Fun Fact #433 "Total Combat"

 Fun Fact #433

“Total Combat”

Pankration –Meaning “All the power” was an ancient fighting form developed in Greece around the 7th Century BC to allow cities with different fighting styles to compete together at contests held throughout the Greek islands. It took styles from Boxing, Wrestling, leg striking, and other fighting styles all into one event initially called Pammachon (Total Combat).  Although its name was later changed by the Greek Philosophers such as Plato who became famous for using this style “With Power”. It mainly taught people how to form their own styles to best suit their needs. Even Alexander the Great learned Pankration and taught it to his army so they might have an advantage in close quarter warfare. Only two rules existed during most of that time: No eye gouging or biting (Except in Sparta. … They had no rules… they really were brutal)

However as the years ticked on, Pankration would be largely forgotten, until in 1963, a man named Jim Arvantis sought to bring it back. In the end his fight to resurrect the sport would become far more literal as he needed wins to get onto Black Belt Magazine –featuring on the cover in 1973. While he was unsuccessful in bringing the pankration back, his efforts did result in the formation of a new league initially based upon Pankration but with more safety limitations called Mixed Martial Arts or MMA.