinobortsa.

No comments about Pankration Traditional Greek Combat Sport and Modern Mixed Martial Art.

No comments about Pankration: the Traditional Greek Combat Sport & Modern Martial Art.

5 comments about Mu Tau Pankration: Concepts and Skills of "All-Powers" Combat (Concepts & skills of all-powers combat).

1. This book was exceptionally written and was full of ancient artwork and modern techniques. Mr. Arvanitis provides the reader with thorough instructions and easy-to-follow sequences of how to apply the techniques in reality combat. There are numerous submission attacks and ground skills covered. The section on clinching and takedowns was very informative and well-organized. I also purchased his newly-revised and expanded version of this book from Paladin Press. It contains additional text and photos and is an excellent rewrite. This is great reading for those into mixed martial arts and no-holds-barred fighting. Arvanitis is an innovator of this sport and has been around for a long time. He is unarguably the "man" when it comes to the Greek art of pankration. I look forward to his next book!



2. Poli kala!! This was a VERY informative book. The new and revised edition available through Paladin Press is even more detailed. Arvanitis was among the first to promote Greek combat sport and MMA, more than 20 years before it became popular. And anyone else claiming to be practicing pankration is only imitating his ideas as there was no one doing it back then. They just started to show up in the mid-1990s. Even here in Greece, pankration was unheard of until 1995. And at first it looked just like karate. Anyone who disses this book is pretty sad. The two reviewers on this site are good examples. Their comments are useless. If you're looking for a concise history, loads of techniques and applications, and training methods on true pankration, then this book is it!!!



3. Striking, kicking, takedowns and throws, submission grappling on the ground, and what might be considered "dirty" street-fighting are all included in this book. The author mentions that boxing and wrestling form the technical nucleus of pankration but once you read of all of its other elements, especially those of Greek lineage, you quickly learn that this combat system is profoundly more. Lots of good training methods and fighting tactics either remaining on your feet or ending it on the ground. Arvanitis excels at getting his point across in every chapter, and does a nice job of organizing the content. The material at the back of the book is also a big plus. It discusses the Greek concept of arete and has a glossary of both English and Greek terms used in the art. A great book overall.



4. This may have been one of the first "modern" systems to address the realities of all-in, no-holds-barred fighting. Mr. Arvanitis's work appears to be influenced by ancient and modern wrestling and boxing, as well as modern MMA events and the works relating to Jeet Kune Do. The standing techniques will be familiar to those who study the latter, as will the "Attributes" section in the appendix. I don't believe that this similarity takes away from the art of Mu Tau Pankration; in fact, I think shows how this modern version of the ancient art continues to evolve. This book covers the history of Pankration going back to ancient Greece, and includes sections on ancient boxing and wrestling. Upright combat skills are covered separatly from upright grappling, and include stance, foot work, striking, some clinch work, and defensive skills. There is also a separate chapter concerning the training equipment for striking. The upright grappling section covers some very basic takedowns, sweeps and throws, closing the gap, and the sprawl, a takedown defense. A chapter on groundfighting includes a bit on ground control and reversals, with several submissions featured, including basic chokes, several arm-bar variations, hammerlocks as submissions (unique from the kimura/double wrist lock), and some very unique leg holds. Striking from the ground is also covered. There is then a chapter on set-ups, reversals, and combinations which give the reader some idea of how these different skills come togeather in a combat situation. The chapter on conditioning is pretty well-rounded, and has parts on stretching, cardio, and weight training. Also covered are breakfalls, drills, and rules for sparring, including weight classes. At the end of the book is a glossary of Greek terms, the ranking structure of MT Pankration, and mental and physical attributes of a fighter. Overall, this was a very good book. On the negative side, the groundwork isn't as refined as it could be, some of the featured techniques aren't allowed in their sparring, the throws and takedowns aren't covered in any detail, and the stand-up techniques can be found in most Jeet Kune Do or Muay Thai books. On the plus side, the part on combinations, setups, and reversals was an eye-opener, there was a great section on neck excersises, there were some terrific drills, and some of the submissions were quite unique. I think this book would make a great suplement to any MMA library, and would be very good for those without exposure to MMA classes. I just wish someone would come out with a book on the more ancient techniques, which evidently included palm and thumb blows, and some grappling not covered here.



5. I've been studying Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu for a while and I just found out there is a Greek Martial Art so I decided to give this book a try. I am very impressed! The techniques can be applied to what I know and I definitely learned a lot. This is definitely one form of martial arts that I would reccommend.

No comments about PANKRATION.

No comments about PANKRATION - AN OLYMPIC COMBAT SPORT, VOLUME I.

No comments about PANKRATION-AN OLYMPIC COMBAT SPORT.

2 comments about The First Mixed Martial Art: Pankration from Myths to Modern Times.

1. This is an absolutely wonderful book that provides a wealth of information concerning the historical background of Pankration, while dispelling a lot of myths that surround this ancient Western martial art. The vast majority of the book is spent giving you a lot of historical background and it even gives you a list of Olympic winners at the very end of the book. Although the author does spend a significant portion of the book demonstrating some of the techniques of Pankration, I don't feel that this really adds anything to the book, although it certainly doesn't take anything away from it.
   
   The main focus of the book is on the historical background and that is where its strength lies. The techniques shown are ones that you could see in any number of different martial arts technique oriented books and don't really go into a lot of detail on how to execute the techniques other than the obligatory for sentences. This however shouldn't have any bearing at all on this book as it was nice to see some examples of the the various techniques demonstrated, but in my opinion it wasn't really necessary since the remaining portions of the book were so well done.
   
   So if you are looking to gain some wonderful insight into the latest Pankration technique I think you will be very disappointed. However, if you are looking to "train your brain" and obtain some outstanding and significant historical knowledge on this very important and historically significant Western martial art, then this is definitely the book for you.
   
   I can not recommend this book highly enough and I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed with the information contained within its pages.
   
   Shawn Kovacich
   Martial Artist/Krav Maga Instructor
   Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.



2. This review is a wonderful traversal of the evolution of Greek Martial Art from pre-history (the mythological period) to modern times. The text is second to none. The techniques presented as the modern evolution of Pankration are outstanding. This is a true tribute to my ancestors. I recommend this book to anyone interested in MMA, Greek martial art, western martial art, or just advancing "their game".
   
   -Iraklis Vounidis

5 comments about Pankration: The Traditional Greek Combat Sport & Modern Martial Art.

1. This is definitely Grandmaster Arvanitis best work to date on his revised form of the ancient Greek martial arts. It is both thorough and clearly explained as is usual for this expert teacher and is a must for anyone interested in Pankration. In fact, it is such an excellent book I would recommend it to anyone as it could easily tempt someone to take up the art. The first section of the book deals with the history and evolution of the art and it's inclusion in the early olympics while the second half covers clearly the physical components involved in modern Pankration such as the ready position, mobility, strikes, upright grappling and ground fighting. This is definitely one of those books I will read again and again and as such can't recommend it highly enough!



2. Well first of all when I saw this book I was a little if-ie about buying this book since so many others suck so I checked the reviews and they were surprizingly amazing so I took a chance and loved it, only problem I saw in the book was that the move on the cover of the book isnt show (its a spartan disarmment technique SHOWN ON HUMAN WEAPON ([...] then search human weapon) UNDER PANKRATION) but other than that he goes into amazing depth with the moves and combinations (amazing) with a brief chapter on the history of the sport (very basic) but he shows everything that a modern mma fighter does and wrestlers like me (judo sombo jujitsu) would do to make this review short I would say definitly get the book if you would like to learn the moves and training to go with it also!!!!



3. The "Million Dollar Question," if you had to choose and master only 5, 10 or maybe even 20 techniques, and your life may depend on it...which ones would you choose?
   
   I've spent a lot of time debating and arguing this question with my co-workers. Since we all have such diverse martial arts backgrounds, everyone has their opinion and thinks their art is the best, of course.
   
   After carefully looking through this book, we all finally found something to agree upon. Pankration covers all the core essentials and provides these techniques. Just enough boxing, judo, wrestling, jiu-jistu and Muay Thai in the right proportions and straight to the point, for your all around fighting technique needs. This is the best catalog of "no-nonsense" techniques I've seen.
   
   If you buy this book, you could probably pick the 5, 10 or 20 most effective techniques for yourself and develop your own workout around them.



4. I bought this book as a guide to Jim's video series at the recommendation of Massad Ayoob. It is Pure gold. Pankration is not flashy, and is, at it's core, very similar to modern MMA. The addendum of Spartan options are for street defense. Arvantisis teaches everything: history, standing, grappling, and technique. The Spartan options, as mentioned earlier, are optional for a street encounter. If you have any boxing or wrestling experience in your past and wish to learn a viable martial art then pankration is just for you!



5. Coming from a wrestling background and martial arts I have to say that I really enjoyed the book
   for ne I rather enjoyed the history and translations. I have a trip to Greece planned for next year and while I am there
   I am definately foi g to train in Pankration while I am there.

5 comments about Pankration: The Ultimate Game.

1. PANKRATION: THE ULTIMATE GAME reflects the ancient but brutal sport of Pankration combat. It had but one rule & everything else was allowed even fighting to the death and/or maiming one's rival. .... The rules of combat are defined in the book. The book has an intriguiing love story which causes two cadets to fight for the same woman both men desperately crave.



2. excellent! a great book for projects on greek olympics! Five-star book, Blacklock did an absolute thriller adventure ride.



3. This was the most ammasing book I have ever read. It kept moving along and never got boring. One adventure leads to another. This is the best book I have read and it is pretty hard to beat. This book deserves 6 out of 5 stars!!



4. This book takes place in ancient Greece. It is about the life of a young boy named Nic who faces many dilemmas in life. He is sent away from Athens due to the plauge. He meets Gellius, a sailor who dreams to win the pankration someday. Then Nic is captured and sold as a slave. Gellius was not captured. This story tells about his search for a friend, and his struggle.I think that this was a great book. My friend thinks it was too convenient for Nic sometimes and a little unrealitic, but I loved it.
   This book was exciting, and made you think about your life too. This book was a wonder to our class(as we read it aloud in class) I give this book five stars. It was a book of great pain, suffering, and happiness. I hope you all read this book.



5. The book takes place in Ancient Greece where Nic is fleeing from the plague in Athens and encounters danger. The pankration is an olympic event where people fight without weapons. This is one great book, but it was missing a little information about the charecters and about what happened after the pankration.