Pankration

It first appeared in the 33rd Olympiad in 648 BC.

It was a violent event that combined all the techniques and blows of boxing with those of wrestling, leaving the hands bare. It has its roots in the hand-to-hand combat and the desire to annihilate the opponent.

There were two forms of pankration: Kato pankration (ground pankration), in which the fight continued even when the contestants touched the ground, and ano or orthostanden pankration (upright pankration), in which the athletes fought standing, it was less violent, preferred in training.

All sorts of blows, kicks and holds were permitted. The winner would force his adversary to give up and signal defeat by raising one or two of his fingers in the apagoreuein gesture. Only biting, stabbing with a finger in the opponent’s mouth and nose and eye gouging were forbidden.

Although it was a cruel and vicious event, accidents and incidents of extreme violence took place in the later phases of the ancient Olympics mainly, when professionalism had eroded athletes’ ethos.

In pankration, sturdy athletes but also men of small physique were distinguished, as they were flexible enough to avoid dangerous strokes, whereas trickery was also essential so as to land major blows on the rival.