The savage ancient Greek sport of the Pankration

Its name meant ‘all strength’ because Pan meant ‘all’ and kratos meant ‘strength’; it was the greatest test of fighting skill. 

To answer this, ancient Greek stories said that the hero Heracles used his wrestling skills to control the Nemean lion, while the hero Theseus defeated the Minotaur using a mix of strength and strategy. 

These stories became the legendary beginnings of Pankration. 

By 648 BCE, Pankration had become an official event in the ancient Olympic Games because it showed the unpredictable nature of battle, where fighters faced each other with few rules. 

At that time, unlike boxing or wrestling, Pankration allowed almost every technique, which made the event both dangerous and exciting. 

Early writings such as those by the historian Pausanias describe the intensity of the matches, while vase paintings from the 5th century BCE show fighters in fierce struggles. 

For the winner, Pankration brought great honour and status in other Greek contests including the Isthmian, Nemean and Pythian Games rather than solely in the Olympic Games. 

In these contests, winning made an athlete almost like a hero. Cities often rewarded champions with prizes, free meals and no taxes. 

Success in Pankration showed the greatest strength and power. It became famous throughout Greek society as a sign of both personal and civic pride. 

Over time, Pankration spread across the ancient world. Subsequently, as Greek culture grew following the conquests of Alexander the Great, the sport reached new regions. 

In addition, other societies such as the Romans adopted parts of Pankration into their own fighting styles. 

In Pankration, fighters used a mix of strikes, holds and moves to force their opponents to give up. 

Strikes included punches, kicks and even open‑hand slaps, with a focus on hitting vulnerable areas such as the head and body. 

Holding moves such as throws and joint locks allowed fighters to control their opponents at close range. 

Moves such as the ankylo, a strong joint lock, aimed to stop an opponent by force while fighters also used choking holds to make opponents give up. These moves turned the match into a test of strength as much as skill. 

What made Pankration different was its freedom and few strict rules. 

Specifically, fighters could use almost any move they knew, but biting and gouging were not allowed because they were seen as unfair. 

To enforce these limits, referees who carried sticks struck anyone who broke the rules. 

Because of the danger, fighters could break bones and target the face, which made Pankration a risky event. 

A win could come when an opponent gave up or was knocked out and sometimes the match ended if one fighter died. 

Occasionally fighters had to show defeat by raising a finger.

Overall, fighting in Pankration had two main parts: Ano Pankration, which was standing combat, and Kato Pankration, which was ground fighting. 

In Ano Pankration, fighters focused on striking and throws. They aimed to control the match before it went to the ground. 

Once fighters went to the ground, during Kato Pankration, holding moves were the main approach.

Fighters aimed to pin or force their opponent to give up by applying moves such as the pale, a form of wrestling designed to maintain control of an opponent’s limbs. 

This mix of standing and ground fighting made Pankration unpredictable because a win could come from a knockout punch or a well‑applied hold.

There are limited records for how individual participants trained for the Pankration.

Because of these gaps, many who took part in the Olympics followed strict routines which included a mix of endurance exercises, strength-building routines, and combat drills. 

Long-distance running, weightlifting with stones, and practice fights helped them build both energy and power.

Also, some athletes practised on punching bags made from animal hides stuffed with sand. 

In the Roman era, there is evidence that they followed a strict diet, high in protein and energy-rich foods like bread, cheese, and meat, to fuel their hard workouts.

For the Greeks, training was a path that would achieve areté, or ‘excellence’. It was the ultimate goal in all Greek athletics. 

Before they competed, Pankratiasts often coated their bodies with olive oil, making it harder for opponents to maintain a grip during grappling.

One example of a skilled fighter was Dioxippus, who showed his skill when he defeated a Macedonian soldier in a one-on-one match before Alexander the Great. 

Another prominent competitor was Arrhichion, who won his final match even after he died from a chokehold.

His opponent conceded defeat moments before Arrhichion’s body gave out. 

These men showed the spirit of Pankration. Victory was achieved through strength, skill, and a willingness to push beyond the limits of human endurance.

In addition, Pankration played an important role in the education of Greek soldiers.

For warriors like the Spartans, the skills developed in the sport had direct use on the battlefield. 

In particular, close combat skills from Pankration, such as grappling and hand-to-hand striking, were essential in phalanx warfare, in which soldiers often fought at close range with limited space for movement. 

The decline of Pankration began with the rise of Roman rule in Greece during the 2nd century BCE. Over time, as Roman culture spread, it replaced many traditional Greek customs, including athletic competitions. 

The Romans preferred their own forms of entertainment, such as gladiatorial combat, which focused more on show than skill.

Then, over time, Greek sports, including Pankration, became less important and began to disappear from public life. 

Later, by the 4th century CE, the rise of Christianity also helped the sport's decline, as the new faith did not approve of violent pagan games.

Soon afterwards, the Olympic Games themselves were eventually ended by Emperor Theodosius I in 393 CE, marking the end for Greek athletics. 

Despite this, although Pankration disappeared as a formal competition, its techniques still exist in a range of modern martial arts.

In fact, the sport's mix of striking and grappling laid the basis for many modern combat systems. 

For example, Pankration shares a clear similarity to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), which combines striking and submission techniques in a similar way.

Specifically, MMA fighters use punches, kicks, and chokeholds to dominate opponents, with few restrictions on how they can win. 

Similarly, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which focuses on ground fighting and submission holds, shows elements of Pankration’s Kato phase.

In this way, the planned use of leverage and joint locks in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mirrors the ancient techniques that once thrived in Greek arenas. 

Today, Pankration has seen some revival in martial arts communities. Some organisations use its name to honour its ancient roots.

Even though the sport no longer exists in its original form, its influence can still be seen in the global popularity of combat sports. 

While the sport no longer exists in its original form, its influence can still be seen in the global popularity of combat sports.

As a result, modern fighters, much like their Greek predecessors, continue to push their physical limits in the pursuit of victory.