Anselm Karate teaches Martial Arts the Platonic Way
Written: May 06 '00 (Updated May 06 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Teaches Ancient Greek Martial Art, helps develop character.
Cons: As with any Martial Arts, tough training.
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| Neohawk's Full Review: Saint Anselm College |
In Ancient Greece, long before the first millennium, an unrivaled period philosophical and athletic achievement resulted in the creation of Platonic and Aristotelian philosophies, the first Democracy, the writings of Homer, and more. The Olympic Games entertained thousands, and one of its sports, Pankration, was especially entertaining. Its effective combination of boxing, wrestling, and systematic “war dances” appeased the Great Emperor Alexander, who asked a Pankration champion to train his troops in Pankration.
Philosophers, including Socrates, Aristotle, Anacharsis, various sophists, and others, witnessed the popular sport firsthand. They spiritually, mentally and philosophically objectified it – creating the first Martial Art in history. Soon, the entire army was using Pankration in warfare and in conquest of new lands to the east, such as India, they spread the Art.
Indian merchants, who were looking for a way to protect themselves from harmful bandits, learned Pankration from various Greek military schools and soldiers. The merchants applied Indian religion and philosophy to Pankration, creating new forms of Martial Arts. When Indian Pankrationist merchants traveled to China, they taught their modified versions to the local monks in Tibet. Soon, New Martial Arts popped up all over Asia, and eventually in Japan. In Greece however, there were problems internally, and the Empire fell. Pankration was lost to underground practitioners for ages.
American troops traveling home from World War II brought with them the fighting arts of Asia, and in particular, Karate. “Martial Arts fever” spread all over America, and eventually Europe, which searched her own Martial Arts History. Pankration made a comeback and was popularized all over Europe, eventually landing in Boston, Massachusetts. There, a Greek American Martial Arts Teacher, George Gonis, founded the first Modern American Pankration School.
Saint Anselm College, in 1970, heard about Gonis Pankration, and called up the school in Boston asking for George to come up to the college and teach its new Karate club his “Greek Karate”. Thus the Saint Anselm Karate Club was born out of this long history of Martial Arts.
Nearly 35 years old, the Saint Anselm College Karate Club teaches Ancient Greek Pankration to any student willing to learn. The factors that make up this art are calisthenics, Pyrrics or “war-dances” (one-man routines/forms), schemata (pre-arranged defense techniques), gymnastica (mock battle against many opponents), and eleftheria (sparring). Each factor must be properly learned before an individual can advance to the more complicated stages of the art.
Under the experienced direction and training of instructor Normand Gibeau, a fourth degree black belt in the art of Ancient Greek Pankration, the club seeks to stress the formation of respect, confidence, humility, discipline, and over-all character, in addition to the obvious self-defense aspects.
In addition to providing training, the club seeks to break common stereotypes of Martial Arts. Through sponsoring activities (such as guest speakers, demonstrations, films, etc.) it builds an interest and appreciation for martial arts, in its various practices, as an enlightened, philosophical and physical art form of self-defense.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Neohawk
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Member: Jim
Location: Manchester, NH
Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 2 members
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