There are many indications that suggest that ancient armies trained their soldiers to fight at a close distance using techniques and holds that are very similar to those used in the sport today. Even the Spartans, one of the most dominant and deadly soldiers of their time, trained using this martial art in order to develop skills that would benefit them in the battlefield. The reason why wrestling became so desirable as a technique for combat was because it had a dual purpose. Not only were the soldiers more agile and in better shape but they also had a last resort method for combat if their weapons failed. This idea is exemplified in the educational book, “Combat Sports in the Ancient World: Competition, Violence, and Culture” by Michael Poliakoff. The author analyses the life of the famous Greek philosopher, Aristocles, also known as Plato. Poliakoff (1987) explains Plato’s early interest in athletics and his involvement in the gymnasium stating, “He applied himself to the palaestra as a youth, emphasizing speed rather than strength, for this, he felt, was more useful in war. Hence he exercised more in running and wrestling, reaching the point where he could resist on his feet when caught in holds” (p. 100). The author suggests that Plato recognized the appropriateness of adopting the tactics of wrestling and using them in
There are many indications that suggest that ancient armies trained their soldiers to fight at a close distance using techniques and holds that are very similar to those used in the sport today. Even the Spartans, one of the most dominant and deadly soldiers of their time, trained using this martial art in order to develop skills that would benefit them in the battlefield. The reason why wrestling became so desirable as a technique for combat was because it had a dual purpose. Not only were the soldiers more agile and in better shape but they also had a last resort method for combat if their weapons failed. This idea is exemplified in the educational book, “Combat Sports in the Ancient World: Competition, Violence, and Culture” by Michael Poliakoff. The author analyses the life of the famous Greek philosopher, Aristocles, also known as Plato. Poliakoff (1987) explains Plato’s early interest in athletics and his involvement in the gymnasium stating, “He applied himself to the palaestra as a youth, emphasizing speed rather than strength, for this, he felt, was more useful in war. Hence he exercised more in running and wrestling, reaching the point where he could resist on his feet when caught in holds” (p. 100). The author suggests that Plato recognized the appropriateness of adopting the tactics of wrestling and using them in