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Which actions were forbidden in the ancient pankration competition?

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In the ancient pankration competition, which was introduced to the Olympic Games in 648 BCE, the rules were minimal, reflecting the event's nature as a brutal form of no-holds-barred combat.12

While techniques such as hitting, kicking, twisting limbs, strangling, and fighting on the ground were permitted, there were only two strictly forbidden actions:

  • Biting12
  • Gouging (defined as thrusting a finger or thumb into an opponent’s eye)12

Matches in this event were often savage and continued until one competitor either acknowledged defeat or was rendered unconscious.12