Basic Training for New Recruits

[Tarbicus]

Going back to the whole gladiatorial training for soldiers thing, I was reading through Davies last night;

Juvenal mentions a virago who indulged in gladiatorial exercises, which included fencing at a post, and there are other literary references to this practice. It is quite possible that this technique was first introduced to the Roman army by P. Rutilius, who was responsible for several important changes in tactics and equipment and helped to form the really efficient army that became so effective in the last century BC. Valerius Maximus records:

The soldiers were taught exercises in handling their weapons by the consul P.Rutilius, the colleague of Cn.Mallius. Rutilius sent for instructors from the gladiatorial training establishments of Cn.Aurelius Scaurus, an unprecedented act on the part of the commander-in-chief. He implanted in his legionaries a more accurate technique of avoiding and inflicting blows and so blended courage with skill and likewise skill with courage, that a soldier's skill was made more brave by the vigour of his courage and his courage more cautious through his knowledge of his skill.

This method of training received the warm approval of Marius and Frontinus.

Roy Davies, Service in the Roman Army.