SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 

• World recognized as "the Father of Modern Pankration."
  Revived the ancient Greek pankration in late-1960s and was first to expose the art to the international martial arts community in 1973. Founder of mu tau (modern pankration) style in 1971. Ranked Founding Grandmaster (keereeos) of mu tau pankration.

   

• Published Author of two books:
  MU TAU: The Modern Greek Karate, Todd & Honeywell, NY, 1979. MU TAU PANKRATION: Volume 1/Concepts and Skills of "All-Powers" Combat, Spartan Publications, Boston, MA, 1997.

   

• Video Starring Roles:
  MODERN GREEK PANKRATION (Volumes 1 - 6), Panther Productions, San Clemente, CA, 1996.

   

• Publicized Physical Fitness Feats:
  World record holder for ‘thumb’ pushups, 1975 (45 in 51 seconds) and 1980 (61 in 47 seconds), and one-arm thumb pushups (5), 1983.

Featured in over 200 national and international publications:
Black Belt (1973 cover story); Inside Kung-Fu; Karate International; Martial Arts Ultimate Warriors;
Karate Illustrated; Official Karate; Fighting Stars; American Karate; Oriental Fighting Arts (UK); Inside Karate; Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated; Martial Arts Masters; Martial Arts Legends; Fighting Champions; World of Martial Arts; Jiu-Jitsu Magazine; The Karate Voice; Taekwondo Times; Martial Arts Illustrated; Grandmaster Magazine; Combat Sport; Action Martial Arts,
Who’s Who in American Martial Arts; The World’s Martial Arts Elite, The Martial Arts Encyclopedia; Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People; Martial Arts Masters of the World; The Ultimate Martial Arts Encylopedia.

12-Time Hall of Fame Inductee:
Grandmaster of the Year; International Pioneer; Founder of the Year; PanHellenic Athlete of the Decade, International Contribution; Silver Lifetime Achievement; Golden Lifetime Achievement; Martial Arts Living Legend; NH Athlete of the Century; Grandmaster Leadership; Historical Figure; Among first inductees to "Martial Arts Academy Awards."


Competitive & "Reality-Combat" Experience:
New England Golden Gloves Boxing Champion; Intercollegiate Wrestling (Greco-Roman &
Freestyle); Kickboxing (muay-Thai and savate); Numerous Challenge Fights; Boston Marathon and Duathlon (running/biking) events.


Television/Radio Appearances:
The Mike Douglas Show (1976); The Good Day Show (1978); The Guinness Game (1980); That’s Incredible! (1980); Guinness Book World Records Show (1981); That’s Entertainment (1982); Amazing Feats (1983);New England Personalities (1985); Warrior Talk (1998, 1999); Sarasota Profiles Today (1998).

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Professional martial arts instructor since 1971. Conducted seminars in United States, Canada, and Europe. Students include karate black belts, boxers, kickboxers, wrestlers, film writers, bodyguards, law enforcement and S.W.A.T. team members; United States marines and elite Army Special Forces. Personally trained armed forces ground troops for Persian Gulf War.ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS
Florida Martial Arts Brotherhood Hall of Fame (Executive Committee); World Head of Family Sokeship Council (Executive Board member); Martial Arts Masters, Pioneers & Legends Hall of Fame; World Martial Arts Alliance (Executive Board member); President of United Pankration Alliance (UPA); President of Spartan Martial Arts Enterprises, Inc.; World Pankration Federation (Advisory Council); World Black Belt.

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SOME TESTIMONIALS


"Grandmaster 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


"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. SANCHEZ
Executive Director, WHFSC



"Grandmaster Jim Arvanitis is not only a martial arts legend but is Greek pankration’s Renaissance Man. Through his efforts, and his efforts alone, the number of those practicing the art has grown from but one practitioner in the early-1970s to many thousands throughout the world today."
BLACK BELT Magazine






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The Spartan Academy of Martial Arts