PANKRATION PART 2

MMA ORIGINS IN ANCIENT GREECE

Written By Jim Arvanitis

Rumor has it that pankration modifications sprung up in and around Greece from time to time, but they paled in comparison to the original.

During the Byzantine Period (circa 5th–6th century A.D.), contests were called the pammachi in Cyprus. In subsequent eras, pankration spread also to Western Europe where it was referred to as clotsata (circa 12th Century A.D.), lactes (circa 15th Century A.D.), and patso-clotso in the early 19th Century A.D.

In 1895, wealthy sportsmen established the Olympic Club to reenact the ancient Greek and Roman Games. Local boxers and wrestlers "played" the pankratiasts.

In 1896 the only combat sport reinstated at the newly revived Olympic Games in Athens was wrestling. Pankration was not allowed as a competitive event by the decision of the Cardinal of Lyon.

In 1898, an effort was initiated to revive pankration by R. Logan Browne, who served as the movement's primary promoter and spokesman. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence to suggest that he succeeded in his efforts.

It was not until 1969 that pankration would take shape again, albeit in a modified form as a modern derivative by yours truly. This would be pankration’s rebirth and reconstruction phase.

In 1973 it was exposed to the global martial arts community on the landmark cover of a prominent martial arts magazine.

Along with ancient remnants, pankration was retrofitted with techniques found in modern combat sources of both Western and Asian design.

Pankration blended elements of striking and grappling designed for both standup and ground fighting. The ancient Greeks were realists; they fashioned the sport to be as close to no-holds-barred combat as possible. Injuries were common as well as some fatalities but far less so than in ancient Greek boxing.

The techniques seen in modern MMA are all present in the Greek archaeological record: strikes executed with fists, feet, elbows, and knees, clinching, takedowns, throws, joint locks, chokes and cranks, and even ground and pound.

A pankration competition began with the drawing of lots from a silver urn. The winners of each match fought each other until only two remained for the final. Once the contest commenced, the combat athletes faced each other, sometimes with their elbows across their faces to protect against blows. They attempted to bring the other heavily to the ground by grappling, striking, kicking, or sweeping the legs. There was much preliminary sparring. The hands were uncovered and generally open.

The agones (competition) took place in a sandpit arena called the skamma. There were no rounds or time limits, no weight divisions, and few rules. Biting and gouging were prohibited, although the tough Spartans allowed these in their local contests.

In fact, the Spartans refused to compete in Olympic pankration because “it did not include everything.” These tactics, however, were considered unfair fighting (kakomachein) and contrary to the laws of the Games (nomos enagonios). The rules were strictly enforced by the hellanodikes (referee) who flogged would-be violators with a stout rod (ravdos). Nonetheless, the rules were often broken by those who would rather face a whipping than be seriously injured or maimed.

There were many ways to attain victory although the most common was by rendering one’s adversary either helpless or senseless. A defeated foe would raise his index finger to signal that he was unable to continue (akin to tapping out in modern MMA). The akoniti (“without dust or struggle”) was an option in those cases where a fighter withdrew before competing due to injuries sustained in qualifying bouts.

Although the great national festivals of Greece tended to produce uniformity, local rules undoubtedly existed. One example is from an inscription found at the village of Fassiller in Pisidia containing regulations for local sports − “the pankratiasts were not to use sand to dust themselves like the wrestlers nor are they to use wrestling, but to contend with upright strikes.” In other words, there was to be no wrestling or ground grappling, only hitting with hands, feet, elbows, and knees.

“Always be the best and excel over others” − that was Peleus’ famous exhortation to his son Achilles as he set off for the Trojan War, where he’d win glory at the cost of losing his life. It conveys the attitude and ideals of the best-known heroes and Greeks in general throughout antiquity.

This competitive spirit reached its pinnacle during the Classical Period and was expressed more through pankration than all other sporting events combined. Its champions were enshrined on statues and immortalized in poetic verses.

In ancient Greece, athletic training was intended to keep male citizens fit and ready for war. During periods of peace, achievement in combat sports served as a substitute for heroism on the battlefield. Athletes were admired for their toughness, stamina, and fighting spirit –all virtues of a warrior (agonistic) society. This was especially true in militant Sparta.

To Be Continued... PART 3 NEXT ISSUE January 2025