Curriculum

Key Points of Modern Pankration

• Tactical positioning both upright and on the ground.
• Elusive Mobility: Light, shifty footwork and body maneuvering to bridge the gap for explosive attacks and providing a difficult target to hit or grip.
• Emphasis on attack.
• Totality: Fluid integration of striking and grappling techniques. No stylized partiality as to one method over another. All ways and means are employed to engage the opposition.
• No rigid, passive defenses. Subtle parries and evasions rather than hard blocks.
• Efficient techniques based on simplicity and economy of motion. There are no wasted, complicated movements.
• Low-level kicks (below the waist). High kicks expend more energy and jeopardize balance.
• Penetrating strikes: Hit through the target, not just at it.
• Fights often end on the ground! In this position, one must be able to effectively defend and attack with strikes and submission skills.
• Adaptability: The ability to instantly adjust to all possible angles, ranges, and circumstances encountered in combat.
• The use of leverage and body force in all striking and grappling techniques rather than mere arm or leg strength.
• No "fixed" forms. Applicability as opposed to memorized response. Productive learning is spontaneous and requires complete freedom of expression!!
• No formality or rituals. The hereteesmos (salutation) is used at the start and end of class, or prior to sparring.
• Continual promotion of physical fitness through scientific exercise and diet.
• Use of specialized equipment to promote the striking tools.
• Realistic interactive drills including ground grappling and sparring with contact to closely simulate actual combat conditions.
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Course Content

ANO (UPRIGHT) SKILLS

• Readiness Position (thesis machis)
• Combat phases (outfighting, infighting)
• Footwork and Mobility (closing the gap)
• Precision Strikes (daktilizein)
• Punching Tools (pygmis)
• Kicking Tools (laktisma)
• Elbow Strikes (agkohnizein)
• Knee strikes (gonatizein)
• Clinch Fighting (hamma)
• Throws, Takedowns, and Sweeps (rassein apaly)
• Joint Locks/Destructions
• Chokes/Cranks
• Defensive Blocks, Parries, and Evasions
• Leg Shoot Defenses
• Combat Strategies

  A.	Combinations
  B.	Setups
  C.	Counters
  D.	Transitions (standing to ground)

• Training Methodology

  A.	Conditioning Exercises (flexibility, cardio, and strength)
  B.	Skiamachia (shadow-fighting)
  C.	Equipment
  	1. Heavy bag (korykos) 2. DEB & speed bag 3. Focus gloves 4. Impact pads 5. Grappling dummy
  D.	Sparring (contact and protective gear)

KATO (GROUND) SKILLS

• Top Control Positions
• Ground Strikes
• Leg Scissors Techniques
• Submission Arm and Leg Locks
• Joint Dislocations
• Finger Locks
• Chokes and Neck Cranks
• Throws and Sweeps
• Spartan Tactics
• Passes, Reversals, and Escapes
• Training Methods

  A.	Conditioning Exercises
  B.	Breakfalls
  C.	Spinning Drill
  D.	Partner Drills
  E.	Free Rolling
  F.	Sparring

"CORE" TECHNIQUES

Includes all classic skills of original Olympic pankration such as: klimakismos, gastrizein, piheo anhin, mesolabe, rassein apaly, saroma, systasis, parathesis, hyptiasmos, etc.