Learn the history of Pankration, the ancient Greek fighting art combining boxing and wrestling, how it began, why it was created, and its influence on modern martial arts and MMA.
Pankration: The Ancient Greek Martial Art That Inspired Mixed Martial Arts
When the Olympic Games of ancient Greece are remembered, events like wrestling, boxing, and discus often come to mind. But one of the most feared and respected competitions was Pankration, a brutal blend of boxing and wrestling that many call the first mixed martial art.
Origins of Pankration
Pankration (from the Greek words pan “all” and kratos “strength” or “power”) originated in ancient Greece around 648 BCE, when it was introduced to the Olympic Games. It combined the striking of boxing with the grappling of wrestling, with very few rules. The only techniques forbidden were biting and eye gouging. Everything else—punches, kicks, throws, joint locks, and chokes—was allowed.
The art was created for warriors who needed practical fighting skills for battle. The Greeks, especially the Spartans, valued a complete fighting system that worked both in sport and in war.
Who Used Pankration and Why
- Greek soldiers and hoplites trained in Pankration as part of their combat education.
- Spartans taught Pankration to prepare their warriors for close-quarters combat, where swords and shields could not be used.
- It was also a popular Olympic event, celebrated for testing a fighter’s toughness, skill, and endurance. Victors of Pankration were considered some of the greatest athletes of their time.
For the Greeks, Pankration represented the ideal of total combat ability—the complete fighter.
Techniques and Training
Pankration fighters trained in:
- Striking: punches, kicks, knees, elbows.
- Grappling: takedowns, throws, and clinch fighting.
- Ground fighting: joint locks, chokes, and submissions.
This mixture made Pankration one of the most effective fighting arts of the ancient world.
Influence on Modern Martial Arts
Pankration disappeared with the fall of ancient Greece and Rome, but its influence still echoes today. Historians often call it the ancestor of modern mixed martial arts (MMA). Like Pankration, MMA blends striking and grappling into one complete system.
Other martial arts influenced by or connected to Pankration include:
- Greco-Roman wrestling (directly descended from Greek wrestling traditions).
- Boxing (developed alongside Pankration in Greek athletics).
- Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu share similar ground-fighting strategies and submissions.
- Modern MMA organizations like the UFC openly credit Pankration as the ancient model for their sport.
Conclusion
Pankration is more than a forgotten Olympic event—it is a reminder that the quest for the complete martial art has existed for thousands of years. Born on the battlefields and athletic arenas of ancient Greece, Pankration taught warriors to strike, grapple, and survive by any means necessary. Its spirit lives on today in the octagon, where fighters carry on the legacy of the world’s first mixed martial art.
