Pankration (Greek: παγκράτιον) was a combat sport introduced into the 33rd Olympic Games in 648 BC. Although the sport can be traced as far back as the second millennium BCE in the territory of ancient Greece. Pankration translates as ‘all of power’ from the greek words πᾶν (pan) ‘all’ and κράτος (kratos) ‘strength, might, power’.
Pankration athletes utilised boxing, kicking, and grappling methods, as well as wrestling elements such as locks and chokeholds. In many ways, it was similar to modern Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). However, unlike MMA, Pankration had very few rules, it was literally a no-holds, barred competition. Indeed, the sport was infamous for its ferocity with such tactics as knees to the head and eye-gouging. Severe injuries and death were very common.