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For example boxing, wrestling and an ancient version of MMA called pankration were official sports in the Ancient Olympics. Some descriptions of ancient hand-to-hand fighting survive. Not only did they need to be skilled in the use of the sword, but they also needed to be good at hand to hand fighting. Things like wrestling were a very important part of training for any gladiator. The gladiators also spent considerable time practicing fighting without weapons. They exercised them with these at the post both morning and afternoon.вЂњ вЂњ They gave their recruits round bucklers woven with willows, twice as heavy as those used on real service, and wooden swords double the weight of the common ones. The exercise was described by Vegetius, a writer from the period of the Late Antiquity, in his book called вЂњ De Re MilitaryвЂњ:

This was done using wooden weapons of normal or larger size against a large pole stuck in the ground. One of the most important exercises was called the вЂњpostвЂќ exercise. This was considered the most efficient way of killing the opponent or causing him the most harm. They were taught not to slash at the opponent, but instead to stab him. The idea of training with heavier weapons was that once they got used to fighting with these, it was much easier to fight with normal weapons.Дuring sparring, gladiators were taught the proper way of using the sword. Part of the time, wooden weapons that were heavier than the ones the gladiators wielded in actual combat were used. Much of the training was spent sparring with these wooden weapons against other gladiators. In practice, the gladiators utilized wooden replicas of these weapons. The main weapons used by the gladiators included different types of swords, knives, shields and special weapons such as the trident for the retiarius, or a spear for some other types of gladiators. If he wanted to win in a fight, he needed to be extremely proficient in their use. The most important training for any gladiator was the training done with the specific weapons that he would use in the arena. If you are looking for a modern вЂњgladiatorвЂќ inspired workout, then click here. This article will focus on the ancient gladiator training techniques and what we can determine about them from the ancient sources. The richest and most prestigious schools could employ the very best trainers and physicians and also provide the highest quality food, while the poorer schools, especially in the outlying provinces often suffered from a lack of resources. The type of training they received, as well as their diets, also often depended on how rich the owners of their schools were. Gladiator training varied across time and geographic location.

There was also never just one specific way of training gladiators. Unfortunately only very few fragments describing their training survive, so it is very hard to reconstruct their training regimen. For them, being second best could often mean only one thing: death. Gladiators needed to be driven, not only to become the best they could be, but also to always be better than their opponent. His very life depended on being in peak physical condition and the master of his weapons. A single mistake, a slip up, a short lapse in his attention or a bit weaker stamina could end it all for him. If a gladiator wanted to be the champion, he could not let his focus waver. This gave them an unwavering strength and a tremendous drive and determination. Fighting was their way of life, the very essence of their being. The Ancient Roman gladiators were some lean, mean killing machines.

Isometric workout gear with roller worn on feet or hands