Office of the Chairman 

IFPA Hellanodikon Committee

111-112 Royal Corner, 1-2 Lalbagh Road

Bangalore 560027, Karnataka, India

web Site: www.pankration.gr 

e-mail: suresh@pankration.gr

CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL INFORMATION 

1.  The contest of Pankration is a competition between two athletes or teams of athletes with the intention of one’s victory over the other, in accordance to the  current  rules and regulations as set forth by the  Hellanodikon Committee of the I.F.P.A.  

2.  Athletes are allowed to use permissible combat techniques incorporating the head, legs, hands, elbows, knees and feet. Punches, Kicks, Elbow Strikes, Knee Strikes, Head techniques, Throws, Sweeps, Locks, Pins, Grappling maneuvers,  Takedowns and Submission holds  are permitted

3.  All the above techniques may be permitted, as per this here regulations, provided adequate care is taken to avoid any kind of injury to either of the athletes, when  either standing or when on the ground.

4.  As per the present regulations, use of any kind of drattin [grab or pull] of the body or of the opponent’s endyma [uniform] in the same manner as any kind of rassin [throw or sweep], so as to put the opponent on the ground, will be considered a  permissible technique.

5.  Aponeurosis [pressure points tactics] chokes and pushes may be used as long as they do target forbidden areas and do not bring about unconsciousness or serious injuries and are used only as a means to escape from holds and NOT for inducing submission.

6. The designated and permissible Target Areas in a Contest are the Legs, Abdomen, Chest,  Back, Shoulders  and the Rib Cage Area

7.  Kicks and Punches to the Head  are allowed  provided they are executed only with skin touch  or  with No Contact.

8.  Strikes,  Kicks and other forms of attack to  the  Spine, Groin,  Knees, Joints, Neck  and  Throat  are  forbidden.

9.  Strikes to the Shoulders, Thigh and Trunk Area  Do NOT  score any Points

CHAPTER 2 - CONTEST AREA

1.  The Contest  area is called the “Palestra”.  The Palestra is usually a  flat  and semi soft  mat in  blue in color, made of tough long-lasting material which would safely  cushion all falls and enable safe  rassin [throws] and take downs.

2.  The palestra is square in shape with sides that are 12 meters in length.  The competition area is in the shape of a circle and has a diameter of 10 meters.  At the circumference of this circle, a one-meter wide ring is demarcated, which is known as the warning line.  The warning line is white in color.

3.  In the middle of the palestra, an inner circle with a diameter of 3 meters is demarcated, which is the primary location of  the Hellanodikis [referee] and the athletes. This too is marked in White Color

4.  The palestra and its perimeter are set up as detailed in chapter 22.

CHAPTER 3 – DRESS CODE REGULATION

1.  The athletes and coaches must comply with the formal dress code of Pankration as prescribed by the I.F.P.A regulations

2.  All National Athletes Must be attired in the official  IFPA endyma (uniform) which comprises of a white hitonio [top] and the blue periskelida [pants] in the fabric material and design as approved by the IFPA .The  National flag of the athlete should be affixed in a color strip 5cm wide at the shoulder centre, starting from the neck joint and across the length of BOTH  shoulders . The Country Name of the Athlete should be clearly printed in ENGLISH Capital Letters, 20cm below the  Centre Back of Neck, at the  back of  the hitonio [top] in blue color.

3.  All athletes must wear standard Pankration Ffighting Gloves as approved by the IFPA either in white color for (lefkos)  or blue color for (kianous )  

4.  All athletes must wear standard IFPA approved Groin Guards / Groin Protectors

5.  Shin Guards as approved by the IFPA are compulsory for all Junior Athletes.

6.  All National Coaches (Proponitis) must be attired in blue hitonio and blue periskelida. The National flag of the Coach should be affixed in a color strip 5cm wide at the shoulder centre, starting from the neck joint across the full length of BOTH  shoulders. The Country Name of the Coach should be clearly printed in ENGLISH  Capital Letters, 20cm below the Centre Back of Neck, at the  back of  the hitonio [top] in  white  color.

7.  All International Hellanodikis must be attired in red hitonio with the  IFPA official  logo and red periskelida .The Hellanodikis will  carry his blue & white ravdos (Stick) to the palestra. and  will wear Blue wrist band  on Right hand and White wrist band on left hand to clearly indicate Kianous and Lefkos scoring.

8.  Shoes will NOT be worn by either Athlete, Coach or Hellanodikis whilst in or around the Palestra area.

9.  Any Participant found not complying with the Dress Code Regulation as prescribed herein is liable to be removed from the Competition by  the Tournament  Committee./ Hellanodikis

CHAPTER 4 – PANKRATION CHAMPIONSHIP  ORGANIZATION

1.  A Pankration Championship will  include individual and  team events. 

a.  The Individual Agon (fights) are in drawn in accordance to the approved weight categories of the  male and female athletes .

b.  Athletes / Teams not present or not reporting in time to the contest area at the start of the bout  are liable to be  disqualified from that particular event.

2.  Team Events  will be conducted as under :

a.  In accordance to the Championship Proclamation, a team contest is one in which the participants are teams consisting  of a  selected number of athletes  .

b.  The team that wins the most contests  shall be declared the winner.

c.  Only participants and substitutes as listed in the Team’s Participation Form  will be allowed to compete  that event.

d.  In case of a draw or tie, the team Proponitis (coach)  may choose one athlete from his  team to compete against  one selected from the other Team, in order to decide upon a winner.

e.  Once the Order of the participant members as listed in the Participation form  of each  team  have been declared for a contest,  no changes made thereafter (except for any other upcoming matches).

CHAPTER 5 – SXEMA HELLANODIKON (Referee Panel)

1.  For each Championship, one Hellanodikis [Referee], Four Kritis ( Judges) and one  Paratiritis (Observer) will be constitute  the Sxema Hellanodikon.

2.  Scorekeepers and Timekeepers are selected for the proper control of the Contests . and they will execute every responsibility assigned to them.

3. The Hellanodikon Committee will select the Referees, Judges, the Observer,  Scorekeepers  and the  Timekeepers.

CHAPTER 6 - WEIGHING-IN

1.  The Tournament Committee is responsible for the athletes’ weigh-in, which is carried out on the day of the games and must be finished half an hour before the contests  begin.

2.  The athletes who are being weighed in must wear only the endyma [uniform], that is the hitonio [top] and the periskelida [pants].  Women are allowed to wear a white knit top without sleeves underneath the hitonio.

3.  The weigh-in is conducted  only once.  However, provided that the time for the weigh-in is not over, an athlete who was not within the weight limit can be weighed again for re clarification.

4.  If, after the weigh-in, an athlete is determined to be underweight or overweight, he is deemed ineligible to  take part in the contest.  Additionally, no Grade points are given for such an athlete.

5.  The proclamation of the games will specify  the time of the weigh-in.

CHAPTER 7 - ATHLETES QUALIFICATIONS

1.  All athletes must be members of their respective authorized National Federation.

2.  Athletes must fulfill the terms and conditions of  participation in the Championship, which are as per the terms stated in the Championship Proclamation and as stipulated by the  General Rules  of  the I.F.P.A..

CHAPTER 8 - WEIGHT CATEGORIES

1.  Weight categories  athletes would be as  declared at the time of  the game proclamation.

2.  The  weight  categories will be as determined by the Technical Committee of the  IFPA and as approved by the  IFPA EC.

CHAPTER 9 –  CONTEST DURATION AND SCORING

1.  The duration of a Pankration Contest is as declared and stated in each Championship Proclamation. The duration of any Bout can be reduced at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. 

2.  The commencement of an athletic contest begins when the Hellanodikis shouts arxasthe [start] and stops every  time he /she shouts pafsate [stop].

3.  The result of an athletic contest is decided on the basis of which ever athlete has  the accrued the most points in that event, or based on whether there has been  any prohibition, abandonment, dismissal or expulsion of an athlete from that event.

4.  Effective Striking or Kicking techniques are  awarded  with  ONE  point.

5.  Points  will be awarded only if all four of the following criteria are met.

a.  Dynamic application

b.  Proper torque

c.  Proper distance

d.  Continued vigilance

6.  Combination  techniques of Strikes or  Kicks may be awarded  TWO points  when:

a.  They are executed after a counter attack.

b.  They are executed after a block.

c.  They are executed after an effective takes down.

7.  After an effective take down or when pinning the opponent to the ground, it is permissible to  execute punches kicks and strikes whilst on the ground, BUT points will be awarded only for the first effective strike on the opponent and no further points will be awarded  for any subsequent strikes whilst in the same pinning or submission position.

8.  Laktismata [kicks] to the head may be awarded THREE Points provided that it is  executed with  Skin Touch contact  only or  with No Contact. at all

9.  Aponeurosis [pressure point tactics ] and pushes are not awarded as points but they are accepted as methods  of escape or disengagement.

10. Rassin [Full throws] are allowed with the use of the whole body.  Such techniques are awarded with THREE  points.

11.  A perfect throw can be awarded THREE  points when one person is thrown high as in a suplex or wheel throw  or  shoulder throw or hip throw  from a standing  position or a circle throw  or cartwheel from  ground position.

12.  A take down which is “less than perfect.”  may be awarded with ONE point only

13.  A throw in which the opponent passes over the thrower’s body will be awarded THREE points. The person being thrown will not be awarded any points for strikes while being thrown.

14.  A rassin [take down] is considered as completed when the athlete has landed on the ground.

15.  There is no counting  time on the ground from the moment of a takedown or pin. The Hellanodikis can end the technique and bring up the fighters when he believes that there is no further action on the ground.

16.  A take down or other technique will be considered effective and points awarded accordingly up to the moment of the  end of bout  time  signal.

17.  Any attack, no matter how successful, will make the executor  liable for penalty and punishment of, if it is executed after  the contest  time has been declared as over.

18.  Joint lock or striking techniques do not score points when executed on an athlete  out of the palestra [ring] and such action can bring about punishment.

19.  No points will be awarded for simultaneous strikes (clashes).

20.  No points will be awarded for simultaneous takedowns.

21.  Strikes on the thigh area are allowed with the exception of the pternizein  (Heel Kick ) technique and scores NO Point . The Shin is not a target area, though in order to accomplish a Sweep (rassin)  targeting  the shin area is permitted.

22.  No Points will be awarded for  any strikes to the shoulders, thighs  and the shin

CHAPTER 10 - DECISION CRITERIA

1.  An athlete can surrender and proclaim his competitor as the winner at any time during a bout, irrespective of the time or the points awarded. 

2.  The athlete who has acquired the most points at the end of the duration of a normal bout (unless the above paragraph is in force) will be declared as the winner.

3.  In the event of a draw, the Hellanodikis can permit one (1) minute of extra time. During the one (1) minute extra time, the first athlete to acquire ONE point from a proper technique or from an attack on the other, will be declared as the winner.

4.  In case the one-minute extra time ends without a winner being declared, the “Hellanodikis” will request the “Krites” to make decision and declare  the  winner. The latter decision is binding on all and cannot be changed.

CHAPTER 11 - TARGETS, STRIKES, AND JOINT AREAS 

1.  Strikes  which  can win points must be  confined to the following areas:

a.  The Legs

b.  The Abdomen

c.  The Chest

d.  The Ribs

e.  The Back (except the shoulders) down to, but not below, the waist.

2.  Strikes to the shoulders, thighs, and trunk area will not be awarded points.

3. Punches to the head are permitted ONLY if the are  executed with NO CONTACT or with Only Skin Touch.

4 The whole body may be utilized, staying within legal boundaries as described in Chapter 12.

CHAPTER 12 - ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR 

1.  Biting any part of the body is forbidden.

2.  Any strikes to the Neck, Throat, Genitals,  Spine, Knees and Joints  is forbidden.

3.  It is strictly forbidden to make full contact, for any reason especially if the  opponent  turns his back to  his attacker  so as to avoid a strike.  The opponent who has intentionally turned his back to avoid a blow shall be guilty of asfalia [not protecting oneself]. And shall be penalized

4.  Intentional strikes to the joints are forbidden.

5.  Techniques, which bring about serious or permanent  injury, will be punished.

6.  Any technique which causes intentional and or visible injury  to the head or face must be punished, except in the case of asfalia [not protecting oneself].

7.  Attacks to the face with “open hand techniques” are forbidden.  (Only closed finger “pushes” are allowed.)

8.  Techniques without control, which may pass near the competitor’s face or head, are forbidden. (Wild or “Full Circle”  “ Spinning “  techniques)

9.  Aponevrosis [pressure point Tactics ] strikes to the spinal column, brain stem, zygomatics [sinus./ nose ], throat, genital area; and akrohirizin [bending] less than three fingers are forbidden.

10.  Skin grabbing or pinching the body is forbidden.

11.  Pushes/ Strikes to the genital area are forbidden.

12.  Pushes to the face, specifically to the head and the throat, with the fingertips are forbidden, especially when the athlete is immobile and the Hellanodikis is observing him.

13. The following actions are strictly forbidden:

a.  Biting the hair, ears, nose, or genital area and uniform.

b.  Slamming the opponent’s head on the ground.

c.  Foot stomping to the competitor’s head when he is on the ground.

d.  Lifting an opponent and dropping his back against your knee (Back break)

14.  Continued retreats, which prevent proper combat, are forbidden (Anthiathlitiko or Egatalipsi)

15.  It is illegal for a person controlling a headlock especially in a standing position to move in such a way as to put his opponent in risk of serious injury. (Epikindino or Anthiathlitiko)

16.  Exit (Exodus) from the palestra is permissible during a bout provided it is unintentional and occurs during the course of an attack or defense.  Exit, in an orthostadin [standing position] is the case where  both of the contender’s legs  are out of the warning line.  In the alindisi or kilisi [ground position or rolling] exit is the case where both  the contender’s bodies are  out of the warning line.

17.  In such cases of Exodus the Clock Time will be  stopped and both athletes are to be brought  back to the centre of the plaestra and the fight will be recommenced  by the Hellanodikis and clock restarted.

18.  Intentional Exit (Exodus Egatalipsi) from the Plaestra by an athlete in an attempt to escape an attack or escape his opponent,  is forbidden and must be punished for Unsportsmanlike Behaviour and Abandonment of Contest . (Anthiathlitiko or Egatalipsi )

19.  Pretending to be injured or to be wounding  is forbidden (Anthiathlitiko)

20. Indifference to safety or showing disregard to ones personal safety  (Asfalia) is forbidden.

21.  No gauze, lubricants, or unusual protective equipment will be allowed unless authorized by the tournament doctor.

22.  During the competition bouts, Coaches are not allowed to talk to or  attempt to further train  the competitors.

23.  Any kind of behavior or action which shows disrespect or can cause harm with or without a dangerous technique is forbidden.

24. Any kind of improper behavior by the team or a team member or representative, etc. can causes the exclusion or dismissal not only of the infringer but also all the factors, which support it.

CHAPTER 13 - PUNISHMENTS

1.  Punishment  or Penalty points are to be awarded  for forbidden action,  in accordance to the nature of the misdeed, the intention and the result, should be imposed  as follows :

CHAPTER 14 - ABANDONMENT, ACCIDENT, INJURY, NO SHOW 

The decision which is given when the athlete or the athletes are unable to continue, or when they abandon the contest of leave the palestra  “even if the Hellanodikis gives the order to fight”  is called an egatalipsi  [abandonment].

1.  If both the competitors injure themselves at the same time, or a previous injury creates a problem for them and they are both unable to continue the contest, the contest goes to the one who has the most points.

a.  In the event of an equal score, the Hellanodikis will come to an understanding with the Observer and they will decide on the final winner.

b.  If the Doctor has judged an athlete as unfit to fight, he/she will be considered ineligible to continue during that day’s event.

c.  If an athlete wins due to his opponent’s exclusion or dismissal due to injury in that bout, that injured  athlete may participate in another contest on the same day subject to him/her  being certified as  medically fit by the Tournament Doctor.

2.  The Hellanodikis  must stop the fight (and time) and call the Doctor when an athlete has been injured.  The decision whether to continue the contest will be made by jointly by the Hellanodikis and the Paratiritis.  Their  decision can not however overrule the Doctor, if case the Doctor wants the match stopped due to a serious injury.

3.  Any athlete who is on the ground (after being struck or thrown due to his own or his opponent’s actions) and cannot stand on his feet within 10 seconds after the Hellanodikis shouts pafsate, he/she will be considered unable to continue and will be immediately excluded from the rest of that day’s contest.

4.  Any Athlete after the medical help is still found to be bleeding, with or without his responsibility, he/she will not be allowed to continue with the bout  for reasons of prevention of contagious diseases.

5.  If a competitor is not at ringside within one minute of the Scorekeeper’s third call, he/she will forfeit that match by rule of  akoniti niki [no show].

6.  A proponitis can end the contest of his athlete and declare the other athlete as winner, for any reason or cause as he decides, subject to him standing up and at the same time shouting pafsate by raising up his hand (egatalipsi [abandonment] ).

CHAPTER 15 - JURISDICTION AND DUTIES OF HELLANODIKIS

KRITIS AND PARATIRITIS

1.  Hellanodikis