Abstract
<jats:p>Recently, full-contact martial arts have become very popular, among which pankration occupies an important place. This sport combines the use of striking techniques with hands and feet with wrestling techniques in the stand and on the ground, which imposes increased requirements on the level of preparedness of athletes, in particular, the development of their special physical qualities. The growth of the popularity of pankration and the expansion of the geography of international competitions leads to increased competition between athletes. In this regard, the improvement of the training system for young athletes, which should ensure a high level of their special physical preparedness, is of particular importance. In the modern system of long-term sports training, the effectiveness of the training process largely depends on the rational organization of classes, the correct planning of training loads and the use of modern means and methods for the development of special physical qualities. The use of scientifically based approaches to training young men involved in pankration allows to increase the effectiveness of the training process and creates the prerequisites for achieving high sports results, enrollment in the national team of Ukraine in the future. Comprehensive consideration of the specifics of special physical training of young athletes contributes to increasing the level of their functional and physical readiness for competitive activities, and also allows timely adjustment of the training process in accordance with the individual capabilities of the body, abilities and inclinations of athletes. In the process of training young men engaged in pankration, an important place is occupied by special physical training aimed at developing strength, endurance, speed-strength qualities and coordination abilities. One of the effective means of increasing the level of physical fitness is the use of crossfit elements, which is a system of various multifunctional exercises aimed at the comprehensive development of basic physical qualities. The systematic use of CrossFit equipment in the training process of young men engaged in pankration creates favorable conditions for increasing the level of their special physical fitness and the effectiveness of competitive activity.</jats:p>