PANKRATION
This years World Sambo and Combat Sambo in Greece proved very exciting not just for the Sambo but for the lots of different people from all over the World being present, FIAS now has 90 countries affiliated and 56 countries were present at the Annual Congress. It was interesting to note that a lot spoke English one of the persons I did meet was the Indian Sambo Associations President Soresh Gopi after passing some pleasantries he handed me his business card, which told me not only was he a Sambo player he was also a GrandMaster in Pankration, this led to a lengthy discussion, I am always interested in learning about Traditional Forms of Combat and this must be one of the oldest. After a lengthy conversation I said I would be interested in getting involved and as they have no active organisation in GB, I have been asked to run a Branch for the International Pankration Federation which I intend to do with much gustier. My first job will be to run a seminar on the rules which I hope to do in February (depending on how my hip operation goes in January). I will be running Pankration classes along side my Sport CombatSombo Class on a Thursday at 7.30pm at the Swale Martial Arts Club Sittingbourne any one interested in the class or Pankration generally should contact me on IBFBCSA@Googlemail.com
YouTube - jethrograppler's Channel for pankration
http://combatarts.blogspot.com/2009/12/european-pankration-championships.html
PANKRATION is a World Heritage MARTIAL ART, with a unique distinction of being the only Martial Sport in existence today that can legitimately trace its roots to the Ancient Olympic Games from 648 BC to 393 AD . It is also the ONLY modern day martial sport with a recorded history spanning well back to over 3,000 years.The oldest written evidence of Pankration can be found in the 586 th lyric of Orfica in the ancient poem " Argonautica ", which researchers believe dates as far back as the 12th Millennium BC
The oldest Pankration relic is an ancient horn, found in Agia Triade Crete, depicted with pictures of ancient Pankration athletes, dating back to the 17th Century BC. In the Souidas, the Oldest Dictionary known to man, PANKRATION is defined as an unarmed combat training art and the PANKRATIASTIS is defined as one who fights with both hands and feet.
The name PANKRATION is derived from the Greek words, PAN and
KRATOS , meaning ALL POWER
or "the one who has power”
or “ the one
who wins with total power and knowledge."
Pankration can also be defined as the ORIGIN and Ancient Root of ALL modern day Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) contests and its ancient techniques can be easily found to be incorporated in most of the UNARMED combat techniques of modern day martial arts.
A Guide to the Rules
1. The contest of Pankration is a competition between two athletes or teams of athletes with the intention of one's victory over the other, or as a solo or group demonstration of Pankration techniques, in accordance to the current rules and regulations as set forth by the IFPA Hellanodikon Committee .
2. Competition events include Agon ( Bouts between Two Athletes ) , Team Agon ( Bouts between Teams comprising of Three Athletes ) , Polydamas ( Team Demonstration event with each team comprising of Four athletes), Aias ( Boys Duet Technique Demonstration event ) , Atalanti ( Girls Duet Technique Demonstration ) , Pyx Lax ( Pankration Kick Boxing bouts ) and Oplomachia ( Individual Weapons Techniques Demonstration Event )
3. Pankration Contests are conducted in an Arena termed as the Palestra , and is invigilated by One Hellanodikis ( Referee), supported by Four Krites ( Judges), a Timekeeper , a Scorekeeper and a Senior Referee as Paratiritis (Observer)
4. At the commencement of any bout , the Athlete or Team located to the Left of the Hellanodikis is named Lefkos and is attired in White Endyma (uniform). The Athlete or Team positioned to the right of the Hellanodikis is named Kianous and is attired in Blue Endyma. The Referee and Krites will be attired in Red Endyma .
5. Athletes are only allowed to utilize and execute Competition Techniques approved by the IFPA, incorporating the body , head, legs, hands, elbows, knees and feet. A variety of Punches, Kicks, Elbow Strikes, Knee Strikes, Head lock Techniques ,Throws, Sweeps, Choke Holds, Joint Locks, Pins, Grappling Maneuvers, Takedowns and Submission Holds are permitted.
6. All the above techniques may be permitted, provided adequate care is taken to not to inflict any kind of injury intentional or otherwise to either of the athletes, when either in standing position or when on the ground.
7. As per these present regulations, use of any kind of drattin [grab or pull] of the body or of the opponent's endyma [uniform] in the same manner as any kind of rassin [throw or sweep] , is considered a permissible technique so as to put the opponent on the ground . However any choke or strangulation techniques made by pulling on or jerking or snapping back the neck of the Endyma Hitonio [ uniform top ] against an athlete's throat or neck is prohibited.
8. Aponevrosis [pressure points tactics] and pushes may be used as long as they do target forbidden areas and do not bring about unconsciousness or serious injuries and are used only as a means to escape from holds and NOT for inducing submission.
9. The designated and permissible Target Areas in a Contest are the Chest Abdomen, Back, Shoulders and the Rib Cage Area and the Legs.
10. Kicks and Punches to the Head are allowed provided they are executed only with SKIN TOUCH or with NO CONTACT.
11. Deliberate attacks targeting the Face, Neck, Throat, Spine, Kidneys, Groin, Knee, Elbow and Ankle Joints and to the VITAL ORGANS are forbidden.
12. Strikes to the Shoulders, Thigh and Trunk Area are permitted but Do NO T score any Points