Help, need groundwork

[Da Xiong]

ok- not sure if this is the right place for this, but, does anyone know where or how I could find a good instructor in Greco-Roman wrestling or in Pankration? I live in Northern Arizona, and the phonebook and Google have proved very fruitless. Any help please?

[gornex]

Why not bjj? Its popular right now and there should be lots of schools.

[Da Xiong]

To my understanding, BJJ focuses more on the Grappling aspect, I need more of a takedown aspect. (if that is incorrect please say so) There is a BJJ school in the area, but that will be my second choice.

[Stolenbjorn]

A friend of mine that have been reading some historical and archaeological stuff on the "greek/roman" wresteling-systems says that there's a lot of kicking/punching, biting, etc. One source tells of one wresteler that died won a tournament: He was grappeling with someone that had a choke hold on him. All he managed was to get hand on one of the choker's toes. The one choking him finally had to tap out because of the pain in his now molested toe, but then they discovered that the "winner" was dead from suffocation :rolleyes:

(There are two types of greec wresteling + the version adopted into a Roman version, so my story might be from the one that is not Pankreon.)

Anyway; trying to come on topic; I don't know of anybody in North America doing Pancreon, and I don't know how much you know about it. Apart from someone showing up on this thread, directng you to a good mentor with a fair prise in your neighbourhood, theese are my best advises:

#1
Try to visit a library/museum/university and ally yourself with a librarian/historian/archaeologist that can help you dig up as much info as possible from the original sources, and try to start for yourself

#2
After getting a firm idea on what it was about try to shop relevant practice from living modern traditions.

Good luck!

[lklawson]

ok- not sure if this is the right place for this, but, does anyone know where or how I could find a good instructor in Greco-Roman wrestling
Have you checked the local High Schools to see who Coaches their Wrestling programs? The Coach might be willing to give you lessons.

Someone else mentioned BJJ which does have some takedown work. Single-Legs, Double-Legs and the like. Note that these are very much pure Western Wrestling takedowns. BJJ has many similarities to classic Catch-as-Catch-Can (CaCC) wrestling. AFAIK the biggest difference betwixt the two is one of Strategy. BJJ stresses "Position before Submission" and CaCC has a "Submission from any position" strategy (sometimes quoted as "Hookers can do it in any position"; note: "Hooker" is a term for a CaCC Wrestler who calls submissions "Hooks" and getting submissions "Hooking" IOW, a "Hooker" is to CaCC as a "Karateka" is to Karate).

On the "general grappling from anywhere" front: Have you considered Judo? Lots of ground work there plus plenty of throws and takedowns. Judo is the parent art to BJJ. Additionally Judo tends to be CHEAP and easy to find (try the Y, the Uni, Park & Rec., etc.).

One other positive note for Judo, many wrestlers tend to end up in Judo (as well as BJJ, but we're talking about Judo). At the Judo club I attend, 3 or 4 of the top studens are also Wrestlers and the Assistant Coach is also a long time Wrestler.

So even if you have NO interest in non-Western grappling, check the Judo and BJJ clubs anyway and ask if any of them are Wrestlers who wouldn't mind working with you on non Judo/BJJ days.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk