Catch Wrestling (aka Catch-As-Catch-Can) Mastery

Quantifiably, the Most Impactful Sport of All Time and Arguably the Greatest Base Skill for MMA & Grappling Success

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Why 83% of UFC Champions Have Wrestling Backgrounds — And Catch Wrestling is Why

At Scientific Wrestling, we don’t sell belts. We forge wrestlers. The extreme challenge of our way isn’t a bug — it’s the point. We offer the antidote to a world that’s grown too soft, too convenient, and too "safe". We propel athletes, coaches and gyms to their full-potential, to elite status through controlled exposure the original submission-fighting sport: Catch-as-Catch-Can (CACC) Wrestling. Wrestling dominates MMA with an unprecedented 58 out of 69 UFC champions coming from wrestling backgrounds — most fighters are missing the crucial element that separates good grapplers from wrestling legends: Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling.

Secure Your Spot at CatchCon 2026.

"After a distinctive amateur catch as can shoot background starting at age of 6 years old under the No1 Billy Robinson (who guided me to the Munich Olympic Squad & British Amateur Championship title) I was honoured an & privileged when Mr. Jake Shannon asked me to join him & his excellent team in his wrestling camps in the UK & Europe. SCIENTIFIC WRESTLING IS THE PLACE TO LEARN & FIND KNOWLEDGE OF THE GREATEST SPORT IN THE WORLD. Scientific Wrestling is No. 1 worldwide. Trust me, get in on it."

Marty Jones
British amateur champ, PRO 7x times world champion

"Scientific Wrestling is the most legitimate, honest website and conglomerate of people that are true fans of catch wrestling that have the right spirit for it. It's not trying to be something different or trying to sell something. It's trying to honor the memory and trying to keep the history alive and that is really important to me."

Neil Melanson
Top MMA & Grappling Coach

"This is Catch as Catch Can in its purest form. Head Coach Jake Shannon has picked up right where the legends have left off representing today's Catch Wrestling community with honor pride & integrity. Jake's commitment to carrying on the tradition of such legends as Karl Gotch & Billy Robinson is unmatched & by far the most reputable source for classic Catch Wrestling. Scientific Wrestling teaches tradition, supports innovation while focusing on the evolution of the sport making them the undisputed CACC leader."

Coach D. Petrone
head coach Blackout Grappling, Asst. Coach SW, Fabio Rosa Blackbelt

"JAKE, YOU ARE THE VERY BEST INDIVIDUAL PERSON TO COME ALONG IN THIS GENERATION AND DO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR WRESTLING, I CAN'T FIND WORDS TO EXPRESS MYSELF. MUCH RESPECT"

Billy Wicks
Catch-As-Catch-Can legend and retired law enforcement officer

"Dear Jake, What you have put together is wonderful! Very insightful. You will run a great clinic and be a success. I have never seen anything like this."

Frankie Cain (aka The Great Mephisto)
Professional Wrestler, Boxer, and Wild Bull Rider

"My head's still spinning from all the game changing knowledge that was dropped at this years Scientific Catch Wrestling Seminar this past weekend. Jake Shannon and Wade Schalles' Catch Wrestling Seminar was totally game-changing. It's only a question of time until this explodes onto the MMA scene and evolves… taking MMA to the next level. It works, which means it's just like a force of nature… it can't be stopped. It's that simple"

James "The Colossus" Thompson
Pride FC & Bellator competitor

Catch Wrestling: Who Cares?

If you know anything about wrestling history, you know that NCAA Folktyle Wrestling and Olympic Freestyle originally had a different name: AMATEUR CATCH-AS-CATCH-CAN WRESTLING.

Known as "Catch Wrestling" for short, it was also the original modern submission grappling system, even pre-dating Judo. Catch Wrestling combines the takedown mastery of Folkstyle and Freestyle wrestling with the devastating finishing ability of more than a century and a half of submission wrestling - but with one critical difference: it was designed for winning prize-fights, not colored-belt participation trophies.

Unlike modern wrestling styles that focus only on points and pins, or BJJ that emphasizes guard-centric submissions, at Scientific Wrestling we teach you TAKEDOWNS, PINS, & SUBMISSIONS to:

Control where the fight takes place (standing or ground)

Dominate from top position with crushing pressure and control

Finish fights with painful, unorthodox submission holds that they don't see coming and force immediate taps

Transition seamlessly between wrestling and finishing

While small in ranks, the results speak for themselves: Catch Wrestling provides the perfect fusion of wrestling's success rate in producing UFC champions with top-game submission finishing ability that ends fights definitively

Catch Wrestling - The TRUE King of Sports | Scientific Wrestling

TRAIN WITH US

"There are few in the US with knowledge of true Catch Wrestling. Jake Shannon's knowledge is unparalleled, thanks to a lineage back to the orignal Riley' Gym, via his learning with legends Billy Robinson & Karl Gotch. From the clear & detailed explanation, to the unique and effective techniques, Scientific Wrestling was the best investment I've ever made."

Simon Gotch
fmr WWE Superstar & NXT Tag Team Champion

"Honest, Hardworking, Strong Character, Creative, & Energetic... Wow. Jake you're on a roll with this certification! I support you wholeheartedly my friend."

Mark Schultz
Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler, successful UFC competitor, 2x Freestyle Wrestling World Champion, and 3x NCAA Wrestling Champion

"I found the Scientific Wrestling course a great help, to fit that much content into the time frame is no easy feat. Everything is well explained and the structure to the days is meticulous, I have been a combat athlete for over 15 years and was still able to gain a wealth of knowledge from this course!"

John Hathaway
UFC welterweight 17 - 2

"Jake Shannon and Josh Barnett are definitely the best. You'll find out soon how much knowledge and professionalism they have, but mostly, you are going to feel the original essence of CACC. Scientific Wrestling is where legendary trainers such as Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson and Yoshiaki Fujiwara left a piece of their soul and I feel deeply honored to have set foot on that mat, listening, learning and… do it again."

Vito Rhea
Professional Wrestler, INOKI GENOME FEDERATION

"Hey Jake, Just returned home from the audit. I can't believe how much stuff we covered this weekend! Billy really is a great coach and person. And you were a great asst coach! I wrestled at West Point and started at 190 lbs my first 3 yrs. Placed 5th and 6th in the eastern regionals (EIWA- Divison I). While I was in the Army I wrestled for the All-Army Wrestling Team and placed 2nd in the University Nationals '93 (greco- 220 lbs) and then placed 7th in the Senior Nationals '94 (Greco Roman All American- 220 lbs). Also placed 6th in the World Team Trials, Dec '95 (greco - 220). The way he broke down every move in minute detail was amazing. Thanks again for putting this together. I appreciate all your hard work. I look forward to attending the next audit.

Alex Porcelli

"Scientific Wrestling is very welcoming to people of all skill levels and goals, whether that is to be a professional fighter, a coach, or a police officer wanting to subdue someone without needing excessive force. Jake is an amazing coach and is always happy to answer any questions. He's very knowledgeable and has a lot of experience within the art to be able to answer those questions. Learning from him at Scientifc Wrestling camps has definitely helped with my game and I look forward to working with him and the other coaches."

Bryan "Ice-Man" McDowell
Pro MMA Fighter

The Legendary Lineage: Why Scientific Wrestling Stands Above All Others

Scientific Wrestling is the world's only catch wrestling organization with curricula and a ruleset co-developed and endorsed by the three greatest legends in combat sports history (not stolen valor "influencers").

Karl “The God of Wrestling” Gotch

(1924-2007)

1948 Olympic competitor and Belgium Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling champion
Trained at the legendary Billy Riley gym under Bob Robinson and in American with Frank Wolfe
Earned recognition as "The God of Wrestling" in Japan
Founding father modern MMA through his students: Antonio Inoki (NJPW), Satoru Sayama (Shooto), Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki (Pancrase), and Pride Fighting Championships (UWF legacy)
Co-developed Scientific Wrestling's catch-as-catch-can competition ruleset, The King of Catch Wrestling

Billy "The British Lion" Robinson

(1938-2014)

Amateur wrestling champion and direct student of legendary Billy Riley in Wigan.
Coached MMA legends like Kazushi Sakuraba and Kiyoshi Tamura
Coached professional wrestling legends like Rik Flair and acted as Verne Gagne's promotional policeman
Co-developed Scientific Wrestling's catch-as-catch-can curriculum

Wade "The Pinisher" Schalles

Most successful competitive wrestler in history with over 800 wins
Developed innovative wrestling techniques still used by NCAA champions today
Bridge between traditional wrestling and modern MMA application
Head Coach at Scientific Wrestling for a decade

For 25 years, Scientific Wrestling is the ONLY organization globally recognized as the Gold Standard in Catch Wrestling, endorsed by thousands of athletes worldwide, including champions in MMA, grappling, and professional wrestling.

"Jake, I just want to say thank you for your great class. Billy was amazing. He pointed out things that have never been brought to my attention. It was easy to understand and implement the adjustments into my style. What I enjoyed most, were the submissions and how they fit into my wrestling. In my first grappling tournament, I followed the class instruction and used the double wrist lock that Billy taught to submit my opponent in my first championship match. Then, in my third place match, I used the cradle ankle crank. Both times, my opponents did not see these moves coming, and they both fit right into my natural style. I'm excited to master the other submissions taught.

Thanks again for you and Billy's instruction!"

Jeramy Hunt-Loveless
VETERANS FREESTYLE NATIONALS 2010 CHAMPION

"It was incredible, I really enjoyed myself. I learned a ton of new things. Catch-As-Catch-Can is a really full system and working with a master like Billy Robinson was incredible. I feel really privileged to have been a part of this program."

Jacques Abellira
Fmr. Marine, Hawaii State Super-middleweight Kickboxing Champion, Chief Firearms and Defensive Tactics Instructor, City and County of Honolulu, Blackbelt in Kodokan Judo, Kyokushinkai-kan Karate, and Valencia LAMECO Eskrima, Instructor ranking in Krav Maga (Law Enforcement, Series I), US Navy Non-Lethal Weapons Instructor

"Thank you so much for the training all weekend. It was awesome, amazing, and it was like I got to experience training along with a history lesson. So cool!"

Jesse Kristofferson
King of Catch Wrestling Western Qualifier Middleweight Champion; Student Instructor, USA Shooto Association

"I'm freaking sore in every muscle of my body after the Scientific Wrestling Audit this weekend! Thanks for putting it together!!! I learned a ton of usable stuff I've never seen before."

John "Kid Justice" Fabbricatore
Toughman Boxing Champion (10-2), Mixed Martial Artist, Professional Wrestler, Federal Law Enforcement Officer, Certified Federal Physical Fitness Coordinator, Certified Federal Defensive Tactics Instructor, Former Federal Law Enforcement Academy Instructor

"It was damn hard -- almost a right of passage! The two days of training was hard as hell, nonstop (except for some water breaks) and packed full of info. I came away feeling like all the things I learned up to that point had finally started to jell. It was a true immersion into the material. I recommend training for and participating in the audit for any serious grappler. I often find myself thinking 'why didn't I learn this years ago?'"

Michael Long
Coach, International Guild of Danse de Rue Savate

"Thank you very much for the great weekend, I learned a lot of things and I really had a fun time with all you guys, I hope to be able to come back soon!!! You guys have really made me fall in love with catch-as-catch-can, and I can't wait to learn more and keep on learning! Thank you and all the other guys for making it such a wonderful experience for me, Take care!"

Mike Raho
Professional Wrestler Vicenza, Italy

The Science Behind Catch Wrestling's MMA Dominance

Research proves catch wrestling is the ultimate MMA base because it addresses the three critical areas modern fighters need:

1

Takedown Mastery with "Pinishing" Intent

Catch wrestling teaches takedowns with the specific intent to set up pins and submissions (what we call <"pinishers"). This creates dual-threat fighters who can finish from any position.

2

Top Control Dominance

Catch wrestling emphasizes crushing top pressure pinning and control, making it superior to guard-heavy systems like BJJ for MMA where being underneath is disadvantageous. As our Founder notes: "The strategic high-ground is crucial when fighting on a planet with gravity..."

3

Pain-Based Compliance That Work Under Pressure

While BJJ focuses on bottom control positions to set up chokes and joint locks, catch wrestling includes painful submission holds designed to force immediate compliance. These techniques are specifically designed for live combat situations where adrenaline and toughness can overcome orthodox tactics.

Why Most Wrestlers Fail in MMA (And How Catch Wrestling Fixes This)

The #1 problem with modern wrestling for MMA: Wrestlers learn to avoid their back and escape bottom position, but they never learn to finish fights when they're winning. They dominate position but can't capitalize with submissions.

Catch Wrestling solves this by teaching:

Submission chains from dominant wrestling positions
How to control transitions from standing to finish
Painful holds that tap even tough, experienced fighters
Both pins and submissions as viable finishing options

As one MMA analyst explained: "If you take someone who wrestled in high school and college, then teach them submissions via BJJ, how different from catch is that anyway?" The difference is catch wrestling has honed these skills into an integrated system since the 1870s, not as separate disciplines you try to combine, wasting years of time "re-inventing the wheel".

Scientific Wrestling: Your Gateway to Elite Catch Wrestling Training

Founded in 2003, Scientific Wrestling has undisputedly done more than any organization to preserve and teach the sport of authentic catch wrestling. Here's what makes Scientific Wrestling uniquely effective:

Proven Training System

20+ years of curriculum development with top-shelf, legendary coaches
Hundreds of hours of rare historical footage from the greatest catch wrestlers
Top-tier training and certification programs for serious students of the game
Hybrid in-person/online learning systems engineered to accelerate performance fast at all skill levels

Shoot Pro Wrestling: The Revolution - A Complete Return to the Point of Origin

We've answered the question, "What if Professional Wrestling was a real, bettablesport?

Scientific Wrestling's Shoot Pro Wrestling delivers what fans have been demanding for decades: legitimate competitive wrestling with professional wrestling rules and presentation. This isn't theatrical combat entertainment - this is real professional catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Real competition with real stakes, real champions, and real prize money!

What Makes Shoot Pro Wrestling Unique

Legitimate competition with unpredictable outcomes
Diverse roster of athletes from MMA, BJJ, and collegiate wrestling
Traditional pro wrestling presentation with authentic athletic competition!
The perfect fusion of UFC intensity and WWE spectacle

Leadership Team of Combat Sports Legends

Pat Miletich (President): UFC Hall of Famer and most decorated coach in UFC history
Frank Shamrock (Chairman): Former UFC World Champion and legendary broadcaster
Gerald Brisco (Commissioner): WWE Hall of Famer ensuring competition integrity
Jake Shannon (Creator/CEO): Founder of Scientific Wrestling and visionary creator

Competition Rules Designed for Real Athletes

Shoot Pro Wrestling uses authentic catch-as-catch-can competition rules:

Victory by pinfall, submission, knockout, count-out, or disqualification
Best of 3 falls format for maximum competitive integrity
All submissions allowed except dangerous techniques like eye-gouging, groin attacks, fish-hooking, and small joint manipulation
Professional weight classes from lightweight to heavyweight
Tag teams, Triple Shoots, and other varieties of match formats

"Thank you so much for letting me be a part of history. It is an honor to be a part of the rich history of Scientific Wrestling. Having Dick Cardinal there was like capturing a piece of American history and meeting a legend all at the same time. What I loved about the audit is that you really have to know how to wrestle. There were no gimmicks, no tricks, no crazy moves that would never work. It was good, old fashioned, applicable wrestling. The submissions were fantastic. They all flow naturally off of technical wrestling and are easy to set up. Your diligence and respect of the past is amazing. You have created something special with Scientific Wrestling and I am proud to be a small part of it."

Jesse Marez
Wrestling Coach, MLK High School, BJJ Black Belt, Certified Head Coach Western Combat Arts, Scientific Wrestling Coach

"That was the greatest class I've ever had. Billy is awesome. His attention to detail is fantastic. I'm completely overwhelmed. I trained with top BJJ black belts for years and never had a class this good. Now, they are geniuses on the mat, but, many times the teaching skills are lacking. I actually had a problem teaching last night because I had so much information swimming in my head!"

Glenn Chang
Torrence, California

"Jake is Southern California's true master of catch wrestling. Merely shaking hands with this gentleman can bring about an infinity of pain!"

Bob Calhoun
co-author of The Godfather of Grappling and author of BEER, BLOOD & CORNMEAL!

"Billy Robinson is like no one I've ever trained under. He is a true master. Jake Shannon and his ScientificWrestling.com are the real deal."

Tony Altermatt
Former Texas Peace Officer, JKD instructor, Former MN State Karate Champion Minnesota

Jake Shannon has single handedly resurrected one of the world's lost arts of grappling through his ScientificWrestling.com. I can't think of anyone more enthusiastic about Catch as Catch Can Wrestling than Jake.

I am thoroughly impressed by his knowledge and more than that his ability to have personally befriended CACC greats like Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson and others and how he has brought them back into the limelight so that their legacies could be shared with this generation. That took a lot of dedication and a lot of selfless effort on his part.

BRANDON RUIZ
FILA Grappling World Champion, NAGA Grappling World Champion, 2X Pancrase World Champion, Greco Roman Wrestling Pan Am Silver Medalist, 8 x Greco Roman & Freestyle Wrestling All-American, 2nd Degree Black Belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Ruiz Combat Grappling

Jake Shannon and his Scientific Wrestling program has allowed me to train with the best in the world. After visiting coach Shannon and training catch as catch can for the first time in 2007, I quickly realized that I needed to learn a style that didn't take away from my collegiate wrestling and judo experience.

Instead, catch allowed me to learn submissions from positions that I was already used to. I couldn't be more grateful to Jake for putting me in that crooked neck scissors a few years ago and opening my eyes to painful techniques that really work. Nothing flashy, no politics, just catch-as-catch-can wrestling

LUIS OJEDA
2X King of Catch Wrestling Heavyweight Champ, Current NACWA Heavyweight Champion,
Scientific Wrestling Assistant Coach

How to Get Started: Your Path to Becoming a Link in the Chain of Masters & Students

Step 1: Access World-Class Certification

Video instructionals from legends Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Wade Schalles, etc
Historical content, footage, and rare techniques not available anywhere else
Progressive curriculum suitable for beginners to advanced competitors
24/7 access to the world's longest-running catch wrestling competitions, community, and knowledge base

Step 2: Train with Elite Certified Instructors

Attend Scientific Wrestling private lessons, seminars and coaching camps to:

Learn directly from elite certified catch wrestling instructors
Practice techniques with proper supervision and feedback
Network with seriously invested catch wrestling practitioners
Experience authentic training methods from the legends

Step 3: Compete and Test Your Skills

Apply your training in real competition through:

Our events like Shoot Pro Wrestling, CatchCon, and The King of Catch Wrestling for the ultimate test
Local grappling competitions using your new skill set
MMA training and competition with your enhanced ground game
Coaching and teaching others to deepen your own understanding

Join Us

The Business Case: Why Sponsors and Affiliates Choose Scientific Wrestling

For gyms, instructors, and martial arts businesses, partnering with Scientific Wrestling provides:

Proven Market Demand

Combat sports audience actively seeking authentic wrestling instruction
18-45 demographic with high disposable income and brand loyalty
Growing viewership across digital platforms
Engagement rates exceeding industry standards

Complete Business Support

Certification programs for instructors
Marketing materials and branded content
Established curriculum and training protocols
Ongoing, award-winning business coaching for affiliates

Frequently Asked Questions

Is catch wrestling effective for fighters with a striking background?

Yes, catch wrestling can be highly effective for strikers. Its emphasis on takedowns and ground control complements striking skills, allowing fighters to dictate where the fight takes place and capitalize on opportunities to showcase their striking abilities.

How does catch wrestling differ from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

While both are submission-based, catch wrestling has a more aggressive and control-oriented approach. Catch wrestling focuses on maintaining control and applying pressure, while BJJ emphasizes positional dominance and technical submissions.

Is catch wrestling suitable for beginners?

Catch wrestling can be suitable for beginners, but it requires dedication and consistent training. Beginners should start with fundamental takedowns, position control, and basic submissions before progressing to advanced techniques.

Why isn't catch wrestling more popular in MMA?

The main reason is accessibility - good catch wrestling gyms are extremely rare. However, as more fighters discover its effectiveness, and with organizations like Scientific Wrestling making it more accessible, catch wrestling is experiencing a major resurgence.

Take Action: Join the Catch Wrestling Revolution Today

Don't wait to discover the grappling system that's producing champions across every combat sport. Whether you're a complete beginner looking for the most effective martial art base, an experienced grappler wanting to add devastating new techniques, or a coach seeking to give your students a competitive advantage, Scientific Wrestling provides the authentic catch wrestling education you need.

Join ScientificWrestling.com today to:

Access exclusive training content from legendary instructors
Find or become a Certified instructors and training camps in your area
Learn more about coaching certification and business opportunities
Watch Shoot Pro Wrestling events and see catch wrestling in action

The legends preserved the knowledge. Scientific Wrestling makes it accessible. The question is: are you ready to learn the art that created champions?

JOIN US

Catch Wrestling (aka Catch-As-Catch-Can) Mastery

Quantifiably, the Most Impactful Sport of All Time and Arguably the Greatest Base Skill for MMA & Grappling Success

Why 83% of UFC Champions Have Wrestling Backgrounds — And Catch Wrestling is Why

Catch Wrestling: Who Cares?

The Legendary Lineage: Why Scientific Wrestling Stands Above All Others

Karl “The God of Wrestling” Gotch

Billy "The British Lion" Robinson

Wade "The Pinisher" Schalles

The Science Behind Catch Wrestling's MMA Dominance

1

Takedown Mastery with "Pinishing" Intent

2

Top Control Dominance

3

Pain-Based Compliance That Work Under Pressure

Why Most Wrestlers Fail in MMA (And How Catch Wrestling Fixes This)

Scientific Wrestling: Your Gateway to Elite Catch Wrestling Training

Proven Training System

Shoot Pro Wrestling: The Revolution - A Complete Return to the Point of Origin

What Makes Shoot Pro Wrestling Unique

Leadership Team of Combat Sports Legends

Competition Rules Designed for Real Athletes

How to Get Started: Your Path to Becoming a Link in the Chain of Masters & Students

Step 1: Access World-Class Certification

Step 2: Train with Elite Certified Instructors

Step 3: Compete and Test Your Skills

The Business Case: Why Sponsors and Affiliates Choose Scientific Wrestling

Proven Market Demand

Complete Business Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Take Action: Join the Catch Wrestling Revolution Today

Join Us

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