The History of Fighting: Pankration.

The History of Fighting:

Part One: Pankration.

On the evening of the 2nd of January 2016, the world witnessed two men – both at the peak of their careers – compete ferociously against each other in order to win what is (probably) the most coveted prize in combat sports.

Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit battled until they were both barely able to stand.

But how did we get to this point? What is the history behind such an exciting yet dangerous sport? Where does this beautiful synthesis of brawling, blood, sweat, and tears, come from?

Many fans believe that Mixed Martial Arts began in the 1920s with early Vale Tudo matches, and the Gracie’s: the family which introduced MMA to the mainstream in the 1990s. Their assumption is not without reason: the term ‘Mixed Martial Arts’ was only first used in 1993 by Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, Howard Rosenberg, when he wrote (whilst reporting on UFC 1): ‘St. Louis cruiserweight boxer Art Jimmerson didn't get to throw even one punch before giving up … He was swiftly taken down and dispatched with a chokehold by jujitsu master Royce Gracie, whose family is synonymous with the sport in their native Brazil, where mixed-martial arts championships like this one are commonplace.’

However, mixed discipline unarmed combat was already prevalent long before the MMA explosion of the 1990s and thereafter. Historian and author, E. Norman Gardiner, in his 1908 essay titled ‘Pankration and Wrestling’ (within the Journal of Hellenic Studies) suggests that: ‘Wrestling and boxing were known to Homer, but not the pankration … Greek tradition was following the natural order of evolution in assigning the introduction at Olympia of wrestling to the 18th, of boxing to the 23rd, and of pankration to the 33rd Olympiad.’

But what is pankration? And how is it an ancestor to MMA?

Pankration was a sporting event introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BCE. It is a fusion of boxing and wrestling, and has barely any rules.

Renowned scholar, H. A. Harris, in his 1966 book titled ‘The Greeks and Greek Athletics’ describes pankration as: ‘unarmed combat converted into a scientific sport.’ Another reputable historical scholar, Robert Brophy III (in a 1978 edition of The American Journal of Philology), quite rightly points out that: ‘every blow with bare hand, foot, knee or elbow, every wrestling throw, strangle hold and joint lock was used to incapacitate the opponent, or compel him to surrender to avoid injury.’ Brophy goes on to state that many modern scholars view pankration as: ‘a sport, and an art, not mere brutality.’

Starting to sound familiar?

Much like training MMA during our own epoch, training to compete in a pankration event in the seventh century BCE was also an exhausting endeavour.

Competitors regularly attended the training hall (palaestra) in order to prepare for competition. Within the palaestra a specially adapted room (known as a korykeion) would be dedicated to the training of the boxers and pankratiasts.

The korykeions contained punching and kicking equipment known as korykos; bags or balls filled with seed or sand and suspended from the ceiling. Dr Paul McMichael Nurse from the University of Toronto suggests that: ‘some trainees preferred practicing their kicks against tree trunks.’ He then goes on to add: ‘Records indicate that some pankratiasts possessed the ability to kick through war shields.’

Fighters were trained by specialist instructors (gymnastae). Many of which were former, successful, pankration competitors.

During training sessions competitors were usually divided into pairs, with techniques taught methodically, step-by-step. New trainees were obliged to learn basic techniques prior to being allowed to spar with other - more experienced - fighters. During sparring, participants wore protective gear such as ear-guards (amphotides), and padded gloves called spheres.

In order to toughen (and improve) their physiques, trainees would hit punch-bags, and then allow the rebounding bags to slam into their stomachs. What is more, improvements in stamina and flexibility were also constantly targeted by fighters and their instructors: running, stretching, as well as a form of shadowboxing (known as skiamachia) made up the majority of competition conditioning.

Clearly, being highly skilled was always extremely important, and a definite advantage in these early pankration events; however, the lack of weight classes meant that many events were dominated by large men. Nevertheless, there were many occasions in which various competitors discovered that their superior size and strength was inadequate against a lighter, but clearly better prepared opponent; a harsh reality that early UFC competitors also faced when thrown into a cage with Royce Gracie.

When the time to compete arrived, the pankration competitors began by drawing lots from a silver urn; match winners then fought until the final two-man bout.

Rules were strictly enforced by officials who carried rods or switches which they used on competitors' backs at the slightest infringement of the rules. Nevertheless, potential punishments were often ignored by fighters during competition: a swift beating was considered far favourable to defeat - or death at the hands of a rival competitor.

Originally the men fought in the distinctively Greek way of nude and smothered in oil. A little later, however, rawhide thongs - wrapping the hands and forearms - were worn (with sheepskins attached) to allow fighters to wipe away and blood and/or perspiration.

Matches would begin with both competitors standing – clenched fists, or open handed. Fighters would then commence by utilising various strikes to the head. These preliminary techniques were called krocheirismos.

Strikes would mostly consist of punches, and also kicks to the stomach or groin area. Kicks to the chest or head were only to be inflicted on a grounded competitor.

Biting and gouging (eyes, groin, throat, etc.) was strictly prohibited at all times.

Most matches did, however, go quickly to the ground where striking is not as effective. Competitors would utilise techniques such as choke holds and joint locks to submit an opponent. Even toe-holds were used in order to force opponents to capitulate.

Pankration matches would continue indefinitely until one competitor signals defeat. He would signal his desire to end the contest by either tapping on his opponent’s shoulder, or by raising one hand; however, on occasion, death would be the device which concluded a competition. An example of this can be found in Philostratus’ account of the death of Arrichion of Phigaleia at the fifty-fourth Olympiad.

Competition deaths aside, the addition of a youth division by 200 CE speaks to the massive popularity of pankration in antiquity.

Undoubtedly, there are numerous similarities with ancient Greek pankration and modern day MMA. For instance, the approach to competition training in Greece during the seventh century BCE, is analogous to the approach made by 21st century gyms and athletes. Moreover, many of the strikes and submissions used by competitors in ancient Greece are also still used in competitions (worldwide) today.

The Olympic games of 648 BCE (which introduced pankration to the public) was unequivocally a pivotal moment in the evolution of combat sports; one might even be compelled to call it the genesis of MMA. Pankration is ultimately one of many essential elements which have aided Mixed Martial Arts into eventually becoming the fastest growing - and most exciting - combat sport on the planet.

Thanks for reading. Part two (discussing 18th/19th century prizefighting) will be coming soon.