© Copyright 2005  Mike Cartier

 

Introduction:

This training guide is intended as a tool for those working on the reconstruction of Ancient Pankration, Boxing or wrestling using the historical sources collected on the  above website, which is as far as I know the most comprehensive collection of Pankration, Wrestling and Boxing historical sources available anywhere in print or online. By using the historical sources and  technique references from other  martial arts we can build a set of concepts, techniques, defenses and attacks from the ancient sources and then attempt to re-create  a living martial art and use it in much the same manner as they were used in ancient times for sport and self defense. Of course theory alone is not enough  to re-create a living martial art so testing must be done in a live sporting environment much like the one which gave birth to the martial art  in ancient times.

By  pressure testing the martial art  we can attempt to deduce the uses and methods shown in the sources and with a little patchwork pull together a  martial art.

 

 

 As a historical martial arts reconstruction excessive use of modern techniques would defeat the purpose of the reconstruction therefore as much as possible a source is used to include techniques in the accepted curricula and modern notions of striking have been used only in the most general sense without  much direct technique reference to modern western boxing. I have used modern Mixed Martial Arts as a source of concept, technique and as a testing ground for the reconstruction. I find this highly appropriate as modern mixed martial arts is simply a modern take on Pankration and Submission Wrestling which was practiced across the Greek world for a very long time in Ancient Greece and Rome. Last time I counted up the known periods of use for Pankration it added up to just under a 1000 years. We today cannot conceive of a no rules martial art fighting tournament with an almost 1000 year competitive history. Modern Mixed martial arts  is still in its infancy  having only been around for about 30 years or so and having been prominent  only the last few decades. The sheer amount of time Pankration was used in competition between the many city states of greater Greece tells us that this martial art was highly developed, soundly tested and brutally effective. It was not until the rise of modern mixed martial arts that many of the techniques and concepts of Pankration would finally be seen as important in the context of No Holds Barred fighting. Its not surprising as the sport makes the martial art and it was not until we had a sport that rivaled ancient Pankration with its limited rules that we would have a combat sport of  a similar nature come into dominance that used a minimal rules environment to  pressure test  its competitors and the martial arts used by them.

 

Using these historical sources I have compiled a list of striking techniques, fighting stances, defensive concepts, grappling techniques and wrapped it all up with a modern mixed martial art perspective as a glue to bind together all the elements pulled from the historical sources.

 

Wherever possible a historical source is referenced by numbers like this (10012) which refer to the numbering system I use in the accompanying Pankration Source Doc that goes with this guide. These Numbers are also the reference numbers used on the website so if you wish to see a larger version of the source simply go to the website and use that number to find the source and see what anyone else may have to say about it. In a few places there is a number with a p after it like this (121p) this is a reference to a Greek language book on Historical Pankration that I use as a reference. This book uses many of the same Greek and Roman sources I do but augments it with many of the Beni Hassan Egyptian Wrestling  images. This brings in many other Submission grappling techniques I have not included and in fact brings the concept a lot closer to modern MMA by doing so due to the greater range of submission wrestling moves in the Beni Hassan images. This then brings in techniques like the Guard play, leg triangle chokes, etc that I have been reluctant to include due to a lack of historical sources to support it within the Greek and Roman world. The Beni Hassan tomb images predate Greek Pankration by many centuries so it can be correctly said that these advanced submission grappling techniques that I did not include such as the leg triangle choke, defensive guard play and many others that are usually only seen in modern submission wrestling arts, have been well known in the cultures of the Mediterranean since the time of the Pharoahs. For my reconstruction I have tried to keep the sources used from within classical Greece and Rome and leave other Mediterranean influences largely out of the interpretation with a few exceptions. I will add an addendum to this guide and the list of sources that includes some of these Beni Hassan Images at a later date if deemed necessary.

 

On my website there are a set of articles on The fighting stance, Punching and Ground Fighting which should be used as related material for  this training guide.

The articles are available here www.historical-pankration.com/articles.html

 

A Few notes about my interpretation:

Elbows and Knees: I have included elbows and knees only in the way in which they have been evidenced in the sources as    weapons from a clinch or grapple not as strikes thrown from and outside range such as is used in Muay Thai Kickboxing. It could of course be said that if the clinch knee was used that using it without the clinch would be almost obvious but I will leave that for another time when we have more sources to define this. As of now there is only a couple of elbow and knee sources none of which are used outside of the clinch.

 

Kicking: I have included only 3 kicks in my Pankration construction. Straight, Round and Push. The straight and push kicks are historically referenced however the round kick is not. I have taken the liberty of including the round kick due to its  outstanding effectiveness and used  the MMA version of the Muay Thai kick which does not turn the hips as much as in the art of Muay Thai Kickboxing. This is in keeping with  the way the round kick has developed in modern MMA and I think closely reflects the probable use of the round kick in ancient times. I have only included  kicks  from the waist down as not one single source  has mentioned a high kick of any kind which leads me to assume it was not useful or well known.

 

Throws and Takedowns: I have included several technique variations of any of the throws seen in the sources irregardless of the source, that means I will throw in the Wrestling, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Ringen or Sambo version of a throw if its considered a variation of the historically sourced throw. This provides a wider  technique perspective for uncovering how the technique was used.

 

Ground fighting: I have included ground fighting in my reconstruction but not in the same manner as modern arts use it, in Pankration the ground was used primarily to  pin the opponent to beat them into submission,  or a choke, limb submission or neck crank was used but not as frequently as striking submissions. There is no notion of submission fighting from your back in the guard in ancient Pankration that I can find therefore I use the guard (leg scissors)  as a neutral position from which to escape a disadvantageous position or smother a concerted striking attack. I also add in the hip heist sweep and bridging from mount as techniques even without any historical reference. I consider them probable and rather essential so I chose to go out on a ledge with these 2 and include them without sources. This may change at a later date as new sources come to light.

 

Drills: I have included some basic striking drills in a simple format which I borrowed from the Bas Rutten Mixed Martial Arts tapes with modifications where necessary. These are a set of strikes, takedown defenses, footwork drills and all around fighting drills that are done in the air (shadowboxing), on striking pads or on a heavy bag. These drills will help to develop the balance, power, accuracy, speed and timing necessary to free spar using  the techniques and concepts in this reconstruction. Good cardio in all phases of the fight  is the goal of all serious mixed martial artists and should also be the goal of anyone seriously  training in any  all around martial art. The 3 phases are free movement (boxing, kickboxing), Clinch, (kickboxing, boxing), Ground (wrestling). To train cardio in these areas you must drill in the air, on pads,

on a heavy bag and in free sparring against an uncooperative opponent for many

hours. If you have no cardio in a phase of a fight you will gas quickly and what little form or technique you have will fail you so the first goal in improving on a phase of the fight is to increase your cardio capacity in that phase. In the free movement phase this means studying what the boxers and kickboxers do to improve their cardio. They jump rope, do lots of footwork drills, and most importantly lots of shadowboxing. In the clinch and ground phases of the fight there is less variety in your methods for cardio improvement. The single most effective way of improving either clinch phase or ground phase cardio is lots and lots of time spent in that phase of the fight against an uncooperative opponent. In other words free-fighting.

 

 

I took considerably more liberty adding positions in the clinch phase as there was not much in the way of source referencing the clinch. So I used a modern MMA clinch format covering most of the known clinch positions with a few transitions and uses, for this reason I have very little in the way of clinch techniques.

 

 

 

 

Stances – Guards – Positions

 

 

Pankration/Boxing Fighting Stances

Forward Stance (hands forward stance)

Used primarily as a defensive position from which to strike. Best defense is found within this stance.  1046, 1090, 1104, 1125

 

Back Stance (Rear hand high and back)

Used to prepare the Hammer fist strike and to strike long range, also has a strong defensive element when used in conjunction with the Shield defensive concept
1021, 1033, 1044, 1051, 1062, 1070, 1089, 1095, 1100, 1116, 1096

 

Medium Back Stance (rear hand at chin, elbow up)

A tighter version of the back Stance. 1054, 1071, 1099

 

Action Stance (hand at hip in transition to strike)

Not a fighting position as such but more an acknowledgement of ending up here despite the desire to do so. Can also be seen as preparation for an Uppercut.
1092, 1093, 1098, 1111, 1116, 1010

 

Ground Position

(Shoulder leaning in and rear hand up or back) Used to clear space for striking on the ground or also used similarly in the clinch.  1052

 

Hands held in fist or open palm (one or both hands in fist or palm)

 

Wrestling Stances

Open Stance 1092, 1118

Wrist and Arm (same arm) 1038, 1094, 1122, 1121

Collar & Elbow Clinch 1077

Over / Under Clinch 1009, 1118

One Arm Clinch (implied from ground position)

Reverse Headlock Clinch 1006, 1053

Inside Neck Clinch

 

Clinch Positions

-Collar & Elbow 1077

-Over-Under

-Double Underhooks (Front)

-Neck (2 grips - Thai or palm)

-Rear 1006, 1039

-Front headlock 1117

Head to Chest Clinch

 

Ground Positions

Mount 1004

Side control

North south

Back mount 1130

Guard 1052, 1080

Half Guard 1052

 

Defensive Concepts and Techniques

Shield Defense (arm & leg) 1004, 1031

Body & Head Defense  (using elbows/forearms) 1023, 1070, 1116

Arm Shield (both arms in front) 1046

Parrying/Trapping 1007, 1020, 1066

Shoulder Stop & or Press 1100

 

 

Phases of Combat

Free Movement Phase

 - Striking (hands, feet, elbows & knees) when the opponent does not hinder free movement for striking, that is once one hand gets caught up in the clinch of the opponent this phase is over. This is the phase most commonly focused on in martial arts with a heavy striking component.

Clinch Phase

 - For striking and grappling once one or both hands are engaged with opponent.
 Ground Phase

 -Positional Control for striking & submission once a Knee hits the ground

 

 

Why this view of combat in phases is important:

Phases compartmentalize the act of combat into strategically  separated parts which  we can use to design our fight strategies and training regimes. Each phase has a particular flavor requiring a particular type  of training, strategy and even cardio. Each phase of the fight requires use of a different set of muscles and/or use of muscles in a different manner than how power is generated in other phases of the fight. Weakness in any phase can be exploited by a well rounded opponent or an expert in any of the phases if they can hold you in their chosen phase of the fight. An all Powers Pankrationist seeks competency in all 3 phases of combat just as modern Mixed Martial Arts fighters today strive for a well rounded skill set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEAPONS

 

Punches

Straights 1007, 1011, 1049, 1054, 1051, 1096

Hooks 1047, 1087

Uppercuts 1047

Hammerfist 1002, 1018, 1032, 1023, 1031, 1098, 1101

Forearms (Implied by use of the elbows)

Open Palm 1062, 1972, 1085

Overhand 1087, 1112

Lunge Punch 1084

 

Elbows

From clinch 1041

Down (spike) (Implied by use of the elbow)

Up (Implied by use of the elbow and elbow defense)

Rear (not referenced but considered obvious)

On ground (not referenced but considered obvious)

 

 

Knees

From clinch to head, chest, body, legs (straight or circlular) 1020

On the ground (Implied by use of the knee in clinch)

 

Kicks

Push to upper thigh or body  1019, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1018, 1031, 1035, 1086

Round (not referenced but considered obvious and elementary)

Straight 1024

 

Fouls

Eye gouge 1105

Hair Pull (Implied rules against)

Biting (Implied rules against)

Head butts (clinch & ground) (not referenced but considered obvious)

 

Submissions & Misc

Rear Naked Choke (191p) (1004, 10043, 1078)

Guillotine (stand, kneel and ground) (1056)

Standing Arm Bar (1025, 1083)

Hammer lock / Kimura (not referenced but probable)

Neck Cranks (not referenced but extremely probable)

Achilles Foot Lock (223p) (Delphic Story 1134)

Ankle wrench/twist (Delphic Story 1134)

Side Choke (1054)

Ground & Pound (1004)

One Hand Choke with strikes (1087)

Arm pass to back clinch (133p) (1005, 1026)

Side mount w/arm control for striking (213p)

Kneebar (217p – 219p)

Reverse leg wrench  (221p)

 

 

 

Throws & Counters

Cross Buttock throw (hug, sit Thru, headlock or Leg Ext) (137p, 150p) (1069, 1119, 1120)

Hip Toss (1127)

Shoulder Arm Drag (144p) (1123, 1002)

Single or Double Leg Takedown (1003, 1037)

Waist lock (front, rear, side, reverse + Escape) (1026, 1027, 1028, 1048, 1091)

Waist lock Counter to Hip Toss or Cross Buttock Throw (1120)

Side Fall Throw (from clinch) (not referenced but considered  probable)

Hold and Leg Trip (off balance) (153p) (1115)

Twisting Standing Arm lock with Leg Block (1082)

Outside Arm Wrench to throw (hammer lock) or Ground and Leaning Arm bar (1083)

Ankle Pick and Head Press (1004)

Sprawl (1063)

One arm head control (1034, 1064)

 

Throws from Pankration Book

Leg Sweep throw counter  (140p) (1127)

Counter to above leg sweep counter  (141p, 142p)

Over Arm hip toss w/leg extension (148p)

Clinch to rear hammerlock  (160p)

Rear clinch throw counter  (177p)

Single leg takedown  (179p)

Shoulder /Upper Arm hold w/ Knee Stomp (152p)

 

Ground Techniques

Elevator sweep (161p) (1017, 1081)

Foot to hip sweep  (1017, 1081)

Hip toss sweep (1008, 1106, 1119, 1120)

Leg Hooks for control (1055, 1075, 1076, 1120)

Hip Heist sweep (implied by hip toss sweep)

Bridging against Mount (not referenced but considered  probable)

Leg Scissors (Guard) (1058)

Foot Triangle (1078)

 

 

 

 

WARM-UPS & DRILLS

Historical training methods are  known to us and quite effective, many of which we still use today.

 

Warm Ups

Circling footwork

Squats , leaping, Hindu  and ball of foot, lunges

Push ups shoulder, bicep and dive bomber

 

Tools for Shadow boxing:

One (jab), Three (jab, cross, hook), Four (jab, cross, hook, cross or hammer), Uppercut, Body shot, round kick, knee, straight kick, elbow, Sprawl Defense, ground sit out, single or double leg shoot.

 

These combinations are then used randomly with each other in a shadowboxing, pad or heavy bag workout.

 

Striking Drills

 

Punches

Straight Punches (jab,cross)

Hooking Punches (Hook,Uppercut and overhand)

1,2,3 (jab,cross, hook)

Front cover & leaping front hook/elbow/combo

Hammerstrike

Front cover & rear straight/hook/hammer/uppercut/elbow/combo

Slip/duck attack and counter hook to either side

Shield to right  rear hammer, front hook, cross with step to left side rear hammer

Isolate any punch to work power

 

Elbows/Knees/Kicks

Any Punch combo to clinch and knee (use straights, hooks or hammers) in 1, 2 or 3 count

3 hooks (start with front) or 1,2,3 (Jab, cross, hook) and kick/elbow/knee/punch/ throw

Jab, Cross, Hook & knee, kick, or elbow

Clinch & Knee repeatedly, use the clinch to off-balance opponent

Isolate any strike to work power

Defensive Drills

High Defense, hook or Hammer in return and repeat back and forth

Pure Defense against attacks (have an opponent attack relentlessly while you defend)

Push kick and front punch to enter grappling range

Free movement phase head/leg tag

 

Clinch Drills

Cycle through Clinches

Clinch & Knee repeatedly, use the Inside Neck clinch to off-balance opponent

Pummell Drill (over-under to dobule unders or side/rear clinch)

Collar elbow to Inside neck Clinch

Any Clinch to a take down

Takedown Drills

Sprawl with Counter Punches or Knees (1063, 1107)

Avoid high punches and get to clinch/takedown

 

Ground

Escape from any position

Defend Side control to mount

Defend Guard pass

Getting up from the ground

Free movment or clinch phase to takedown and dominant ground position

Sweep Drill (back and forth)

Three point tie up trapping

Ground Striking Combos

 

 

Grappling Drills

Grapple to waist lock (double unders) or side/rear clinch from Over /Under clinch

Sumo Circle (push out or snap down)

Escaping the Rear Mount, Mount, Waist lock, double under hooks, side control or neck clinch (start in one of these positions and work your way out against an uncooperative opponent.)