According to the New York Times, Rome’s Cavalieri Hilton Hotel now offers gladiator lessons in conjunction with the Rome Historical Society. The article says:
Participants don full gladiator garb, including tunic, belt and sandals, then start learning combat moves with a rudis, or wooden training sword
The New York Time article is one of several recent notices about learning to be a gladiator while visiting Rome, including this article from the Australian and this article from Tandem.
If you live in Rome, you may want to consider joining the Gruppo Storico Romano (the organization that offers gladiatorial training), as membership has its advantages. Besides finessing your fighting skills, participation in the Gruppo Storico will allow you to train as a Roman soldier, to perform the rituals of the Vestal Virgins, or to compete for the chance to appear in the guise of the Goddess Roma for a year. And once you’ve mastered those ancient skills, you’ll be able to participate in some of Rome’s show-stopping events like the annual Birthday of Rome celebration and the Madonna Fiumarola procession.
