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Which actions were forbidden in pankration competitions?
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mixed martial arts
Two fighters competing in a mixed martial arts contest.
In the ancient Greek sport of pankration, which combined elements of boxing and wrestling, the rules were minimal to allow for a near no-holds-barred combat experience.12
The only two actions explicitly forbidden in competition were:
- Biting12
- Gouging (defined as thrusting a finger or thumb into an opponentās eye)12
Beyond these two prohibitions, competitors were permitted to use a wide range of aggressive techniques, including hitting, kicking, strangling, and twisting limbs, even while struggling on the ground. Matches only concluded when one participant acknowledged defeat or was rendered unconscious.12