11-14-2012, 04:19 AM
Fighting character in slaves could be judged by how they reacted to slavery and on what grounds they had become slaves in the first place. A strong personality, a strong body and a willingness to survive shines through. A good lanista would certainly know what to look for in the humanity presented before him, or he would be a poor lanista who's fighters lost too often, voiding his investment. The survival and glory of a gladiator shone off on the school from which he came. If the basic quality is there, the handling of certain weapons and styles would be a matter of training. Personal excellence in a fighting style would lead to a definite choice. I presume gladiators were at first trained in different styles, till a style most fitting that individual was found and he progressed to perfect it.
