The pankration, which means "all-powerful,", was a no-holds-barred form of wrestling and boxing that was included in the events of the ancient Olympics. It took place in an area that was specially watered down to reduce the pain that is endured when wrestling on the ground. This form had undoubtedly formed from the soldier's fighting in battle. This form had been borrowed from Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The Pankration was so violent that Milo of Croton, the most famous and successful of Greek wrestlers, avoided it. Things such as kicking, joint dislocation, bone breaking, hair pulling, strangling, and other brutalities were allowed. Biting and eye gouging were condoned by the Spartans, but not allowed in national competitions. The sole object was to force an opponent into defeat, to make him give up. The loser often ended up maimed or even dead.

An example of one such brutal struggle was between Arrhacion and an opponent in 564 B.C. After winning the bout by making his opponent give up because of an anklehold, Arrhacion lay on the ground motionless and dead. He was strangled to death by his opponent, but he lived until victory was his, and then succumbed to a tragic death.

One of the greatest Pankratiasts of all time was Theogenes of Thasos, who emerged as the Olympic champion in the Pankration in 476 B.C. He is said to have been compared to Milo of Croton in both skill and strength.