"FIGHT LIKE A ROMAN GLADIATOR": Preview and ready for Action!
Ciao, My name is Spartacus, but if you want you can call me Luca...
I am from Rome, (Italy) and English is my second language, so please, forgive me if once in a while I make some mistakes. The reason why you are here, I guess, is because you want to learn to fight like a Roman Gladiator... or at least to look like one!
I want to share with you the techniques that I've learnt in Rome from one of the most famous Italian Stuntman Elio Bonadonna... a chief weapon coreographer in many famous movies about the Ancient Rome and Roman Gladiators (one that I love more is "Barabba" with Anthony Queen).
Here our aim is to learn how to simulate an action fight with authentic ancient roman weapons... weapons like the GLADIUS, TRIDENT, SPATHA, PILUM, and using the Roman Shields in defensive and offensive way... but without any harm... for you and your opponent, but looking and sounding very realistic.

Before we go ahead, 2 important notes:
Point 1) My method has the purpose to entertain you and the viewers with safety, so is going to be a little different from realistic fighting techniques used in the ancient Rome... even we try to mantain the authentic look and technique where is possible.
A gladius fight it used to be something very fast, brutal and bloody.
These roman swords were shorter and lighter than other swords used from other populations in the Roman Empire... but that's was the secret. The Gladius was usually about 18/22 inches long, and no more than 5/8 pounds weight. It was not designed for hacking, but mainly for thrusting forward into the enemy's body and armour. It was lighter than other swords of the time, because it could be used in a very fast technique when stabbing at the opponent.
Imagine an heavy barbarian sword that you need 2 hands to hold it... the time you pull the sword up for an hacking... the gladius already had the time to stab you 3 times!
So, the original gladius fights used to be short and brutal... but in our situation we want to make it long as we want, noisy, looking realistic, but fun and safe. So, if you are a Roman History Professor, please don't blast me... my aim is to create a safe Roman swords show, not a history lesson :)

Point 2) Be careful... and remember: you are responsible for your actions!
Even my techniques are created for a safe simulated gladiator's fight, I want you to understand that when you try these with real metal swords (even if they don't have edge)... there is always some risk...
So, I want to let you know that you should use wooden swords (rudis) for your exercises and unless under a supervision of an instructor... you should not use metal weapons... and if you pretty cocky and you decided to do so anyway... well, you are the only responsible for your actions...
So, if you agree with this important point ("you are the only responsible for your action...") if you hurt your finger one day, please don't blame it on me...
After all this legal BS, if you want to continue: You're Welcome!

Let's start with the preview of what we'll see together in my WEB BOOK:
"FIGHT LIKE A ROMAN GLADIATOR".
Before you go ahead, please I remind you that any portion of this book (text or pictures) cannot be used without authorization from the Author (me) US Copyrights 2003.

Here is the index of the topics I will talk about:

#1 Different type of gladiators, armours and weapons!

#2 Basic Defense positions with the gladius to simulate safe but realistic gladiator's fights!!

#3 Basic Attack positions with the gladius or any short sword.

#4 How to use The trident and net... become a Retiarius!

#5 How to use the shield... defensive weapon but not only!

#6 Build your fight show... spectacular but safe !

#7 Safety tips using real gladiator weapons...

#8 Work out and eat like a Roman Gladiator!

#9 Advanced fighting techniques... with short swords and more!

#10 Fighting Figures to memorize...

#11 Retiarius against Mirmillus

#12 Oplomacus against Thracian

#13 Ready for the Arena (the art of improvising and body reading).