Introduced as a sport in the Olympic Games in 648 BC, pankration combines striking and grappling to subdue an opponent.

History and Philosophy

The ancient Greek martial art and gladiatorial sport of pankration was a blend of fighting techniques including Hellenic wrestling, boxing, strangulation, kicking, striking and joint locking techniques. In fact only biting, gouging and scratching were not allowed in pankration – anything else was considered legal in competition. The term pankration comes from the Greek term pankrates, which means “all encompassing” or “all powers”.

It was considered the truest physical test when it debuted at the 33rd ancient Olympic Games since pankration competitions were extremely physical and violent; serious injuries and even deaths were not uncommon. Matches typically continued indefinitely until one competitor signified defeat by tapping his opponent on the shoulder or raising a hand, or until a disability or fatality occurred. Such competitions were the highlight of any Greek athletic festival.

Greek hoplites, or infantry soldiers, trained in pankration. When Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BC, they brought the art of pankration with them and practiced it in their military camps as part of their training.

Recently a modern version of pankration was put up for application as part of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, although it was not approved.

Pankration Training

Pankratists train in a training hall known as a palaestra, within which there is a special room called the korykeion filled with training equipment set aside for pankratists and boxers.

New pankratists learn basic techniques in striking, kicking and grappling before participating in loose play or sparring matches with other pankratists. Physically demanding, pankration requires superior stamina and flexibility. A favourite technique employed by a practitioner involved striking a punching bag as hard as possible, and allowing the rebounding bag to hit them in return. Full contact sparring was encouraged to simulate actual competition.

Greek pankratists originally fought in the characteristic way – nude and oiled. Later they wore rawhide thongs to protect the forearms and hands; when pankration went to Rome, Italian fighters wore loincloths to protect their genitals. Eventually they began to be partially clothed and in some cases armed as well, with weapons such as studded gloves known as the caestus. Modern pankratists do not employ weapons, and are dressed like Olympic wrestlers.