the odyssey
This is a journey through the United States and around the world to different gyms and martial arts schools to train under masters in their field and with the highest level competitors active today; in order to compilate the skills and experiences into a complex amalgamation of fighting excellence.
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'The Odyssey' is an ancient epic written by Homer about the King of Ithaca after he leaves the ten year long war in Troy victorious, only to endure what would be another ten years of journey through many land & sea, obstacles, challenges, all while battling numerous enemies through the strife of finally arriving home to reclaim his throne.
Our Odyssey encompasses this long and arduous journey through the various martial arts; with the ultimate goal of uncovering the knowledge + wisdom that will allow the fighting art of our ancestors to resurface: Pankration.
Founder Joe Haynes, preparing for a Submission Only match at a contest held in Kansas City, MO.
Pankration
The Fierce, No-Holds-Barred Combat That Shaped Warriors and Legends
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In the pantheon of ancient Greek sports, one discipline stood out for its raw intensity, fearsome reputation, and nearly limitless combat rules—pankration. Combining the techniques of wrestling (pale) and boxing (pygmachia), pankration was more than a sport. It was a brutal, all-encompassing martial art designed to test the full range of human strength, strategy, and endurance.
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Often described as the "ultimate contest of body and will", pankration was one of the most popular and revered events in the ancient Olympic Games—and the most dangerous.
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The Greeks believed pankration was invented by none other than the heroes Heracles and Theseus. According to myth, Heracles used a form of pankration to subdue the Nemean lion, while Theseus employed it in his battle with the Minotaur.
​Though rooted in myth, pankration became a very real test of skill and resilience. Introduced to the Olympic Games in 648 BCE, it quickly gained prestige as the ultimate demonstration of martial excellence.
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Rules:
Competitors fight naked & bare handed.
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No Weight Classes
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No Rounds
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No Time Limit
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No gouging eyes, nose or mouth
Method of Victory:
KO - Submission - Rendered unable to continue
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This was the original "mixed martial art"
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Pankration wasn’t just a sport—it was a philosophy of combat, a proving ground for warriors, and a cultural symbol of human potential pushed to its absolute edge. Through pain, power, and precision, the Greeks used pankration to celebrate their ultimate ideal: a fighter who could master both mind and body in the heat of battle.
Odyssey @ The Lake
As our journey of learning and excelling in the arts takes us all around the globe, we have crafted a physical location to serve as a "home base" - located on the Lake of the Ozarks west side in a town called Laurie.
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Not a massive facility by any means but plenty to serve the purpose of productive hard training sessions.
Approximately 600 sqft. of mat space with 3 sides of wall pads creating an immersive 'U' area great for all arts.
Also has ability to hang up to 6 heavy bags, one professional grade speedbag not to mention a smart TV for streaming instructional content.
Facility available for:
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Private sessions
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Group trainings
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Seminars
If you are traveling to the Lake area and seek a training setup for yourself, have a group that wants a place to train together, or are an established coach/fighter that would like to earn some coin during your trip hosting a seminar, the Odyssey at the Lake is the spot to do so!
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Ultimately our intention is to create a Pankration library that can be sourced with experienced coaches to help train up the local populous into a capable and formidable competition team.
For now we focus on the journey and remain available as a resource for anyone currently training.
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Bookings available.
Know Thyself
Inscribed in gold above the entrance into the Temple of Apollo at Delphi; this message isn't merely a simple piece of advice or recommendation. However, it is meant to serve as an appeal or even a warning that goes far beyond mere ethical or religious values.
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The sibyls were wise women who’d trained since childhood to reveal the message of the oracles. In their room, the following inscription was written:
“I warn you, whoever you are, Oh! You who want to probe the “Arcana of Nature”, that if you do not find “within yourself” that which you are looking for, you shall not find it outside either! If you ignore the excellences of your own house, how do you pretend to find other excellences? Within you is hidden the treasure of treasures! “Know Thyself” and you will know the Universe and the Gods.”
