Massad Ayoob of Black Belt magazine called pankration "the most practical street combat form of the martial arts that I have ever seen." Now you can learn pankration from Jim Arvanitis, the world''s leading authority of the legendary Western combat art and its modern descendant. Throughout this fascinating and completely updated volume, Arvanitis provides extensive insight into the facts and myths of pankration''s early history (including its inclusion in the earliest Olympic Games), its techniques and strategies, and its impact on today''s martial arts. Numerous vase drawings and statues depict the combined striking and grappling skills of the trained combat athletes of classical Greece, and more than 450 photos demonstrate the modern application of what many believe is the world''s first recognized fighting art. Also included are proven training methods, Spartan discipline secrets and strategic applications for personal defense, such as setups, combinations and countering moves.