Pankration : The Traditional Greek Combat Sport & Modern Martial Art

Rating:
Summary: Same Old Stuff
Review: I gave this book three stars because, as one reviewer already pointed out, this is a revised version of a previous book called Mu Tau Pankration, Vol.1. I got this book thinking it was a new book by Arvanitis, but no, sadly it's just basically a copy of his older book. This is something that I wish was mentioned in the Paladin Press catalog. In fact while looking through it and comparing both books, it's copied word for word in many parts of the books, with not really any new pictures at all. Since that earlier work was a volume 1, I think it would've been better to actually follow through and write a volume 2, instead of rewriting the same book! Even though it's virtually the same book it is a nice one, and covers the topics well, although I think the original is nicer.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Revision
Review: This book is a rewrite and expanded version of Mr. Arvanitis's previous book on Greek pankration. There are additional photos and new sections included. The quality of the book matches that of the content presented. Although there are many fighting skills that can be found in other martial arts systems, Arvanitis emphasizes the "core" pankration techniques by their classic Greek terms. Nice touch!! This book is well laid out and easy to follow. There is a wealth of material here from a man who has been an innovative force behind MMA since the early-1970s. This is the best coverage of this ancient art to date.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book!!
Review: This latest book by Mr. Arvanitis is a work of art and certainly lives up to the legendary status that he has achieved over the past three decades. Obviously his knowledge on the art/sport that he alone revived reflects a very passionate individual. There are plenty of easy-to-follow photos of the techniques, thorough explanations of their execution, and excellent historical references on the ancient sport and battlefield form throughout. The artwork of ancient pankratiasts in the opening chapter gets the book off to a great start. Pankration was the precursor to mixed martial arts, practiced over 2500 years ago, and whose practice and traditions were perpetuated by the author since the late-1960s. He explains his lifelong dedication to rigorous physical training and researching the ancient concepts and skills. These experiences were used as a blueprint in reviving the modern derivative, integrating techniques and strategies from various sources (i.e. boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, submission grappling, etc.) to build its technical foundation. This is precisely how the ancient pankration was formulated ... by combining elements of Greek boxing and wrestling into one cohesive Olympic combat sport. The content also does a neat job covering various training equipment, and exercises and drills to prepare both mind and body for any situation, be it upright or on the ground. The material is well-organized and makes for a great read. My one concern is that I would have liked more advanced applications. However, it's mentioned in the intro that this will be covered in future books. For anyone looking to expand their knowledge of mixed martial arts, this one comes highly-recommended.