Gladiatorial combat
| Highest governing body | Guild of Gladiators |
|---|---|
| First played | c. 4th century BC |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Yes |
| Mixed gender | no |
| Type | Hybrid martial art combat blood sport |
| Glossary | Glossary of gladiatorial terms |
Gladiatorial combat (Caphiric Latin: Gladiatura) is a hybrid martial art combat blood sport that originated in Caphiria. The roots of gladiatorial combat can be traced back two millennia to ancient Caphiria where they were mostly slaves fighting with other slaves, wild animals, and condemned criminals as entertainment for Caphirians. It was not long before volunteers would begin risking their lives and their legal and social standing by appearing in the arena to fight for glory, fame, notoriety, and eventually, freedom. These volunteers, known as gladiators, were celebrated in art, and their value as entertainers increased. Eventually, gladiators became an essential feature of politics and social life in the Caphiric world.
The sport was first standardized in 1459 when an edict was passed which formed the Guild of Gladiators, the organization which acts as the governing body for the sport. From 1459 to 1647, every contest was mors pugna - to the death. In 1647, the Guild of Gladiators formed the Gladiatorial Combat Regulatory Commission (GCRF) which would define the rules of the sport, specify the equipment and facilities required, organize international competitions, and it would establish separate classes based on weight, weapon type, and whether or not it is mors pugna or nulla mors pugna. The modern sport of Gladiatura was introduced in 1966 when the Guild of Gladiators launched the Guild of Professional Gladiators and the Gladiatorial Combat League, the labor union for gladiators and the professional league respectively.
Modern gladiators compete in an advanced carbon-fiber armored suit called Lorica Ficà, which completely protects its user's body while electronic sensors record an opponent's strike position and power on the body. Opponents use a variety of martial arts and weaponry to attack each other and software keeps score of damage. The Lorica Ficà is also fitted with a complex subsystem of electrical neuromuscular polymodal nociceptors that can accurately and realistically simulate pain and "dismemberment".