GRANDMASTER JIM ARVANITIS

Grandmaster James Arvanitis

Search Karate Kidz Online

Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind

Site search Web search

This is an interview graciously given to us at Karate Kidz Online.

Interview with Martial Arts Legend and Founder of Modern Pankration "MuTau" Grandmaster Jim Arvanitis interviewed by Louis Velazquez

I have to thank Grandmaster once more for granting this interview, it was extremely enlightening and helpful. Grandmaster has definitely been an inspiration to myself and others worldwide and his following just continues to grow. His background and credentials are impeccable and I am honored to know to him. He is one of the most honorable and genuine martial artist that I have ever met. We are lucky to have him as a leader in the martial arts community.

December 2002

LV: How did you get started in Martial Arts?

GMA: In the beginning I was a skinny kid interested in learning how to protect myself against the big guys. I also needed something to boost my confidence. So I started out studying boxing and Greco-Roman wrestling at a young age and competed in regional matches. This did alot for my ego. Later I began to cross-train in various martial arts systems. I found that belts and classical forms did not have any practical usefulness for me. Nor did I confine myself to any one style but preferred extracting the best skills from each and modifying them so that they would be more functional. What I was looking for was a system that specialized in totality and pure street-effectiveness. Around the same time, I began to explore the combat roots of my own heritage and learned of pankration. This was what I was looking for ... combat efficiency both standing and on the ground. Needless to say, this discovery and the research that followed consumed me and it became my life's work to revive and rebuild the ancient concepts into a comprehensive fighting "art."

LV: Who inspired you the most which lead to your success today?

GMA: I aspired to bring recognition to my ancestors primarily through my father who made me realize what Greek pride was all about. The honor code is particularly strong among those of Greek blood so I embarked on a mission to become a spokesman for what my forebears had achieved. Much of my success after this came from being driven, motivated, and focused on contributing something meaningful to the pool of martial arts knowledge. It is difficult to say what gives one drive and an intense desire to accomplish something. I was just fortunate to possess this quality.

LV: Pankration and Martial Arts in general have become a major part of your life, do you plan on increasing your knowledge or are you content?

GMA: Pankration and Greek martial art has been my passion for the past 40 years and continues to be. Its study has provided me with an ongoing process of learning, and it has inspired a discipline that has enabled me to understand the importance of daily training and nutrition. I also believe that I could never be content with my knowledge as there is no end to what you can learn. I am forever a student of the martial arts.

LV: Do you have any plans on taking your skill and knowledge to Hollywood?

GMA: I am hoping that with the success of "Gladiator" and with more Greek and Roman historical movies currently in the works that pankration and other Greek combat techniques will find their way into film. My son, Brandon, is studying to become a film maker, and we are planning to develop storylines which capture some of the countless events that took place in ancient Greek culture.

LV: You are the authority and go to guy in Pankration (Mu Tau), your credentials are impeccable, what is your ultimate goal with Mu Tau?

GMA: For me Mu Tau is a lifestyle and a means of sustaining purpose for being here. Ultimately, my goal is that it will gain the recognition it deserves as being the "Greek Martial Way" and that pankration will become a popular form of competition as it was thousands of years ago. It would also be my dream to see the art and sport I revived from its ashes become part of the Olympic Games again. I have never been into organizations or the politics associated with them. However, if my dream is to materialize, it will take a concerted effort by those groups claiming to represent pankration. Any differences among them must be put aside and they must work together in a positive manner. I feel we all share a common bond in that regard.

LV: How do you feel about martial arts becoming a main stream in todays society?

GMA: I feel that martial arts is as important in today's society as other forms of athletics and sports. We are a generation that is health conscious and interested in improving our bodies as well as our minds. Martial arts not only develops us physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. This was the philosophy first popularized by the ancient Greeks who always felt that competing, either against another or oneself, was the essence of our existence.

LV: What are your feelings on "Full Contact Fighting" and how it exploded over the last few years?

GMA: Since the outset of my training I have advocated full-contact fighting as the only pragmatic means of self-expression and testing one's skills under realistic conditions. As a spectator sport I feel that the way in which kickboxing and submission fighting have suddenly exploded is reflective of changes that were necessary for the martial arts to evolve and grow. To me, learning to fight is the end product of studying a martial art and it is an absolute that contact be made so that there are no questions as to what works and what does not. With the advent of the UFC and other similar contests I think these questions are being answered.

LV: With the big trend today in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and "Cage Fighting", what effect if any, do you think that will have on Mu Tau?

GMA: I think that pankration, historially, has in fact had a major impact on today's mixed martial arts and limited rules combat events. Pankration seems to have become a global label for this type of competition. The Greeks were practicing their own native brand of total fighting, both for sport and on the battlefield, even prior to the coming of Christ. So the idea of combining standup and ground skills, and striking and submission grappling, is really nothing new. Understand that I respect BJJ and all martial arts for that matter. What I am saying is that Greece was the first to systematize this over 3000 years ago and after it vanished for some time, its practice was restored long before BJJ and cross training made their mark in the martial arts community.

LV: Can you explain what Pankration "Mu Tau" is? Most Martial Artist even though aware of Mu Tau don't really have a full understanding of Mu Tau and its impact on Modern Martial arts.

GMA: Mu Tau is actually an English pronunciation of two Greek letters which serve as an acronym for "mahikiti tehni" (Greek for "martial art"). The Mu Tau curriculum is divided into two distinct areas: unarmed combat, called panmachia (pan-ma-he-ya), and hoplamachia (op-lo-ma-he-ya), or armed fighting. Pankration is the nucleus of the unarmed component of the art. It is practiced both as sport and as a no-holds-barred form of street combat favored by the ancient Spartans. It has its own core techniques, training methodology, and a philosophy steeped in myth and tradition. Everything is based on realism and adaptability in both preparation and in application. Therefore there are no kata or preset forms as in Asian karate, but an emphasis on conditioning, hitting equipment that provides direct feedback, and sparring both standing and on the ground.

LV: Do you mind if we get a little personal?, I am sure that practioners of Mu Tau and Martial Artist in general are curious on how has being the Founder of Mu Tau and your involvement in Martial Arts changed your life?

GMA: Being an innovator of anything unique has its share of ups and downs. Although the down side is the constant scrutiny by those who are desperately seeking their own 15 minutes of fame, the up side is that it has brought me in contact with many talented and wonderful people and athletes. It has also given me the opportunity to travel and interact with the true martial art's greats. I have always been thankful to my ancestors for their creation. With its non-stylized structure, pankration provided me with the freedom to express my own ideas and athleticism. It gave me passion for life.

LV: You have been featured in over 200 publications worldwide, numerous television/radio appearances, you are a Hall of Fame Martial Artist, you are the founder of Mu Tau, world record holder and you are an accomplished author, wheeewwwww, I am sure that is only the tip of the iceberg. You have two books out as well, titled "MU TAU: The Modern Greek Karate" and "MU TAU PANKRATION: Volume 1/Concepts and Skills of "All-Powers" Combat". Do you have plans on writing another book or having a screen play written in the future?

GMA: I am in the process of completing work on my third book, actually a revised edition of my second book with an expanded format, new content, and added photos. This will be out in May of next year through Paladin Publications. I also have a fourth book which delves more heavily into the history and mythology of Greek combat sport. It will cover both sport and Spartan pankration, and hoplomachia (armed fighting). There will also be several instructional tapes that I am shooting over the coming months on both sport and street applications. As I mentioned earlier, martial arts is a dominant part of my life and I remain committed to carrying the torch of Greek pankration.

LV: What are your feelings on young martial artists today?

GMA: I feel that our young martial artists today are the leaders of tomorrow. They will be the ones to perpetuate the traditions of their teachers and preserve the high standards set before them for centuries. I have observed the prowess of many talented young athletes who will continue to get better as they mature. Having an active involvement in any sport, especially martial arts, makes the youth of the world better citizens and individuals, and prepares them to face the many challenges that are inevitable during our lifetimes.

LV: Do your students compete in tournaments?

GMA: Yes many of our sport pankration students have competed in full-contact mixed martial arts events throughout the U.S. and in foreign countries as well. Many of our affiliates are also training students to participate in these types of venues and represent the name of pankration with honor and dignity.

LV: And lastly, do you have any advice for the martial artist reading this interview?

GMA: I like to observe an adage of the ancient Greeks. It is that strong minds make strong bodies, and vice versa. There is no distinction here between the two. During the short time that we are privileged to coexist on this planet, we must live every day to the fullest and unlock our full potentials, be it as artists, musicians, teachers, athletes, whatever. Certainly getting to the top of one's game requires hard work, devotion, and sacrifice, but the benefits of such a way of life make one a more complete person. Obviously the earlier one commences training the easier it will be to maintain his stamina, strength, and flexibilty in his later years. However, it is never too late to start. And once this training is initiated it is imperative to stick with it and remain dedicated.

I would like to take this opportunity once more to thank Grandmaster Arvanitis (Keereeos) for taking time out of his hectic schedule to do this interview. He is one of the greatest contributors to modern martial arts, I am truly honored to know him and been granted this interview. Grandmaster has another book and instructional videos due to come out soon and we urge young martial artist to gain knowledge from this great martial artist and be inspired just as I have been by his actions and accomplishments.

For more information on Grandmaster Jim Arvanitis and Greek martial art, check out his websites:

www.mutau.net (The Greek Martial Art Portal)

www.spartanacademy.com

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames.