The Ancient Martial Art of Pankration and the Death of ArrhichionA martial art originating in Ancien

The Ancient Martial Art of Pankration and the Death of ArrhichionA martial art originating in Ancient Greece, Pankration is a  martial art that standup fighting and grappling into a no holds barred combat system. According to Greek mythology Pankration was the invention of Hercules and mythical king Theseus. In history Pankration first enters the written record and Greek iconography around the 7th Century BC, although it’s practice could easily originate in the 2nd millennium BC. Pankration was not only the sport of athletes, but commonly trained by soldiers including the Spartan’s and Alexander the Great’s Macedonians. In 648 BC the sport was so popular that it was included in the ancient Olympics.Pankration is a mixed martial art that includes kicking, boxing, takedowns, throws, chokeholds, joint locks, and various submission holds. A true mixed martial art, it is not unlike modern day UFC. In fact most of the techniques used by ancient Pankratiasts are no different than the techniques found in modern day kickboxing, Muay Thai, Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Catch Wrestling. The rules were simple: no eye gouging and no biting, although in the Spartan form of Pankration biting and eye gouging was permitted. In order to win, one had to either knock out an opponent or submit him (the opponent raised his index finger). There were no weight classes, but there were three age classes.One of the most famous mentions of Pankration in history was a bout involving the fighter Arrhichion in the 54th Olympiad (564 BC). According to the Greek traveler and historian Pausanius during the bout he was caught in what can be described as a guillotine choke.“For when he was contending for the wild olive with the last remaining competitor, whoever he was, the latter got a grip first, and held Arrhachion, hugging him with his legs, and at the same time he squeezed his neck with his hands.” Despite being strangled Arrhachion refused to submit, instead grabbing his opponent by the ankle and dislocating it. The opponent submitted, but by the time the referee stopped the fight, Arrhachion was dead. Arrhachion was declared winner and champion posthumously. Pankration continued to be a popular sport well into the times of the Roman Empire, with the Roman’s adopting it into their own games, calling it “Pancratium”. The ancient art of Pankration more or less came to an end when it was abolished along with the Olympics by the Christian Emperor Theodosius I, who saw the games as being a pagan ceremony. Pankration would be re-invented in the 1970′s with many Greek and Greek American wrestlers and martial artists. With the popularity of UFC and mixed martial arts Pankration has been making a steady comeback as a martial art. Examples of famous Pankratiasts today include UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and UFC coach Matt Hume.  -- source link

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