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!
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