Greek Traditional Sport: Pankration GREEK SPORT PANKRATION | Page 3

 Pankration is the first form of self-defense
Martial Arts in history developed in the 7 th
century BC.
 In Greek mythology, it was said that the
heroes Hercules and Theseus invented
pankration as a result of using both wrestling
and boxing in their confrontations with
opponents.

However, pankration was more than just an
event in the athletic competitions of the
ancient Greek world; it was also part of the
arsenal of Greek soldiers.