Old vs New

Here is a small list of some warriors from around the world. Why do the feats of these people look impossible for the modern person? We are better tho?

The mixed martial arts fight between Kazushi Sakuraba and Royce Gracie was held in 2000 at PRIDE Fighting Championships. Due to its special rules, it lasted 90 minutes before ending with the victory of Sakuraba by TKO

The farther back you go the more grueling, hard core , violent, testosteroned out of their minds men looking for shit to kill. I think most the wimpy moves today would not work. In the early days of mma, im weak, all the moves worked on me and 20 years later, im strong, only a few seem any real danger. The fighting style of the early eras match the raw power and explosiveness of the men in those days. Being much weaker and having drastically lower test we mma people now deploy thousands of different moves to get a finish. Whine when we get slammed, cry itchy if we train on grass, do not like the sun and rain, hate bugs, give up when we face resistance. There are a few guys in the sport who are of closer make up of the old breed. You will know when you meet them.

Early MMA

Early pankration, an ancient Greek martial art introduced into the Olympic Games in 648 BCE, was known for its extreme brutality. The term "pankration" comes from the Greek words "pan" (all) and "kratos" (power), meaning "all-powerful" or "all-strength." This sport combined elements of boxing and wrestling, along with kicks and holds, allowing for a wide range of techniques with very few restrictions. Here’s a detailed look at the nature and brutality of early pankration fights:

Rules and Techniques

1. Minimal Restrictions: Pankration had very few rules. The primary prohibitions were against biting and gouging the opponent's eyes, nose, or mouth. Almost everything else was allowed, including strikes, joint locks, and chokeholds.

2. Techniques Used: Competitors could punch, kick, elbow, knee, and use various grappling techniques such as throws, locks, and submissions. The use of these techniques made the sport extremely versatile and unpredictable.

3. Victory Conditions: Fights could end in various ways, including knockout, submission (where the opponent conceded defeat by raising a hand or tapping out), or, in some cases, death. There were no time limits or rounds, so bouts continued until a clear victor emerged.

Brutality and Physical Damage

1. Severe Injuries: Due to the minimal rules, pankration fights often resulted in severe injuries, including broken bones, dislocations, concussions, and deep cuts. The combination of striking and grappling techniques meant that competitors faced constant and varied threats to their physical well-being.

2. High Risk of Death: Although death was not the intended outcome, it was not uncommon. The lack of protective gear and the all-out nature of the sport meant that some fights ended fatally.

3. Permanent Damage: Many pankratiasts (pankration fighters) likely suffered long-term damage from their matches, including chronic pain, impaired movement, and other health issues resulting from repeated trauma.

Psychological and Cultural Aspects

1. Training and Preparation: Fighters underwent rigorous and often brutal training regimens to prepare for pankration. This training not only conditioned their bodies but also toughened their minds for the harsh realities of competition.

2. Gladiatorial Nature: The sport had a gladiatorial aspect to it, with crowds cheering for their favorite fighters and the spectacle of intense physical confrontation. Victors were celebrated and immortalized in statues and stories.

3. Cultural Significance: Pankration was seen as a test of a warrior’s skill, strength, and endurance. Success in pankration brought great honor and prestige, and it was considered one of the ultimate demonstrations of athletic prowess in ancient Greece.

Famous Pankratiasts

1. Dioxippus: An ancient Greek pankratiast who became famous for his victory over a Macedonian soldier using pankration techniques, illustrating the sport's effectiveness in real combat situations.

2. Theagenes of Thasos: Known for his success in both boxing and pankration, Theagenes won numerous victories and was celebrated as one of the greatest athletes of antiquity.

Early pankration was one of the most brutal and demanding sports in the ancient world, testing the limits of human strength, skill, and endurance. Its minimal rules and allowance for a wide range of techniques made it a dangerous and often bloody contest, reflecting the ancient Greek admiration for physical excellence and warrior prowess. The legacy of pankration lives on as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts (MMA), though contemporary sports have far more regulations and protective measures to ensure the safety of the competitors.

Here are some old warriors to compare to any modern warrior. Remember to take away all the tools and look at the man inside. If you took and person from any of these dates and gave them a pew pew shooter would they be more brave or less brave?

Africa

1. Shaka Zulu (South Africa): Founder of the Zulu Kingdom, renowned for his military strategies and unification of the Zulu nation.

2. Yaa Asantewaa (Ghana): Queen mother of the Ashanti Empire who led a rebellion against British colonialism.

3. Queen Amina (Nigeria): Warrior queen of Zazzau, known for her military conquests and expansion of her kingdom.

4. Hannibal Barca (Carthage): Carthaginian general, known for his tactical genius in the Second Punic War.

Asia

5. Miyamoto Musashi (Japan): Legendary samurai and ronin, famed for his unparalleled swordsmanship.

6. Genghis Khan (Mongolia): Founder of the Mongol Empire, known for his exceptional military leadership and conquests.

7. Zhang Fei (China): Famous general during the Three Kingdoms period, known for his bravery and loyalty.

8. Saladin (Middle East/Egypt): Sultan of Egypt and Syria who led the Muslim military campaign against the Crusader states.

9. Prithviraj Chauhan (India): King of the Chauhan dynasty, known for his resistance against the Muslim conquests.

10. Hattori Hanzō (Japan): Renowned samurai and ninja master.

11. Lakshmibai (India): Rani of Jhansi, a key figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

12. Shivaji (India): Founder of the Maratha Empire, known for his innovative military tactics and guerilla warfare.

13. Nader Shah (Persia): Shah of Persia who led military campaigns in the Middle East, India, and Central Asia.

14. Bai Qi (China): General of the Qin state, known for his military genius during the Warring States period.

15. Huo Qubing (China): General of the Western Han dynasty, renowned for his campaigns against the Xiongnu.

16. Lê Lợi (Vietnam): Founder of the Lê dynasty, known for his successful rebellion against Ming China.

17. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Japan): Samurai who unified Japan in the late 16th century.

18. Nurhaci (China): Jurchen chieftain who founded the Later Jin dynasty, precursor to the Qing dynasty.

19. Yi Sun-sin (Korea): Naval commander famous for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin War.

20. Khalid ibn al-Walid (Arabia): Military commander under Muhammad and the Rashidun Caliphate.

21. Suleiman the Magnificent (Ottoman Empire): Tenth Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for his military conquests and legal reforms.

Europe

22. Achilles (Greece): Hero of the Trojan War and central character in Homer’s "Iliad."

23. Joan of Arc (France): Peasant girl who led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War.

24. Vlad the Impaler (Romania): Also known as Vlad Dracula, a ruler of Wallachia known for his fierce battles against the Ottoman Empire.

25. William Wallace (Scotland): Scottish knight and leader during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

26. El Cid (Spain): Castilian nobleman and military leader in medieval Spain.

27. Boudica (Britain): Queen of the Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the occupying Roman forces.

28. Arminius (Germany): Cherusci chieftain who led the Germanic tribes to victory against the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.

29. Ragnar Lothbrok (Viking): Legendary Norse hero and king, known for his raids and conquests.

30. Brian Boru (Ireland): High King of Ireland who unified the country and led it against Viking invaders.

31. Leonidas (Greece): King of Sparta, famed for his stand at the Battle of Thermopylae.

32. Richard the Lionheart (England): King of England known for his role in the Third Crusade.

33. Olaf Tryggvason (Viking): King of Norway who played a major role in the conversion of Norwegians to Christianity.

34. Harald Hardrada (Viking): King of Norway, renowned for his military exploits in Europe and his claim to the English throne.

35. Roland (France): Frankish military leader under Charlemagne, celebrated in the epic "The Song of Roland."

36. Sigurd the Crusader (Norway): King of Norway who participated in the Crusades.

37. Cú Chulainn (Ireland): Legendary hero of Irish mythology, known for his superhuman abilities and feats in the Ulster Cycle.

38. Alexander the Great (Macedonia/Greece): King of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.

39. Alp Arslan (Seljuk Empire/Turkey): Second Sultan of the Seljuk Empire, known for his military successes.

40. Gaius Marius (Rome): Roman general and statesman, known for his military reforms and victories.

41. Alfred the Great (England): King of Wessex who defended England against Viking invasions.

42. Aethelflaed (England): Lady of the Mercians, known for her military leadership and defense against Viking invasions.

43. Charles Martel (Frankish Kingdom): Frankish military leader who defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Tours.

44. Gustavus Adolphus (Sweden): King of Sweden who modernized the army and led it to victories in the Thirty Years' War.

45. Spartacus (Thrace/Rome): Gladiator who led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic.

North America

46. Geronimo (Apache): Prominent leader of the Apache who fought against Mexico and the United States for his tribe's homeland.

47. Crazy Horse (Lakota): Respected war leader of the Oglala Lakota, known for his role in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

48. Sitting Bull (Hunkpapa Lakota): Leader and holy man who led his people during years of resistance to United States government policies.

49. Tecumseh (Shawnee): Leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy that opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812.

50. Pontiac (Ottawa): Leader who led a major uprising against British forces in the Great Lakes region.

51. Osceola (Seminole): Leader of the Seminole resistance during the Second Seminole War against the United States.

52. Cochise (Apache): Leader of the Chiricahua Apache, known for his resistance against American and Mexican expansion.

South America

53. Túpac Amaru (Inca): Last indigenous monarch of the Inca state in Peru.

54. Lautaro (Mapuche): Leader of the Mapuche people who resisted Spanish conquest in Chile.

55. Simón Bolívar (Venezuela): Military and political leader who played a key role in Latin America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire.

Australia and Oceania

56. Pemulwuy (Australia): Aboriginal warrior who led resistance against British colonization in Australia.

57. Hongi Hika (New Zealand): Māori rangatira (chief) and war leader during the Musket Wars.

58. Te Rauparaha (New Zealand): Māori chief and warrior, known for his leadership and military strategy.

Additional Warriors from Various Cultures

59. Alexander the Great (Macedonia/Greece): King of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.

60. Alp Arslan (Seljuk Empire/Turkey): Second Sultan of the Seljuk Empire, known for his military successes.

61. Arjuna (India): Central character in the Mahabharata, renowned for his archery skills.

62. Khalid ibn al-Walid (Arabia): Military commander under Muhammad and the Rashidun Caliphate.

63. Samson (Israel): Biblical judge and warrior with superhuman strength.

64. King David (Israel): Second king of Israel, renowned for his military prowess and leadership.

65. Sigmund (Norse/Germanic): Hero of Norse and Germanic mythology, central figure in the Volsunga saga.

66. Beowulf (Geatland/Scandinavia): Hero of the Old English epic poem, known for his strength and bravery.

67. Charlemagne (Frankish Empire): King of the Franks and Lombards, crowned Emperor of the Romans, expanded his empire through numerous military campaigns.

68. Tomoe Gozen (Japan): Female samurai warrior, known for her bravery and skill in battle during the Genpei War.

69. Surena (Parthian Empire/Iran): Parthian general who defeated the Romans at the Battle of Carrhae.

70. Arpad (Hungary): Leader of the Hungarian tribes, known for his conquests and the establishment of the Hungarian state.

71. Baybars (Egypt): Mamluk Sultan of Egypt who defeated the Mongols and Crusaders.

72. Sundiata Keita (Mali): Founder of the Mali Empire, known for his military conquests and leadership.

73. Manco Inca Yupanqui (Inca/Peru): Leader of the Inca resistance against the Spanish conquest of Peru.

74. Cnut the Great (Denmark/England): King of Denmark, England, and Norway, known for his military conquests and rule over the North Sea Empire.

75. Aethelred the Unready (England): King of England who struggled against Viking invasions.