At Scientific Wrestling we believe Grappling literacy is crucial. Why?
- It keeps modern practitioners from wasting time "re-inventing the wheel"
- It prevents plagiarism & gives credit where it is due
- Inspires innovation
FACT:
Catch wrestling's impact on the world dwarfs not just all other martial arts but ALL sports. Without catch-as-catch-can, the would be no:
- 118 years of Olympic freestyle wrestling
- Collegiate & High School folkstyle
- WWE & all other exhibition pro "wrestling"
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which came from Mitsuyo Maeda who developed his style of judo/jiu-jitsu in direct response to his experiences on prize-fighting catch-as-catch-can circuits under the moniker "Count Koma"
- MMA. The very first Mixed Martial Arts organizations, Shooto & Pancrase, were inspired by the influence of Karl Gotch well before UFC. Catch wrestlers Karl Gotch and Gene Lebell were also instrumental in the seminal Inoki vs. Ali mixed fight.
Catch matches were predominantly won via pinfall, but many were won by submission & choke too.
For example (from esteemed historian Mark Hewitt):
11/1/1888-Springfield, IL
"Lancashire style, catch-as-catch-can, all dangerous holds permitted"; Greek George defeated William Stone by forcing him to concede to a leg hold. George had Stone's leg locked up and began bending it over his own. Stone cried out, "Are you going to break my leg, man?" George replied, "I will if you don't give up. This is Lancashire style." Stone audibly gave up, shouting, "For God's sake let go my leg." George took the next fall with a pin. The account can be found in the Daily Illinois State Journal; 11/2/1888.
12/21/1893-The Metropolitan Assoc. of AAU catch-as-catch-can tournament; Central Palace Hall, NYC.
In the 115-lb. class Edward Harris defeated H. Smith with a choke hold. Smith was choked into unconsciousness. In the 125-lb. class George Bothner used a choke hold to subdue H. Bittrich, rendering him unconscious.
5/24/1897-Stevens Point, WI
Fred Beell beat Tollephson, 2 straight falls with strangle holds.
4/2/1899-Humboldt, Iowa
Frank Gotch beat Marshall Green-three straight falls with strangle holds.
Scientific Wrestling has been the UNDISPUTED leader in Catch Wrestling since 2003.
Learn more below and join us ScientificWrestler.com
Home Study
WarCatchWrestling.com
War Catch Wrestling is the premier online catch wrestling training program from Scientific Wrestling that teaches the holds and techniques shown to modern many MMA champions, Scientific Wrestling Coaches, and the shoot-style professional wrestlers of the UWFi by the legend Billy Robinson (the W.A.R. in WAR Catch Wrestling stands for our coach William A. Robinson).
- Digitally remastered and upscaled to 16:9 HD (720p)
- 156- page "Coaching Catch" Playbook by Jake Shannon
- 78+ minutes of bonus instructional footage
- Plus much more!
Membership Perks
A subscription to Scientific Wrestling Online gets you instant access to:
- Online mentoring with Scientific Wrestling's Founder and Head Coach Jake Shannon
- An automatic 20% discount on all DVDs!
- Fast Loading, High Quality Video Tutorials From the BEST Grapplers On The Planet
- Every article from Scientific Wrestling since 2003!
- Top-Notch Discussion Groups filled with like-minded individuals and useful information, no B.S.
- And much more!
UWFi Bushido
UWFi Bushido Now streaming all 75 hour-long episodes of Bushido: Way of the Warrior featuring legends like Kazushi Sakuraba, Gary Albright, Dan Severn, Kiyoshi Tamura, and Bad News Allen! UWFi was a proto-MMA organization that aimed to show that real, tough, submission wrestling could draw large crowds again. Their aim was to bring back credibility and respect back to the world of professional wrestling. Combining elements of kickboxing, Sambo, jiu-jitsu, and catch-as-catch-can wrestling into a new exciting, dangerous and deadly promotion, they began moving professional wrestling away from the theatrics and back toward sport. The promotion was also lent guidance by shoot-style professional wrestling legends Lou Thesz (acting commissioner of the UWFi), Billy Robinson (head coach), and Danny Hodge (coach).
Featured Articles
Instructionals
The Nelson Family for Grappling
Catch Wrestling Expert Jake Shannon Shows You How To Unlock The Power Of The Nelson Hold To Control, Reverse, and SUBMIT!
- The Nelson hold has numerous variations that can be applied from a wide range of positions.
- Jake Shannon teaches how to make ¾, half, and full nelson variations a valuable tool to your grappling arsenal.
- Use the nelson hold as a brutal submission, or as a powerful weapon to sweep, reverse, and DOMINATE your opponent!
Catch Wrestling Takedowns
If you are looking for a unique approach to grappling, You've found it!
- Catch Wrestling employs a fast and aggressive style that blends the best of Judo, Wrestling, and Jiu-Jitsu!
- Jake Shannon has OVER 25 YEARS of grappling experience, and provides a deep look at the complexities of Catch Wrestling Takedowns.
- Make complex techniques look EASY, with Shannon's approach you can take athleticism out of the equation.
- Jake's system focuses on getting the battle to the ground and immediately going on the attack.
Catch Wrestling Submissions
Don't just learn a bag of tricks, Jake teaches you how to create a hard to stop submission chain that pushes the pace and leaves your opponent open for submissions!
- Jake Shannon, Founder & Coach of Scientific Wrestling, is back with more Catch Wrestling BRUTALITY!
- Learn complex Catch-based submissions with easy to follow steps that will have you ripping toe holds, kneebars, and more.
- Submissions like the Dragon Sleeper and Texas Cloverleaf provide a unique perspective on how to make your opponent submit.
- Compliment your game with a new perspective that is attack-based and submission oriented.
The Double Wrist Lock DVD starring Billy Robinson
This DVD is a game changer, learn the bread and butter hold of REAL catch-as-catch-can with the LEGENDARY Billy Robinson. This 45 minute long crash course in how to apply the feared catch-as-catch-can finishing hold, the Double Wrist Lock, will change the way you think about grappling. It's is loaded with practical and little know tricks that will take your game TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
Wade Schalles' LEGAL PAIN DELUXE 4 DVD SET.
For those of you who know of Wade Schalles and his astonishing career as an athlete and coach, you know he knows pinning.
This new DVD course successfully updates the Wade of 25 years ago with the Wade of today in an all inclusive and entertaining package focused soley on the art and science of PINNING!
Josh Barnett's Leglock Seminar: BREAK A LEG
Josh Barnett has proven himself time and time again against the world's toughest competition. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion,King of Pancrase, and Metamoris champion, Josh stands at the top of the MMA food chain.
In this stellar nearly ninety minute long seminar, Josh shares never before seen methods to set-up and finish one of the most popular submissions in modern grappling and Mixed Martial Arts - "The Leglock"
Books
Say Uncle!: Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling and the Roots of Ultimate Fighting, Pro Wrestling & Modern Grappling
Includes explanations of the methods of catch-as-catch and is accompanied by clear illustrations that show how to use them most effectively, and the background of this unique sport is traced through America, Japan, and England.
Physical Chess: My Life in Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling
In this fascinating autobiography, Billy Robinson recounts his upbringing in post-WWII England amid a family of champion fighters, his worldwide travels as a wrestler, his time as a pro wrestling TV star, and his career as a coach to some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts.
The Fighting Library!: THE MOST COMPLETE COLLECTION OF FIGHTING INFORMATION OF ITS KIND!
Forget everything else you think you might know about martial arts. Jake Shannon from Scientific Wrestling has compiled out-of-print classics from his private Western Martial Arts library, along with other original items he has uncovered, PLUS several exclusive interviews!