by Devon McNeely
Here are 10 interesting facts about the ancient art of Pankration:
1. Pankration is a martial art from ancient Greece that was part of the first Olympics in 648 BCE.
2. Pankration can be translated as ‘all of the Might’ from the Greek words ‘Pan’ (all) and ‘Kratos’ (Strength/Might/Power).
3. Fights were anything goes, and competitors used techniques from boxing and wrestling (which were both also events at the first Olympics) as well as kicks. In this way, it was very similar to modern-day MMA.
4. The rules to Pankration were more similar to early MMA than it would be to the sport today. The only rules were no biting and no finger gouging of the eyes, nose, or mouth.
5. Matches were to the death unless one fighter submitted which was done by raising their index finger into the air.
6. Originally fighters were nude and fought bare-fisted, later they used leather thongs wrapped around their hands and forearms. when Pankration was adopted by Rome fighters wore loincloths and fought with battle gloves that were made of leather, and some had metal plates, blades or spikes.
7. Many Mythological figures were believed to practice Pankration. Theseus was said to use it in his battle with the Minotaur and Hercules Killed the Nemean Lion with a chokehold.
8. Pankration was not included as an event in any modern Olympic games.
9. The biggest name in modern Pankration is Jim Arvanitis who brought the art to the world stage in 1973 and has been inducted in the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.
10. Several MMA fighters have a background in Pankration.