Any info on Catch-as-Catch-Can/Old school wrestling

[callsignfuzzy]

Does anyone have any good sources for a guy (me) doing research on old school wrestling, focusing on CACC in Europe & North America? I've got Mark Hewitt's book and a few of Paladin's reprints, and will be purchasing Jake Shannon's Encyclopedias over the next several months. I've also started e-mailing questions to guys like Gene LeBell and Billy Wicks. I'm interested in solid facts about the history, techniques, rules, and training methods of old-school wrestling and how it's influenced modern fighting systems. Any help, any solid sources I could be pointed to, would be greatly appreciated.

[Sever]

I'm not much on the history of the style, but I will wholeheartedly recommend Tony Checchine's stuff if you're looking for technical info on the style, much of which adapts to - and can be seen in - modern combat sports, be they grappling or MMA. Josh Barnett and a lot of Japanese fighters that come from pro wrestling backgrounds claim catch wrestling as their base style. I've got Chechine's "Wrist Lock Seminar" DVD and have had success with some of the techniques in there in grappling competition and class. I believe he talks a little about the style in his "Lost Art of Hooking" series
You could do a lot worse than having a chat with some old-school pro wrestlers; a lot of them do actually have a background in catch wrestling or similar. I'm not sure how reliable a source they would be, what with all those bangs to the head , but it'd be a start
Also check this SFUK article that I found posted by Yoda while tripping through MAP's way-back machine a second ago

[pauli]

if you're looking for information about catch wrestling, i'd suggest searching bullshido. there's been a lot of discussion of both the technical side and the people involved with it these days over there.

[callsignfuzzy]

Thank you, gentlemen!

[watts]

You may have read this book already, but for a historical perspective it is very useful:
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competit...s/lesson01.htm

[slipthejab]

One site you most def. want to check out is...

http://www.scientificwrestling.com/public/251.cfm

I have their book... it's primo stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Authoritative-.../dp/1411608364

[Shen Yin]

Originally Posted by slipthejab

One site you most def. want to check out is...

http://www.scientificwrestling.com/public/251.cfm

I have their book... it's primo stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Authoritative-.../dp/1411608364

This is awesome, man.

[slipthejab]

Yeah man - Aside from the MA value it's also handy to have around in the studio for character ref. etc. when doing up character designs.

Additionally look up the conditioning routines of Karl Gotch.
There is a partial video out there... he's got some insane tricks up his sleeve for grappling conditioning... no joke that old skool wrestler.

What he picked up in India from their wrestlers and their technique and combined with his catch wrestling was just nuts.

[Shen Yin]

Originally Posted by slipthejab

Yeah man - Aside from the MA value it's also handy to have around in the studio for character ref. etc. when doing up character designs.

Additionally look up the conditioning routines of Karl Gotch.
There is a partial video out there... he's got some insane tricks up his sleeve for grappling conditioning... no joke that old skool wrestler.

What he picked up in India from their wrestlers and their technique and combined with his catch wrestling was just nuts.

yeah, I've seen some of the footage from his vid. I have some of the basic practices, like Hindu pushups, squats and bridges. It helps alot. Plus the hooking submissions tend to be more unorthodox than alot of BJJ methods. I get to practice with them pretty often.

[Bosco]

check out www.extremeselfprotection.com
In their Products page, there's a book on Catch Wrestling you may be interested in

[Bosco]

crap, that's the one you already have I just realised!

[rubberband]

If you are talking to Pops then you've probably heard his stories... I would suggest contacting Dick Cardinal to get his perspective. Pops can also hook you up directly with Mark Hewitt and people like Drew Price who have done some good historical research. also the Cauliflaur Alley Club would be a good source of info...

good luck with your research...


take care, steve

[callsignfuzzy]

I appreciate all the help, guys. I just got Jake Shannon's encyclopedias (vols 1&2) in the mail today. Hatmaker is a friend of mine (been trainin' with him since summer of '05), and he's helped out too, though history isn't his forte.

Anyway, thought I'd post and let y'all know how grateful I am for the help. Thanks again!

[slipthejab]

Fuzzro... is that Hatmaker as in Mark Hatmaker?
I've got a ton of his vids. You lucky dog.

[callsignfuzzy]

Yeppers!