Subject: Ancient Greek

I think it is a shame so few people in Greece today practice this. Maybe it could be revived in some and become as important as martial arts are for Japanese or Chinese people...

Thanks for the link :)

I have done some martial arts but if I knew then this sport I would definately try it;) I don't think I'll start now:P
But yes, it seems like a nice sport;)
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It is fact that mother of martilal arts was Pagratio and the Best athlete was Epios

Το ξέρω το άθλημα:) Τον αθλητή δεν τον είχα ακουστά:Ρ Έπιος;;

Ναι.Είχε πάρει μέρος και στον Τρωικό πόλεμο και είχε κατασκεύασει και τον Δούρειο Ίππο
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It is interesting how people wish to revive ancient traditions when they are related to poetry or paintings but when it comes to martial arts they are not so keen. This is a shame because a sculpture of the human body is nice, but the art of moving the human body in sports or martial arts is even more beautiful.

For a country like Greece that has such a glorious past, if there is evidence that this particular martial art was part of your culture, I think that the government should get involved and invest some money to restore it. Just putting money in archaeology is nice but not enough.

This can be a direct link to your past.

Beyond Pangratio (which is practically free wrestling with a lot of dangerous grips allowed) there are also reports about Alexander the Great's army teaching what is know today as Kung-Fu to the eastern civilizations...

Yes, I heard about this but it's a bit far fetched... through India to China etc... It doesn't have to be Kung-Fu to be great. This Greek style has its own merits and that is good enough. Maybe the Greek government should make it an obligatory subject in school like Judo is in Japan!

There are quite a few reasons for not reviving this martial art.

a) Greeks are really into martial arts
and
b) In a fight you won't wait to come so close to the opponment. You prefer long distance kicks or punches like Tae Bo or Kung Fu or Tae Kwo Do.

I've heard of a "martial art" developed by the isreali military forces. It's a mixture of other martial arts and techniques

1. You probably meant to say that 'Greeks are not really into martial arts'.

2. From what I've seen about this Greek art, it also has kicks and punches, not only grappling and take-downs.

3. Even if it is only a sport, like Judo, it should be studied because it is a link to your past, and while Greece of today is a great country, it is pale in comparison to its past achievements. So a stronger tie to the roots and historical culture are advantageous.

4. The Israeli martial art called 'Krav Maga' is not really a martial art. It is a method of military fighting for soldiers and has been applied by clever marketing people to Americans. It has many followers in the USA but I think it is not as developed as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or a comprehensive Budo student. It is good for fighting in military conflicts but still too young to be considered an art as such.

5. Since this thread is about Ancient Greek, I brought this subject up. Since I am fascinated with Greek history, I think I might make an attempt to incorporate this re-discovered martial art in the historical fiction book I'm writing... :)

I have a question for Greek people and I hope you will not be annoyed for my silly thinking... :)

From what I read about your ancient history and the rivalries between the ancient city-states, are there still today stereotypes and rivalries between citizens of the different parts of Greece? Is so, what are they? Do they correspond to those of ancient times?

that's no true nowdays we don't have fights

ofcourse we have fights but, in my opinion, they have nothing to do with the ancient times :)

athens- thessaloniki
iraklio-chania
volos-larissa
and many more....
but it's only a "friendly" rivarly nowdays,

Yes, nothing to do with ancient times though;)

yet ;)