Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

414 Pankration
dent hit correctly, as striking improperly would be painful. These striking
bags were known as korykos.
Students were taught wrestling techniques in sequence, that is, to master
each move in a progressive order. Ultimately, students could learn the
combinations of different techniques. Wrestling techniques were divided
into separate categories. Thus, a pankrationist might first learn how to
throw and take down the opponent in such a way that a hold could be applied.
Later, ground-fighting techniques as a separate category would be introduced.
Finally, all aspects of wrestling were practiced in conjunction.
When these basics were learned, the students combined both striking
and wrestling in kato pankration matches. Schools held competitions to determine
which students would have the honor of being sent to the games.
Once again, with the enormous pressures for victory, only the best would
have an opportunity to compete.
The Greek pankration schools employed masseuses to help the athletes
recover from matches. It is likely that doctors also were employed, as
well as dietitians and different types of coaches. In a way, the pankration
schools would have been much like the gladiator schools of the Roman
Empire, where a mini-industry of professions shared their experiences and
expertise to help students learn how to win in their chosen art.
Competition among the city-states during the Olympic and other
games was fierce. Competitors represented not only themselves, but also
their particular city during a festival, and winning brought glory not only
to the individual, but also to the city. Likewise, a losing competitor reflected
poorly on his city. For these reasons, among others, athletes in these
competitions were highly motivated to win, sometimes at all costs. Pankrationists
often risked death or mutilation rather than acknowledge defeat, in
order to avoid shaming their city by a poor performance. This helped to
make pankration an event in which fatalities could be expected.
Pankration was thought useful by the ancient Greeks for two main reasons.
First, it taught the practitioners about the art of war. Warfare was a
constant threat in the Greek world (ca. 700 to 146 B.C.), and males were expected
to be able to fight against external threats. Second, and more important,
pankration helped its practitioners to develop arete (excellence). Greek
males were expected to display this quality in all areas of their lives, and especially
in combat. The possibility of dying in combat to protect a person’s
city or friends was very real. A person who displayed arete would have no
hesitation in making a personal sacrifice to protect his friends or city.
Although pankration was expected to develop arete in its practitioners,
the Greek world’s obsession with sports led to much cheating and game
fixing in various events. It is almost certain that this kind of behavior affected
pankration as well. Although practitioners were expected to swear