The debate over Pankration vs BJJ is not new. Most fighters prefer BJJ over pankration whereas there are practitioners who use techniques of both mechanisms. No doubt, both have differences as well as similarities.
It’s normal to get confused about which one to choose. Pankration vs bjj? Which one should be most beneficial? Having such a question in mind is understandable.
That’s why we have compiled this guide that will clear all of your doubts. Stick till the end and get to know the similarities and differences between both techniques and a learning guide.
Pankration VS BJJ-Comparison
What is Pankration?
Pankration, a Greek martial art, is a blend of wrestling and boxing. Not only boxing and wrestling, but a few techniques are similar to MMA. Due to brutal techniques and moves, this combat sport is considered one of the most dangerous techniques in the world.
The Pankration lessons focus of this combat sport is grappling and striking. Besides, practitioners attack with a combination of knee strikes, punches, kicks, chokes, and locks. The literal meaning of the word “Pankration” is “All Strength“.
Pankration teaches fighters to be resilient and has ultimate endurance to fight against highly skilled fighters. In Greece, the original pankration technique has been used in ancient times but is still practiced in a few parts of the world. The few pankration lessons have evolved over the years.
However, pankration is no longer alive in the world as there are only a few countries with pankratiasts. Also, pankration was banned in 330 AD.
The reason for this ban was its relation with polytheistic culture. This ban has done a lot of damage to this martial art.
What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is one of the ancient Japanese self-defense techniques which was developed to take full control over an opponent. Firstly, it was used during fights against an armed person. Then it became a whole new version of martial arts.
The evolved Brazilian jiu-jitsu is quite different from what it was before. The martial art itself focuses on manipulation techniques, not on extreme force.
Additionally, grappling is one of the most used techniques in jiu-jitsu. For that, you have to be close to your opponent to apply grappling techniques. Here is detailed comparison between bjj and wrestling.
Key Differences and Similarities
Pankration Vs bjj, both have differences and similarities as well. As both have originated from two different parts of the world. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a Japanese combat sport while pankration is one of the ancient Greek fighting techniques.
- Main Technique: Pankration is a combination of striking and grappling. While bjj mainly focuses on grappling and submission.
- Uniform: Brazilian jiu-jitsu has two separate traditional uniforms, one is called traditional Gi, while the other one is called No-Gi. On the other hand, pankration fighters used to fight uncovered but after a few years, they started wearing thongs and sheepskins.
- Gloves: Pankration fighters wear gloves during the fight. Whereas, in bjj, there’s no concept of wearing gloves.
- Illegal Moves: In bjj, all kinds of slams are considered illegal. Other than that, techniques such as biting, gouging, and grabbing genitals are illegal in pankration.
Fighting Style–Pankration Vs Bjj
Let’s talk about bjj fighting style first. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is all about grappling and submission. The bjj fighters emphasize takedowns, submission, and body pins.
Additionally, fighters want to dominate their opponent by putting them on the ground. The ideal submission situation can be achieved by using different bjj techniques. Today bjj fighting style has evolved as fighters can use palm strikes during grappling, called Combat BJJ.
Coming to Pankration fighting style. Pankration combat sport is a mixture of wrestling and boxing with an appropriate balance of both grappling and striking. Pankration moves include roundhouse kicks, pankration kicks, uppercuts, jabs, punches, and more.
In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, you have to win the game by taking control of the opponent. However, the scoring system also exists in bjj. You’ll get different numbers of points by performing different techniques.
Finish Style-Pankration Vs Bjj
Both combat sports, pankration, and bjj, end a fight with different methods. In bjj, a fight only finishes after successful submission. Modern bjj or a combat bjj also allows knockout finish and head striking.
On the other hand, the pankration finishing style can be an impactful strike or a submission. The opponent should not dominate the fight to get a successful finish. In addition to that, powerful pankration kicks and punches also lead to a finish.
Which one is better for self-defense? Pankration Vs Bjj?
We have to check from different angles to make a straightforward statement, especially when we talk about pankration vs bjj. To put it simply, both combat sports are great for self-defense but pankration has more versatile techniques that can be used during street fights.
On the other hand, Brazilian jiu-jitsu doesn’t offer versatility in self-defense strategies. That’s why bjj isn’t considered as effective as pankration for self-defense.
Bjj is only great for grappling which isn’t enough to counter bigger bullies in street fights.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is all about ground techniques where you get to learn joint locks, using force to submissive your opponent, and pins. But bjj didn’t neglect the standing techniques as well because your attacker will be standing in front of you during the real-life fight.
Pankration body throw techniques prove to be effective during extremely dangerous situations. Knowing about grappling and striking is a way to handle unwanted attacking.
Which one is best for self-defense? Pankration vs bjj? So, to answer the question, pankration is a better technique for self-defense as compared to bjj.
Is Bjj Easier to Learn as Compared to Pankration? Pankration vs bjj
Well, bjj is easier to learn as compared to pankration. You’ll get the bjj right if you ace your ground game. However, pankration is about striking and grappling that’s why it’s a bit challenging to learn.
To be a pro at pankration combat, you must understand pankration wrestling and kickboxing. Otherwise, you won’t be able to learn it. Also, it’s not easy to infuse boxing and wrestling.
In bjj, you don’t need to learn different techniques because the most focus will be on ground techniques. Just get the ground game right and you’re good to go. Still, don’t take bjj light as it can also give you a hard time.
Don’t think that bjj is a piece of cake because it’s not. You need dedicated practice sessions to learn the bjj techniques. Also, you need more than 8 years to be an expert in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
So, pankration vs bjj, both require dedication and enthusiasm to learn the basic and advanced techniques.
Conclusion
To conclude, both techniques offer so much to any fighter. Learning them makes you more confident in real life. You can select one from both of the combat fighting techniques as both of them are equally effective.
Pankration vs bjj? Which one to go for? If you want to be good at self-defense, then pankration can help you in this regard. Other than that, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is also one of the most effective combat fighting techniques to learn.
Both of the fighting techniques offer unique benefits in real life. Learn any of them and have a different enthusiasm in your life. We hope this comparison guide of pankration vs bjj helped you understand the key differences and similarities.
Frequently Asked Question
1: Is pankration effective?
Yes, pankration is one of the most effective and impactful fighting techniques. It teaches us to be pro at joint locks, chokes, wrestling, punches, kicks, and strikes. All of these techniques make these martial arts effective.
2: Is pankration still practiced?
Yes, pankration is still practiced in a few parts of the world. It’s not a famous martial art but still one of the practical techniques to learn.
3: Is pankration similar to MMA?
Yes, pankration martial arts have a lot of similarities to MMA. Both share a lot of similar rules and techniques.
4: What are illegal moves in pankration?
Every move is allowed in pankration as it’s a mixture of wrestling and boxing. Nevertheless, there are a few techniques that are considered illegal in pankration. Such as biting, stabbing with fingers or gouging, and attacking or grabbing genitals.
5: Can bjj fighter beat a pankratiast?
Although BJJ is one of the effective martial art techniques, it’s still difficult for a BJJ fighter to beat a pankratiast. A Bjj fighter won’t be able to dominate a pankratiast as pankration has a wide range of versatile techniques.
