Fighting Arts in Ancient Times
Evidence has been found in Egyptian
Tombs showing that wrestling,
kicking and boxing techniques were
practiced over 4000 years ago.
Artifacts that date back to about 3000 BC prove that boxing,
kicking and grappling were practised in the
Sumerian Kingdom of Mesopotamia.
In 648 BC at the thirty-third Ancient Olympic
Games the sport of Pancration appeared. Jointlocks, leglocks, neck cranks, body locks, throws and choke holds were the principal techniques of the pancration. There were no rounds and the
contests continued until a competitor gave up,
was knocked unconscious, was on the
receiving end of a terrible beating or was killed.
The most frequent cause of death in these
matches were the strangle holds.
Milo of Croton was a legendary hero of the
ancient Games. He won six wrestling competitions during the sixth century B.C. Milo supposedly developed his brute strength by carrying a calf on his shoulders every day of his life until it was a full grown bull. Theagenes of Thasos possessed several skills. He competed in boxing, sprinting, and the pancration, winning the wreath no fewer than 1,400 times.
The Events of the ancient Olympics included:
Foot- race
Pentathlon
A type of long-jump
Discus
Javelin
Wrestling
Boxing
Pancration
Horse race
Pentathlon
The pentathlon was a combination of heavy and light events. It included jumping, running, javelin, discus and wrestling. The pentathlon was considered to be a very important event because the athlete had to combine many qualities and skills of the body.
Boxing
One of the oldest events, as shown by the
representation of two children boxing on the mural
from Acrotiri in Thera, and the early reference to
the event by Homer.
Pancration
A combination of wrestling and boxing, it was
considered to be the best and the most worthy
event for men in the Olympic games.
