Pankration is a Greek word meaning "all-powerful." This is an ancient Greek fighting style, one of the world's earliest comprehensive martial arts. There is some speculation, because of the fact that Alexander the Great took pankratiasts (practitioners of Pankration) with him on his conquests, and they gave demonstrations during those travels, that pankration might have had some slight influence on Eastern martial arts styles.

Pankration was performed in the Olympic Games first in the 7th century BC, though it could well be much older than that.

Pankration is a brutal sport involving grappling, punching, stomach-kicking, legsweeping, joint-locking and joint-breaking. Pankration matches were fought until one contestant acknowledged defeat (or collapsed), there were no timed rounds.

Pankration has been redeveloped in the modern world, and is being taught today by some practitioners.