# Knife fight with experienced Roman gladiator vs modern marital artist expert - Who likely wins? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857 "2015-01-14T23:29:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/1 "2015-01-14T23:29:38Z")
Assume you have a knife fight to the death set between an experienced (and assumedly fairly adept if he is alive) ancient Roman gladiator and a modern marital artist who has trained in using and defending against weapons like knives but has never been in a real life or death knife fight. Assume the men have equal height and weight. Assume they are using identical weapons in gladiator like arena in a fight to the death, or possibly submission by the loser. Who is likely to win? Does real world experience in knife fighting, even if 2000 years old, trump modern training and techniques? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/2 "2015-01-14T23:40:10Z")
I’m giving it to the Roman because he will, IMO, be in a situation at least somewhat familiar to him and he will have no modern qualms or sqeamishness about gutting his opponent. He is more likely to be a killer than the dojo guy, if you will. ---
**Author:** ![yawuntz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a5b964/32.png) [@yawuntz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yawuntz)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/3 "2015-01-14T23:46:32Z")
Tough call, but some of the marital arts can be quite disarming. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/4 "2015-01-15T00:01:58Z")
The one who brings a gun. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/5 "2015-01-15T00:19:56Z")
chuck. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/6 "2015-01-15T00:51:15Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I’m giving it to the Roman because he will, IMO, be in a situation at least somewhat familiar to him and he will have no modern qualms or sqeamishness about gutting his opponent. He is more likely to be a killer than the dojo guy, if you will. This. He’s already seen the color of his own blood, and won’t be distracted by it. The modern guy might not either, but I don’t know that for sure. An old co-worker was an ex-Marine. He had a ghastly scar down his forearm from where he’d taken a knife away from a mugger. He got cut…but the mugger had his arm broken in two places. I’m putting my bets on the guy with real experience. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/7 "2015-01-15T01:28:34Z")
There’s no such thing as ex-Marines. ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/8 "2015-01-15T02:17:27Z")
I’m split 50/50 on this one, a good gladiator or a lucky martial artist. I’d be edging toward the gladiator… or glad’e’ate’er. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/9 "2015-01-15T02:25:24Z")
I’d go with the Roman. I don’t think modern tactics are that much of an advantage over ancient ones. And inexperienced fear might freeze the modern guy. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/10 "2015-01-15T03:16:04Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > There’s no such thing as ex-Marines. I’m not totally sure what this means…but I do have to say…I’ve seen one or two pudgy, out-of-shape, suety, dumpy, obese guys who used to be Marines… They’re about as “ex” as you can get. ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/11 "2015-01-15T03:54:45Z")
It depends almost entirely on the martial art, and the level of training. The best martial artists in the world would easily beat any gladiator, because the level of discipline and training is unbelievably high in the upper levels of the better Asian martial arts. It’s actually not even close. Imagine Bruce Lee, or any of the best kung fu movie fighters of the last 50 years. No gladiator was anywhere near that level of training. You might have had one in a million whose reflexes and athletic ability would let him stave off defeat for awhile. That’s about it. if you don’t think those kung fu movie guys are badasses, remember, somebody taught them. Somebody who has an extra 40 years of training/practicing behind them. Yeah. The little old Asian dude you see on the street may just be the baddest motherfucker on the planet. He may have been practicing 8 hours daily for 60+ years, which is not uncommon for some family systems. Spartacus can’t equal that. That’s not to say that the typical strip mall karate teacher is safe from a good gladiator, but that’s a different discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/12 "2015-01-15T04:51:45Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I’m not totally sure what this means… Once a Marine, always a Marine. > [@Trinopus](#): > > but I do have to say…I’ve seen one or two pudgy, out-of-shape, suety, dumpy, obese guys who used to be Marines… They’re about as “ex” as you can get. Well then they are… Not as Lean Not as Mean But still a Marine ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/13 "2015-01-15T05:07:39Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Once a Marine, always a Marine. > > Well then they are… > > Not as Lean > Not as Mean > But still a Marine Semper fi. I probably shouldn’t have said that but I respect the meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Tixenfleaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@Tixenfleaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tixenfleaz)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/14 "2015-01-15T05:49:39Z")
As a youth, I trained heavily in Eskrima at a local _Jeet Kune Do_ studio. We would don full body armor and go at it hammer and tongs for hours at a time. I wasn’t the best, but I was pretty damn good. That being said, I’ve no doubt that an experienced gladiator would’ve gutted me toot sweet. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/15 "2015-01-15T09:11:37Z")
If the gladiator was something like a retiarius, he might not be all that good with just a knife. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/16 "2015-01-15T10:58:51Z")
I’m going to give it to the modern martial artist as the gladiator is ancient. He just doesn’t move like he did in his youth. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/17 "2015-01-15T12:29:20Z")
Yeah, as others pointed out, it comes down to how willing you are to see a fair amount of your own blood. It can be pretty hard to straight-up kill someone with a knife, and someone with more modern sensibilities will very likely baulk or back off. Even a trained martial artist, if they haven’t done it before. You’d need someone with real mental discipline. I have little doubt that a well-trained modern martial artist would be a better fighter, but I just doubt that many have the balls to cut someone up. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/18 "2015-01-15T12:45:45Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > . You’d need someone with real mental discipline. Or real savagery. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/19 "2015-01-15T12:55:57Z")
> [@get\_lives](#): > > It depends almost entirely on the martial art, and the level of training. The best martial artists in the world would easily beat any gladiator, because the level of discipline and training is unbelievably high in the upper levels of the better Asian martial arts. It’s actually not even close. > > Imagine Bruce Lee, or any of the best kung fu movie fighters of the last 50 years. No gladiator was anywhere near that level of training. You might have had one in a million whose reflexes and athletic ability would let him stave off defeat for awhile. That’s about it. > > if you don’t think those kung fu movie guys are badasses, remember, somebody taught them. Somebody who has an extra 40 years of training/practicing behind them. Yeah. The little old Asian dude you see on the street may just be the baddest motherfucker on the planet. He may have been practicing 8 hours daily for 60+ years, which is not uncommon for some family systems. Spartacus can’t equal that. > > That’s not to say that the typical strip mall karate teacher is safe from a good gladiator, but that’s a different discussion. Read the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knife-fight-with-experienced-roman-gladiator-vs-modern-marital-artist-expert-who-likely-wins/709857/20 "2015-01-15T14:53:11Z")
An amateur boxer with a 10-20 record is going to kick the ass of most of the black belts at the local strip mall dojo. A gladiator with a 1-0 record in the arena has a similar advantage. Regards, Shodan