Young Martial Artists Learn Ancient Pankration Techniques

Two fighters face-to-face in a ring is common sight in combat sports. But what’s less usual is seeing two seven-year-olds settling scores in a mixed martial arts tournament.

Dmitry Zarshchikov, vice-president, Russian Pankration Federation, speaking Russian: “When it comes to youngsters, safety is vital. In this tournament, in particular they use special outfits. Plus we have strict rules, so opponents can't cause each other any serious injury. However, these are full contact bouts. Besides, the coach's role in this respect just cannot be overrated. The better he prepares his charge, I mean, as an ultimate fighter with both wrestling and hand-to-hand fighting skills, the more he succeeds in the sport. Kids are first taught basic skills and techniques, along with general fitness training. All this is a must before starting a potentially professional career in later life.”

Danila, pankration martial artist speaking Russian: “Once I saw some guys train in my school basement.”

Sasha, pankration martial artists peaking Russian: “I enjoy both stand-up fighting and wrestling. You need to be good at all aspects of the sport to succeed in competitions.”

Razvik, pankration martial artist speaking Russian: “I always try to stay cool during a fight, whatever happens.”

Dmitry Zarshchikov, vice-president, Russian Pankration Federation, speaking Russian: “Our federation does their best to promote pankration. People who want to learn mixed martial arts, shouldn't just try a little bit of sambo first, then, say, boxing and finally Greco-Roman wrestling. They just need to go to a local pankration school. It's a much more efficient and simple way to gain mixed martial arts skills.”

Story

The general rule of thumb about martial arts is that as soon you can stand and walk, you can learn them.

The youngest of these children are seven years old - and they already know what it feels like to fight in a tournament.

Kicking, punching, wrestling are all allowed. The martial art of pankration comes from the ancient Olympic Games, and combines both wrestling and hand-to-hand fighting techniques.

“When it comes to youngsters, safety is vital. In this tournament, in particular they use special outfits. Plus we have strict rules, so opponents can't cause each other any serious injury. However, these are full contact bouts. Besides, the coach's role in this respect just cannot be overrated. The better he prepares his charge, I mean, as an ultimate fighter with both wrestling and hand-to-hand fighting skills, the more he succeeds in the sport. Kids are first taught basic skills and techniques, along with general fitness training. All this is a must before starting a potentially professional career in later life,” says Dmitry Zarshchikov, vice-president of the Russian Pankration Federation.

No matter that it hurts and makes some parents nervous - the young warriors learn to win, and they also learn to lose with honor.

Instead of footballers on their bedroom walls, they often have posters of Fedor Yemelyanenko, Russian mixed martial arts legend. For others it’s simply wanting to match their peers.

“Once I saw some guys train in my school basement,” explains his sport choice pankration martial artist Danila.

“I enjoy both stand-up fighting and wrestling. You need to be good at all aspects of the sport to succeed in competitions,” says Sasha.

“I always try to stay cool during a fight, whatever happens,” says Razvik.

In Moscow and Saint-Petersburg alone, there are over 20 clubs open to anybody who is seeking to gain some ultimate fighting skills.

“Our federation does their best to promote pankration. People who want to learn mixed martial arts, shouldn't just try a little bit of sambo first, then, say, boxing and finally Greco-Roman wrestling. They just need to go to a local pankration school. It's a much more efficient and simple way to gain mixed martial arts skills,” Zarshchikov says.