Pankration?

[Hart]

Has anyone here heard of Pankration? From what I understand it is an ancient Greek art that literally means "all powers". Apparently a number of groups are trying to have it reinstated in the Olympics. Anyone care to elaborate on what this art actually is?

[UseoForce]

I love Pankration, though I have never had the oppurtunity to practice it for myself. It is the style of of fighting practiced by the gladiators of ancient Greco-Rome. Specifics of the style vary by region, but it would have resembled modern MMA closely. In fact, historical evidence (paintings, writings etc.) depict pankraists (I think that's how you say it, can't quite remember) using Jiu-jitsu style grappling (including a "guard" type position) and striking similar to kickboxing/ Muay Thai.

Many historians, and myself, believe that pankraists from Alexander the Great's armies spread the seeds of classical Asian martial arts. The technical similarities are incredible.

[ps1]

The main problem with it is that most of what we know of it's techniques come from paintings and such. Not much is known beyond that. The rest is just modern martialists filling in the blanks with what they feel makes the most sence. No one truly knows the techniques or where they came from. The fact is they probably developed their own, rather than importing them from another area.

[bushido_man96]

The main problem with it is that most of what we know of it's techniques come from paintings and such. Not much is known beyond that. The rest is just modern martialists filling in the blanks with what they feel makes the most sence. No one truly knows the techniques or where they came from. The fact is they probably developed their own, rather than importing them from another area.

This is how many medieval stylists have to recreate medieval systems. Also popular in ancient Greece for the games were boxing and wrestling. Likely, pankrationist would have combined the two styles, and formed a hybrid style....the first MMA events in history!

[UseoForce]

We can also backtrack from the evolution of many medieval styles which we have ample documentation about.

[cathal]

I had thought it was a system of exercise, stretches, jumps, etc. I'm glad I'm learning something today.

[UseoForce]

lol

[glockmeister]

Do a Google search on it. There are some modern schools that teach a more modern form of pankration and there are even tournaments. Of course it is nothing like ancient Pankration where the fights end in death or one person being maimed and I am sure the techniques are not exactly the same. I posted a thread just like this about a year ago asking much the same questions. Problem is, its just not as popular as many other arts and that is unfortunate. It's sad that a lot of the European styles have taken such a back seat to the Asian arts that many have seemed to vanish altogether.

I guess the best way to describe Pankration is a combination of Greco Wrestling, Boxing, Judo and MT.

They didn't have much back then in the way of rules either. Basically, when someone lost, they were either dead, crippled, couldn't fight any more or gave up... Kinda like modern day "tapping out" although back then many would continue to fight despite gruesome injuries rather than submit.

[UseoForce]

It should also be noted that there is modern pankration/pancrase, and also historical pankration. My original post referred to historical. The modern sort is very similar to MMA with a few different rules.

[Hart]

Think the IOC(International Olympic Commitee) will ever reinstate it? It just seems that the inherently violent nature of the sport will have to be played down for it to even be considered being part of the Olympics again.