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Pankration

Παγκράτιον

Hybrid

AI-generated content — may contain inaccuracies

Why train this

At a Glance

IntensityHigh
ContactFull
Beginner FriendlyModerate
Origin
CompetitionUnited World Wrestling Pankration division, FILA events

Who It's For

CompetitionFitnessTraditional

What You'll Learn

Striking with punches and kicks

Wrestling takedowns and clinch control

Ground submissions and positional dominance

Combined stand-up and ground fighting strategy

Your First Class

Watch & Learn

Legends of Pankration

Alexander Karelin (Александр Карелин)

Alexander Karelin is widely considered the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of all time, going undefeated for 13 years and winning three consecutive Olympic golds. His signature reverse body lift — picking up 130 kg opponents from flat on the mat — defied physics and earned him the nickname "The Experiment."

1967

Alexander Karelin

Royce Gracie

Royce Gracie changed martial arts forever by winning the first UFC tournaments using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu against much larger opponents from other disciplines. His victories proved that technique and leverage could overcome size and strength, sparking the global BJJ revolution.

1966

Royce Gracie

Dioxippus

Arrhichion

Related Styles

MMA

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) combines striking and grappling from multiple disciplines into a unified combat sport. Competitors fight using techniques from boxing, wrestling, BJJ, Muay Thai, and more.

MMA

Wrestling

Wrestling is one of the oldest combat sports, with Olympic roots dating to ancient Greek pankration (παγκράτιον) and wrestling events from 708 BC. Modern competitive wrestling includes Freestyle and Greco-Roman styles, emphasizing takedowns, control, and pinning.

Wrestling

Boxing

Western boxing — historically known as pugilism, and often called the "sweet science" — is a combat sport focused exclusively on punching technique, footwork, and defensive head movement. It is one of the oldest and most widely practiced combat sports in the world.

Boxing

Jiu-Jitsu

Japanese Jiu-Jitsu — jujutsu (柔術, "gentle art") — is the original grappling art of the samurai (侍), encompassing nage-waza (投技, throws), kansetsu-waza (関節技, joint locks), osae-waza (抑え技, pins), and atemi (当身, strikes). It is the ancestor of Judo, Aikido, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

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Why train this
IntensityHigh
ContactFull
Beginner FriendlyModerate
Origin
CompetitionUnited World Wrestling Pankration division, FILA events
Training Goals
CompetitionFitnessTraditional
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