Combat Sports in the Ancient World: Competition, Violence, and Culture (Sports and History Series)

An excellent analysis of the various forms of combat sports of the past and the roles they played in Greek, Roman and Egyptian society.This is a required read for anyone interested in martial arts, ancient or modern.

The UFC was a totally new thing, Right?-Wrong!The Egyptians, Celts, Greeks, Indians, Nubians, Romans and every other people worth their salt were doing that hyperwrestling malarkey thousands of years ago and here’s the proof.Affirmed academic Poliakoff details the historical scenarios that these matches were fought under. Touching upon various cultures from Egyptian Stick Fighting to Roman Gladitorials, but its largest sections are on Greek and Roman Boxing, Wrestling and the Ultimate Fighting Championship of its day, Pankration-deaths were common, fought to absolute exhaustion, bone wrenching blood gushing hardcore porno pummeling, all in the name of civilization.Ouhh! as Spartan Boxers mosh each other to a pulp with their Caestus-aided hands. Aaah! as the pile-driving throws of the oil coated wrestlers whump the ground with deafening thuds and Squeal! with horror as another Pankration Fighter dies a glorious death in the arena.This gives you the thrills of the real, the mythology of the old and the knowledge of the rarely known, all in one succinct package. Flex your head.