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.

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.

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

(click link to go to video page)

Rare Catch-Wrestling Memorabilia

How Wigan Invented MMA - by Mick Bower

Old School Wrestling: YMCA footage

OTHER WRESTLING STYLES

Glima - Icelandic wrestling (1932)

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Sources:

Wrestling Heritage

The home of British wrestling history.