Editing Pankration (section)

==Preparation and practice==

The basic instruction of pankration techniques was conducted by the {{lang|grc-Latn|paedotribae}} ({{lang|grc|παιδοτρίβαι}}, "physical trainers"<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dpaidotri%2Fbhs παιδοτρίβης] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205212946/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dpaidotri%2Fbhs |date=5 February 2017 }}, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref>), who were in charge of boys' physical education.<ref name="ReferenceB">Gardiner, Greek Athletic Sports and Festivals</ref> High level athletes were also trained by special trainers who were called {{lang|grc-Latn|gymnastae}} ({{lang|grc|γυμνασταί}}),<ref name="ReferenceB"/> some of whom had been successful pankration competitors themselves. There are indications that the methods and techniques used by different athletes varied, i.e., there were different styles. While specific styles taught by different teachers, in the mode of Asian martial arts, cannot be excluded, it is very clear (including in Aristotle's ''Nicomachean Ethics'') that the objective of a teacher of combat sports was to help each of his athletes to develop his personal style that would fit his strengths and weaknesses.<ref name="Pankration - An Olympic Combat Sport"/>

The preparation of pankratiasts included a very wide variety of methods,<ref name="Pankration - An Olympic Combat Sport"/> most of which would be immediately recognizable by the trainers of modern high level athletes, including competitors in modern [[mixed martial arts]] competitions. These methods included among others the periodization of training; a wealth of regimens for the development of strength, speed-strength, speed, stamina, and endurance; specialized training for the different stages of competition (i.e., for {{lang|grc-Latn|anō pankration}} and {{lang|grc-Latn|katō pankration}}), and methods for learning and engraining techniques. Among the multitude of the latter were also training tools that appear to be very similar to Asian martial arts forms or {{lang|ja-Latn|[[kata]]}}, and were known as {{lang|grc-Latn|cheironomia}} ({{lang|grc|χειρονομία}}) and {{lang|grc-Latn|anapale}} ({{lang|grc|ἀναπάλη}}). Punching bags ({{lang|grc-Latn|kōrykos}} {{lang|grc|κώρυκος}} "leather sack") of different sizes and dummies were used for striking practice as well as for the hardening of the body and limbs. Nutrition, massage, and other recovery techniques were used very actively by pankratiasts.