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"Jim Arvanitis revitalized pankration, the ancient Greek combat sport,
making it the modern world's first mixed martial art."
"Modern pankration owes its existence to Greek-American combat athlete
Jim Arvanitis. Influenced by the remnants of the original sport, he was
among the first to integrate fighting skills from different systems, preceding
the current mixed martial arts movement by almost thirty years."
"For thirty years, Jim Arvanitis has been the leading pioneer of
Greek pankration and the concept of integrated combat skills. It is because
of innovators like him that martial artists everywhere can appreciate
the value of all styles in additio to cross training in both striking
and grappling techniques, for it was pankration that set the standard
for combat sports in the Old World."
BLACK BELT Magazine
"Jim Arvanitis is among the elite martial artists of our time. His
efforts and innovations have not only revived an ancient fighting legacy,
but have provided an efficient means of learning no-nonsense self-defense.
Arvanitis' incredible skill and fighting record speak for themselves."
INSIDE KUNG-FU Magazine
"Almost single-handedly, Jim Arvanitis has resurrected the lost art
of pankration and brought it back from the brink of extinction. Arvanitis
is a visionary whose influence has been felt from no-holds-barred fighting
to the Olympics."
MARTIAL ARTS ILLUSTRATED
"I feel that Modern Pankration is the best and most practical fighting
art in practice today, and that Jim Arvanitis is very likely the finest
all-around martial artist America has yet produced."
MASSAD F. AYOOBMartial Arts Journalist and Weapons Expert
"Grandmaster Jim Arvanitis is recognized by the World Head of Family
Sokeship Council as the first individual to introduce the Greek art of
Pankration to America and revitalize its interest around the world. It
is also our opinion that much of the popularity of Pankration can be attributed
to Arvanitis' love for his art and his pioneering efforts in bringing
the attention of pankration to the world."
GRANDMASTER FRANK E. SANCHEZExecutive Director, WHFSC
"Jim Arvanitis is not only a martial arts living legend but is Greek
pankration's renaissance man. Through his efforts, the number of those
practicing the art has grown but from one practitioner in the early-1970s
to many thousands throughout the world today."
WORLD OF MARTIAL ARTS Magazine
"Modern pankration is synonymous with the name Jim Arvanitis. Grandmaster
Arvanitis is an incredible combat athlete whose development preceded the
mixed martial arts movement by some twenty years."
COMBAT SPORT Magazine
"Greek-American martial arts extraordinaire Jim Arvanitis has been
the main reason for the resurgence of the 'all-powers' combat sport called
pankration in current times. For the past thirty years he has championed
the aidos (honor) of his ancestors."
TAE KWON DO TIMES Magazine
"Demetrios Arvanitis is a cultural icon, having regenerated a significant
piece of Greece's history. His passion for his art and athleticism are
an inspiration for all Hellenes and filhellenes everywhere."
GREATER BOSTON HELLENIC-AMERICAN SOCIETY
"Training in pankration under Jim Arvanitis improved my overall confidence
and capabilities to handle myself when I was sent to serve in the Persian
Gulf war. Mr. Arvanitis is the best combat trainer in the business today.
His lessons served me well against enemy soldiers in the field."
U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier
"Modern pankration was a great asset in getting our minds and bodies
ready to face the enemy during Operation Desert Storm. The emphasis on
functional techniques, ground fighting tactics, and realistic applications
equipped us with empty-handed tools necessary to handle the most critical
of situations."
ROBERT KOLPIENCaptain, U.S. Army
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