Pankration was a sporting event introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling but with scarcely any rules. The only things not acceptable were biting and gouging of the opponent’s eyes. The term comes from the Greek παγκράτιον , literally meaning “all of might” from πᾶν (pan-) “all” and κράτος (kratos) “strength, might, power”.
At the time of the revival of the Olympic Games (1896), pankration was not reinstated as an Olympic event. Specifically, in 1895 Pierre-Hector Coullié, archbishop of Lyon, voiced his official decision on the reinstatement of sports to Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Modern Olympic Games, by stating “Nous acceptons tout, sauf le pancrace” meaning “We accept all , except pankration”.
“Amateur pankration” was first introduced to the martial arts community by Greek-American combat athlete Jim Arvanitis in 1969 and later exposed worldwide in 1973 when he was featured on the cover of Black Belt magazine. Arvanitis continually refined his reconstruction with reference to original sources. His efforts are also considered pioneering in what became mixed martial arts (MMA).
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not list pankration among Olympic sports, but FILA, which governs the Olympic wrestling codes, also sanctions pankration as a “form of Mixed Martial Arts”. Pankration was first contested at the World Combat Games in 2010. Now the international federation is United World Wrestling. Under UWW the Pankration competitions have two styles :
Pankration Traditional (without striking on the head)
Pankration Elite (with striking on the head)
There are also pro tournaments and federations like MFC modern fighting pankration. These competitions are similar to professional mixed martial arts. There are many UFC stars with Pankration background like Russians Bagautinov, Nurmagomedov and Khabilov. Pankration is an efficient form of self-defence. It is employed by military corps and bouncers.
Pancrase, a Japanese MMA organization, is named in reference to pankration.