Mixed martial arts didn’t start in the UFC — it goes way back to ancient Greece. In 648 BC, the Olympics introduced Pankration, a brutal mash‑up of wrestling and boxing where almost anything was allowed. Fighters punched, kicked, kneed, threw, and choked each other out with barely any rules. The only things banned? Biting and eye‑gouging. Everything else was fair game, making it one of the most savage combat sports in history.
Pankration wasn’t just for show either. Greek soldiers (especially Spartans) used it as battlefield training, sharpening their skills for real war. Champions of the sport gained legendary fame, though the discipline eventually faded when the Roman Empire rose and the old Olympics died out. Still, most see it as the very first version of MMA, setting the stage for the sport we know today.
At the same time, halfway across the world, China had its own take on no‑holds‑barred fighting. Lei Tai battles were held on raised platforms with no railings, where victory meant knocking your opponent out, forcing them off the stage, or making them quit. Winners stayed on as “kings of the platform,” defending their spot against fresh challengers. Some fights went until surrender… others went until death.
PANKRATION: THE ORIGINAL FIGHT
Back to the beginning… Pankration was no ordinary martial art — it was the ultimate test of fighting skill and endurance that combined the best (and most brutal) elements of boxing and wrestling. What made it unique was how it blended two distinct phases of combat, each demanding different techniques and mindsets.
The first phase, called Ano Pankration or upper pankration, was all about striking and clinch fighting while standing. Fighters delivered powerful punches, open-hand strikes, and devastating kicks to wear down their opponents. But it wasn’t just about hitting hard—grappling in close quarters was key too. Fighters had to use clinch holds, body control, and quick counters to set up takedowns or avoid strikes. This phase tested endurance, speed, and tactical thinking, as combatants looked for openings to dominate or bring their opponent to the ground.
Once the fight went to the ground, it entered the second phase: Kato Pankration, or lower pankration. Here, grappling took center stage. Fighters relied on a wide arsenal of takedowns, joint locks, chokes, and immobilization techniques. It was a fierce battle of control, leverage, and submission — where skill and precision ruled. Fighters could end matches by making their opponents “tap out” (in ancient times, signalling submission by raising a finger) or by rendering them unable to continue. Matches could go on intense and long, sometimes ending only by knockout, submission, or incapacitation.
The level of grappling sophistication was astonishing. Fighters applied chokeholds to cut off air, twisted joints to force surrender, and used techniques to break opponents’ fingers to stop submission attempts. Victory often meant total domination of the opponent’s body and will, and death in the arena was not unheard of.
This two-phase structure of stand-up striking followed by ground fighting made Pankration the closest ancient equivalent to the modern sport of MMA. It was a full-spectrum combat system designed for real-world effectiveness, combining power, strategy, endurance, and ruthless technique.
No wonder the Greeks admired Pankratiasts as the ultimate warriors—masters of both the fist and the grapple, victorious through skill, strength, and unbreakable spirit.
LEI TAI: THE KING OF THE PLATFORM
Lei Tai was an ancient Chinese martial art and combat sport fought on an elevated wooden platform with no railings. The platform was usually a raised square stage placed in public places where fighters showcased their skills in bare-knuckle or weapon matches. The fights were no-holds-barred, combining striking, wrestling, grappling, and sometimes deadly weapons, with very few rules and no protective gear. A fighter lost the match if they surrendered, were incapacitated, knocked off the platform, or forced to the ground.
Matches were overseen by a referee standing on the platform and judges around it. The victor became the “owner” of the platform and had to defend their position by facing new challengers. If a champion remained undefeated and no challengers remained, they were declared the champion of that area or style.
Fighting on the Lei Tai was often brutal and could end in serious injury or death. Some bouts continued until one fighter conceded defeat, was severely injured, or even killed. This made the Lei Tai not just a sport but a fierce proving ground where martial artists showed their dominance and survival skills.
Legends tell of fighters who defended their platforms for weeks, battling hundreds of opponents, and gaining legendary status. For example, Lama Pai Grandmaster Wong Yan-Lam fought over 150 martial artists undefeated in 18 days, never letting challengers leave without injury. Other fighters became famous for defending their honour and martial arts styles through these challenging matches.
The Lei Tai matches symbolised the survival of the fittest and the battle for mastery in Chinese martial arts history. The raised platform added an extra layer of danger — fighters not only had to defeat their opponent physically but avoid being thrown off, which meant sudden defeat. These matches were often public spectacles, earning respect and prestige for successful fighters and their martial schools.
Through centuries, Lei Tai was a vital part of martial arts culture in China, influencing how different fighting styles were tested, combined, and passed on. It laid the foundation for the values of courage, skill, and determination that continue to be celebrated in martial arts today.
FIGHTING: A NEVER ENDING TALE
Pankration and Lei Tai may come from different corners of the ancient world, but both stand as powerful testaments to the origins of mixed martial arts — a true blend of skill, strength, and relentless spirit.
These ancient fights weren’t just about winning; they were battles for survival, honour, and mastery that shaped the fighting traditions we see today. Understanding their legacy reminds us that MMA is more than a modern spectacle — it’s a warrior’s art with roots deep in human history and the timeless quest to be the ultimate fighter.