Join us for EMBCA’s ”The Hellenic Warrior Ethos: From Antiquity to Modern America" Panel Discussion Zoom Webinar on Sunday, March 8th, at 2 P.M. EST (11 A.M. PST, 9 P.M. Athens EEST. The panel discussion will be introduced and moderated by Lou Katsos, EMBCA’s President. The distinguished panelists and accomplished martial artists will include US Marine Combat Veteran / Combat Instructor John Biliris; Martial Arts Instructor/ Educator Andreas Mendelos; Hellenic Combative & MMA Instructor/Martial Artist/ Technologist Eric Hill; Martial Arts Instructor/Cage Fight Promoter Alrey Handrich;and Amateur MMA Cage Fight Competitor and University Student Elias Hill.

Martial arts and combat sports in Greece possess a long, documented lineage stretching back to the Minoan era (circa 1900 BC), evidenced in frescoes depicting boxing and ritual combat. From there, these traditions evolved through Mycenaean warrior culture and into the structured military systems of the Archaic and Classical periods. Long before the celebrated Samurai of Japan emerged, the warriors of ancient Hellas, the hoplites at Marathon, the Spartans at Thermopylae, the Sacred Band of Thebes , cultivated systems of combat grounded not only in technique but in discipline, cohesion, and moral formation.

Combat training in the ancient Greek world was both practical and philosophical. It included pankration (a sophisticated blend of striking and grappling), wrestling, boxing, weapons training, shield work, and coordinated phalanx tactics. These were not isolated athletic pursuits; they were integrated into civic and military life. The gymnasium was not simply a place of exercise it was a center of education, discussion, and character formation.

These disciplines were instruments of paideia, the holistic formation of the citizen. Physical strength was inseparable from ethical responsibility. Endurance trained perseverance. Controlled aggression taught restraint. Tactical training developed judgment. Above all, the warrior ideal demanded andreia (courage), sophrosyne (self-control), and what we today call philotimo, sense of honor and duty to something greater than oneself.

As the centuries progressed, warfare changed. The Byzantine military incorporated new tactical doctrines and defensive systems. The klephts and armatoloi of the Ottoman period adapted guerrilla methods to mountainous terrain. In the modern era, Hellenic martial practice found expression in wrestling, boxing, Olympic competition, and contemporary combat sports. Yet despite evolving weaponry and shifting battlefields, the core ethos remained constant: resilience, discipline, responsibility, and service.

The panel among other things will explore:

• The deep historical foundations of Hellenic martial traditions
• The evolution from ancient battlefield systems to modern combat sports such as MMA and combatives
• The philosophical and ethical dimensions of warrior training , how discipline shapes character
• The relevance of these principles in a world marked by uncertainty, social fragmentation, and moral confusion
• How structured martial arts training can strengthen youth, build confidence and self-control, and contribute positively to American society

In an era when many young people face instability, distraction, and a lack of clear formation, the warrior disciplines offer something profoundly constructive: structure, accountability, mentorship, and earned confidence. They teach that strength without character is dangerous, but character without strength is fragile.

This event is part of EMBCA’s broader programming in anticipation of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution (1776) as well as the 205th Anniversary of the Hellenic Revolution. The warrior spirit that animated both the American and Greek struggles for independence reminds us that liberty is never accidental and never passive. It requires preparation, sacrifice, moral clarity, and the willingness to defend what is just.

The American Minutemen and the Greek klephts and armatoloi share a common thread , citizen warriors shaped by community, conviction, and discipline. As we approach this historic anniversary, reflecting on those traditions is not antiquarian nostalgia; it is civic reflection.

We invite you to join us for what promises to be a substantive, engaging, and intellectually serious discussion one that bridges antiquity and modernity, Hellas and America, physical training and moral formation.

This is not simply a conversation about combat. It is a conversation about character, responsibility, and the enduring meaning of strength in service to freedom.

EMBCA is an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under Internal Revenue (IRC) Section 501(c)(3), classified as a public charity, and qualifies to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522 . Donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170. Thank you all again for your continuing enthusiasm and support of our events !!