The origin of the name PANCRASE dates back to the ancient Greeks who had a
sport competition called PANCRATION. Today, noble warriors from around the globe
descend upon Japan to battle in one of the most exciting events in modern-day
athletic competition. PANCRASE is the name of the organization founded by Masakatsu
Funaki and Minoru Suzuki in May, 1993 which produces the new professional martial
arts sport. The ultimate goal and spirit of PANCRASE is the completion of "total-fight"-a
collection of the best of all the styles of martial arts in the world. Martial
arts techniques used in the PANCRASE matches include wrestling, judo, boxing,
sambo, karate, kempo, jiu-jitsu, and Thai boxing. In the PANCRASE logo, red indicates
blood, and black indicates the complete collection of all martial arts, as the
mixing of colors ends up creating black. The PANCRASE cross indicates all the
best techniques from all the martial arts.
One of the unique aspects of a PANCRASE fight is the need of the combatants
to adapt their existing techniques to this unique competition. For example, even
if the fighter is an expert with katare techniques, these techniques alone will
not be effective enough to win in a PANCRASE fight. The fighter needs to think
about what he will do if he throws a kick but his leg is grabbed by his opponent.
Karate does not have submission techniques. Judo does not have kick techniques.
Traditional wrestling does not have kick techniques. In order to win, PANCRASE
fighters need to train mixing various techniques from every martial arts disciplines.
The alternatives is almost certain defeat.
PANCRASE fighters are from a total of over 26 locations in 16 countries; Japan,
U.S.A., Canada, Holland, Sweden, Austria, U.K., France, Australia, Brazil, Russia,
Armenia, Georgia, Lithuania, Korea, and India. This number of countries has been
increasing every year. We have also been contacted by fighters in other countries
including China, Philippines, Mexico, Chili, and Germany who will soon join the
ranks as prestigious PANCRASE fighters.
The territory of PANCRASE events continues to expand. PANCRASE events are being
aired by pay-per- view in the U.S. nationwide in 1996. PANCRASE is also in negotiation
with Latin America and other Asian countries to introduce the PANCRASE events
in their territories.
In addition to producing professional PANCRASE competitors, the PANCRASE Organization
currently has a gym in Japan which is called PANCRASEism with plans to establish
additional PANCRASE amateur gyms and also to spread Hybrid Wrestling around the
world.
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