The Martial Arts of Ancient Greece
Page 11
Direct Armbar with a Hook on the Neck
In submission fighting, when the defender tries to use his arms to block an attacker’s blows from the riding position, the attacker is offered a good opportunity to trap and dislocate his opponent’s elbow. He can place a hook on his opponent’s neck with his leg and can finish the contest by holding the defender’s arm with both hands (C). From this position, depending on his opponent’s reaction, the attacker can cause a direct dislocation of the defender’s elbow by falling sideways to the ground.
Escape from the Mounted Position
The athlete under his opponent’s mounted position tries to turn his attacker by trapping his arm on the side toward which he wants him to turn. The entrapment takes place by pulling the attacker’s hand toward his ear (A–B).
Next he makes a bridge by pressing his feet into the ground near his hips and arching his back (C).
Then the defender turns his opponent toward his trapped arm and throws him to the floor (D–E).
As he finishes the throw, he is careful to control his opponent’s free leg so as not to be trapped by it. (F).
Then he achieves a secure position with his knee between his opponent’s legs, controlling him (G).
REAR MOUNTED POSITION
ANALYSIS
Figure 3.93 shows an exceptionally favorable position for the attacker. It is a position from which rear strangulation of his opponent can be accomplished. Also, besides favoring the most important hold for neutralizing his opponent, this position gives the attacker the option, as far as submission wrestling is concerned, to inflict blows against vital parts of his opponent’s body. In ancient Greek pankration, blows from a rear mounted position prevailed as long as they were allowed by the regulations.
Escaping from this position is an exceptionally difficult task, especially when the attacker has placed hooks between his opponent’s legs. This position offers the attacker a considerable advantage in combat, as well as in submission wrestling.
Figure 3.93. From the tombs at Beni Hasan, Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawing by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
Figure 3.94. Greek statue, third century BCE, GalIeria Uffizzi, Florence. (Drawing based on photograph from the museum.)
REAR FOREARM CHOKE
ANALYSIS
This is an important representation of superior technique in a pankration contest. The athlete beneath his opponent has retreated to the “turtle” position to protect himself from blows, chokes, and joint locks. However his opponent has managed to place hooks on both his legs, making it very hard for him to escape. Furthermore, the attacker has passed his left arm below the defender’s neck; it is almost certain he will be forced to resign, at the risk of potential strangulation.
Figure 3.95. Pankration. Roman oil lamp, first century CE, Museo Nationale delle Terme, Rome. (Drawing based on photograph from the museum.)
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
Rear ”Naked” Forearm Choke and Strangulation
The attacker on top is attempting to “open” up his opponent with blows in order to pass his forearm under this throat and attempt a rear naked choke or strangulation (A).
He manages to pass his forearm under his opponent’s windpipe and attempts a choke (B).
Unable to secure an effective position, he modifies the choke to a strangulation, employing the “Figure 4” strangulation outlined earlier (C).
As the defender attempts to rise, the attacker passes heel “hooks” under his thighs. From this position, it is extremely difficult to escape. Even if the defender manages to turn, he will still be within his opponent’s hold and unable to counter (D).
“GUARD” POSITION AND TRANSITION
Left. Figure 3.96. From tomb 15 at Beni Hasan, Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawing by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
Right. Figure 3.97. From tomb 15 at Beni Hasan, east wall (plate 5), Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawing by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
ANALYSIS
The ”guard” position (using contemporary mixed martial arts terminology) shown in figure 3.96 is the desired position when an athlete has his back to the ground. It allows him to control the mobility of his opponent, to launch final attacks, to defend against blows and holds, and to reverse the position and get on top of him. A distinction is made between an open or closed position, depending on whether he has entangled his legs around his opponent. The “guard” offers adequate stability, plus the possibility to transpose to a more favorable position, such as the mounted position or the side hold-down position. But the opponent has a similar chance if he can “pass the guard,” to use modern terminology.
Figure 3.97 shows the transition from a guard position (passing the guard) to a side hold-down position. The athlete on the left has broken his opponent’s guard, and, holding one of his legs from below, is preparing to transition to a side hold-down position, known in judo as yoko shiho gatame.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
Passing the Guard Position and Transition to Side Hold-Down5 Position
The athlete on top is caught in his opponent’s guard position (A).
He attempts to crawl backward, while holding on to his opponent’s arms, pressing his biceps (B).
Keeping his head and body at a safe distance, he firmly presses his opponent’s pelvis down to the ground (C).
Next, he places one knee under his opponent’s pelvis, while he steps back with the other leg (D).
He proceeds to control his opponent’s leg on his own shoulder and with his right arm holds his opponent’s opposite shoulder. He uses his left arm to keep his opponent’s other leg on the ground (E).
By shaking the defender’s leg off his shoulder he transfers to and finishes with the side hold-down position (F).
TRIANGULAR STRANGULATION
ANALYSIS
Nowadays, triangular strangulation, shown in figure 3.98, is considered among the most powerful and difficult techniques for eliminating an opponent. Triangular strangulation with the legs is a technique that is applied usually after a defendant’s guard position has been broken, when the attacker has not trapped both of the defendant’s legs after breaking the guard. With a degree of sadness and awe, we came to discover that the standard of technique in 2000 BCE was much superior than it is today.
Figure 3.98. From tomb 15 at Beni Hasan, east wall, Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawing by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
The triangular strangulation is usually executed after the defender’s guard position is broken. As the attacker attempts to go into a side hold-down position, as shown previously, the defender pulls his opponent’s arm (A–B).
He locks his legs tightly with a “Figure 4” hold. This way he accomplishes strangulation with his opponent’s arm and the entanglement of his legs (C).
HALF-GUARD POSITION
ANALYSIS
Many of the images drawn on the walls of the tombs at Beni Hasan depict ground wrestling. It would have been strange if the half-guard position were missing. This position is almost as valuable as the full guard position. However, it allows the athlete on top added chances to transfer to a more favorable position.6
Figures 3.99, 3.100. From tomb 15 at Beni Hasan, east wall (plate 5), Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawings by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
In the half-guard position it is important to control the opponent’s balance at all times in order to topple him over or escape from him at an opportune moment (A).
The athlete on the bottom applies a Figure 4 leg position, which allows for quick bridges7 and transitions (B).
FOUR-POINTS POSITION
Figure 3.101. From tomb 17 at Beni Hasan, east wall (plate 15), Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawing by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
ANALYSIS
The
“four-points” position is a very solid position for submission wrestling on the ground but with limited attacking options. This position is known in contemporary judo practice as kami shiho gatame.8
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
A good opportunity to go to the four-points position occurs after sprawling the opponent on the ground following a takedown attempt to grab our legs. With the opponent in a “turtle” position, the athlete on the left turns him over and follows up by consolidating his position.
First the attacker passes one arm under his opponent’s arms (A).
Then the attacker pushes downward with his leg, placing his foot near his opponent’s head (B).
Clasping his palms behind his opponent’s back, he turns him over (C).
He finishes with a four-points hold-down position (D).
HEADLOCK POSITION
Figure 3.102. From tomb 17 at Beni Hasan, east wall, Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawing by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
ANALYSIS
Although we have referred to this position in the section on standing submission wrestling, we shall expand a little as it is actually a better position for ground fighting. It is known in judo as the kesa gatame position. In pure submission wrestling (where no strikes to the opponent are allowed), it is not considered a worthwhile position, as the defender can rather easily escape and proceed to a dangerous counterattack. However, in pankration (submission fighting) it is a more powerful position, as the attacker is in a situation where he can readily deliver blows to the opponent, having gravity on his side.9
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
Blows from a headlock position (A).
KNEE ON THE ABDOMEN POSITION
Figures 3.103, 3.104. From tombs 17–15 at Beni Hasan, east wall, Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawings by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
ANALYSIS
This position’s main trait is mediocre stability, coupled with multiple options for attack and exceptional mobility. The attacker can execute both blows and holds from this position, which is quite useful and popular in today’s no-holds-barred contests. Blows are dealt in order to loosen up the defender’s guard and to open the way for the attacker to trap a limb and proceed to a finishing hold. The supporting leg may be slightly bent or kept straight.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
Repeated blows are dealt to the opponent from the “Knee on the Abdomen” position (A).
KNEE AND CALF DISLOCATIONS (LEGLOCKS)
Dislocating and/or finishing10 leg locks are not really prevalent in the martial arts of the East and the combat sports that have been generated from them. But in a martial art or a combat sport where few restrictive rules apply, such as submission wrestling and pankration (submission fighting), leg locks are powerful tools in the athlete’s or fighter’s arsenal. Therefore, in the Beni Hasan frescoes as well as in the rest of the archaeological archives (Greco-Roman), there are representations that denote not just the existence of such techniques but also very advanced technical knowledge of the subject. They take different forms, such as dislocating knee holds (direct and complex dislocations), dislocating ankle holds (utilizing twisting movements), and pain-inflicting holds that force the defender to resign.
It is worth mentioning that compared to the upper limbs, legs have fewer nerves, taking their mass into consideration. For this reason, pain appears abruptly in leg locks. If the defending athlete does not have the correct technical knowledge that allows him to know when to resign the contest before it is too late, serious injury might be the outcome.11
DIRECT KNEE DISLOCATION WITH A FALL
Figures 3.105, 3.106. From tomb 15 (plate 16), east wall, at Beni Hasan, Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawings by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
ANALYSIS
These two representations from Beni Hasan are really impressive! They confirm that nothing has changed over the millennia. The demonstration of this technique would be exactly the same today. In figure 3.105, the attacker holding his opponent’s leg seems to be trying to force him to the ground to immobilize him and oblige him to resign. In figure 3.106 it is obvious that the attacker, having bent his torso forward and stretched his legs, intends to finish off his opponent standing up. The dislocation is executed by overextending the opponent’s leg, which causes serious damage to his joint, mainly the rupture of the ligaments.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
One athlete is in a position of rear body hold. The defender reacts at first with a “jackknife”12 and then he moves a little sideways, in order to bring his opponent’s leg between his legs (A–B).
Next, he bends down and holds his opponent’s leg with both hands (C).
As he lifts it upward, he forces his opponent to fall and he follows him to the ground (D).
He sits on his opponent’s pelvis, and, holding his opponent’s leg stretched against his chest, he falls sideways and pulls (E).
DIRECT KNEE DISLOCATION ON THE GROUND
Figure 3.107. Senbi tomb, Meir, Egypt, 2000 BCE. (From the book The Rock Tombs of Meir, by Aylward M. Blackman, London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1914.)
ANALYSIS
Here are three excellent representations of leg attacks, all from Egypt. In order to execute a direct knee dislocation, the attacker must “nail down” his opponent’s pelvis to the ground. This is what the athlete on the left seems to be doing in figure 3.107. At the same time, he hits his opponent’s chin with his elbow. In figures 3.108 and 3.109, the dark figure seems to be in a preparatory stage for executing a direct knee dislocation.
Figures 3.108, 3.109. From tomb 15, east wall, at Beni Hasan, Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawings by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
First the athlete on the left breaks the defender’s guard position (A).
Then, the attacker immediately bends his knee over his opponent’s trapped leg (B).
Next, he holds the leg with both hands (C).
Falling on his side, he pulls hard, keeping his opponent’s leg trapped between his legs (D).
TIBIO-FIBULAR ATTACKS
Figure 3.110. From tomb 29, south wall (plate 23), at Beni Hasan, Egypt, 2000 BCE. (Drawing by P. E. Newberry, from the publication Beni Hasan, London, 1893.)
ANALYSIS
In ground wrestling and ground fighting, there are certain positions that are much preferred by athletes. Most of the time, these positions cannot be clearly distinguished by someone who is not familiar with the contest’s intricacies, and are considered random positions in the course of the contest. However, nothing happens at random in submission contests, and the ancient Egyptians were fully aware of this; the unknown artist of Beni Hasan has offered us yet again one more revealing image. In figure 3.110 the attacker, after having thrown his opponent to the ground, has obviously executed a reverse rear mounted position and is preparing to apply a hold on his opponent’s calf (tibio-fibular region). We cannot be certain whether he is preparing to apply pressure to the soft tissues of the calf, or twist the lower leg itself to attack the related joints.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
After an attempted kick, the defender arrests his opponent’s leg and proceeds to counterattack, throwing his opponent (A–B).
He continues to hold his leg and takes precautions not to be caught in a half guard position, keeping his opponent’s other leg against the ground, with his opposite hand (C).
After securing his opponent’s leg by trapping it under his armpit, he continues with an inward turn, passing his leg over the defender (D).
He finishes by sitting on his opponent, in a reverse rear mounted position, tightening his hold around his opponent’s leg and applying pressure to the soft tissues (E).
TWISTING ANKLE/KNEE DISLOCATION (HEEL HOOK)
ANALYSIS
This excellent representation from the Roman archive depicts an ankle dislocation hold, using a twistin
g move. This hold is essentially a counter move, as it is very difficult for the attacker to catch his opponent’s leg in this fashion. It therefore seems that the centaur managed to catch the leg and throw his opponent while the latter attempted a kick. The injury that is inflicted, provided there are no gaps in the hold, would affect the knee joint first, as the knee will turn along with the twisting movement applied to the tibio-fibular region of the lower leg. As the knee joint is not as flexible as the ankle joint, it will be damaged first, followed by the ankle.
Figure 3.111. Roman bas-relief, the Vatican Museum.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION
In this demonstration the technique is performed on the ground as a counter move, after an attempted leg attack by the opponent and, specifically, pressure on the soft part of the calf. This is a defensive counter, which is applied in similar conditions in submission contests today. An athlete may tolerate the pain in the calf muscle caused by his opponent’s attack for a while, but the same does not hold true for the twisting/dislocating hold he applies to the other athlete’s ankle joint. As we mentioned earlier, pain and injury will probably be felt first at the knee joint, and, due to the anatomical limitations of the nervous system in the leg, by the time the pain is felt, injury may well have occurred; this is a problem with such techniques in athletic competitions.
The athlete on the right has trapped his opponent’s leg and applies pressure to the soft part of the calf. However his own leg is exposed in the wrong position (a frequent error especially among athletes whose knowledge is somewhat incomplete) (A).