Editing Pankration (section)

=====Straight kick to the stomach=====
The straight kick with the bottom of the foot to the stomach ({{lang|grc|γαστρίζειν}}/{{lang|grc|λάκτισμα εἰς γαστέραν}} – {{lang|grc-Latn|gastrizein}} or {{lang|grc-Latn|laktisma eis gasteran}}, "kicking in the stomach") was apparently a common technique, given the number of depictions of such kicks on vases. This type of kick is mentioned by Lucian.

''Counter'': The athlete sidesteps the oncoming kick to the inside of the opponent's leg. He catches and lifts the heel/foot of the planted leg with his rear hand and with the front arm goes under the knee of the kicking leg, hooks it with the nook of his elbow, and lifts while advancing to throw the opponent backward. The athlete executing the counter has to lean forward to avoid hand strikes by the opponent. This counter is shown on a [[Panathenaic amphora]] now in [[Leiden]]. In another counter, the athlete sidesteps, but now to the outside of the oncoming kick and grasps the inside of the kicking leg from behind the knee with his front hand (overhand grip) and pulls up, which tends to unbalance the opponent so that he falls backward as the athlete advances. The back hand can be used for striking the opponent while he is preoccupied maintaining his balance.<ref name = "Pankration - An Olympic Combat Sport" />