Catch Wrestling

Histoire

Catch wrestling — "catch as catch can" — grew in 19th-century Lancashire, England, and spread through fairs, carnivals and music halls in Britain and the United States. Unlike Greco-Roman, any hold was allowed, and many bouts were won by submission.

In the 20th century the Snake Pit gym of Billy Riley in Wigan kept the style alive. Karl Gotch took it to Japan, where it shaped shoot wrestling and early MMA, and amateur freestyle wrestling also descends from it.

Le saviez-vous ?

• Submission holds in catch wrestling are called "hooks".
• Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidt fought two famous world title matches in 1908 and 1911.
• Carnival wrestlers took on all comers from the crowd for money.

Glossaire des techniques

Hooks

submission holds

Double wristlock

shoulder lock (the "kimura")

Cross-face

forearm across the face to turn the head

Pin

both shoulders down

Figures clés

• George Hackenschmidt (1877–1968) — "the Russian Lion", world champion
• Frank Gotch (1878–1917) — American world champion
• Billy Riley (1896–1977) — founder of the Wigan "Snake Pit"
• Karl Gotch (1924–2007) — took catch wrestling to Japan

Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica