A Brief History of Pankration

1. The Mythical Period (1062 B.C. - 702 B.C.) Traditionally Theseus (of Ionian stock) and Herakles (of Dorian stock) are considered to be the two co-founders of Pankration; Theseus demonstrated his Pankration prowess when he killed the Minotaur in the labirynth of Knossos (in Crete) by utilizing his bare hands. Herakles demonstrated his Pankration prowess when he eliminated the Nemean Lion without any weapons. * On his way home to Athens after defeating the Minotaur, Theseus performs the dance of the Crane (now known as Tsakonikos); imitating the winding patterns of the labirynth, in celebration on the island of Delos. 2 * Theseus passed on Pankration to Athens, Arcadia, Miletus, Ephesus and the Islands of Tenedos, Lesbos, Chios and Samos. 1 * Herakles passed on Pankration to Sparta, Corinth, Peloponnesus and the Apoikias (Greek colonies) in Italy and Sicily. 1 776 - The names of the victors in the Olympic Games are for the first time recorded in history. 1

2. The Classical Period (702 B.C. - 342 B.C.) 702 -Pankration is now practiced in almost all of the Greek cities and colonies throughout the Mediterranean. 1 -Pankration as a combat sport is implemented in the Olympic Games. It embodies a combative mix of ancient boxing, kicking and battlefield wrestling techniques. There were only two rules in Pankration competitions: no biting and no eye-gouging. -Pankration is influenced by the philosopher Pythagoras. His "Sacred Philosophy" is adopted as a new way of life by a few Pankratiasts. 1 -Ten Master Pankratiasts form a Fraternal Association to promote and preserve Pythagorean philosophy and Pankration. The names of the 10 Founders of this Association were: Milo, Demokedes, Diagoras, Theogenes, Glaukos, Timasitheos, Kallisthenes, Kleitomachos, Damarchos and Pythagoras (not the philosopher, but his Samian countryman ). 1

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-Henceforth Pankration has 2 forms of succession: As an Association martial art

and way of life, And, as an Olympic combat sport. -The sacred martial art of Pankration, via the Association adherents, would be moulded in the succeeding millennia (passed on directly from teacher to student) into a complete Greek (Hellenic) esoteric way of life and also a combat form embracing the use of weapons (fully utilizing the phrases Pankration and Panmachia to mean total combat).

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-General Miltiades leads the Athenian/Allied army (9,000 Athenians and 1,000 Plateans) to victory against an overwhelming (marine-based) invasion force of 600 ships and 45,00050,000 Persian troops at Marathon. The Greek soldiers demonstrate the effectiveness of Pankration as they fight on despite many losing their weapons in the heat of battle as they chase the retreating Persians through the Mediterranean water back to their ships. -King Leonidas of Sparta with a small Greek army (which includes 300 Spartans, along with 700 Thespians and 400 Thebans) demonstrates the effectiveness of Pankration by holding the entire invading Persian army (150,000 300,000 men) of King Xerxes at Thermopylae for several days, even after the Persians surround the Greek positions at the Pass. The Greek warriors kill vast numbers of Persian soldiers and fight on despite their weapons being broken and useless. Finally, the Persians lose so many thousands of men including elite soldiers known as the Immortals that they simply refuse to engage in close quarter combat any longer and use long range arrows to finish off the last few remaining Greek warriors. -In the presence of the Persian King Darius III and the Royal Court (at Sousa), Pankratiast Polydamas of Skotoussa kills 3 Persian Immortals, who unexpectedly attacked him simultaneously. -The Athenian general Xenophon leads 10,000 Greek warriors (including a number of Spartans) through Asia Minor and their subsequent retreat north to an area known as the Greek Pontos, by the Black Sea. In his book Anavasis Xenophon records observing the Pontian pirihi (Gr. war dances) with the kopis/mahaira (Gr. chopping sword). -Plato, the famous philosopher, passes on. However, not before he expounds on a little understood method of spiritual development (known as the union of the Ascending and the Descending paths) in his works for the future of Western civilization to absorb. However, in Pythagorean fashion, he passes on his most sacred metaphysical beliefs ( unwritten lessons) orally to only his most trusted students.

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3. The Hellenistic Period (342 B.C. - 18 A.D.) 335 -the Athenian Pankratiast Dioxippus, naked and bearing only a club, accepts a challenge and promptly defeats the best military warrior from Macedonia (Koragus who is fully armed). The bout is attended by Alexander the Great who, although not a fan of Pankration at the time, is impressed by Pankration's effectiveness. 1 -Alexander the Great introduces combat Pankration into Persia by giving 30,000 Persian Nobles a complete Greek education, and begins integrating the Greek and Persian cultures in the Near East. 1 -Alexander the Great introduces Greek Culture and Pankration into India (Taxilis and King Porus). 1

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By the time Pankration competition for boys is introduced into the Olympics, there are 7 main variations (or versions) of Pankration taught in the Greek (Hellenistic) world. These are known as the Attic, Spartan, Syracusan, Rodhian (island), Macedonian, Smyrnean and Alexandrian versions. 1

(Here it is important to understand that the terms Pankration (and Panmachia) are considered by the Greeks as generic terms for martial skills somewhat similar to the Chinese term Gung Fu. Thus different regions of the Hellenistic (Greek) world have always had slightly different versions of Pankration and Panmachia). 1 180 -Master Pankratiasts from the Fraternal Association seeing the decline of moral values in Greece, decide to stop teaching the martial art of Pankration publicly. Henceforth only Olympic Pankration continued to be taught publicly. Pankration as martial art was taught in secrecy. 1 -Mainland Greece succumbs to Rome in battle and a degraded, Romanized version of sport Pankration (called pancratium), utilizing the cestus, is entered as a gladiatorial event in Roman arenas. 1

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4. The Classical Enlightenment Period (18 A.D. - 378 A.D.) 18 -Association Pankratiasts are now found in Athens, Sparta, Crete, Alexandria, Antioch, Tarsus, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Byzantium, Thessalonica and a few Aegean Islands. They continue secretly teaching Pankration as a martial art. 1 -After this date, the relative peace and stability of the Roman Empire along with the recent introduction of the teachings of Wisdom (by the Pythagorean philosopher Appolonius of Tyana) and the complementary teachings of the Heart (by Jesus the Christ) lead Association Pankratiasts into a period of enlightenment and spiritual development. 1
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This period of enlightenment is especially focused in Alexandria (with its famous Library) and it leads to the full maturation of Platonic philosophy and also its blending with Pythagorean and other elements. Several Greek philosophers, such as the mysterious Ammonius Saccas, the great Platonic philosopher Plotinus, the Pythagorean Appolonius, and many others contribute to this revival. 1 -The Roman emperor Constantine builds a new capital Constantinople (in Byzantium) and gradually (by 395) the Roman Empire is divided into East and West. Most Association Pankratiasts live in the lands of the Eastern (i.e. Byzantine) Empire. The western Roman Empire continues to exist with its capital in Rome.

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5. The Early Byzantine Period (378 A.D. - 738 A.D.) * Association Pankration as martial art continues to be practiced in secrecy. Its spiritual philosophy is codified into an integral approach, spanning a bridge between esoteric Christianity and ancient Greek philosophy. 1

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-The Olympic Games (and the combat sport of Pankration) are officially banned by the Roman Emperor Theodosius. 1 - The Western Roman Empire and its capital Rome collapse and enter a dark age due to foreign invasions.

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* The Eastern Christian Byzantine Empire, with its capital Constantinople, survives the barbarian raids and flourishes for the next thousand years. 1 603 -Heraclius becomes emperor of the Byzantine empire and in 610 he formally changes the official language of the empire from latin to greek. He also institutes the theme system for better organization and defense of the lands of the empire. Under this system in the 9th century, small bands of Greek warriors known as Akritai are settled in the Eastern border provinces of the empire to defend from invasions. They accomplish the impossible task of defending the empire against near constant attacks by large Asiatic and Muslim armies, for hundreds of years.

6. The Middle Byzantine Period (738 A.D. - 1098 A.D.) * Association Pankratiasts reveal some of their ancient texts and knowledge to the Byzantine Imperial Army. 1 794 -In Western Europe, Charlemagne sparks a cultural reawakening by importing tutors in his court in Greek, Latin, Astronomy, Mathematics, Pankration, etc. 1 -The next 4 centuries are remembered as Byzantiums golden age. Christian Greek culture is dominant. 1 -The first Crusade is proclaimed in 1095 and the Crusaders arrive at Constantinople by 1096. They are amazed at the advanced culture and standard of living they find in Constantinople. The Crusaders are successful, but eventually they part ways and withdraw from cooperation with the Byzantines. 1

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7. The Late Byzantine Period (1098 A.D. - 1458 A.D.) 1204 -The Venetians seduce the fourth Crusade to plunder the Byzantine Empire instead of freeing the holy lands. 1 -As a result, mainland Greece and its islands are distributed amongst the victorious crusaders and many Association Pankratiasts conceal themselves up in several Greek mountains to preserve their culture, knowledge and art. 1 These mountainous areas include Arcadia and the Mani Peninsula in the Peloponnesus, the sacred areas around Mt. Olympus, The Zagori and Dodona regions in Epirus, the Chalkidiki Peninsula near Mt. Athos, the mountains of Western Anatolia in Nicaea, and finally the mountainous regions of Crete and other Greek islands.1

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-The Greek successor state of Nicaea recaptures Constantinople and restores the Byzantine empire. Although greatly weakened financially and militarily, the Byzantine empire remains in Greek hands for another 200 years.1 -Manolis Chrysoloras, the first of the Six Masters of the Greek Immigration, seeing the imminent fall of the Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman Turks, goes to Italy at the request of the Byzantine emperor and brings the light from Greece to ignite the flame of the fledging European Renaissance starting in Italy at this time. He introduces Hellenic literature and Platonic philosophy, for the first time in 700 years. He also teaches the discipline of Association Pankration to his most trusted students, at the University of Bologna and elsewhere. 1 The 5 Masters to follow include: Georgios Gemistos Plethon, Ioannis Argyropoulos, Basilios Bessarion, Theodoros Gazis, and Demetrios Chalkondylis. These five masters contribute greatly to the Italian Renaissance by bringing to Western Europe their own large collections of rare books and manuscripts, including many of Platos works. They also expound on little known elements of Association Pankrations core teachings, and they eventually become professors of Greek and Philosophy in several Italian Universities of the time.1 It is important to note that during this whole time period of Greek immigration to Italy and Western Europe(from the 12 century onwards) athletic contests featuring different forms of combat Pankration suddenly appear under several names such as Clotsata, Olympia, Lactes, Patso-Clotso, Pammachi, etc, etc .1

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-Constantinople finally succumbs to the Turks. The remaining Byzantine Association Pankratiasts become "Freedom Fighters" in west Anatolia (Nicaea) and also the Pontic mountains known as Parihedri, near Trabezond. 1

8. The Greek "Dark Ages" Period (1458 A.D. - 1818 A.D.) 1460s -All major ancestral Greek (Hellenic) lands are occupied by the Turks, and the Greek people fall into a Dark Age. Much knowledge is lost. Greek science comes to a standstill. 1461 -Pontos, and the Despotate of Morea (Peloponnesus) which are the last two free Greek bastions, fall to the Ottoman Turks. (However it is important to note that a small mountainous part of Mani (Peloponnesus) manages to remain free during the next four centuries, due to the re-known warlike attitude of its people.) 1 *Over the next several centuries, small clans of freedom fighters (including a number of Association Pankratiasts) continue living in Southern Italy, Western Europe and of course the mountains on mainland Greece, the Greek islands, Western Anatolia and Pontos. Slowly they build up a fighting force and the resources needed to win their freedom from the vast Ottoman Turkish Empire. 1 *During the nearly 400 year long Turkish occupation of ancestral Greek lands, Association Pankration combat technique comes to be composed of about 75% weapons tactics and strategies. 1

9. The Greek Renaissance Period (1818 A.D. Present) [Period Ends in 2178 A.D.] 1821 -Greece begins its sixth attempt at freedom by starting a War of Independence from the Ottoman Turkish Empire. 1 -Against all odds Greece achieves its independence. 1

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1859 -Most people know that the first modern Olympics took place in Athens in 1896 through the efforts of Baron Pierre De Coubertain. What they may not know however is that Greece, with support from a few wealthy patriots (some of them Association Pankratiasts) had started holding modern Olympics in the year 1859, in November. These games were organized and funded by philanthropists such as Evangelos Zappas and Konstantinos Zappas and later on by George Averoff and others. 1 Petros Velissarios of Smyrna, is celebrated as the best runner of these 1859 Olympics. In fact, Olympic games continue to be held in Athens in the years 1870, 1875, 1888, 1896 and 1906. The 1870 Olympics alone were attended by over 30,000 people and were held in the refurbished Panathenaic stadium. 1 1896 -Inspired by these earlier Olympics Baron Pierre De Coubertin organizes a congress in Paris, in 1894, in order to present his plans for a revived Olympics to the sport societies of 11 countries. However, in a sad moment for the future of Pankration, the Cardinal of Lyon insists on a ban on the re-introduction of Pankration with the words, We accept all sports to be reinstated, except for Pankration. This proposal is accepted by the committee and the first Official Olympic Games of the modern era take place in Athens in April 1896. 1 These games are conducted under the inspired guidance of Demetrius Bikelas (who was voted the first president of the International Olympic Committee) and they become an instant international success. 1 Greece not only wins the most medals of these Olympics (46 medals), but also wins multiple gold medals in the heavy combat sports of fencing and shooting. Leonidas Pyrgos (from Arcadia) wins the Masters Foil against one of the best fencers in the world the Frenchman Jean Perronet, while the Sabre competition was also won by Greece. Pantelis Karasevdas won the military rifle competition, while Ioannis Frangoudis (from Cyprus) won the rapid fire pistol, and Georgios Orphanidis won the free rifle event. (Too bad some of these men were not allowed to demonstrate their other skills in combat Pankration.) 1 1914 -The Genocide of the Greeks in their ancestral lands in Western Anatolia and Pontos at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government begins. By the conclusion in 1923, approximately 1,000,000 Greeks were estimated to have been systematically exterminated. (the International Association of Genocide scholars studied the Greek genocide and also the Armenian genocide which occurred in the same exact time frame and has since issued several proclamations attesting to the validity of these 2 genocides). 1

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-After World War I, Greece and Turkey continue fighting until the Ottoman Empire becomes a "Republic".1 -Greece and Turkey exchange populations in their respective conquered regions and Association Pankratiasts from mainland Greece, Crete, Constantinople and Smyrna exchange techniques and establish lineages again. 1

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1930s - Pankration is again revitalized by blending the philosophy, principles, and techniques of the five remaining "clans".1 1950s - Three emigrating Greek Pankratiast families bring Association Pankration with them into the United States. True to the Ancient Ways, they continue teaching in small circles of dedicated practitioners (in private palaistras) with emphasis on both Martial Skill and Spiritual Development. 1 1969 -Jim Arvanitis, trained as a child in Greece, formalizes his personal form of Pankration called Mu Tau (now called Neo-Pankration). Although he is not connected with the Association, he endeavors to teach Greek-based martial arts. -Black Belt magazine features Jim Arvanitis on its cover and publishes a feature article covering Greek Pankration and his system of Mu Tau. Arvanitis would go on to be featured in many more martial arts magazines as well as author instructional books and videos in the following 3 decades. - The Hellenic Pankration (Sport) Athlima Federation is founded by well meaning Greeks (many of them karate practitioners) to promote their version of sport Pankration. Significantly, competitors wear an endyma (a uniform) that resembles a karate gi. In addition to a light to no-contact competition, karate-like multi-person forms are also featured. -The first website on the Internet dedicated to Pankration as sport and martial art is authored and published by Pankratiast Eric D. Hill. -The government of Greece legally recognizes the Hellenic Pankration (Sport) Athlima Federation, as the sole sport Pankration organization in the Motherland, in a rush job of getting Pankration quickly accepted into the 2004 Olympics in Athens. 1998 - Concerned with the lack of spiritual training in modern Pankration curricula, the Association decides to reveal some of its spiritual teachings in order to keep true Pankration from becoming a gladiatorial event once again. Theodoros Psahnoudis-Attreides, is given the honor and privilege, by the Association Elders, to begin revealing the philosophical teachings of Association Pankration to the outside world. In 1998, he begins presenting a unique, Lifelong Practice called ATP. ATP helps transform a person into a being who is both Fully 1 Human and Fully Divine through short daily meditations and other practices. -Kostas Dervenis, a Greek-American martial artist who has vast experience in both Eastern and Western martial arts, decides to start using the ancient Greek term 1 Pammachon to better reflect his expression of martial art and the esoteric path.

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-The Hellenic Pankration (Sport) Athlima Federation hosts their first Pankration World Championships in Lamia, Greece. The organization is still dominated by Greeks, many of whom have traditional karate backgrounds. - The television show Human Weapon features Pankration:The Original Martial Art. The presentation covers purely modern innovations of Pankration in Greece; including Dimitrios Gletsakos, Aris Makris and members of the Hellenic Pankration (Sport) Athlima Federation.

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- Theodoros Psahnoudis-Attreides Dora Stratou