Ancient Greek martial art
Pankration has its roots in the world’s first martial art that was introduced to the East by Alexander the Great
Whoever believes that martial arts were born and raised in the Far East is, it seems, mistaken. As in almost every aspect of history, the Greeks got there first, this time proudly proclaiming to the world their place as the first to practice martial arts. The Greek version of karate is called Pankration, a name that has existed since 648BC. It’s a blend of wrestling, boxing, strangulation, kicking, striking techniques and joint locks. Fast forward to 2006 and this particular martial art is alive and kicking, literally, in over 30 countries. In Cyprus too it is thriving.
Despite changing over the years, Pankration still looked frightfully violent to me when I attended a class given by Savvas Koumastas, Pankration instructor and champion, in Deryneia. “It is a form of martial arts, you know,” he said flipping a 16-year-old over his shoulders. The boy landed with a loud thump, not giving me enough time to cover my eyes. “It doesn’t hurt,” he explained, “because one of the first things we are taught is how to fall without damaging our bodies.” Legs, arms, feet and palms are first to hit the mat or the ground, allowing the pankratists to protect their spine, back, neck and other vital body parts. “They are taught how to knock down and how to fall down properly,” Savvas said.
With what seemed like awfully simple techniques and movements, each student was able to knock down their supposedly clueless opponent with a kick or a twist of the arm. But do students use these techniques outside the classroom? “I have used my Pankration techniques in a fight before but it isn’t the same as during the lesson,” said Antonis, 17. “Your opponent isn’t going to move in the same way your classmate would but we learn to combine movements so we know we can calm an opponent down slowly without causing any damage.”
Unlike karate, Pankration isn’t classified with coloured belts. “The stages of this sport are divided into classes. A beginner will attend class D and will gradually climb up to class A. Then one can go on to complete all four classes and gain the right to instruct,” said Savvas. There are over 24 techniques up to class A, all of which have to be studied and learnt off by heart by every pankratist.
Dressed in the Pankration uniforms (white top with the characteristic Greek meander shape around the collar and a blue one for the instructor), the boys and girls were tugging at each other trying to knock down their opponents, climb on top of them and give them no alternative but to forfeit.
Although the art is practiced with precise techniques and manoeuvres, I couldn’t shake the feeling of Pankration being a deadly form of martial art. “There are certain techniques that could easily be used to kill a man,” explained George Georgiou, 18, a Pankration enthusiast who has been practicing the art for eight years. “But that is only if my life or a loved one’s life was at risk.”
Strangulation techniques include the judoka variety, in which the forearm is used across the opponent’s windpipe or carotid artery to force submission or unconsciousness. A favoured technique used both prone or standing is called the ‘klimakismos’ or ‘ladder trick’, in which a competitor leaped onto or otherwise worked his way onto the opponent’s back, encircling him with his legs and simultaneously strangling him from behind, while scissoring the abdomen with the thighs. “Despite the knowledge of such techniques that these kids have, they know they shouldn’t be used unless it’s absolutely crucial but that’s never happened,” explained Savvas.
“After the first year, most of the older kids are aware of their strength and so they learn to control it and avoid confrontations.” On the other hand, Pankration is one of the best ways one can keep fit, safe and healthy. “I have five-year-olds in my classes,” Savva pointed out, “of course, they don’t learn all this from that age but they gradually build up a sense of what Pankration means. They can defend themselves, which is very important and, by the way, it’s also a brilliant way for the girls to lose those extra pounds.”
Pankration officially entered the 33rd Olympic Games as one of the ‘heavy’ events and was left until last, after the boxing and wrestling, as it was considered the best game of all. Its earliest reference occurs in 648BC, however, its introduction into the Olympic programme indicates that it had become a systemised art long before this date. As a word, Pankration comes from the adjective pankrates, meaning ‘all compassing’ or ‘all powers’. As a sport, it was considered murderous as almost everything was allowed. In ancient times, records show that matches were rugged activities; serious injuries and even death were ‘occupational hazards’ of the pankratist. One story tells of an Olympic champion who, while in the process of fighting his opponent, found himself in a headlock. The champion had two choices: either lose or win by attempting a sudden technique that would set him free but definitely kill him. He chose to die.
Matches usually began with opponents sparring with their fists or open hands, making short, sudden movements while trying to hook blows to the head. But apparently, every pankratist also had a favourite technique; one fighter from Sikyon was nicknamed ‘fingertips’ because of his habit of breaking his opponents’ fingers at the start of the match so as to gain an advantage. “That was allowed along with head hitting and kneeing,” said Koumastas, “which is still allowed today.” However, during the Olympic Games back in ancient times, the Athenians and Macedonians decided to forbid biting, any contact with the eyes such as gouging and blows to the throat and neck. The Spartans were disgraced and did not participate as they felt it was only suitable for women, who of course, were then not allowed to even attend the games.
It is a wonder how Pankration managed to reach the Far East and eventually develop into karate, judo, tae kwondo and jujitsu. According to researchers, the man responsible for spreading the ‘sport’ throughout Asia was none other than Alexander the Great. When he invaded India in 326 BC, his soldiers took Pankration with them, practising the art in large collapsible tents. According to research, this diaspora of Pankration techniques on the subcontinent influenced Indian combative arts such as ‘the adamant fist’, laying the framework for the later diffusion of fighting techniques from India into China and Okinawa.
But how come Pankration has resurfaced in the last 10 years? “It was never a ‘lost’ martial art,” explained Savvas, “us Greeks just never recognised it until historical indications came out proving that the Greeks were indeed the pioneers.” Today, more than 30 countries in the world practice Pankration and there’s even a world federation with the headquarters in Greece. “Pankration is very popular in the Netherlands, Russia and even Japan,” Savvas added. “Games as in contests take place in different countries every year and Cyprus has managed to win first, second and third places.” Savvas himself has even been a champion.
Even though the Pankration practiced today is a diluted form of the classic entity rather than an art handed down unchanged from it’s inception, it is still considered the ancient world’s foremost fighting art.
For lessons:
Deryneia, Ayia Napa: Call Savvas 99-684544
Larnaca: Call Andreas or Simos 99-676657 or 99-175853
Polis Chrysochous, Paphos: Call Theodoros 99-414471
