Product Description
Set in Greece in 430 B.C., Nic, the spoiled son of a wealthy Athenian family, is on the run. If only he can reach Olympia in time for the Games and find his friend Gellius, he thinks he'll be safe. But the Pankration, the supreme event of the original Olympic games, a bare-fisted, no-holds-barred combat sport, awaits Gellius. And in the end it's the Pankration that forces Nic to choose between the truth and a horrible fear. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

review
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.

Pankration: The ultimate book
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.

Wonderful Action Packed Book!
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!!

§§ A Fantastic History of the Greek Olympics! §§
excellent! a great book for projects on greek olympics! Five-star book, Blacklock did an absolute thriller adventure ride.

PANKRATION COMBAT A REAL TEST OFSTRENGTH & ENDURANCE
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. ... Read more

Product Description
Black Belt Magazine called Pankration "the most practical street combat form of the martial arts that I have ever seen".Throughout this fascinating and completely updated volume, Jim Arvanitis provides extensive insight into the facts and myths of pankration's early history (including its inclusion in the earliest Olympic Games), its techniques and strategies, and its impact on today's martial arts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great book
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.

One of the Best
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!

Million Dollar Question
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.

Great Book
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!!!!

Excellentread!
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! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Pankration Through the Ages
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

Wonderful Historical Look at the World's First Mixed Martial Art
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Book for the Martial Arts Scholar of Ancient Western Warriors
After writing my book I became interested in how close my work was to the training of atheletes in the Greek sport of Pankration.Professor Andreas Georgiou has written a consise and informative book that is a scholarly introduction to the historical birth and evolution of Pankration. This book is for a reader who appreciates well-researched material who wants to further a specialized knowledge of early-Western Civilization or a well-versed Martial Scientist.

If you are a student of Martial Science and its development this book, even in its first volume is a must-seek.If you wanted to know if there is any existing information that challenges the idea that sophistocated Martial Art systems may not have begun in Asia then this book is a must-see.If you are a trainer who wishes to compare your training regimin to the ancient ones used by ancient youth and adult Pankration Instructors this book is a must- have.If you are a Martial Arts author who wishes to integrate traditional Asian Martial Arts systems with modern, Western, systems of sport-combat this book and its continuing volumes is a potential treasure.

Master Gurjot K. Singh, M Ed.
Retired Army Ranger and MMA Gym Owner

The Art of Western Tai Chi Ch'uan: The Supreme Ultimate & Sweet Science Of Boxing With 10 Limbs ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Ancient Olympic Sports, Long Jump, Discus Throw, Javelin Throw, Pankration, Chariot Racing, Hoop Rolling, Kottabos, Ancient Greek Boxing, Greek Wrestling, Ancient Olympic Pentathlon, Dolichos, Hoplitodromos, Stadion, Diaulos, Episkyros, Herald and Trumpet Contest. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 109. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far from the take-off point as possible. Competitors run down a runway (usually coated with the same rubberized surface as running tracks, crumb rubber also vulcanized rubber) and jump as far as they can from behind a foul line (commonly referred to as the "board", and usually defined by the trailing edge of a takeoff board embedded flush with the runway surface, or a painted mark on the runway) into a pit filled with finely ground gravel or sand. The distance traveled by a jumper is often referred to as the "mark" because it is the distance to the nearest mark made in the sand from the foul line. If the competitor starts the leap with any part of the foot past the foul line, the jump is declared illegal and no distance is recorded. At the elite level, a layer of plasticine is placed immediately after the board to detect this occurrence. Otherwise, an official (similar to a referee) will watch the jump and make the determination. The competitor can initiate the jump from any point behind the foul line; however, the distance measured will always be from the foul line. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the competitor to get as close to the foul line as possible. Usually, each competitor has a set number of attempts (typically three) to make his or her longest jump, and only the longest legal jump counts towards the resu...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=18084 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

I am impressed!!!
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.

Good book on MT Pankration basics.
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.

Alot more than just kickboxing and wrestling
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.

The bible on pankration
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!!!

Superb book on MMA and NHB
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! ... Read more

Product Description
Der Erwerb des Buches enthält gleichzeitig die kostenlose Mitgliedschaft im Buchklub des Verlags zum Ausprobieren - dort können Sie von über einer Million Bücher ohne weitere Kosten auswählen. Das Buch besteht aus Wikipedia-Artikeln: Quadriga, Pentathlon, Hippodrom, Zirkusparteien, Pankration, Incitatus, Faustkampf, Wagenrennen, Hysplex, Cestus, Hellanodiken, Diskos, Stadionlauf, Caestus, Akontion, Pale, Kampfringen, Periodonike, Hippodromia,. Online finden Sie die kostenlose Aktualisierung der Bücher. Nicht dargestellt. Auszug: Der Pentathlon war eine athletische Disziplin bei den Olympischen Spielen im antiken Griechenland. Der Name leitet sich ab von dem griechischen Wort „Fünf Wettkämpfe": Speer, Diskus, Sprung, Lauf und Ringen. Die Regeln des antiken Pentathlon sind in den Wirren bei der Zwangschristianisierung des Römisches Reiches verloren gegangen, falls sie je schriftlich niedergelegt waren. In keinem erhaltenen Text steht die Sportart im Zentrum, in wenigen wird der Bezug nur am Rande hergestellt, meist in einer interpretierbaren Metapher. So sind heute mehr Fragen über das Pentathlon offen als beantwortet; in wenigen Punkten sind Forscher einer Meinung. Die Hälfte aller Veröffentlichungen über den griechischen Sport betreffen das Pentathlon. Gekämpft wurde in Disziplinen. Die nächste Disziplin wurde erst dann in Angriff genommen, wenn alle Athleten die vorherige abgeschlossen hatten. Die Schiedsrichter standen während des Wettkampfes im Stadion. Jeder hatte einen Stock in der Hand und ahndete jeden Regelverstoß mit Schlägen. Neben Werfern und Springern steht oft ein Flötenspieler. Er war der Zeitmesser. Bevor sein Vers oder seine Strophe fertiggespielt war, musste der Athlet werfen oder springen. Wie viele Athleten an einem Wettkampf teilnahmen, wissen wir nicht. In Olympia gibt es 21 Laufbahnen. Diese Zahl wird als die obere Grenze angenommen. Plato empfahl allen Jugendlichen, den Fünfkampf zu betreiben. Danach mus...http://booksllc.net/?l=de&id=301390 ... Read more

Product Description
Kapitel: Gymnopaedie, Shaolin Kempo, Hut, Pankration, Canne, Europäische Wing-Tsun-Organisation, Ju Jutsu Do, Allkampf, Bartitsu, Svebor, Ajukate, Bâton Français, Bata. Aus Wikipedia. Nicht dargestellt. Auszug: Pankration (pronounced or ; from Ancient Greek: "all-in wrestling" Modern Greek: ) is a combat sport introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling. The term comes from the Ancient Greek παγκράτιον, literally meaning "all powers" from πᾶν (pan) "all" + κράτος (kratos) "strength" or "power". It is also used to describe the sport's contemporary variations. Some consider it as the first all-encompassing fighting system in human history. It is also arguable that pankration competitions in antiquity were the closest an athletic event has come to outright, no-rules, empty hand combat. Modern mixed martial arts competitions have come to feature many of the same methods that were used in pankration competitions in the ancient Greek world. In Greek mythology it was said that the heroes Heracles and Theseus invented pankration as a result of using both wrestling and boxing in their confrontations with opponents. Theseus was said to have utilized his extraordinary pankration skills to defeat the dreaded Minotaur in the Labyrinth. Heracles was said to have subdued the Nemean lion using pankration, and was often depicted in ancient artwork doing that. In this context, it should be noted that pankration was also referred to as pammachon or pammachion (πάμμαχον or παμμάχιον), meaning "total combat", from πᾶν-, pān-, "all-" or "total", and μάχη, machē, "combat". The term pammachon was older, and would later become used less than the term pankration. The mainstream academic view has been that pankration was the product of the development of archaic Greek society of the seventh century BC, whereby, as the need for expression in violent sport increased, pankration filled a niche of "total...http://booksllc.net/?l=de ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Long Jump, Discus Throw, Javelin Throw, Pankration, Chariot Racing, Ancient Greek Boxing, Greek Wrestling, Ancient Olympic Pentathlon, Dolichos, Hoplitodromos, Stadion, Diaulos, Herald and Trumpet Contest. Excerpt:Boxer of Quirinal resting after contest (bronze sculpture , 300 200 BC) Ancient Greek boxing dates back to at least the eighth century BC (Homer's Iliad ), and was practiced in a variety of social contexts in different Greek city-states. Most extant sources about ancient Greek boxing are fragmentary or legendary, making it difficult to reconstruct the rules, customs and history surrounding this activity in great detail. Still, it is clear that gloved boxing bouts were a significant part of ancient Greek athletic culture throughout the early classical period. Origins Minoan youths boxing (1500 BC), Knossos fresco. Earliest evidence for use of gloves. There is archeological and artistic evidence of ancient Greek boxing ( - pux or - pugme in ncient Greek ) as early as the Minoan and Mycenaean periods. There are numerous legends about the origins of boxing in Greece . One legend holds that the heroic ruler Theseus invented a form of boxing in which two men sat face to face and beat each other with their fists until one of them was killed. In time, the boxers began to fight while standing and wearing gloves (with spikes) and wrappings on their arms below the elbows, although otherwise they competed naked. According to the Iliad , Mycenaean warriors included boxing among their competitions honoring the fallen, though it is possible that the Homeric epics reflect later Greek culture. Boxing was among the contests held in memorial of Achilles ' slain friend Patroclus, toward the end of the Trojan war. It was in commemoration of Patroclus that the Greeks later introduced boxi... ... Read more

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Chapters: Pankration, Greek Wrestling, Amateur Pankration. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 28. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Pankration (pronounced or ; from Ancient Greek: "all-in wrestling" Modern Greek: ) is a combat sport introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling. The term comes from the Ancient Greek , literally meaning "all powers" from (pan) "all" + (kratos) "strength" or "power". It is also used to describe the sport's contemporary variations. Some consider it as the first all-encompassing fighting system in human history. It is also arguable that pankration competitions in antiquity were the closest an athletic event has come to outright, no-rules, empty hand combat. Modern mixed martial arts competitions have come to feature many of the same methods that were used in pankration competitions in the ancient Greek world. In Greek mythology it was said that the heroes Heracles and Theseus invented pankration as a result of using both wrestling and boxing in their confrontations with opponents. Theseus was said to have utilized his extraordinary pankration skills to defeat the dreaded Minotaur in the Labyrinth. Heracles was said to have subdued the Nemean lion using pankration, and was often depicted in ancient artwork doing that. In this context, it should be noted that pankration was also referred to as pammachon or pammachion ( or ), meaning "total combat", from -, pn-, "all-" or "total", and , mach, "combat". The term pammachon was older, and would later become used less than the term pankration. The mainstream academic view has been that pankration was the product of the development of archaic Greek society of the seventh century BC, whereby, as the need for expression in violent sport increased, pankration filled ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=24245 ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Pankration. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 279. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Pankration (pronounced or ; from Ancient Greek: "all-in wrestling" Modern Greek: ) is a combat sport introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling. The term comes from the Ancient Greek , literally meaning "all powers" from (pan) "all" + (kratos) "strength" or "power". It is also used to describe the sport's contemporary variations. Some consider it as the first all-encompassing fighting system in human history. It is also arguable that pankration competitions in antiquity were the closest an athletic event has come to outright, no-rules, empty hand combat. Modern mixed martial arts competitions have come to feature many of the same methods that were used in pankration competitions in the ancient Greek world. In Greek mythology it was said that the heroes Heracles and Theseus invented pankration as a result of using both wrestling and boxing in their confrontations with opponents. Theseus was said to have utilized his extraordinary pankration skills to defeat the dreaded Minotaur in the Labyrinth. Heracles was said to have subdued the Nemean lion using pankration, and was often depicted in ancient artwork doing that. In this context, it should be noted that pankration was also referred to as pammachon or pammachion ( or ), meaning "total combat", from -, pn-, "all-" or "total", and , mach, "combat". The term pammachon was older, and would later become used less than the term pankration. The mainstream academic view has been that pankration was the product of the development of archaic Greek society of the seventh century BC, whereby, as the need for expression in violent sport increased, pankration filled a niche of "total contest" that neit...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=24245 ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from World Literature Today, published by University of Oklahoma on March 22, 1999. The length of the article is 654 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Miomir Petrovi. Pankration. Belgrade. BIGZ. 1998. 214 pages. ISBN 86- 13-00923-9.(Review)
Author: Nadeyda Obradovi
Publication: World Literature Today (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1999
Publisher: University of Oklahoma
Volume: 73Issue: 2Page: 357

Article Type: Book Review

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