 Since few records about the actual martial arts used by the Spartans survive aside from accounts of formations and tactics , the fight choreography led by stunt coordinator and fight choreographer Damon Caro , was a synthesis of different weapon arts with Filipino martial arts as the base . This can be seen in the blade work and the signature use of the off hand by <unk> / Kali / Eskrima in the offensive use of the shields . The Spartans ' use of the narrow terrain , in those particular circumstances , is a military tactic known as " defeat in detail " . 
