by Helena Whyte

Created on: October 13, 2010

A battle between the ancient Greeks and the ancient Chinese would be intense. The Greeks and Chinese would be evenly matched at the beginning of battle. Both armies conformed to a strict code of discipline. Both armies were trained for endurance and had bodies conditioned to take blows. Both cultures were accustomed to fighting to the death of one of the opponents. Both armies were evenly matched in swordsmanship and hand to hand combat. But the ancient Chinese had an additional weapon, Kung Fu. King Fu made the Chinese stealthier, faster, and more flexible. Kung Fu allows a quick attack to the bodies' pressure points leading to quick death.

Spartan boys lived in the army barracks from the age of seven to thirty. They toughened their bodies by walking barefoot even in winter. The Greeks or Spartans practiced Pankration which is a form of competitive wrestling resembling Judo. The Greeks went into battle stripped down and well oiled with olive oil. They used a yell to bring forth the power or spirit. The Spartans would use kicks and grappling techniques to get their opponent to the ground. They relied on the fact the the oil on their skin would make it difficult for an opponent to get a good hand hold on any body part.

Chinese boys started training in Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple at the age of five years old. Even these young boys trained for five hours a day. They toughened their bodies by hitting soft objects such as pillows stuffed with rice and worked their way up to hitting wooden dummies. The Chinese art of Kung Fu is based on animal movements such as the snake, tiger, monkey, crane, or praying mantis. The warriors would wear a thick sash to protect their back and abdomen. They would use kneeling or jumping positions to attack. The Chinese would quickly shift out of the way of the Spartan opponent rather than blocking the attack. They don't rely on grappling techniques so they wouldn't need to grab their slippery oily adversary. The Chinese yell the chi to bring forth the power.

In a combative situation pressure points can be used to temporarily inflict pain which results in temporary immobility or temporary disorientation. The temporary effects are long enough for the opponent to run away or to inflict a mortal blow.

If the women went to battle the outcome would be different. The Greek women were trained in gymnastics and endurance so that they would bear strong sons. Chinese girls feet were bound to keep them dainty which essentially crippled them.

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