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Pankration ( /pænˈkreɪtiɒn, -ˈkreɪʃən/; ^{citation needed} Greek: παγκράτιον) was an unarmed combat sport introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC. Similar to modern mixed martial arts, the athletes used boxing and wrestling as well as kicks, holds, joint-locks, and chokes on the ground, in order to beat their opponent.( original citation here) The term comes from the Greek παγκράτιον [paŋkrátion], meaning 'all of power', from πᾶν (pan) 'all' and κράτος (kratos) 'strength, might, power' (original citation)

Many historians believe that Pankration developed in archaic Greek society during the 7th century BC as a result of an increase in for demand in violent sports.(original citation). By utilizing a more relaxed ruleset than other combat sports, Pankration use of both grappling and striking filled a demand for "total combat" that neither boxing or wrestling could. ^[1]

Pankration, as practiced in historical antiquity, was an athletic event that combined techniques of both boxing (pygmē/pygmachia – πυγμή/πυγμαχία) and wrestling (palē – πάλη), as well as additional elements, such as the use of strikes with the legs, to create a broad fighting sport similar to today's mixed martial arts competitions. ^[2] Pankratiasts were highly skilled grapplers and were extremely effective in applying a variety of takedowns, chokes and joint locks. ^[3] In extreme cases a pankration competition could even result in the death of one of the opponents, which was considered a win for the surviving combatant. ^[4]

An example of this is when a pankration fighter named Arrhichion (Ἀρριχίων) of Phigalia won the pankration competition at the Olympic Games despite being dead. His opponent had locked him in a chokehold and Arrhichion, desperate to loosen it, broke his opponent's toe (some records say his ankle). The opponent nearly passed out from pain and submitted. As the referee raised Arrhichion's hand, it was discovered that he had died from the chokehold. His body was crowned with the olive wreath and returned to Phigaleia as a hero. ^[5]

Pankration was not just isolated to being a Greek sport, but also as having a role in its mythology. In Greek mythology, it was said that the heroes Heracles and Theseus invented pankration as a result of using both wrestling and boxing in their confrontations with opponents. Theseus was said to have used pankration to defeat Cercyon of Eleusis in a wrestling match, as well as the minotaur in the labyrinth. Heracles too was often depicted in ancient artworks subduing the Nemean lion using pankration.(has orignal citations) In this context, pankration was also referred to as pammachon or pammachion (πάμμαχον or παμμάχιον), meaning "total combat", from πᾶν-, pān-, "all-" or "total", and μάχη, machē, "matter". ^[6]

The Pankratiast faces his opponent with a nearly frontal stance—only slightly turned sideways. This is an intermediate directional positioning, between the wrestler's more frontal positioning and the boxer's more sideways stance, and is consistent with the need to preserve both the option of using striking and protecting the center line of the body and the option of applying grappling techniques. ^[7] Thus, the left side of the body is slightly forward than the right side of the body and the left hand is more forward than the right one. The hands are partially open, the fingers are relaxed, and the palms are facing naturally forward, down, and slightly toward each other to allow for open hand strikes with the palm, and the hands are kept at the sides of the head in a high guard for protection against strikes. ^[8]

The weight is virtually all on the back (right) foot with the front (left) foot touching the ground with the ball of the foot. It is a stance in which the athlete is ready at the same time to give a kick with the front leg as well as defend against the opponent's low-level kicks by lifting the front knee and blocking ^[9]. The back leg is bent for stability and power and is facing slightly to the side, to go with the slightly sideways body position. The head and torso are behind the protecting two upper limbs and front leg. (has original citation)

Pankration uses boxing punches and other ancient boxing hand strikes. Targeting the head with strikes was preferred over body strikes, explaing the need for a high guard. ^[10] Pankratiasts practiced shadow boxing as well as the utilization of physics to in their bodies to create more power in their punches. ^[11] In doing so they would have thrown a variety of different punches from their defensive position including twisting motions similar to hooks in boxing ^[12]. Pankratiasts would have also used techniques like the "chin jab" in order to get into range of their opponents carry out other techniques. ^[13]

Strikes delivered with the legs were an integral part of pankration and one of its most characteristic features. Kicking well was a great advantage to the pankratiast. Epiktētos makes a derogatory reference to a compliment one may give another: "μεγάλα λακτίζεις" ("you kick great"). ^[14] Moreover, in an accolade to the fighting prowess of the pankratiast Glykon from Pergamo, the athlete is described as "wide foot". The characterization comes actually before the reference to his "unbeatable hands", implying at least as crucial a role for strikes with the feet as with the hands in pankration. That proficiency in kicking could carry the pankratiast to victory is indicated in a sarcastic passage of Galen, where he awards the winning prize in pankration to a donkey because of its excellence in kicking. Kikcs however tended to be frowned upon as an inferior and dirty form of striking, albeit legal under the rules of Pankration. ^[15]

The straight kick with the bottom of the foot to the stomach (γαστρίζειν/λάκτισμα εἰς γαστέραν – gastrizein or laktisma eis gasteran, "kicking in the stomach") was apparently a common technique, given the number of depictions of such kicks on vases. This type of kick is mentioned by Lucian.

Counter: The athlete sidesteps the oncoming kick to the inside of the opponent's leg. He catches and lifts the heel/foot of the planted leg with his rear hand and with the front arm goes under the knee of the kicking leg, hooks it with the nook of his elbow, and lifts while advancing to throw the opponent backward. The athlete executing the counter has to lean forward to avoid hand strikes by the opponent. This counter is shown on a Panathenaic amphora now in Leiden. In another counter, the athlete sidesteps, but now to the outside of the oncoming kick and grasps the inside of the kicking leg from behind the knee with his front hand (overhand grip) and pulls up, which tends to unbalance the opponent so that he falls backward as the athlete advances. The back hand can be used for striking the opponent while he is preoccupied maintaining his balance. (original citation)

Roundhouse kick's to the lower body were used on opponents in order to cause damage to movement similar to techniques used in Eastern Martial arts like Muay Thai. ^[16]

Variations of kikcs were used in a jumping motion in order to cause more damage to opponent's. ^[17]