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First session
You learn the basic stance, how to hold shield and sword, and the footwork. No prior experience needed — just comfortable sportswear and a water bottle.
Roman reenactment association — Budapest
The Collegium Gladiatorium doesn't keep history behind glass. Shield, sword, helmet, training and a team — a hands-on experience for those who want more from the world of the arena than a spectator's seat.
About us
The Collegium Gladiatorium Cultural and Historical Reenactment Association brings to life the weapons, equipment, fighting styles and arena world of Roman gladiators — at training sessions, shows, historical events and living history lessons.
What sets us apart is that we treat the gladiator world not merely as spectacle, but as an athletic, historical and community experience. Our members train regularly, study the weapon classes, use historically accurate equipment, and bring the ancient arena to life in front of live audiences.
Training
With us, the world of the Roman gladiators doesn't live behind glass — it comes alive in motion, with sword, shield and a team. You can join as a complete beginner.
You learn the basic stance, how to hold shield and sword, and the footwork. No prior experience needed — just comfortable sportswear and a water bottle.
You settle into the fundamental moves, get to know the logic of the weapon classes, the paired drills and the rhythm of the team.
If you decide to stay, you gradually work your way up to historically accurate shows: arena atmosphere, an audience, real equipment.
What to bring
What we provide
You don't need any weapons or protective gear for your first session — we provide everything.
Schedule
Tuesday & Thursday
18:30 – 20:00
Location
Kürt Alapítvány Gimnázium
Budapest XI · Bogdánfy u. 5/b
Getting started
Trial training session
beginners welcome
Please confirm exact schedules and membership fees with the association before planning your visit.
Gladiator types
Gladiators were not all alike: they fought in different weapon classes, with different shields, helmets and tactics. The types below belong to the classic weapon classes that are well attested in the sources.
Fought with a heavy, scutum-style shield, a short sword (gladius) and a distinctive crested helmet resembling a fish. His typical opponent was the Thraex or the Hoplomachus.
Details →The "net fighter": he fought with trident and net, without a helmet, protected only by a shoulder guard. He relied on mobility and keeping his distance, typically against a Secutor.
Details →Similar to the Murmillo, but he wore a smooth, streamlined helmet so the Retiarius's net could not catch on it. A type developed specifically to defeat the net fighter.
Details →Fought with a small, square shield and a curved-bladed sword, the sica. He was distinguished by high greaves and a helmet crested with a griffin or eagle.
Details →Armament reminiscent of Hellenistic hoplites: a spear, a round shield and a short backup sword. His typical opponent was the Murmillo.
Details →The "challenger". Uniquely, he also wore a breastplate, which other weapon classes generally did not. His opponent was a fellow provocator with similar equipment.
Details →He began the fight on horseback with a spear, then continued on foot with a sword. Equites usually appeared in the opening duels of the games.
Details →A gladiator who fought with two swords — a type attested by few and disputed sources, so its reconstruction calls for a cautious approach.
Details →A presumed light spear-armed gladiator. The ancient evidence for it as an independent weapon class is indirect and scarce — here we treat it as a clearly flagged reconstruction.
Details →An archaic, comic-flavoured type who fought in a helmet with no eye slits. In our 1st–2nd century AD shows he appears at most as a curiosity; he may be cited as a character-story reference.
Details →A helmetless fighter armed with a lasso (laqueus) and a spear, protected by a galerus. He is mentioned by name only in late antiquity (Isidore), so in our AD 150–200 shows he appears only as a rare curiosity.
Details →One of the earliest gladiator types, equipped with the armament of Samnite prisoners of war. It disappeared by the Augustan era — it no longer features in our 1st–2nd century AD shows.
Details →A disputed type who fought with a curved blade fixed to the arm, attested mainly from the 2nd century AD onward — it fits our 2nd-century scenes as a rare Asia Minor speciality.
Details →Our reconstructions of the gladiator types are based on archaeological finds, ancient depictions and modern scholarship.
Faces of the Arena
A few of our gladiators from the "Faces of the Arena" series — every fighter has a character, weapon classes and a story of their own. The full team is available on the roster page.
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Shows
Collegium Gladiatorium shows are built on real duels fought by historically accurate rules, weapon class demonstrations and living history lessons. Available for events, school programmes and museum days as well.
Real combat under historically accurate rules, in authentic armament.
The audience sees up close what it meant to be a gladiator.
Murmillo, Retiarius, Thraex and company — every weapon is a world of its own.
A returning performer at Savaria-style Roman festivals.
Educational programmes for students and visitors.
For schools & institutions
If your school, museum or institution would like to organise a gladiator show or a living history lesson, send us the details — we'll work out the date, the venue and the programme we can bring.
For general enquiries or a trial training session, use the Contact section below.
Recruitment
If you are drawn to Roman history, weapons training, combat and a community like no other, come along to a trial training session. You don't have to be born a gladiator. You just have to show up for your first session.
Write to us that you'd like to come.
We agree on a date for your first session.
You come, you try it, you decide.
Contact
If you'd like to try gladiator training, send us a message and we'll help you take the first step. The exact conditions for joining in any given season are always confirmed by the association.