Herald staff
Pankration combines punches, kicks, throws, wrestling and submission holds. The sport, which is becoming increasingly popular, dates back hundreds of years. Basically, everything goes except biting and pokes in the eyes.
In Greek, pankration means "all powers" or "all powerful." Pankration fighting has been around since 648 B.C. and was first introduced during the Greek Olympic games. Biting and eye gouging were banned, and victory was through knockout, submission or death.
Rules have evolved and vary from competition to competition, but it remains a full-contact sport.
The ancient games were intertwined with ceremonies and connections to the worship of gods that the rising Christian population scorned. Because of the rise of Christianity, the games eventually ended and pankration competition disappeared for hundreds of years.
Today, the United Full Contact Federation organization has sanctioned pankration events. Just as boxing has evolved over the years in various countries, so has pankration.
Unlike other fighting styles, pankration emphasizes combat over form and efficiency over philosophy.
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