Lift Up a Rudis The interpretation of this phrase causes difficulties. Some think that it is a reference to the wooden foil of a gladiator (the practise weapon), and thus take part in practise sessions in a ludus, another view is that it means that he takes part in fights that are not to the death (very dubious). Another view, and possibly the most likely, is that it is a reference to serving as a referee (summa or secunda rudis). This view is supported by the fact that the offenses seem to be listed in what seem to be descending order: fight as a gladiator; appear in the arena as an assistant to a gladiator, or (on this view) serve as a referee. Referees seem to have been drawn, on occasion from somewhat higher levels of society than gladiators, and it might have been possible for some one to claim that this occupation was therefore catagorically different from the others: a claim that the senate is explicitely refuting.