Although MMA is a relatively new sport, its origins date back well beyond those of any modern day sporting event. The year was 648 BC, and the Greek Olympic Games had introduced a new sport called Pankration. Literally translated, the sport of “all powers” will pave the way for all future generations of combat fighting.

Often considered the first martial art to encompass both ground and standup, pankration has a fascinating history, along with an unforgettable legacy. Greek mythology states that pankration was invented by Hercules and Theseus, known for their distinctive physical abilities. Utilizing both wrestling and boxing, many ancient Greek artwork depicts these heroes using pankration.
Tournaments for pankration events were similar to earlier UFC tournaments. All fighters were to fight in the same tournament, regardless of weight, and there were no rounds or time limits. Bare knuckle combat was the norm. The only rules were no biting or eye gouging. However, unlike the UFC, tournaments may have over 500 participants, and fought in the nude. Although many of the rules have changed over the years, many of the techniques have become a staple in the world of MMA today.

The evolution of the sport of MMA has made it one of the most technical sports in the world today. Mostly borrowing from many pankration techniques, MMA modified, maintained, or obviated many of the practices that made pankration the foundation of the sport. Fighting stances in pankration combined those of pure boxing and wrestling backgrounds, allowing the fighter the option to strike or take opponents down when necessary. The striking aspect of the sport involved both punching and kicking, along with the countering of both. Submission fighting also had its place. Both chokes and joint locks were used to finish a downed opponent. Also, wrestling, a future “History of MMA” article, will prove to be the necessary means to bridge the gap between standup and submission fighting.
Combining standup, ground fighting, and takedowns often is accredited to MMA during the early 1900’s. However, its roots are much deeper than that. Mixed martial arts have become what it is today by combining the best fighting styles of the past 2,500 years, while improving upon those that were less popular. Look for more articles about the origins of MMA here at MMAWaves.com.

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