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Although making legwraps for my Thrakian and Hoplomachus is still on my to do list,
I was just admiring Gashfords photo of himself and wondered whether others agree that some- maybe all -gladiator fight styles may have looked alot like Thai Kick Boxing with daggers/ swords etc as the padded armour on some or all of the legs- and frequently the instep of the foot suggests- to me that this might be so.
Pondering,
Richard
Sorry- I was sur I posted this in the Gladiator section- please move???
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Looking at Mr Ashfords photo it looks more like a well placed kick to the genitals, i don't think theres any evidence to suggest a Thai boxing style combat, any hand to hand would be more likely yo follow the Greek Pankration style illustrated on pottery from the period. I think the padded lower leg is simply to protect against the greaves. However i have read of savate having Gallic roots but i believe this has been discredited.
Richard Craig AKA Aulus Maximus
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I guess I always presumed that the padded armor was to provide light protection against glancing blows, and not so much for foot attacks. From what I've read, the armor was stuffed with horsehair, probably the long fiber hair from manes and tails.
If your opponent is armed with a sharp dagger, a kick is not the most clever attack...nothing like blocking a kick with the edge of a gladius to discourage a second kick, you know? Or a kick that's blocked at shin level with the edge of a shield would be counterproductive for the kicker, wouldn't it?
I wonder if a groin kick like that would be considered a foul? They weren't simply fighting for their lives (although that was involved) there were apparently rules for gladiatorial combat. I'm not sure of all the inner workings of those rules, though.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.