Pankration: The Traditional Greek Combat Sport and Modern Mixed Martial Art Paperback – January 1, 2003

As a martial arts instructor fascinated with the historical origins of martial arts, I found this book to be somewhat disappointing. The techniques show seem pretty straight out of wrestling, boxing, ju jutsu, judo, etc. Granted, pankration is a dead art which the author has taken significant time recreating. The disappointing part was not that he took from these sources, it makes a lot of sense to do so. However, I would have rated this book higher had he shown the connection of his historical sources to the modern techniques from already existing (and well-proven) arts.It appears his other books have done a better job of this, and I look forward to going through them.

if you have no martial arts experience, this is a well rounded book. I myself have a few years of training, and still find it great. covers upright as well as ground fighting. I find the author a bit arrogant, but I would be too with these skills. just a heads up, if you want a book full of techniques, street defense pankration by the same author may be more appropriate

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!

As someone who's new to Pankration, I found the book to be pretty strong. Great overview of offensive and defensive techniques.

Great

good book

Great book by a great athlete

easy to read and informative

Excellent book.

un livre bien fait que ce soit la partie historique ou technique mais J'aurais aimé que l'on détail des techniques de l'antiquité au lieu de rester sur l'aspect actuelle.

Ein Typ der so aussieht als habe er nicht nur die Antike sondern auch die Steinzeit selbst miterlebt schreibt über das Pankration. Z.T. Ganz interessant, aber auch langweilig, wenn die ur-griechischen" Technicken wie Jab, Cross und Low-Kick dem geneigten Leser erklärt werden. Wenigsten gibt er zu, sich das ganze System selbst ausgedacht zu haben...