Catch wrestling is a popular style of wrestling. Catch wrestling is arguably the ancestor of modern professional wrestling and mixed martial arts competitions. Catch wrestling's origins lie in a variety of styles, most notably the regional wrestling styles of Europe, particularly the British Isles (e.g. Collar-and-elbow, Lancashire catch-as-catch-can submission wrestling etc.) and Asia (e.g. pehlwani). Ancient Greek wrestlers (Pankratiasts) Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two unarmed persons, in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over or control of their opponent. ... For the video game, see Pro Wrestling (video game). ... For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... This article describes the archipelago in north-Western Europe. ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Pehlwani Modern wrestling, or Pehlwani , is a synthesis of an indigenous Aryan form of wrestling that dates back at least to the 5th century BC [1] and a Persian form of wrestling brought into South Asia by the Mughals. ...

The term is sometimes used in a restricted sense to refer only to the style of professional wrestling as practiced in United States carnivals just before and after 1900. Under this stricter definition catch wrestling it is one of many styles of professional wrestling, specifically as practiced in carnivals and at public exhibitions from after the US Civil War until the Great Depression. This article describes the festival season. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the northern states, popularly referred to as the U.S., the Union, the North, or the Yankees; and the seceding southern states, commonly referred to as the Confederate States of America, the CSA, the Confederacy... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ...

There are a number of modern submission wrestling enthusiasts whose foundation lies in catch wrestling as well as no small number whose training "lineage" traces back to catch-wrestling. Mark Mullen applies an armbar to Ernesto Martinez during the Open “Tap Out” Tournament. ...

Rules

The Lancashire phrase "Catch-As-Catch-Can" is generally understood to translate to "catch me if you can". As this implies, the rules of Catch Wrestling were more open than it's Greco-Roman wrestling counterpart which did not allow holds below the waist. Catch players can win a match by either submission or pin, and most matches are contested as the best two of three falls. Often, but not always, the stranglehold was barred. This article is about Greco-Roman wrestling. ...

Just as today "tapping out" signifies a concession, back in the heyday of Catch Wrestling rolling to one's back could also signify defeat. Frank Gotch won many matches by forcing his opponent to roll over onto their back with the threat of his feared "famous" toe-hold. Frank Gotch in a published photo Frank Alvin Gotch (April 27, 1878 – December 17, 1917) was an American professional wrestler back when the contests were largely real (see catch wrestling). ...

The rules of Catch Wrestling would change from venue to venue in the same way that the rules of mixed martial arts can change from promotion to promotion (e.g., Pride and UFC have different rules but are both referred to as "MMA"). Matches contested with side-bets at the coal mines or logging camps favored submission wins (where there was absolutely no doubt as to who the winner was) while professionally booked matches and amateur contests favored pins (catering to the broader and more genteel paying fan-base). For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ...

Origins and popularity

Folk wrestling has a long pedigree in the United States, famous practitioners of such folk wrestling have included US Presidents George Washington (collar and elbow), Abraham Lincoln (catch-as-catch-can), and Teddy Roosevelt (who appointed catch wrestling champion Tom Jenkins to the position of Head Wrestling coach at West Point Military Academy). Folk wrestling is a generic term for traditional wrestling disciplines which may or may not be codified as a modern sport. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858–January 6, 1919) was the twenty-fifth (1901) Vice President and the twenty-sixth (1901-1909) President of the United States, succeeding to the office upon the assassination of William McKinley. ... Tom Jenkins was an American catch wrestler who held the American Heavyweight Championship three times around the turn of the twentieth century. ... Alternate meanings: West Point (disambiguation). ...

Catch wrestling became immensely popular across both sides of the Atlantic, especially in the carnivals in the United states of America during the late 19th and early 20th century. The carnival's wrestlers challenged the locals as part of the carnival's "athletic show" and the locals had their chance to win a cash reward if they could defeat the carnival's strongman by a pin or a submission. The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... A travelling funfair has many attractions, including adult or thrill rides, childrens rides, and sideshows consisting of games of skill, strength, or luck. ... A pin, a fall, or a pinfall (the last term most commonly used in professional wrestling) is a victory condition in various forms of wrestling that is met by holding an opponents shoulders or scapulae (shoulder blades) on the wrestling mat for a prescribed period of time. ... A submission (depending on the context also referred to as a tap out or tapping out) is a combat sports term for yielding to the opponent, and hence resulting in an immediate defeat. ...

This eventually led to the carnival's wrestlers preparing for the worst kind of unarmed assault and aiming to end the wrestling match with any tough local quickly and decisively (i.e. via submission). A hook was a technical submission which could end a match within seconds. As carnival wrestlers traveled, they met with a variety of people, learning and using techniques from various folk wrestling disciplines, many of which were accessible due to a huge influx of immigrants in the United States during this era. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Ancient Greek wrestlers (Pankratiasts) Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two unarmed persons, in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over or control of their opponent. ... A submission (depending on the context also referred to as a tap out or tapping out) is a combat sports term for yielding to the opponent, and hence resulting in an immediate defeat. ... Folk wrestling is a generic term for traditional wrestling disciplines which may or may not be codified as a modern sport. ... Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ...

Catch wrestling contests also became immensely popular in Europe involving the likes of the national wrestling champion Great Gama, Imam Baksh Pahalwan, Gulam from India, Swiss champion John Lemm, Americans Frank Gotch, Ad Santel, Ed Lewis and Benjamin Roller, Mitsuyo Maeda from Japan and Estonian Georg Hackenschmidt. Travelling wrestlers and European tournaments brought together a variety of folk wrestling disciplines including the Indian variety of Pehlwani, Judo and Ju-Jitsu from Japan, et cetera. Each of these disciplines contributed to the development of catch wrestling in their own way. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Ghulam Mohammad Gama Pehlwan (1885-1953), populary referred to as the Great Gama, is the most famous practitioner of the sport of pehlwani and the greatest ever wrestler to come out of India. ... // The Art of Pehlwani Pehlwani in India and Pakistan Pehlwani (also spelled as pahlwani) is a form of wrestling native to India. ... Gulam was a renowed wrestler and a practitioner of the Indian wrestling style of Pehlwani. ... Frank Gotch in a published photo Frank Alvin Gotch (April 27, 1878 – December 17, 1917) was an American professional wrestler back when the contests were largely real (see catch wrestling). ... Ad Santel Ad Santel, born Adolph Ernst, was a practitioner of catch wrestling. ... Edward Strangler Lewis (real name: Robert Herman Julius Friedrich; he changed his name because his parents didnt approve of wrestling) was born June 30, 1891, in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, and died August 8, 1966, in New York, New York. ... Mitsuyo Maeda was a Japanese judoka, catch wrestler and prize-fighter often referred to as Count Combat (or Conde Koma in Brazil, although he actually earned the nickname in Spain by 1908). ... Hackenschmidt in 1903 Georg Karl Julius Hackenschmidt (August 2, 1878 in Tartu, Estonia - February 19, 1968 in London, England) was an early 20th-century strongman and professional wrestler. ... Folk wrestling is a generic term for traditional wrestling disciplines which may or may not be codified as a modern sport. ... Pehlwani Modern wrestling, or Pehlwani , is a synthesis of an indigenous Aryan form of wrestling that dates back at least to the 5th century BC [1] and a Persian form of wrestling brought into South Asia by the Mughals. ... This article is about the martial art and sport. ... Jujutsu (also jujitsu, ju jitsu, ju jutsu, or jiu jitsu; from the Japanese 柔術 jūjutsu gentle/yielding/compliant Art) is a Japanese martial art. ...

A colleague of Frank Gotch, Martin 'Farmer' Burns offered a particularly popular correspondence course in catch wrestling called Wrestling and Physical Culture. Publicity still of Martin Farmer Burns c 1912. ...

Frank Gotch vs. Georg Hackenschmidt at Comiskey Park

Download high resolution version (300x692, 129 KB)Frank Gotch vs George Hackenschmidt, 1908 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois Source: Tap Out Association (scaled from original image - original was too large and blurry) The copyright status of this old image is undetermined; it may still be copyrighted. ... Download high resolution version (300x692, 129 KB)Frank Gotch vs George Hackenschmidt, 1908 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois Source: Tap Out Association (scaled from original image - original was too large and blurry) The copyright status of this old image is undetermined; it may still be copyrighted. ... Frank Gotch in a published photo Frank Alvin Gotch (April 27, 1878 – December 17, 1917) was an American professional wrestler back when the contests were largely real (see catch wrestling). ... Hackenschmidt in 1903 Georg Karl Julius Hackenschmidt (August 2, 1878 in Tartu, Estonia - February 19, 1968 in London, England) was an early 20th-century strongman and professional wrestler. ...

Catch wrestling and judo

Although catch wrestling did not normally include kicks and blows, it is credited as one of the two disciplines involved in one of the 20th century's first major cross-cultural clash of styles in Martial Arts, occurring between the American catch wrestler Ad Santel and the Japanese Tokugoro Ito, a 5th degree black belt in Judo. Ad Santel Ad Santel, born Adolph Ernst, was a practitioner of catch wrestling. ...

The match in 1914 was one between two prime representatives of their respective crafts, Ad Santel was the World Light Heavyweight Champion in catch wrestling while Tokugoro Ito claimed to be the World Judo Champion. Santel defeated Ito and went on to be the self proclaimed World Judo Champion. The response from Jigoro Kano's Kodokan was swift and came in the form of another challenger, 4th degree black belt Daisuke Sakai. Santel, however, still defeated the Kodokan Judo representative. Dr. Jigorō Kanō (嘉納 治五郎 Kanō Jigorō, 1860 in Kobe, Japan - 1938) is the founder of Judo. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

The Kodokan tried to stop the legendary hooker by sending men like 5th degree black belt Reijiro Nagata (who was defeated by Santel by TKO). Santel also drew with 5th degree black belt Hikoo Shoji. The challenge matches stopped after Santel gave up on the claim of being the World Judo Champion in 1921 in order to pursue a career in full time professional wrestling. Although Tokugoro Ito avenged his loss to Santel with a choke, thus setting the record between them at 1-1, official Kodokan representatives proved unable to imitate Ito's success. Just as Ito was the only Japanese judoka to overcome Santel, Santel was ironically the only Western catch-wrestler on record as having a win over Ito, who also regularly challenged other grappling styles.

The impact of these performances on Japan was immense. The Japanese were fascinated by the European form of catch wrestling and a steady stream of Japanese fighters travelled to Europe in order to either participate in various tournaments or to learn catch wrestling at European schools such as Billy Riley's Snake Pit in Wigan, England. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Catch wrestling and mixed martial arts

Karl Gotch was a legendary catch wrestler and a student of Billy Riley's Snake Pit. Gotch taught catch wrestling to Japanese professional wrestlers in 1970's to students including Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Hiro Matsuda, Osamu Kido, Satoru Sayama (the legendary Tiger Mask) and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Categories: American professional wrestlers | Professional wrestling stubs ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... Tatsumi Fujinami (Fujinami Tatsumi, 藤波辰巳) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as The Dragon. He is the one who is credited for inventing the Dragon Sleeper and the Dragon Suplex. ... Hiro Matsuda was the trainer of Hulk Hogan, Mr. ... Satoru Sayama (born November 24, 1957) is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. ... Tiger Mask (Japanese: タイガーマスク) began as a manga in 1968 and was later adapted into a successful anime series in 1969. ... Yoshiaki Fujiwara (藤原喜明 Fujiwara Yoshiaki) is a Japanese professional wrestler who has worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, and UWF. // Fujiwara was the first graduate of the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo (Mr. ...

Starting from 1976, one of these professional wrestlers, Antonio Inoki, hosted a series of mixed martial arts bouts against the champions of other disciplines. This resulted in unprecedented popularity of the clash-of-styles bouts in Japan. His matches showcased catch wrestling moves like the Sleeper hold, Cross arm breaker, Seated armbar, Indian deathlock and Keylock. Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ...

Karl Gotch's students formed the original Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan) in 1984 which gave rise to shoot-style matches. The UWF movement was led by catch wrestlers and gave rise to the mixed martial arts boom in Japan. Catch wrestling forms the base of Japan's martial art of shoot wrestling. Japanese professional wrestling and a majority of the Japanese fighters from Pancrase, Shooto and the now defunct RINGS bear links to catch wrestling. The original Japanese-based Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1984 to 1986, formed by wrestlers who had left New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Shoot style is a form of professional wrestling in which strikes and holds are real and still, however the matches are still predetermined. ... For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... Shootfighting Shoot wrestling is a general term that describes a range of hybrid fighting systems originating in Japan in the late 1970s, in close association with Japanese professional wrestling. ... Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling is a mixed martial arts organization founded in Japan in 1993 by Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. ... Shooto logo ISC logo This article deals with the martial arts organization, for the baseball pitch, see gyroball. ... A ring is usually anything resembling a circle, or a noise that cycles rapidly. ...

Notable mixed martial artists with traceable catch-wrestling links are numerous; among them are Kazushi Sakuraba, who trained in the UWF Snake Pit--a gym founded by catch wrestler Billy Robinson--as well as Masa Funaki and Ken Shamrock, both of whom trained under Karl Gotch and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Some other important mixed martial artists with significant ties to catch include Josh Barnett, Frank Shamrock, Kiyoshi Tamura,Ikuhisa Minowa, Karo Parisyan, and Erik Paulson. Ultimately, however, there are far too many mixed martial artists with ties to catch wrestling to compile anything resembling an exhaustive list of all such fighters. Kazushi Sakuraba (Japanese: 桜庭和志, Sakuraba Kazushi, born July 14, 1968 in Akita Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese professional mixed martial arts competitor and professional wrestler. ... Shooter Billy Robinson in 1974. ... Masakatsu Funaki is a well-known Japanese professional wrestler who performed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, PWFG, as well as the UWF and its later incarnation, the UWFi. ... Ken Shamrock (born Kenneth Wayne Kilpatrick on February 11, 1964 in Macon, Georgia) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ... Categories: American professional wrestlers | Professional wrestling stubs ... Yoshiaki Fujiwara (藤原喜明 Fujiwara Yoshiaki) is a Japanese professional wrestler who has worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, and UWF. // Fujiwara was the first graduate of the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo (Mr. ... Joshua L. Josh Barnett (born November 10, 1977, in Seattle, Washington) is an American heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter and a professional wrestler. ... Frank Shamrock (born Frank Alisio Juarez III on December 8, 1972 in Santa Monica, California) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ... Kiyoshi Tamura (born December 12, 1969) is a Japanese middleweight professional Wrestler and Mixed Martial Arts fighter. ... Ikuhisa Minowa (Japanese:美濃輪育久, born January 12, 1976 in Gifu Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter. ... Karapet Karo Parisyan (born August 28, 1982 in Yerevan, Armenia) is an Armenian-American mixed martial arts fighter. ... Erik Paulson is a no-holds barred fighting competitor and trainer. ...

It may also be worth noting that the term no holds barred was used originally to describe the wrestling method prevalent in catch wrestling tournaments during the late 19th century wherein no wrestling holds were banned from the competition, regardless of how dangerous they might be. The term was applied to mixed martial arts matches, especially at the advent of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. This article covers the organization itself. ...

The influence of catch wrestling

• Catch wrestling is the base of many hybrid fighting systems including shoot wrestling and its derived fighting styles (e.g. Shooto, Pancrase, Shootfighting, RINGS Submission Fighting).
• Shoot boxing heavily borrows aspects of standing submissions from catch wrestling. The CATCH point is awarded when the referee calls "CATCH" for standing submission.
• Mitsuyo Maeda (Conde Koma) competed in catch wrestling. Maeda was the original teacher of the legendary Gracie family who eventually developed the modern fighting system of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
• Catch wrestling was one of the formative influences of the Russian martial art of Sambo wrestling.
• Catch wrestling based fighting is propagated in the U.S. by organizations such as Scientific Wrestling, the Lion's Den centre run by Ken Shamrock, The Danger Zone run by UFC Triple Crown Champion, Dan Severn. Other teachers of catch wrestling based arts include Frank Shamrock, Gene LeBell, Erik Paulson, Matt Hume,and Larry Hartsell.
• International pioneers of mixed martial arts, like Antonio Inoki, Bruce Lee and Gene LeBell[1] have studied catch wrestling. Their catch wrestling skills have been used in modern fighting systems and training methodologies of the arts propagated by them and their students.

Shootfighting Shoot wrestling is a general term that describes a range of hybrid fighting systems originating in Japan in the late 1970s, in close association with Japanese professional wrestling. ... Shooto logo ISC logo This article deals with the martial arts organization, for the baseball pitch, see gyroball. ... Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling is a mixed martial arts organization founded in Japan in 1993 by Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. ... ISFA logo Shootfighting is a combat sport and martial art, with competitions governed by the International Shootfighting Association (ISFA). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Mitsuyo Maeda was a Japanese judoka, catch wrestler and prize-fighter often referred to as Count Combat (or Conde Koma in Brazil, although he actually earned the nickname in Spain by 1908). ... The Gracie family refers to the lineage of Brazilian businessman and politician Gastão Gracie. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Sambo (Russian: ) -- (also called Sombo in the US and sometimes written in all-caps) is a modern martial art, combat sport and self-defense system developed in the former Soviet Union, and recognized as an official sport by the USSR All-Union Sports Committee in 1938, presented by Anatoly Kharlampiev. ... Ken Shamrock (born Kenneth Wayne Kilpatrick on February 11, 1964 in Macon, Georgia) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ... Daniel The Beast Severn (born June 8, 1958 in Coldwater, Michigan) is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. ... Frank Shamrock (born Frank Alisio Juarez III on December 8, 1972 in Santa Monica, California) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ... Judo Gene LeBell, born October 9, 1932 is a stuntman known for his MMA skills. ... Erik Paulson is a no-holds barred fighting competitor and trainer. ... Matt Hume (July 14, 1966) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ... Larry Hartsell (August 16, 1940 – August 21, 2007) was a martial arts teacher and author, most well known for his involvement with Bruce Lees Jeet Kune Do. ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... Bruce Lee (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: Lǐ Xiǎolóng; Cantonese Yale: Léih Síulùhng; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born martial artist, philosopher, instructor, and martial arts actor widely regarded as the most influential martial artist of the 20th century. ... Judo Gene LeBell, born October 9, 1932 is a stuntman known for his MMA skills. ...

External links

• The Lion of the Punjab – Gama in England, 1910 By Graham Noble
• Caveat Emptor on catch wrestling con-men
• US Presidents who wrestled
• List of Catch Wrestling Clubs
• The Japanese Pro-Wrestling / Reality Based Martial Art Connection
• A brief history of wrestling in England