1. Bout/match duration

  1. Bout/match duration
    1. Regulation bouts are 3 x 3-minute rounds, with a 1-minute rest between rounds.
    2. Time is only stopped upon the command of the referee.
    3. Title bouts are to be 3 to 5 rounds, depending on the title.
  2. Match Time- Each non-championship Pankration contest may be of a:
    1. 1 x 2 minute round: For qualifying and skill building tournaments.
    2. 1 x 3 minute round: For qualifying and skill building tournaments.
    3. 1 x 4 minute round: For qualifying and skill building tournaments.
    4. 1 x 5 minute round: For qualifying and skill building tournaments.
    5. 2 x 2 minute round: Skill building events, used in dual, quad, or multi-team plays, best 2 of 3.
    6. 2 x 3 minute round: Skill building events, used in dual, quad, or multi-team plays, best 2 of 3.
    7. 2 x 4 minute round: Skill building events, used in dual, quad, or multi-team plays, best 2 of 3.
    8. 2 x 5 minute round: Skill building events, used in dual, quad, or multi-team plays, best 2 of 3.
    9. 3 x 2 minute round: Skill building events, used in dual, quad, or multi-team plays, best 3 of 5.
    10. 3 x 3 minute round: Skill building events, used in dual, quad, or multi-team plays, best 3 of 5.
    11. 3 x 4 minute round: Skill building events, used in dual, quad, or multi-team plays, best 3 of 5.
    12. 3 x 5 minute round: Skill building events, used in dual, quad, or multi-team plays, best 3 of 5.
    13. Skill, endurance building, and local Pankration events using more than one round must provide a minimum rest period of 1 minute between each round

2. Scoring methodology

  1. Pankration Traditional
    1. 1-point techniques
      1. Effective and authorized punch to the body.
      2. Effective and authorized outside kick to the thigh Takedown.
    2. 2-point techniques
      1. Side Mount.
      2. Effective and authorized kick or knee to the body.
      3. Half or low amplitude throw from standing or ground position (with the opponent not passing over the thrower’s body).
    3. 3-point techniques
      1. Full Mount.
      2. Complete or high amplitude throw from standing position (with the opponent passing over the thrower’s body).
      3. Effective and authorized kick to the head (light contact).
    4. 4-point techniques
      1. Back Mount.
      2. Knockdown.
  2. Pankration Elite
    1. 1-point techniques
      1. Effective and authorized punch to the head (standing).
      2. Effective and authorized punch to the body (standing).
      3. Effective and authorized outside kick to the thigh.
      4. Takedown.
    2. 2-point techniques
      1. Side Mount.
      2. Effective and authorized kick or knee to the body (standing).
      3. Half or low amplitude throw from standing or ground position (with the opponent not passing over the thrower’s body).
    3. 3-point techniques
      1. Full Mount.
      2. Complete or high amplitude throw from standing position (with the opponent passing over the thrower’s body).
      3. Effective and authorized kick to the head (standing)
    4. 4-point techniques
      1. Back Mount.
      2. Knockdown.
  3. All contests will be evaluated and scored by up to three Referees or Officials. The Centre Referee is in charge of providing scoring gestures, and controlling the safety of the match.

3. Legal scoring techniques

  1. Pankration Traditional:
    1. Punches and kicks to the body, controlled round house kicks to the head are allowed according to the present rules.
  2. Pankration Elite:
    1. Punches and kicks to the body and to the head are allowed according to the present rules.
  3. Full Contact Pankration:
    1. Illegal Scoring Areas - Back of head, spine, throat, groin, knees and lower legs.
    2. Illegal Scoring Techniques - Spinning back-fist, elbows, kicks to knees and lower legs.
    3. Upkicks from the ground, kick to a downed opponent from standing.
  4. Light Contact Pankration:
    1. Illegal Scoring Areas - Back of head, spine, throat, groin, knees and lower legs.
    2. Illegal Scoring Techniques - Spinning back-fist, elbows, Knees, kicks to knees and lower legs.
    3. Upkicks from the ground, kick to a downed opponent from standing.
    4. Any striking on the ground (Light Contact only).

4. Illegal scoring techniques

  1. The following acts constitute fouls in a contest or exhibition
    1. Butting with the head
    2. Eye gouging of any kind
    3. Biting
    4. Spitting at an opponent
    5. Hair pulling
    6. Fish hooking
    7. Groin attacks of any kind
    8. Putting a finger into any orifice or any cut or laceration of an opponent
    9. Small joint manipulation
    10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow
    11. Striking to the spine or the back of the head
    12. Kicking to the kidney with a heel
    13. Throat strikes of any kind, including grabbing the trachea
    14. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh
    15. Grabbing the clavicle
    16. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent
    17. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent
    18. Stomping a grounded opponent
    19. Holding the fence [gripping the fence to control/hold/alter position with fingers and toes]
    20. Holding the shorts, gloves, shin-guards or rash-guard of an opponent
    21. Using abusive language in fenced ring/fighting area
    22. Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes injury to an opponent
    23. Attacking an opponent on or during the break
    24. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee
    25. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the round
    26. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury
    27. Throwing opponent out of ring/fighting area
    28. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee
    29. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck
    30. Interference by the corner
    31. Applying any foreign substance to the hair or body to gain an advantage

5. Illegal scoring targets

  1. Target area not allowed
    1. Back of the head
    2. Neck
    3. Throat
    4. Knees and below
    5. Joints
    6. Kidneys
    7. Along the spine
    8. Groin

6. Result declarations

  1. The match ends either when a knockout, technical superiority, a disqualification by injury of one of the opponents are declared, or at the end of the regular time. When an athlete scores 12 points more than his opponent he wins the match by technical superiority. In any case, the referee must wait for the end of the action. If the referee has not heard the gong, the mat chairman must intervene and stop the bout by throwing a soft object on the mat, in order to attract the referee’s attention. Any action begun at the time when the gong sounds is not validated and no action performed between the sounds of the gong and the referee’s whistle is valid. When the bout has ended, the referee stands in the center of the mat facing the mat chairman’s table. The athletes shake hands, stand on either side of the referee and await the decision. They are forbidden to remove any part of the uniform before leaving the competition hall. Immediately after the decision is announced, the athletes shake hands with the referee.

7. Athlete attire and required equipment

  1. Protection Gear Pankration Traditional:
    1. Gloves either in red or blue color for not less than 4 ounces.
    2. Groin Protectors.
    3. Shin Guards (shape of a sock) either in red or blue color.
    4. Mouth guard.
    5. Chest protector for women is optional.
  2. Protection Gear Pankration Elite:
    1. Gloves either in red or blue color for not less than 7 ounces.
    2. Groin Protectors.
    3. Shin Guards (shape of a sock) either in red or blue color.
    4. Head protector.
    5. Mouth guard.
    6. Chest protectors for women are optional.
  3. Gloves
    1. The gloves shall contain an open palm with finger loops, a padded thumb protector, and a Velcro closing system.
    2. The top part of the gloves shall be either red or blue, the total ratio of red and blue representing minimum 60% of the gloves.
    3. Mixture of red and blue on gloves is forbidden.
    4. The leather portion of the gloves shall be made of high-quality leather, such as cowhide or Grade-A leather, and the padding portion shall be made of a single-piece injected foam.
  4. Shin-Instep Guards
    1. The shin-instep guards shall be made of neoprene with a foam padding of 1-centimeter thickness. They may contain an additional leather panel to cover and reinforce the padding.
    2. Muay Thai or kick boxing shin-instep guards are not allowed at UWW sanctioned events.
    3. The shin-instep guards shall be either full red or blue, or with black neoprene and red or blue leather panels. Mixture of red and blue on shin-instep guards is forbidden.
  5. Head Guards
    1. The head guards shall be made of high-quality leather, such as cowhide or Grade-A leather, and contain a single-piece injected foam padding of 1 centimeter thickness. It shall feature cheek protectors and an adjustable back and chin Velcro closure.
    2. The head guard shall be either red or blue, the total ratio of red and blue representing minimum 60% of the total outer surface.
    3. Mixture of red and blue on head guards is forbidden.
  6. An official will inspect the equipment of all contestants prior to competition to ensure that the contestant’s equipment meets minimum standards and is in good repair.