Human Weapon [HQ] - Pankration: The Original Martial Art part 1/5

The recent popularity of no-holds-barred combat like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has revived interest in Pankration, a mixed martial art of ancient Greece that was first introduced into the Olympic Games in 648 B.C., at the 33rd Olympiad. The name Pankration is a combination of two Greek words--pan (all) and kratos (strength)--and can be translated as all encompassing or all powerful. A combination of Hellenic boxing and wrestling, Pankration became the most popular event of the Olympics, adding legends of its own larger-than-life heroes to Greeces rich history. Hercules himself was said to be a pankratist, while Alexander the Great reportedly recruited these skilled fighters for his armys invasion of India in 326 B.C.

Pankration matches took place in a square arena, designed to keep the fighters in close proximity to each other. A referee officiated, using a rod or switch to enforce the rules, which were limited. There was no biting, eye gouging or scratching, but all other techniques were allowed. Kicking was an integral part of Pankration, particularly kicks from below to the opponents stomach and groin, and leg sweeps aimed at knocking the opponent off his feet. Much of the fighting took place on or close to the ground, with the opponents grappling with each other and employing techniques such as hair pulling, punches, joint locks, choke holds and elbow and knee strikes. Pankration bouts normally ended only when one competitor was knocked unconscious or raised his hand in submission; some fights resulted in the death of one or even both of the competitors, most commonly from strangulation.

The Roman Emperor Theodisius I abolished the Olympic Games in 393 A.D., and it was not until 1896 that the modern Olympics began in Athens, Greeces capital city. By that time, Pankration existed more in legend, and in historical and artistic representations of ancient Greek society, than in actuality. Although it never entirely died out in some Greek communities, it was not included in the new Olympics. More recently, however, renewed interest in Pankration resulted in the foundation of the World Pankration Federation, an organization dedicated to the promotion of the sport. The federation runs competitive events, including the World Pankration Championships, and has campaigned for Pankration to be returned to its Olympic status.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• martial
• arts
• human
• weapon
• training
• combat
• pankration
• greece
• bill
• duff
• jason
• chambers
• xkatienikki07

[phohibianable]

i just cant get enough of fighting!.... documentarys :P

[fizerek]

yea!!!awesome

[thanasisgod1]

over 25 centuries....

[MidnightStar1000]

@1234alleyboy

Sorry but that what you're talking about DNA mutation is only bullshit. I'm studying in nature science and if you talk this to a genetic scienctist, he would laugh of his ass. I have seen all peopel around this world and also in europa. And trust me, every human is the same, it makes nonsense your talk about the origin of mankind. So everyone ca be a ancient greek, also it's about the ancient greek spirit and not to be their a progeny.

[1234alleyboy]

@MidnightStar1000 also how can you say'the greek today are notso much ancient greek like the rest of the people in europa' have you not seen the differnet types of people in europe we all look different and all hail from different backrounds im pretty sure an average greek bloke would have more in common with an ancient greek than i do as an english bloke. also yeah we all originally come from Africa science proves that but we all have subtle differences in our DNA through mutations and so on.

[1234alleyboy]

@MidnightStar1000 Mate ancient Greeks didn't like to mix, they were notorious xenopobics your father or mother had to be a born citizen to actually call yourself a greek in those days. its not like today where states divide citizens into... say new English and old English the only difference being their heritage. so im pretty sure and anthropology backs me up in saying if your majority heritage is from an old greek then your more likely to have a link to the ancient Greeks.

[MidnightStar1000]

@1234alleyboy

No, genetic research show that the greek today are so much ancient greek like the rest of the people in europa. Only 30% of the people of sicilian have a genetic origin relation. ALso was the Greek countries ofen a travelpoint in the ancient world and the mixed with lot of other people. Beside this, the ancient people say you are a greek if you are born in greece, because their is no genetic different in humans, only a culturel and this can be acquired.

[1234alleyboy]

@MidnightStar1000 so why don't you explain it then, where did the 'real' Greeks run off to. they stayed pretty much the same the only difference between Greeks and ancient Greeks is the word ancient. and where do you come off after a stupid statement like yours

'beside that the greeks today, aren't the same as the ancient greeks'

and tell other people that their wrong, bit of a hypocrite man.

[MidnightStar1000]

@1234alleyboy

Hahaha, that show only that you have no knowlegde about the ancient greek or the history in this part of the country.

[aznien9]

@MfalmeBwana Thats right! Martial arts go all the way back to Africa. But as for as martial arts are concerned, each ancient civilization developed there own styles and techniques which in more modern era these things are now barrowed and shared. Some people seem to think alexander the great had an impact on martial arts which is not true, india had its own martial arts long before alexander was even born.

[aznien9]

@1234alleyboy Oh alright man, well thanks for the facts. I dont know to much about pre-greek history which you seem to have a lot of knowledge of. Finally a person on youtube thats done research and knows what he's talking about. Respectable!

[1234alleyboy]

@aznien9 evryone claimed legitamacy by saying they were related to a hero the way greeks claimed ancestry was more geographical than blood line and too them it sounded more cool if you were a king related to someone cool like heracles or a god. remember when people moved in to a foriegn land to consolidate there hold they adopt local customs like religion. celt is also a broad term for a culture not really an ethnic group thats why there isnt much mention of a celtic migration just a tribal one.