[pale] was upright. One had to throw one's opponent to the ground. There were no rounds. The contest continued until one contestant gained three falls.

All-in wrestling [pankration] was decided by submission. The beaten contestant signalled by raising his hand with the index finger extended. Almost anything was allowed. Punching, kicking, and strangle holds, only biting and gouging were banned.

contestants for both styles rubbed down with oil and sprinkled fine sand over their bodies befor a fight. The ground was carefully prepared. Sometimes it was watered too. It could be like mud wrestling.

for the heats the contestants were paired off by casting lots maked by letters of the alphbet. They were drawn from a helmet or a bronze bowl. The pankration was the most popular event with the crowd. The top contestants often became proffesional wrestlers.