NEW ZEALAND GLADIATOR SCHOOL (NZGS)
The NZGS provides Gladiator Shows as exciting entertainment at public events. To be a gladiator or gladiatrix (female-fighter) you must be reasonably fit and willing to train. Our fights are safe, choreographed and well-rehearsed. If you want to try it out, we can put you in a minor bit-part to see how you like it. You can also play a non-combat role if you prefer.
Our gladiators train in pairs, so we can either pair you up, or else choreograph an individual set-piece. Our experienced combat trainers include Alex Holloway, a professional stunt-fight choreographer. The shows are matched-pair fights with an overall story-line and audience participation to get the crowd involved. We use props such as blood-packs, blood-dagger, or fake-shields that can be carved up. The rudis (referee) comperes the show and helps direct the fighting. He introduces the champions and describes their victories as they strut about the stage. After each fight the audience votes, thumbs-up for life or thumbs-down for death. At the end all gladiators stand to take a bow. It is great fun!
Gladiatrices (female-fighters) are welcome. Our club has NZ's best gladiatrix, Idunna (pictured) who can train you to be a champion of Rome. She will work out an entertaining story-line that includes a short fight so you can see how you like it. There are also non-combat roles if you prefer, such as the Priestesses of Fortuna that bless the arena for luck before every fight.
Our club has an extensive range of gladiatorial gear, and many members make or buy their own specialist gear for their chosen style. Examples of our many previous shows are recorded in the Past Events/Gallery pages. If you enjoyed the Gladiator movies, then please join us to hear the adoring crowds screaming your name as the new Champion of Rome!
Our gladiators train in pairs, so we can either pair you up, or else choreograph an individual set-piece. Our experienced combat trainers include Alex Holloway, a professional stunt-fight choreographer. The shows are matched-pair fights with an overall story-line and audience participation to get the crowd involved. We use props such as blood-packs, blood-dagger, or fake-shields that can be carved up. The rudis (referee) comperes the show and helps direct the fighting. He introduces the champions and describes their victories as they strut about the stage. After each fight the audience votes, thumbs-up for life or thumbs-down for death. At the end all gladiators stand to take a bow. It is great fun!
Gladiatrices (female-fighters) are welcome. Our club has NZ's best gladiatrix, Idunna (pictured) who can train you to be a champion of Rome. She will work out an entertaining story-line that includes a short fight so you can see how you like it. There are also non-combat roles if you prefer, such as the Priestesses of Fortuna that bless the arena for luck before every fight.
Our club has an extensive range of gladiatorial gear, and many members make or buy their own specialist gear for their chosen style. Examples of our many previous shows are recorded in the Past Events/Gallery pages. If you enjoyed the Gladiator movies, then please join us to hear the adoring crowds screaming your name as the new Champion of Rome!
Gladiator Types
Barbarian - dressed and armed in a variety of exotic and entertaining ways. Generally supposed to be defeated by "Rome".
Dimachaerus ("two-swords") - fought without shield or helmet and minimal padding.
Gladiatrix - female gladiator. Fights in variety of styles.
Hoplomachus (Greek "hoplite-fighter") - armed with round hoplon shield, spear and sword.
Murmillo - wore stylised mormylos (seafish) helmet, manica and leg-wrapping. Armed with scutum and gladius.
Provocator ("challenger") - dressed in various styles and wore rectangular acardiophylax (breast-plate). Ditto.
Retiarius ("net-fighter") - loincloth, belt and galerus-manica, Armed with trident, dagger and weighted rete (net.)
Scissor - helmet, greaves, and sword. Left arm encased in a metal tube capped with crescent blade.
Secutor ("pursuer") - fights the retiarius. Smooth round helmet's small eye-holes protect from the trident and net.
Thraex ("Thracian") - Griffin-helmet, manica and greaves. Armed with square parmula shield and curved sica sword, or falx.
Dimachaerus ("two-swords") - fought without shield or helmet and minimal padding.
Gladiatrix - female gladiator. Fights in variety of styles.
Hoplomachus (Greek "hoplite-fighter") - armed with round hoplon shield, spear and sword.
Murmillo - wore stylised mormylos (seafish) helmet, manica and leg-wrapping. Armed with scutum and gladius.
Provocator ("challenger") - dressed in various styles and wore rectangular acardiophylax (breast-plate). Ditto.
Retiarius ("net-fighter") - loincloth, belt and galerus-manica, Armed with trident, dagger and weighted rete (net.)
Scissor - helmet, greaves, and sword. Left arm encased in a metal tube capped with crescent blade.
Secutor ("pursuer") - fights the retiarius. Smooth round helmet's small eye-holes protect from the trident and net.
Thraex ("Thracian") - Griffin-helmet, manica and greaves. Armed with square parmula shield and curved sica sword, or falx.
Non-Combat Roles
The procession order of entry: lictors, musicians, imaginers, palm-carrier, editor, lanista, gladiators
Arena slaves - helped clean-up the arena and remove the bodies
Clowns - novelty acts to help provide light relief from the fighting and killing
Criminals - dragged in for summary execution
Dis Pater - masked-actor that hits dead gladiators with a hammer to make sure that they ain't pretending
Editor - sponsors and pays for the games, often in order to win the mob's vote for election to public office
Imaginers - carry images of the gods to "witness" the proceedings
Lanista - the owner of the gladiator-school
Lictors - carry the fasces that signify the magistrate-editor's power over life and death ("fascism")
Mercury - actor that poked dead gladiators with a heated wand
Musicians - play a fanfare and accompany the games with music
Palm-carrier - awards the Palm of Victory to the winner
Patron of the Games - the Emperor, or a visiting dignitary, senator or wealthy noble matron
Roman guards - the military policed the gladiator schools and the arena. They drag in prisoners
Summa rudis - chief referee and weapons-checker
Arena slaves - helped clean-up the arena and remove the bodies
Clowns - novelty acts to help provide light relief from the fighting and killing
Criminals - dragged in for summary execution
Dis Pater - masked-actor that hits dead gladiators with a hammer to make sure that they ain't pretending
Editor - sponsors and pays for the games, often in order to win the mob's vote for election to public office
Imaginers - carry images of the gods to "witness" the proceedings
Lanista - the owner of the gladiator-school
Lictors - carry the fasces that signify the magistrate-editor's power over life and death ("fascism")
Mercury - actor that poked dead gladiators with a heated wand
Musicians - play a fanfare and accompany the games with music
Palm-carrier - awards the Palm of Victory to the winner
Patron of the Games - the Emperor, or a visiting dignitary, senator or wealthy noble matron
Roman guards - the military policed the gladiator schools and the arena. They drag in prisoners
Summa rudis - chief referee and weapons-checker
Some of our Gladiator Types |
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