Ranking / Advancement in Pankration

Authentic Pankration has 10 degrees of advancement divided into three orders (or circles) of seniority.

After the first two degrees are completed, and technical proficiency is attained, progression to the higher degrees of Pankration is achieved -- not by focusing on one's self and personal achievements -- but by providing a teaching (or mentoring) function to lower-level Pankratiasts. This is seen as very important key in Pankration to counteract the false-ego.

You will also note that no human being occupies the highest or 10th degree of Pankration. This is an honorary degree reserved for the Divine only. When a congress (or major meeting) is held in Pankration, ninth degree Pankratiasts get together as equals and hold one vote each. The majority vote wins.