Ancient Wrestling

1
Ancient Wrestling

• Individualized Project
• Presented By Matthew Dabbs

2
Introduction

• Wrestling has been done for several years
• Several Ancient societies have evidence of
  ancient wrestling
  
• Greek
• Egyptian
• Greeks developed wrestling by creating for
  practice in sport

3
Topics of Interest

• History
• Forms and Variations
• The Event/Rules
• Qualities of a good wrestler
• Famous Wrestler Milon

4
Brief History

• Combat Sport
• Two men/boys would wrestle
• Unlike other combat sports
• Not the goal to completely kill or injure an
  opponent
  
• Way to score was win individual victories by
  making your opponent fall
  
• Required technique and skill to successfully win
  the matches.

5
Rules and Regulations

• Choking?
• Would be cautioned against using a illegal
  strangle hold
  
• Some accounts say it might have been okay
• Greeks were known for their rough tactics
• Striking was illegal
• Limb-threatening holds were legal
• Accounts of breaking fingers
• Accounts of attempts to break ribs with holds

6
Rules and Regulations

• Wrestling matches took place inside a skamma
• Throwing an opponent out of the skamma would
  count as victory, but not to be confused with a
  fall
  
• No equipment was necessary unless partaking in
  Belt wrestling
  
• Two men and a Judge
• Individual or Pentathlon

7
Orthia Pale vs. Alindesis

• Upright wrestling - Orthia Pale
• Throwing the opponent on the ground
• Usually scored with first to three falls
• Victory is called a Triakter
• Ground Wrestling Alindesis
• A throw was not enough
• Continues until one of the two competitors was
  compelled to admit defeat or withdrawals
  
• Similar to Pankration, but instead of striking
  the opponent, special holds were applied

8
Examples of Orthia Pale
9
Belt Wrestling

• Being able to grasp at the competitors belt or
  clothing
  
• Popular in England, Middle East, Far East

10
Qualities of a Good Wrestler

• Posture and Stance
• Protect from being tripped
• Stands on balls of feet no heal
• Attack wrists or neck
• Grabbing the wrist gives control of the arm, thus
  exposing the neck for a hold or preparation for a
  hold
  

11
Qualities of a Good Wrestler

• Hip Throw
• Trademark of an ancient wrestler
• Pulling on head
• Braces all weight on one leg
• Exposes being tripped
• Head lock then trip

12
Qualities of a Good Wrestler

• Leg Trip
• Easier if off balance
• Lift ones leg to trip other exposes yourself
• Accounts of ankles being injured
• Under hook
• Take hold of opponents shoulder
• Gaining Control of both shoulders
• Could lead to a waist lock

13
Qualities of a Good Wrestler

• Waist Hold
• Serious disadvantage
• Hard to counter
• Allows opponent to pick up the other for the
  throw
  
• Shoulder Throw
• Standing Throw
• Arm locks
• Leg Hook
• Leg holds

14
Famous Wrestler

• Milon of Kroton
• Son of Diotimos
• First Victory at Olympia in boys wrestling
• Victor five times at Olympia
• Seven wins at Pythian
• Nine Wins at Nemean
• Ten at Isthmian
• Several Others

15
Milon

• Known for his large quantities of food eaten
• Twenty minae of meat
• Drinking most win contest
• Three choai equivalent to nine liters
• Superhuman Strength
• Grip
• Man of Iron

16
Milon

• Defeated at Olympia to contest for a 7th time by
  Timasitheos (28 years old)
  
• Beat not with strength but fatigue
• Match lasted a long time
• Milon would eventually wear out to the younger
  Timasitheos
  
• Interesting Death
• Hand caught in tree trunk and eaten by wild
  beasts
  

17
Milon

• Stories
• Milon and the Pomegranate
• He used to hold a pomegranate in such a way that
  no one could make him release it but did not hurt
  the fruit
  

• Even More
• Milon and the Cord
• He used to tie a cord around his forehead like a
  headband or crown then hold his breathe to make
  his veins bigger and he could break the chord
  

18
The End