Pancrase
It was founded by Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki in 1993.
A pancrase fight is fought in a ring measuring 7x7m²; the ring is surrounded by ropes. There are two different time limits for pancrase fights. Title matches last three rounds of five minutes each. Other matches last two or three rounds of five minutes each. Each fighter starts in a standing position. There are only few techniques that are not allowed in a pancrase fight.
History of Pancrase 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 karate 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, the Netherlands, 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.
