The
“ Gymnastics”, apparatus gymnastics, and the “ destiny” phenomenon……
PAMMAHON-
ancient 3-day Hellenic (Greek) martial arts T.A.G.M.A.
“ Straight
from the beginning of my rectorship
there was turmoil amongst students on account of the academic gymnasium. One group of students , because the academic
gymnasium director was mistreating them , caused an uproar in the gymnasium ,
destroyed its books, interrupted the lessons taking place , and following a string of protests outside the university
demanded that the gymnasium director is dismissed , and that apparatus
gymnastics is replaced by military
drills “ ( Katsaras, 1909, pgs 21-22).
By
summarizing in this way , the University of Athens rector, during the 1907-1908
academic year , namely Michael Katsaras, medical school professor, describes on
his speech all that took place in November of 1907, otherwise known as “ the
Gymnastics”.
What we are
about to analyse in this text , is apparatus gymnastics, military drills and
the framework in which they appeared in 18 century Greece. There had been
created a university tradition, purely military in nature, from 1862, through
the introduction of “ arms drill” and
the constitution of a university student phalanx, an armed student body
commanded by a tactical army officer. At the time it was clearly mentioned
that: “ The ultimate goal of gymnastics
is to develop physical as well as to preserve mental powers, and furthermore to fully prepare youths to lead a
proper military life”.
The same
happened at school as from a young age children would practice martial arts and
arms drill and there are even photographs witnessing that. Apparatus gymnastics
replaced through legislation of the time , military gymnastics , not only in
schools/gymnasiums, but also in universities. Following the gymnasium
instructor’s terrible misconduct in 1907, the students revolted and demanded
his dismissal and the replacement of
apparatus gymnastics with military gymnastics. Training in military education
not only in universities but also in the military had some French inspiration which
lasted until before the outbreak of WWII . Later it was replaced by the British
mentality ( this is verified by those who served before WW II and also after,
much like the writer’s father namely Dionysios Likiardopoulos, who enlisted
voluntarily in 1939 while in 1945 he did his proper military service in the
artillery).
Thus we can
see in schools at the time young men practicing during physical education in
military drills with or without weapons. The French had invented a timetable of
military education in which , either armed without or with a long stick (baton
militaire), the trainees would in very
short time have benefits such as:
1. Unarmed fighting ability
2. Armed fighting ability using a
stick, sword, or any bayonet-bearing weapons.
This very
training that took place throughout Greece for a good number of years was what
helped the Greeks survive and made history again in WWI and WWII. This training
was based on the principles of the sword (western fencing) but for military
reasons and not for fencing, which was quite widespread at the time. Thus , we
can see pupils and students training in
this French method , with a phalanx-like array!.
Ever since
modern-day Olympic games , the apparatus gymnastics ( Swedish) mentality spread
across the whole of Europe reaching its climax in the Stockholm Olympic games
(1912) and after ,when it was officially
presented and replaced almost everywhere
military gymnastics with that of Swedish (apparatus gymnastics). Swedish (apparatus) gymnastics was invented
by Per Henrik Ling , who was also a duelist. The exercises and programme he introduced
was mainly about treatment through exercising and corrections of bad
posture, joints, by toning the muscles etc.
Naturally all those exercises were also to be found in military training,
thus what really happened was the removal of arms drill but also the removal of
spirit that must be an indispensable part of military training. Along the way,
Swedish (apparatus ) gymnastics became known as that of athletes , both in team
and individual games. All this through
the spirit of contemporary Olympic games , resulted in distancing man in the
long run from his military training that guaranteed his survival as a Nation
and an individual , and getting him to adopt today’s mentality of “ we work out
for fun and to have a nice body”…….
And so
someone may ask ,so what?? Is this a bad thing??. No of course it’s not a bad
thing but this isn’t what contemporary
man needs, it never was!. Besides, this beautiful physique comes naturally as a
result of military training which however doesn’t stop there, just like
contemporary gymnastics. Military training from a school age forms a person’s
character and creates proper “ habits”
for later student-citizen socialization , who , bound by these principles and
virtues acquired during military training , end up becoming more responsible
,more ethical, with a sound ability to
judge people and determined citizens. Above all, they learn how to steer
their thoughts toward common interest within the nation, family and state
framework rather than individual
interest which is formed by the “ I exercise for fun and to have a nice body”
mentality. This is also reflected in
duell training ( for personal survival
and dominance over others) compared to military mentality ( collective survival
so that we submit to no one). This is the point at issue regarding PAMMAHON, as put together by Kostas Dervenis.
“ We do not seek power, we do not seek
speed…we await the opening” explains characteristically. And he brings up the example of the cave bear ,
which was admittedly the most violent , powerful and fastest animal of the time
, which sought to share the same places with humans ( caves). Primitive man ,however, prevailed because of
his tactics and strategics, since objectively he was far weaker and slower than
the bear. This is in total harmony and coincidence with Aristoteles’ saying: “
It is good to study the art of war , not to enslave but rather not to be enslaved”. “ Do not seek power over others” says
Dervenis abut PAMMAHON. “ You must
strive so that no one will have any power over you. He who seeks power, will
eventually become a slave of that power. Find happiness in freedom”.
And so it
is, there will always be someone stronger than us, the issue however isn’t strength
and violence in martial arts because then you will find yourself a slave of
someone else’s power. Thus, what everyone should seek in the practice of
martial arts should be tactics and strategy mainly followed by power and speed,
so that we allow no one to exert any power or authority over us. This is how
free citizens-fighters are made.
Today
almost all martial arts practices are focused on power and violence with the
intention of keeping others under control
as well as causing the greatest damage possible. It is mainly up to the
instructor to train the student to be able to discern danger promptly so as to
avoid it, to be in a position to correctly evaluate the dangerous situation ,
and to await the right moment for action, so as not to be caught off guard and
also not to allow any room for his adversary to take action against him , not
with power but with tactics.
To be in a
position to check on his opponent rather than striking him , to be able to
strike his opponent rather than injuring him….and to be able to injure him
rather than killing him!. Taking someone else’s life means he has been
acknowledged as enemy of your nation or family , and that he is deliberately
trying to harm you, enslave you or take your life, this is where you must give
your survival battle and it is mandatory that he is put to death.
Thus,
fighting falls under 3 categories:
1. Disengagement
fighting: when there is no threat to our personal life
,then we seek to disengage as soon as possible.
2. Submission fighting: when we are attacked and we can’t
know the extent of the damage the opponent wants to cause to us ,in which case
we must try to keep him under control and subjugate him.
3. Survival fighting: When we already know that our
opponent definitely wants to take our
lives or to cause tremendous harm.
We can show
that these 3 categories are directly related to the 3 functions of the brain ,
taking into account the 3-part brain model suggested by neurology professor
PaulD. Maclean:
1. Neocortex, where this part of the brain is
the most conscious part of our personality and is every day in control under
standard social circumstances. This part of the brain is is reflected in
disengagement fighting and based on logic , we want to consciously avoid
fighting. In 3-day ancient Greek martial arts
this is reflected in the conscious level.
2. Limbic system,old mammalian, where this part of
the brain is connected with emotional functions ( emotional level) and reflects
rage, passion, social status, selfishness and sex. It is connected with
submission fighting, to keep the opponent under control.
3. R-complex ,reptilian, where this part of the brain is explicitly
concerned with survival of the most basic instincts ( physical level) and is
connected with survival fighting.
All parts
of the brain , just like all levels of human existence, must work in harmony
and collaborate. Contemporary man has lost his ability to consciously go from
one situation to the next depending on
what he is faced with. For example, he isn’t able to do what a gorilla can do,
which if during eating is attacked by another animal he can fight for his
survival and when he is done he can go on with his meal. Typically if a man
finds himself in a situation like that
he will freeze to death and die…..
Thus,
training in PAMMAHON comprises 3 distinct phases, reflecting our 3 brain parts
mentioned earlier.
Let’s now
analyse 3 words which constitute slogans
in PAMMAHON:
Civilisation-politics-war
Civilisation=build, create a city
Politics= maintain this city
War=destroy the city.
Fortunately
or unfortunately( as chosen by nature itself),
that’s how everything functions
in life and so does Man. He creates, maintains and destroys.
There
cannot only be constant creation
There
cannot only be constant maintenance
There
cannot only be constant destruction.
Everything
is a cycle where one thing succeeds another .
Therefore one cannot exist without the other two. So man cannot function
by aiming only at one of them , he needs the other two so he can continue to
evolve. The ancient Greeks fully applied all three of these phases, that’s why
they were able ,even in periods of peace and “ democratic” prosperity , to give
a survival battle against the Persians and beat them. The Persian army were at
the time the respective cave bear, but the Greeks were trained and had tactics. For all of this to become a little more
clear we must discuss another issue ,
before we begin to summarise. This other
issue is violence.
Violence is
the deliberate use of physical power or authority, threatened
or actual, against a person , or against a group or community, which can result in, or is highly likely to lead to,
injury or death, psychological violence, growth disorders, or deprivation. Krug et al. “ global review on violence and
health” , World health organization, 2002.
How to
classify people , according to violence classifications.
Good-natured people: People who do not want and aren’t able to cause harm to others on any
level.
Frauds: those who work deviously and using tactics so
as by harming others they can benefit themselves . Quite capable of
manipulating others and often can lead
people’s hatred in the wrong direction. Such are politicians , especially in
Greece.
Determined: Those who can make the right decisions even under pressure and psychological
violence.
Verbal
violence, Physical violence, Murderers.
Deceit is a
form of violence, indeed it is the method of using violence that allowed the
the human species to beat far more powerful animals. Socially however, it has
been written off that deceit is equal to violence. Determination is the antidote to deceit. Our
current state is mostly the result of deceit, which is why we need determined
people and that is where martial arts training should be focused on so it can
produce determined individuals who will benefit the general public. Much like
it happened in the 19th century.
Thus, we
must take great care to know well what put into our hearts, our knowledge, our
intellect, our bodies, as that would have corresponding results. And just like
the Great Heracletus says: “ Everything is cleansed by fate”….. But really how
many would understand that? What is Fate?
Prudence is
the leading and first born power. As it is, and not having covered the needs of
its fate, it must take something to bind together the powerful energy of its
fates. The existing available areas that it might attract is magnetism and
physical parts of matter. If it attracts those, as it is in its state of
independence, then the upcoming out of
all measure , unthinking, violent unnatural areas will take positions that are
not suited to the size of the logos of prudence, which may end up in its
complete demonization. That’s why prudence needs a mechanism that will recognize the needs of
its fates and the outer logos and when the physical and magnetic powers invade
it should be able to stop them outside the psychic cycle and from then to
selectively capture the necessary speech of those that suit its fates and its
natural functions.
Thus,
prudence created fate, to be in its service and without violating its thought
to be able to take or turn away that which is needful. Fate, powerful and dominating, can
distinguish everything in all souls of the universe, and is expressed
rightfully as it functions in view of the natural universal laws. There is
nothing in the cosmos that will disobey and escape her.
Fate is the
imaginary mechanism that automatically reads the needs of prudence. Fate
selects form the outside world of the
cycle, what prudence is in need of, this is what it seeks , this is what it
finds and only these does it introduce. It acts as a shield of the soul against
values unsuitable for its spaces.
The final
goal of martial arts is to help each student to find his fate. And this is the
4th level according to my
good friend and teacher Kostas Dervenis
it is the spiritual that inhabits the autonomous intestine neurosystem,
which has been described as the second intellect because it is autonomous of
the central neurosystem, to which it is connected through the neurogastric
nerve. It
thinks by itself.
I’m not
certain whether we will indeed find fate through cultivation in “ esoteric”
martial arts or practices as it doesn’t exist there probably, and proof of this
is the fact that many people performed internal exercise without having the
necessary filtres and various things
entered them and as a result they suffer from mental, physical and spiritual
illnesses.
Furthermore,
I don’t believe that through religion we will achieve the 4th level
as even there the absence of fate is quite evident since there are ideas and
sentiments invading it that are false and not proven correct that alter and
distort man so he cannot function on
only the 3 levels of his brain as he leaves his fate in the hands of God.
Fate
,therefore, inhabits the intestines and must be the primitive ancient survival
and protection instinct of man. It is connected to the goddess Mitis, eaten by
Zeus as she carried his child and then from the head of Zeus was born Athena.
She expresses fate, goddess of war and virtue and wisdom ( 3-day ancient Greek
martial arts). Aris reflects the cave bear , violence , rage, and power. Athena
however, rendered him unconscious with just one knock on the neck. We’ve said
that fate is connected with instinct, which through cultivation has taken on
its final form, which filtres everything and opens the door for those that must
be and those that must be are what nature demands along with the universal
laws.
The key
must be in this phrase that was discovered by Kostas Dervenis, in the monastery
of Gouverneto in Chania that says:
“ NOYS
ESTIN O DIAKOSMON TE KAI PANTON AGIOS”
meaning fate , as Heraletus says. Because it is true that whatever the
mind captures and takes action it will have the respective result on society
,man, everywhere. Whether negatively, positively or conservatively ( culture,
politics, war).
The mind=
prudence in this very state , with fate created and having harmony , logic and
everything else I said without adding anything else. When all this creation of
the soul starts its evolutionary production , then we’ll say that the mind
got the ideas and not prudence or fate.
Because the mind has now all the conceivable and not the perceptible. ( That
which is understood and real functions according to natural law and not against
it as much of the perceptible, which approaches us when we become more
receptive and open to anything we may be attracting from the universe, see
esoteric training for opening the chakras where the whole method is aimed at
the absence or dismissal of fate. Thus man becomes a receiver where literally anything could invade him).
Thus fate
is the 4th level according to my teacher Kostas Dervenis where the
way to find fate isn’t through martial art , or no other method for that
matter, but the teacher himself, the leader. Only he can help you find it , with
correct guidance, true knowledge stemming from Heracletus, and on condition
that he has already found it himself.
Really have
you ever thought how many can actually teach martial arts? Think about all
these modern martial arts styles and what real benefit they can have for the
trainees and what kind of citizens they can prepare . The point is then
not to practice martial arts with our
spirit defined by Aris, but to practice them with virtue and the spirit defined
by Athen Prommahos.
How many
martial arts practices are still remaining that still carry this ancient true
knowledge?. The answer is a simple one ,
as long as one makes the right connections. As long as one takes into account
the history of a nation that promotes its own fighting methods and see how many face-to face battle
experiences they have. Surely a good number of peoples did, before various
Israeli and Philippino martial arts cought on etc.
Besides ,
we Greeks can definitely deserve first place among others. Not because of our
ancestors’ glorious feats but for the 19th century feats that are
near us. Thus PAMMAHON and 3-day ancient
Greek martial arts were created (
TAGMA) that combine yesterday with today and having as primary goal the continuation
of this frozen but not forgotten and lost knowledge , and the creation of
determined people – fighters rather than cave bears.
Dedicated
to those that helped me , in their own ways , to find my fate, Kostas Dervenis
and Giannis Karageorgiou.
