CATCH-WRESTLING HISTORY

Submission Grappling / Catch Wrestling

For the ancient Greeks wrestling part of life. Indeed cultures pre-dating the Greeks, Egyptians and Baboloyians practiced grappling in some form or another. The Tomb drawings of Nabu created 2500 B.C. show grappling techniques still used today At some point however a new element was added to the Greek style wrestling; an element of meanness; the sport was called Pankration. Pankration was an extremely vicious fighting style. Many matches ended in death or with crippling injuries. Under the "Spartan" rules no techniques were outlawed including biting or eye gouges. Since these matches were also fought in the nude I suspect they also gave a new meaning to joint locks. Some believe that it was the Pankration fighters who first brought martial arts east; first to India, then China. It has been argued that all martial arts are simply variations of Pankration. I would not go that far except to say there is nothing new under the Sun.

George Tragos

One mean sonfabitch

If their is one art today that could truly claim kinship with Pankration it would be Catch Wrestling. At the turn of the Century a group of these Catch Wrestlers toured the country in carnivals taking on all comers. Hookers as they were called used a combination of wrestling ability and an arsenal of vicious concession holds (hooks) to finish their opponents. Catch Wrestlers had the ability to fight anyone and let that person walk away amazed, bent and sore - but other wise unscathed - or to be sure their opponent would not walk away at all. One hooker of the early days was George Tragos who trained the great Lou Theaz. Tragos was well known for his vicious streak that ran twenty miles wide and seven bodies deep. One day a young hot shot decided to push Tragos. The brutal Greek caught the kid in a top wrist lock that Tragos drove home before the kid could surrender. The resulting injury of ripped muscles, tendons, ligaments and a separated bone became infected. This led to the kid losing his arm; but it is doubtful that Tragos lost any sleep over the incident. Most hookers were in no way so cruel - but all of them had the skill to be so at will.

This purely American style maybe the most complete of any grappling style. The primary goal of Submission Grappling is submission and everything is aimed at that goal. Every part of the body is a target for submission. Every position a prelude to the end. This art was fostered and furthered by the likes of Frank Gotch, John Pesak, Ed "The Strangler" Lewis, George Tragos and Ad Satell. These men were pro wrestling before the matches were worked - when the blood, sweat and tears were for real. Even when the matches were worked they still required great wrestling skill since the fan's were meant to believe what they were seeing.

Tom Jenkins

A rough and tough customer to say the least. An early master of the Catch as Can style. Jenkins lost an eye as a young child due to a fireworks accident. His wrestling career started while a steel worker during the men's daily break. Jenkins took on all comers including Gotch, Farmer Burns and a trio of the enormous Terrible Turks. Jenkins did not win all his matches however he was the man to really bring wrestling to a point that it captured the American Imagination. Jenkins was said to be extremely strong with hard rough hands that could scrape the skin off a man. Most of his matches with Gotch as considered classics. The last two where well passed Jenkins prime similar to when Jenkins defeated Martin "Farmer" Burns after his prime. At 200 pounds Jenkins was a large man for his time. Often over shadowed by Gotch, Hackenschmidt and others Jenkins really deserves recognition as one of the great American grapplers. A true legend in the fighting arts.

John Pesak The Tiger man.

When Ed the Stranger Lewis (the second man so named) had the world champion the wrestling world was in a state of flux. Many tough and unsavory folks were seeking to get their hands on the title any way they could and Lewis had more challengers then he could answer. So the Lewis camp needed a "Police man" to protect them against the many threats to the title. That Police man was John Pesak. At around 180 pounds Pesak was undersized. But he more then made up for his lack of size with speed, skill and strength. Some say that Pesak may have been the greatest grappler of all time although he rarely gets the recognition he deserves. Pesak Hospitalized a Burn & Gotch grappler Marin Plestina and broke the arm of Finnish great Armas Laiten. Pesak also Defeated Olympic Gold Medal winner Nat Pendleton in two straight falls, in under 41 minutes with leg locks. Known as the Tigerman Pesak earned his name and his place in grappling history

Frank Gotch

Considered by many to be the father of Pro Wrestling. Also widely regarded a vicious wrestler who has been accused of paying someone to injure an opponent, coating his body in lamp oil and gouging an already empty eye socket. In his day Gotch casted a Ruthian like shadow on the Sports world.

Ad Satell

I don't know much about Ad except that he was a middle weight and helped teach Lou Thesz many hooks. Taking up where Tragos left off Ad added to Thesz's already impressive skills to help create the most dangerous hooker in the last 50 years - Lou Thesz.

Ed "The Strangler" Lewis

Some credit - or blame Ed for ushering in the era of the worked match. However matches have been being worked since people started to pay for them. What ever else might be said about him I can not think of any higher praise then to say that Lou Thesz thought the world of him.

I credit Mark Hewitt and Tony Cecchine with much of the historical data presented here.

The Hookers were an amazing group of wrestlers. They combined the an Olympic level of wrestling skills with a set of devastating hooks. Hookers like Gotch, Lewis and Ad Satell defeated 100s of men in their careers. Many grapplers today boast such records; but with no real evidence they fought anyone but hand picked opponents. They also only count matches that occurred in certain formats. Jujitsu players count Vale Tudo wins; not Vale Tudo losses. But Hookers fought everyone and the rules were always very simple - when you gave up you lost.

Now add to this the fact that the Carnival wrestlers couldn't go to their backs. (no hiding in the guard). It is amazing to think how good these guys had to be. The point of any Carnny games is to get the marks to spend money - to make the game look easy on the surface but to be sure the results were fixed. It was the Hookers who put the fix in. Many of the great champions such as Farmer Burns, Gotch, Satell, Pesak, Lewis, Sputnik Monroe and other took part in the Carnival shows. Sometimes wrestling as many as 30 matches in a single day. Sputnik Monroe comments on wrestling in the Athletic Show saying , "That's the hardest kind of a guy to wrestle ... the guy that doesn't know how to wrestle, because if you wristlock him or something, he does the exact opposite of what you've trained yourself and learned to do in your career. So there's a specialty in wrestling idiots. You'd always try and give him your head or your hand ... You used 'marks' for referees, so they won't count the hometown boy out ... You always had to make them submit."

These were not huge, burly men who would destroy people in 15 seconds. If a Hooker were seen whipping the local golden boy in a heart beat it would discourage others from paying their money and taking their chances. Instead the Hooker had to work the match. To carry his opponent to near the end of the time limit and then at the last moment pull out the win. A good one could make it look like he won by accident. This would encourage others watching to step up and try their hand.

I've never really been that impressed by someone who could come out and simply beat someone fast. Generally this doesn't mean the winner was very good - it just means the guy who lost was really bad. Instead show me a guy who can work a match. Take an unskilled, or even moderate skilled player and carry him for five minutes. Allow him to get you in a compromised position and see if you can recover. Often times with my students or the first time I wrestle someone I let them throw me, hold me down and nearly get submissions on me before I will even attempt to compromise them.

The Hookers style relies on body control and pain. Once an opponent is vulnerable the Hooker seeks to make his life ever more uncomfortable. Body positing and control restrict an opponent's breathing. While torquing them into un-natural positions keeps them from utilizing the strength of their bodies. Caught underneath a hooker sends an opponent into a downward spiral of pain leading to the inevitable end - a painful bone breaking hook.

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Today few people practice this style of grappling. Many think it's too mean, or a "dirty" style. However it is extremely effective and will take from any where. Personally I love it. I love that it goes for the win every time. Unlike the BJJ style which waits for a mistake, Catch Wrestler's make mistakes happen. The strive to keep the pressure on throughout the fight looking for the hooks from all angles; at all times. While at Bison Grappling we practice many styles and take skills from any and all grappling styles it is Submission Grappling that we hold the dearest.

I also like this style because it affords me the skills to work a match with someone. Regardless of the persons size and skill I feel that I can wrestle with them at their level. I've wrestled kids and 110 pound beginner women who come out of the match feeling like I really gave them all I had and that they were "in" the match all the way. I've given 250 pound Black Belts the same feeling. Too many arts treat sparring as me against him, you against the enemy. I don't feel that way. I always consider the person on the mat with me my partner. This must be true in practice to allow your partner success. If all you ever do is thrash people you will soon find your self alone. You may be a great fighter, but if you can't work with others what good are you. Catch Wrestling is a unique combination of pain inflicting cruelty and compassionate confidence building.

The person who introduced me to Catch Wrestling is Tony Ceccheni. You can order tapes from Tony or go to Chicago and see him. I guarantee it will be worth the trip

My only warning about this style of wrestling is that to do it you need to be in shape. You have to be tough both in mind and body. If your a teacher looking for a lot of students this is not the route to go as few people - even few grapplers will truly want to play this style very long. Pain and injury management in very important. The difference between Catch Wrestling and Akito is similar to that between Tai Chi and Thai Kick Boxing. If your not ready you will go home crying.

Lou Thesz

Georg Hackenschmidt in training to fight Frank Gotch

Here are a few individuals from the 1900's up through modern times who were pro wrestlers, Catch Wrestlers, Hookers, Shooters, Rippers and of their influence.

Mitsuo Maeda—trained Carlos and Helio Gracie and is the godfather of what became Gracie Jui Jitsu. Once faced a Capoeira fighter, Pe de Bola and Maeda allowed him to use a knife. Maeda won. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuyo_Maeda

Farmer Burns—one of the earliest of the Catch Wrestlers and a legit hooker. His training regime influenced many real wrestlers who came later. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmer_Burns

Danny Hodge—perhaps the greatest true talent of all time, silver Olympic medalist in wrestling, tremendous NCAA history, pro boxing, pro wrestling and tough as nails. Its my belief had mma been around in his day he would have been a monster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Hodge

Ed Strangler Lewis—hooker and very influential in pro wrestling, he was also the mentor to Lou Thesz. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Lewis_%28wrestler%29

Lou Thesz—hooker who was one of the most respected champions ever as a legit grappler/hooker both in the U.S. and Japan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Thesz

John Pesek—hooker who came out of the carnival era and didn’t like when it morphed from real fights to worked. He was a policeman for Strangler Lewis and got banned by the NY Athletic commission for beating an opponent so severly. He was one bad man. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pesek

Frank Gotch http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Gotch

Karl Gotch—probably the most responsible for taking Catch Wrestling to Japan and teaching the pro wrestlers the style which would eventually morph into Rings, Pancrase, Shooto and Pride. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Gotch

Judo Gene Lebell-- this guy did it all, judo champ, pro wrestling, knew Bruce Lee & Chuck Norris, movie roles, stuntman and can still probably kick any of our butts if he wants to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_LeBell

Dory Funk Sr.—hooker with amatuer wrestling background who went on to run his own territory and is the Father of Dory Jr. and Terry Funk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dory_Funk

Hiro Matsuda—hooker and territory policeman who broke Hulk Hogans leg when he wanted to get into pro wrestling. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiro_Matsuda

Earl Caddock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Caddock

Billy Robinson—hooker and Catch Wrestler who came out of Englands Snake Pit. Was part of one of the famous pro wrestling stories when he got into a barfight with Chief Peter Maivia (grandfather of The Rock) and they ended up taking out the front window and Maivia gouged out one of Robinsons eyes out of the socket ending the fight. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Robinson

Joe Stetcher-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Stecher

Ad Santel—early Catch Wrestler who beat Japanese Judokas. He was a pioneer and skilled fighter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_Santel

Current pro wrestlers with amatuer wrestling credentials include Kurt Angle, Brock Lesner, Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley, Sylvester Terkay. MMA fighters who have done pro wrestling matches include Kazushi Sakuraba, Mirko Crocop, Bas Rutten, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Mark Hunt, Ken Shamrock, Don Frye, Nobuhiko Takada, and many others. Even Russian Olympic wrestling legend Alexander Karelin did a match against Akira Maeda.

Catch Wrestling, Shooters, Hookers, Rippers and legit tough guys in pro wrestling

MMA and Pro Wrestling. Linked in many ways yet denied by fans who don't know the history and background and how the paths crossed or the sport evolved from the business that evolved from the sport. The two biggest paths of modern professional MMA are the Gracie created UFC in the United States and the various Japanese organizations such as Shooto, Rings, Pancrase and Pride. All have ties to the professional wrestling world.

Carlos and Helio Gracie were taught by Mitsuo Maeda who did pro wrestling in addition to being a Judoka and no holds barred prizefighter. Thus, Gracie Jui Jitsu would not have existed without a pro wrestling, prize fighting Judoka who trained them. There would be no UFC without the Gracie family.

Ad Santel was a Catch Wrestler and pro wrestler who fueded with Japanese Judokas from the Kodokan from 1914-1921 where he beat a 4th degree black belt, a 5th degree blackbelt and drawing with another 5th degree blackbelt. The Japanese were fascinated by the submission moves from Catch Wrestling. Later Karl Gotch, another Catch Wrestler and Pro wrestler was a big influence (and trained some) of the men who started Shooto, RINGS, Pancrase and Pride FC. The Japanese called Gotch the God of Pro Wrestling and his influence on all aspects of pro wrestling and MMA in Japan was profound.

Catch Wrestling was the basis for much of what became shoot fighting and many pro wrestlers were Catch Wrestlers, Shooters, Hookers and Rippers.

Here is Catch Wrestling--

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_wrestling

Here are the differences in Hookers, Shooters and Rippers--

http://farmerburns.com/hookers.html

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LINKS

HISTORICAL and INSTRUCTIONAL CATCH WRESTLING VIDEOS

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Rare Catch-Wrestling Memorabilia

How Wigan Invented MMA - by Mick Bower