Spartan Training - Early Ice Swimmers?

History tells us that Japanese samurai, the Roman Legions, and the Spartan soldiers all underwent cold water swimming as part of their military and mental preparations.

The leaders of these hardened men of earlier millenia knew that training along the seashore, in lakes, and in rivers, especially during the winter and early spring months, would increase their tolerance to cold and various hardships, making them overall better warriors.

They learned to swim in all kinds of different water environments and conditions. The Japanese had specific terms for these types of swimming: shinden ryu (marathon swimming), kankai ryu (ocean swimming), suifu ryu (river swimming or rapids swimming), as well as other methods that were based on the topography and waterways (e.g., coastline or mountain areas). For example, if the samurai had to fight while wearing armor, they would study the kobori ryu (combative swimming) where the samurai would eggbeater (tread water) while keeping their upper body above water to fight with swords, fire arrows or guns while in or crossing a river.

As the Japanese samurai trained for "suieijutsu", the theancient Japanese martial art of combative swimming, their purposes were multi-fold. The goals ranged from allowing the bushi (samurai) to silently sneak up on an enemy, to floating for long periods, and to fording strong rivers. The bushi needed to be able to swim while wearing armor, carrying flags, weapons, and banners. They needed to be able to use a bow and arrow while being almost submerged. Some training also featured grappling while in the water.


When I think of the modern-day warriors in our ice swimming contemporary times, men like Ram Barkai, Lewis Pugh, Ger Kennedy, Henri Kaarma, Alexander Brylin, Jacques Tuset, Christof Wandratsch, and many others.

By Steven Munatones.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and Editor of the KAATSU Magazine. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), Dale Petranech Award for Services to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (2022), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007 and 2010), and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984, awarded to the senior whose interests are not bounded by academic or institutional structures. A joyous, deeply-rooted affirmation of life, disdain for the purely conventional; a love of adventure, and desire to learn by experiencing; the ability to respond creatively to difficult situations). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee (until 2011) and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, a 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff including 4 FINA World Championships, and 2008 NBC Olympic 10K Marathon Swim commentator.

Location: Huntington Beach, CA, USA

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