rev·o·lu·tion: the procedure or course, as if in a circuit, back to a starting point.

Scientific Wrestling's mission is to ignite a revolution in grappling based on the pursuit of traditional Catch-As-Catch-Can wrestling and honesty, competition and camaraderie.

We want people practicing under the rules of Catch-As-Catch-Can wrestling in our clubs; players win via pin or submission, no points, where actual matches are contested as the best 2 of 3 falls. We know that this can be done almost anywhere. We've proven that the beach, the backyard, the garage, and the warehouse are as good places as any for creating dominate and competitive Catch Wrestlers.

From the beginning, the Scientific Wrestling grassroots movement has provided an alternative to the prevailing grappling establishment and its signature "Brazillian jiu-jitsu" based/scholastic wrestling approach to grappling. We promoted the ethic and utility of the grappling club in large part to provide a home and refuge for our Catch-As-Catch-Can practitioners, which couldn't find quarter in established BJJ dojos or Freestyle/Greco-roman wrestling clubs.

Our people are legitimate Catch Wrestling practitioners united around competition, innovation, grueling physical conditioning and the sharing of reliable resources all underneath the Toe-Hold Club banner.

We are currently holding practices in Quebec, Los Angeles, and Orange County. Toe-Hold Clubs are convening in warehouses, high school wrestling gyms, and commercial gyms and we anticipate clubs to start elsewhere in basements, martial arts dojos, universities, military bases, and elsewhere.

Toe Hold Clubs are an Internet-based community started by real Catch Wrestlers who wanted their own local Catch Wrestling gyms, trainers, and friends. Those who really care about traditional Western Martial Arts, in particular Catch-As-Catch-Can, can now find a space, throw down some clean mats bought for cheap off of Ebay and invite their friends over to train.

First, get certified. Next, fill out an application and write an essay telling us what running a Toe-Hold Club means to you, why you want it, and what you want to achieve. It doesn't have to be fancy or overly serious, but it should be sincere.

Educate yourself and become a part of the Scientific Wrestling community. This can happen in many ways; join ScientificWrestling.com and post your questions and ideas to the private Message Boards, read the articles and the Scientific Wrestling Times newsletter, come to a Catch Wrestling Certification seminar, and make friends with (and visit, if possible) other Toe-Hold Clubs.

Catch Wrestling Certification Feedback: "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 Catch 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) 3-1 MMA Pro 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 For more information on authentic Catch Wrestling Certification, please follow this link.

Cost:

On acceptance of your application, we license use of the name "Toe-Hold Club" for a $350 annually renewable fee. You may use the name to market your Catch Wrestling training and classes.

Requirements:

1. We require at least one member of your Toe-Hold Club to become a Level 1 Scientific Wrestling Certified Catch Wrestler. We offer certification seminars a few times each year. Please check the certification page for more information regarding becoming certified.

The ONLY Catch Wrestling Certification program approved by REAL catch wrestlers, administered by REAL catch wrestlers, for the benefit of REAL catch wrestling. Click here to learn more...

2. All Toe-Hold Club members must have a website since this is our primary vehicle for promoting you; therefore, we expect you maintain a good site. Also, providing us with high-quality digital photos, video, and descriptions of your training and events will make it more likely that you will be featured on either the main site or the Official Scientific Wrestling Blog.

3. We require every Toe-Hold Club member website to display a Scientific Wrestling Times newsletter sign-up on the front page of their site.

Use this code:

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What you get:

Once your application is approved and we receive your paperwork, we'll link to your website from the main page, the Official Scientific Wrestling blog, and the Toe-Hold Club page of ScientificWrestling.com.

Read The Official Blog Now! Check Us Out For The Latest News!

When you join, you can use the Toe-Hold Club name on your site, business cards, store front, t-shirts, etc., to promote your training. You will also have access to our exclusive online Toe-Hold Club social network site where you can cross-pollinate ideas with other club member owners (access is not allowed for anyone without a Toe-Hold Club license). Here you'll be connected to all the other Toe-Hold Clubs and can tap their knowledge and experience to help you thrive.

We also have occasional conference calls to address common issues and opportunities, as well as seminars, special events and tournaments specifically for Toe-Hold Clubs.

You annual dues creates the collective bargaining power to fund high level Toe-Hold Club promotional efforts through expensive magazines, video, conferences, etc.

Once you have read through all the links and the FAQ, please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions about the program. You can reach the support team at training@scientificwrestling.com.

What is included in becoming a Toe-Hold Club?

1. Legal use of the Toe-Hold Club name, logo, and promotional materials.
2. Access to a private social network for licensees.
3. Promotion from the main site and blog page.
4. Support from HQ and the larger community through conference calls, seminars, and in-house business opportunities.

What is the cost?
As of 1 January 2008, affiliation costs $350 annually.

What is the process for becoming an affiliate?
See above

Do I need to be Scientific Wrestling certified?
Toe-Hold Club owners must obtain at least their Level 1 certification first.

Do I need a website?
Yes, you must have/create a website to host a Toe-Hold Club.

What are the requirements for an Toe-Hold Club website?
You must have this link to the Scientific Wrestling Times on your home page.

If I purchased a URL does this mean I own that name?
You may own the domain, but the use of "ToeHoldClub" (or any variation thereof) in your domain is unlicensed and illegal, and we can legally force you to give it up. Scientific Wrestling only acknowledges the URL of the name that you have licensed from us. If you own a URL containing a Toe-Hold Club name for which you have not been granted a license, it is useless to you. We seriously frown on folks "land grabbing" more names than the the one associated with their specific club and doing so may affect your acceptance into our program.

Do I need to own a MMA gym or strip mall dojo?
No. There is no "one" way of opening a Toe-Hold Club. Garages, basements, backyards, parks, high school gyms, etc...

What is the recommended equipment for starting out?
Whatever you can get your hands on but all you really need is a decent sized, clean mat or soft surface to grapple on.

If I become a Toe-Hold Club, does this mean I can certify people to be Certified Catch Wrestlers?
No. Only Scientific Wrestling can certify people, either in Southern California or in Quebec. The only way to obtain a certification is to come to one of our Certification Seminars in one of these two geographic areas.

Can there be more than one Toe-Hold Club in one town, city, state, neighborhood?
Yes although we will limit the number of clubs in any given area. Almost any town or city has enough people to support numerous prosperous Toe-Hold Clubs. It is our belief that the more Toe-Hold Clubs there are in one area, the more public awareness there will be of authentic Catch Wrestling and the better level of competition.

How do I market my Toe-Hold Club?
Be honest. Take care of your club members and genuinely care about their welfare and development.

What material from ScientificWrestling.com can I use on promotional items like t-shirts, my store front, my website, etc.? How can I use the name?
You can link to anything on the main public Scientific Wrestling site. You can use any material freely available on the site with proper attribution. You may not distribute any content from the Scientific Wrestling member site that is not already publicly available from the 'Free Resources' page or elsewhere on the site. At this point, you cannot sell our t-shirts, but you are encouraged to create your own t-shirts featuring your Toe-Hold Club name and creative slogans. Logos and/or slogans associated with Toe-Hold Club HQ or ScientificWrestling.com may not be used without prior permission from HQ. As an club owner, you can and should say that you use Scientific Wrestling methods, and that you're part of the extended Scientific Wrestling family, but you may not represent yourself directly or indirectly as a representative of ScientificWrestling.com, Toe-Hold Club HQ, or Scientific Wrestling.

If I do not want to run a Toe-Hold Club but I am a Scientific Wrestling certified Catch Wrestler, how can I use the name legally?
You can call yourself a Scientific Wrestling-certified catch wrestler and verbally say you use Scientific Wrestling methods. You cannot use the Scientific Wrestling name, slogans, art work or photos in any business or promotional way unless you affiliate. This includes business cards and web sites. Toe-Hold Club licensing gives you the legal right to use the Toe-Hold Club name for business and/or promotional purposes.

How should I select a name for my gym?
Local names work best--i.e., L.A. Toe Hold Club as opposed to California Toe-Hold Club.

Can I set my own rates?
Yes.

What should I charge?
There is no set amount you need to charge. But remember you are offering a professional service and it deserves a professional rate. Take some time looking at other Toe-Hold Club websites to get a sense of how much folks are charging.

Do I need insurance?
Yes, in order to complete your application for your Toe-Hold Club you must fax us proof of insurance. You will need liability insurance and you will need to name Lion's Share Ventures, LLC., as an additional insured.

If I train in someone else's gym and the gym insures me, is this good enough?
Probably, but you may have to name Lion's Share Ventures, LLC as an additional insured. Check with the insurance company.

If I want to train people not for profit do I still have to apply for a Toe-Hold Club license?
Yes. By licensing the Toe-Hold Club name you are making it legal to use that name; whether you make money from your endeavors or not you still have to be granted a license.

If I am operating not for profit, does my fee get waived?
No.

What do you mean by high-quality digital photos?
Large, high resolution, clear (not grainy), sharp (not blurry), no date/time stamp.

Should I send in videos?
Yes! If you think you've got a good video please contact our media guy.

What are the guidelines for video submissions?
We're interested in all aspects of Catch Wrestling, especially takedowns, pins, submissions, conditioning routines, and humorous pranks.

How can I get featured on the ScientificWrestling.com main page and/or blog page?
Send in good pics and videos and updates about the happenings at your gym.

Can I open a Toe-Hold Clubs outside the United States?
Yes. We have a club in Canada and plan to open all over the world.