Who We Are

Petros (Peter) Leonidas Tsirigotis is the founder of the Xeiron’s Academy Program. Peter is the son of Greek immigrants and grew up in Lowell, M.A., a rough area and the fourth largest city in Massachusetts. Martial arts provided him with an outlet and an activity to keep him away from the gangs and the drugs that were rampant around him. In addition, it provided him with focus and discipline to achieve his goals.

He attended Boston University where he received academic scholarships and grants. He completed his bachelors of arts in 3 and 1/2 years and graduated cum laude with majors in Economics and Political Science and a minor in International Relations. Later, he worked full time as an economist in Washington, DC, attended law school part time at night, and taught martial arts. He has also taken graduate business classes at Johns Hopkins University. He has worked for the Federal Government, Fortune 500 companies, and some of the most prestigious law firms in the world.

Peter has been studying martial arts since 1980. He has studied numerous forms of armed and unarmed combat; taught martial arts in commercially successful schools and after school programs; developed and taught self-defense and crime prevention programs; competed, and served as a judge, in various tournaments (local, national and international); and was a member of the 2002 U.S. Boxe Francaise [Kickboxing] Savate Team. Peter has had experience in the following martial arts: Go Ju Ryu Karate, Aiki-Jujitsu, Combat Jujitsu, Boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Sombo, Wrestling, Filipino Martial Arts, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jujitsu, and Savate. He is a co-founder of the style of Pankration taught at Xeiron’s Academy.

Petros (Peter) C. Tsirigotis is a founding member of Xeiron’s Academy. Peter, cousin of Peter L. Tsirigotis, was born in Sparta, Greece. Sparta is the birthplace of many brave heroes like Leonidas, the king of Sparta who led the three hundred in protecting the pass at Thermopyles. Leonidas’ supreme sacrifice and example became a source of inspiration for Peter to study martial arts. Martial arts provided him with discipline and self-control and prepared him physically and mentally to endure the many challenges he would encounter in pursuing his goals.

Peter is a graduate of Greece’s military academy. He is currently serving in the Greek military as a member of Greece’s elite special forces (S.E.A.L). In addition, he was selected to represent Greece at the U.S. Special Forces School, participating in a joint U.S. allied forces training program. Even among this group of the world’s most elite special forces operatives, he distinguished himself among his fellow participants. He attributes his successes, as well as his ability to successfully endure and over-come very difficult/stressful situations, to his martial arts studies.

He has studied boxing, self-defense, and Pankration. He is a co-founder of the style of Pankration taught at Xeiron’s Academy.