What is Pankration

What is Pankration?

Pankration will be in the 2004 Greek Olympics
(Using Shootfighting Rules)

You will be hearing a lot more about Pankration as we get closer to 2004!

PANKRATION (pan-kray'shun) Greek "Game of all powers"

Pankration is a Greek word meaning "All strength" (pan = all, kratos = strength; it also has a synonym - pammachon - which means "total fight".

There were three combative sports in the ancient Greek Olympics. Wrestling was introduced in 708 b.c. in the 18th Olympiad, the same year the "pentathlon" was introduced. Boxing was admitted in 688 in the 23rd Olympiad.

Pankration is the most well-documented fighting art of the pre-Christian era. It was introduced at the 33rd Olympiad in 648 b.c., the same year horse racing was introduced.

In boxing until the 5th century b.c. a boxer's only protection was strips of leather about ten to twelve feet long, which were wrapped around the hands . They were called himantes and offered little protection to the hand.

NOTE: In modern boxing the length of the taping or wrap is 120": ten feet!

Pankration is an ancient Greek sport that was derived from the early forms of Boxing and Wrestling. All techniques except biting and eye gouging were allowed. Kicking was allowed and it was the first known form of fighting that integrated kicking along with striking with the closed fist and open hand. Along with grabbing, this would lead to wrestling or grappling which would follow a slip, knockdown or takedown.

In keeping with the "Olympic Spirit" early Olympic contests were not to the "Death" but ended much like today's "Ultimate Fights" - with a person being knocked out, being injured, submitting or - in some cases - killed!

Submitting was looked down upon because of the "macho" nationalistic spirit even back then. Just as important, wagers were placed upon individual "Champions"! Champions did not submit: they had to be defeated. Just as in ancient Olympic boxing, a contestant could raise his hand to indicate submission. Or, if on the ground, he could verbally submit! Doesn't sound much different than what we do today!

There were occasions in Pankration where a person might be forced to submit because he could not see, when his eyes were swollen shut from the bare knuckle blows. This would also be true in many of the early "bare knuckle" boxing matches that lasted any great length of time!

There were no rounds or rest periods. The combatants were divided by age with no weight divisions. The only rest was between fights.

Pankration was one of the most highly regarded and popular of the Olympic events. Contestants fought and struggled with no time limits until only "one man" became the victor and was awarded the coveted crown of olive branches on the final day of the Olympics.

After a short period of time the Pankration contestants would also wrap their hands with leather like in boxing. This was done more to protect the hands of the fighter rather than to prevent injury to the opponent.

The death of Pankration would occur after the Romans gained control. Pankration was turned into a "blood bath" with the fighters forced to fight with the dreaded "cestus" (spiked gloves). This barbarism along with the calling for more and more blood would eventually cause the end of Pankration in the Olympics.