The following rules
are used in all international Championships, international
tournaments, and the World Pankration Championships.
Competition is held in an area called a palestra. The palestra
may be circular or square in shape, and of dimensions approved
by the Executive.
Matches are five
(5) minutes in duration for local, regional, area, and non-championship
international tournaments. Matches are ten (10) minutes in
duration for singles National Championships, International
Championships and World Championships. Matches in Team Championships
are five (5) minutes in length. One (1) minute overtimes are
implemented as needed in case of a tie.
Divisions are separated
according to age, gender and weight (see below).
A match may be
won in any of the following ways:
1) Greatest number of points in regulation or overtime.
2) Gaining 20 more points than opponent (mercy rule).
3) Lateral vascular constriction submission.
4) Two (2) standing eight-counts.
5) Two (2) non-vascular submissions.
6) Disqualification of opponent.
7) Withdrawal of opponent.
Points are awarded
for the following:
1) Legal strikes - 1 point.
2) Legal throws/takedowns - 1 point.
3) Out of bounds - 2 points.
4) Controlled lift of opponent off the ground - 1 point
5) Standing eight-count - 5 points.
6) Joint submissions - 10 points.
7) Penalties - 1, 5, 10, 20 points.
Considerations:
Strikes:
Only effective
strikes are awarded points. "Effective" means having
an effect on opponent.
Legal areas for
striking points include: the head; the torso with the exception
of the spine; lateral (outside) and posterior (rear) aspects
of the thigh.
Effective hand
strikes are awarded points when applied to the head or torso
during all phases of the match.
Effective kicks
are awarded points when applied to the head or torso when
both competitors are standing. Kicks may be directed to the
body, but not the head, if both competitors are the ground.
Kicks may not be directed at a grounded opponent (one or more
hands or knees on the ground) by a standing competitor. Shin
(Thai) kicks may be directed at the outer and rear thigh when
both athletes are standing.
Effective elbow
and knee strikes are awarded points when applied to the torso
during all phases of the match. No elbow or knee strikes may
be directed to the head at any time. A strike may not be delivered
with the point of the elbow against a downed opponent from
a straight or nearly straight arm.
No points are
awarded for ineffective strikes. Strikes directed at the joints
(within 3 inches distal and proximal), throat, neck, spine,
neck, groin, front or inner thighs, hands, feet, forearms
or lower legs are illegal, and will result in penalties.
Throws/
Takedowns:
Throws and takedowns
include all techniques in which one competitor takes, or causes
another to go the ground without striking. Regardless of which
athlete initiates the takedown, the point is given to the
athlete who achieves the superior or control position from
the throw or takedown. If no immediate superior or control
position is achieved as a direct result of the throw/takedown,
no point is awarded (eventual control is not awarded a point).
As with strikes,
only a single point is given for a throw or takedown, without
differentiation for height or force.
Suplexes, saltos,
"crab scissors" that lock the knees, or any throws
or takedowns which are designed to or result in a competitor
landing on their head or neck are illegal, and will result
in a penalty. Throws which are designed to throw, or result
in throwing, a competitor onto their face are illegal if both
arms of the thrown athlete are constrained.
A "superior"
position is one in which an athlete is on top of, and in control
of their opponent. An inferior position may be a "control"
position if the controlling athlete has the back of their
opponent, from which the opponent is unable to immediately
disengage.
Out
of Bounds:
A competitor will
receive two (2) points when they force their opponent out
of bounds, or when their opponent steps out of bounds on their
own.
No points are
awarded if the forcing athlete also goes out of bounds, or
if they are in a clinch with the opponent going out of bounds
at the moment the opponent goes out of bounds. In order to
receive points, an athlete must remain in bounds themselves.
The purpose of
awarding two (2) points for out of bounds is to encourage
athletes to aggressively defend themselves, to discourage
avoidance, and to reflect the real-world consequence of being
driven off of or from a primary conflict area.
Controlled
Lift:
A competitor will
be awarded a point if he lifts his opponent off of the ground
and maintains the opponent at knee level or above for a period
of two (2) seconds. In order to receive a point, the lifting
athlete must maintain control of the lifted opponent for the
two (2) seconds. This point provision is only applicable when
the lift is accomplished from the ground (both competitors
on the ground) by the competitor in the superior position.
The purpose of
this point provision is to reward a competitor for gaining
an advantage which would enable him to slam an opponent to
the ground, but which would result in a penalty if executed.
Standing
8 Count:
When a competitor
is knocked to the ground from a standing or kneeling position
as the result of a strike, or the referee will interrupt the
match and give a standing 8 count to the fallen athlete in
order to determine the athlete's ability to continue. The
athlete may elect to continue or to withdraw at this time.
Regardless of the athlete's decision, the referee may call
the match in favor of the fallen athlete's opponent if, in
the referee's judgement, the fallen athlete is unable to continue
with adequate mental accuity and motor skills. If the match
is continued, five (5) points is awarded to the athlete who
delivered the strike/s, as that athlete was prohibited from
immediately following up and benefiting from the effect of
the knockdown.
A standing 8 count
may also be given, at the referee's discretion, in cases of
successive strikes which the receiving athlete seems unable
to avoid or defend against, or in cases ofdynamic throws or
takedowns which appear to stun the downed athlete.
If two standing
8 counts are called on an athlete in a single match, the match
is awarded to that athlete's opponent.
Non-vascular
Submissions:
Non-vascular submissions
are awarded 10 points, but do not win a match. This reflects
the "real world" scenario in which combatants can,
and often do, continue to fight after suffering a broken bone,
separated articulations (joint), or other non-vascular injuries.
If two joint submissions
are achieved against an athlete in a single match, the match
is awarded to the competitor applying the submissions, regardless
of score differential.
Penalties:
Penalties are alled
and enforced in response to violations of competition rules,
and are assessed in an escalating manner, with the first penalty
being 1 point; the second, 5 points; the third, 10 points;
the fourth and subsequent penalties, 20 points each. The referee
may skip steps of penalties in cases of egregious infractions,
and may disqualify a competitor in cases where the referee
feels such infractions to be purposeful and with malice.
There are no "warnings"
in international rules.
The following
are prohibited, and will result in penalties: striking to
the joints, throat, neck, spine, groin, forearms, lower legs,
hands or feet; biting; eye-gouging; fish-hooking; clawing;
scratching; pinching; grabbing the skin; head-butting; grabbing
the openings or straps of the headgear; inserting fingers
or toes through the opening of the face shield; grabbing fewer
than three (3) fingers or toes; any throw which is designed
to, or which results in, an athlete being thrown onto their
head, neck or upper shoulders; any technique which severely
compresses or hyperextends the spine; heel hooks; dynamic
application of joint locks which deny an athlete the opportunity
to submit before injury occurs; avoiding engagement; failure
to defend; feigning injury; profanity; taunting; any behavior
deemed unsportsmanlike by tournament officials.
Uniform/Equipment:
Athletes shall wear approved pankration, karate or judo/jujitsu
uniforms with a white top.
Ties on karate uniform jackets shall remain untied. Athletes
may elect to wear tight-fitting, ankle-length bottoms instead
gi pants if they choose. Athletes may also wear shorts of
tight or loose cut, with a length reaching at least 3/4 to
the knee.
The officially
approved pankration tunic is the "Olympian", made
by Grandmaster Martial Arts, but the pankration uniform by
Dynamico is also approved.
All athletes shall
wear the headgear manufactured by TOP TEN, including face
shield, mouthpiece, and grappling gloves with padding on the
knuckles and back of the hand.
Male competitors
shall wear groin cups.
Female competitors
may wear chest and groin protection if they choose.
Divisions
Divisions are separated
by gender, age and weight. Adult divisions include those 18
years of age and older. Youth divisions include those 11-17
years of age. Juniors include those 5-10 years of age.
Adult divisions
are separated into men and women, with further divisions by
weight. Youth divsions are separated into male and female,
with further divisions by age and weight.
Junior divisions
are separated into boys and girls, with further divisions
by age and weight.
Adult Divisions:
Men:
Lightweight ............... under 125 lbs
Super Lightweight .... 126-135 lbs
Welterweight ............ 136-150 lbs
Middleweight ............ 151-165 lbs
Super Middleweight ..166-180 lbs
Light Heavyweight ... 181-200 lbs
Heavyweight ............. 201-225 lbs
Super Heavyweight .. 266-250 lbs
Maximus ................... 251-300 lbs
Super Maximus ........ 301 lbs and over
Women:
Lightweight ............... under 100 lbs
Super Lightweight .... 101-115 lbs
Welterweight ............ 116-130 lbs
Middleweight ........... 131-145 lbs
Super Midleweight .. 146-160 lbs
Light Heavyweight .. 161-175 lbs
Heavyweight ............ 176-190 lbs
Super Heavyweight . 191-210 lbs
Maxima ................... 211-230 lbs
Super Maxima ........ 231 lbs and over
