The Catch Wrestling Blog

Think catch wrestling is a forgotten relic? Wrong. Every Folkstyle match, every Olympic Freestyle bout, every pin in every high school gym—it’s all catch-as-catch-can in disguise. Here’s why, and why it matters for the future of combat sports. ... keep reading

From concentration camp survivor to the “God of Wrestling,” Karl Gotch overcame a missing finger and unimaginable hardship to shape modern MMA and pro wrestling forever. His life wasn’t just a story—it was a revolution in motion. ... keep reading

Explore the timeless training wisdom of "Farmer" Burns—his holistic approach to strength, endurance, and strategy remains essential for today’s combat sports athletes. Discover how his century-old methods still shape champions! ... keep reading

Scientific Wrestling, born from 19th-century catch-as-catch-can wrestling, blends technique, strategy, and innovation—shaping modern combat sports and continuing its legacy today. Dive into its rich history and evolution! ... keep reading

For nearly 25 years, Scientific Wrestling has preserved and promoted catch-as-catch-can wrestling, bridging its rich history with modern combat sports. From legendary figures to groundbreaking events, we’re shaping the future. Join us at CATCHCON.US in Las Vegas this February and be part of the movement! ... keep reading

Ad Santel’s fearless clashes with Judo masters and his global wrestling journey left a lasting legacy, forever shaping Catch wrestling, Judo, and the evolution of modern MMA. Discover how one man’s rivalry and innovation changed martial arts history. ... keep reading

Known for his unmatched strength and brutal competitiveness, Bert Assirati redefined toughness in professional wrestling, leaving a legacy that still inspires wrestlers today. Discover how this British icon became one of the most feared grapplers in history. ... keep reading

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a story to share with you today. It's a story of a boy who fought through life's toughest challenges to emerge victorious. I remember one Fourth of July, as the fireworks ... keep reading

With UFC and WWE joining forces, combat sports are evolving fast—but Scientific Wrestling is taking it to the next level. Blending catch-wrestling, MMA, and pro wrestling, it’s creating a dynamic hybrid that’s redefining the game. ... keep reading

Catch-as-catch-can wrestling has shaped modern combat sports like Olympic wrestling, WWE, and MMA, impacting hundreds of millions globally. Its influence remains foundational, despite larger fan bases in sports like soccer. ... keep reading

Greg Walsh has created the BEST fitness mace on the market—strong, stylish, and athlete-approved. Even Grant Cardone got one! Grab yours now and level up your training! ... keep reading

BJJ Fanatics is taking grappling instructionals to the next level! If you're serious about CACC, check out my top picks, including Catch Wrestling Takedowns, Submissions, and Josh Barnett's Championship Level Catch Wrestling. Learn from the best—start training smarter today! ... keep reading

Tag Team Champ Josh Leduc sums it up perfectly—another groundbreaking event paying tribute to catch-as-catch-can! Don't miss this historic Scientific Wrestling moment—watch the PPV now! ... keep reading

The weekend of July 16th, 2021 gave fans and athletes one helluva pair of events! First on Friday, July 16th there was Shoot Pro Wrestling – REBIRTH! This is my vision for competitive grappling done under professional wrestling rules (i.e. pro catch wrestling). ... keep reading

Dick Cardinal, a revered catch-as-catch-can wrestler, passed away on Christmas Eve 2020 at 93. He was an incredible wrestler, mentor, and friend. Check out this heartfelt eulogy by Mark Hewitt and a classic clip of Coach Cardinal teaching keylocks at 78! ... keep reading

Want to dive deep into catch wrestling? I’ve been a guest on several great podcasts, covering everything from technique to my personal health journey. Check out my interviews with Sonny Brown, Kaleb Plank, Coach Brian, Chris Marten, and even a shoutout from Josh Barnett on The Joe Rogan Experience! ... keep reading

From scholarly CACC articles by Mark Hewitt to rare audio with Karl Gotch and lost training footage with Billy Robinson, we’re bringing you top-tier content! ... keep reading

No more DVDs—stream legendary instructionals from Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Wade Schalles, Josh Barnett, and more anytime, anywhere! Rent or buy, watch on your phone, and train smarter. Get the Complete Catch Wrestler package for full access! ... keep reading

August 3rd is Karl Gotch Day, celebrating the legacy of "Kamisama" (God of Wrestling). Join in by honoring his impact on Catch Wrestling and revisiting classic conversations with the legend himself! ... keep reading

The 2018 Unified Catch-As-Catch-Can World Championships was a historic event, with Curran Jacobs winning through sheer grit. Fighters from around the world delivered electrifying performances, proving CACC's place alongside MMA and pro wrestling. ... keep reading

Here are my most recent interviews (2018), got great feedback from both! I was most recently on Ryan Ford’s Grappling Central Podcast: “Jake Shannon is a highly respected figure i ... keep reading

Our YouTube channel has over 4,000 subscribers now! Please click the link and subscribe, I am uploading tons of new content over the coming months. ... keep reading

Scientific Wrestling is shifting its PIN and SUBMIT training camps from individual enrollments to a business-to-business model, partnering exclusively with gyms, wrestling promotions, and martial arts schools. This change reduces costs for athletes and ensures better training opportunities while still allowing select individuals to train under me personally. ... keep reading

Since 2003, I've worked to revive catch-as-catch-can wrestling, influencing Olympic freestyle, submission grappling, and MMA. This blog will be the central hub for Scientific Wrestling, sharing historical materials, training footage, and updates on tournaments and coaching programs. ... keep reading

In 1941, legendary wrestler Ed 'Strangler' Lewis set out to revive 'real' wrestling—no scripts, no gimmicks, just pure competition. But could his vision survive in the world of pro wrestling? Discover the fascinating story behind his bold experiment! ... keep reading

Before Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and modern MMA, the brutal world of 19th-century catch-as-catch-can wrestling was shaping the future of submission fighting. Discover the fierce battles, bone-breaking holds, and no-holds-barred fights of Greek George and his legendary opponents! ... keep reading

From medieval collar wrestling to the rise and fall of London Catch-Hold, England's wrestling history is filled with fierce battles, legendary champions, and unique styles lost to time. Dive into the rich tradition of British wrestling and discover how these brutal contests shaped the sport we know today! ... keep reading

Lancashire Catch-as-Catch-Can wrestling was more than just a sport—it was a fierce, no-holds-barred battle that shaped modern grappling. From pub brawls to world championships, discover the brutal history and lasting legacy of this legendary English wrestling style! ... keep reading

Long before modern wrestling took center stage, the Side-Hold style dominated the Midwest, shaping the legacies of Abraham Lincoln, Joseph Smith, and legendary grapplers like Farmer Burns. Discover the forgotten wrestling tradition that once defined America's heartland! ... keep reading

THE ROOTS OF MODERN WRESTLING - Evolution of the Catch-Hold Wrestling on the Continent. Folk wrestling styles of Frankish heritage. ... keep reading

If I could pick just one combat sports contest to travel back in time and witness live, it would be the side bet shoot- match between Tigerman John Pesek, the policeman- of the Sandow/Lewis camp and the Olympic hero Nat Pendleton which took place in Boston in 1923. These two grapplers represented two schools of early 19th century catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Pendleton practiced the highly competitive catch wrestling that emerged in the northeastern United States under such master grapplers as Hugh Leonard and George Bothner. The Tigerman sprang up from the mid-western rough and ready school, which was just a step or two removed from all-out frontier brawling. They also represented rival promotional groups that were vying to control the developing professional wrestling game. ... keep reading

Later Olson offered some comments about jiu-jitsu. He told a reporter in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I have seen the Japanese system of wrestling, the widely heralded jiu-jitsu, tried out pretty thoroughly a good many times and my conclusion is that it is a false alarm. In my opinion jiu-jitsu got its vogue while the Japanese were in the limelight during the war with Russia and there is a great deal of superstition about it. I have seen the Japanese go up against some of the best catch as catch can wrestlers in America and in no instance have I seen the Jap make good or even make a creditable showing against the ordinary method of wrestling. As a means of getting the best of an ordinary man who is not a trained wrestler the famed jiu-jitsu may be all right; but try it out with a man who knows the game and the Japanese is quite out of the running. ... keep reading

Goates went on to quote McCullough as stating, "Wrestling is the most scientific as well as the best self-defense sport known to mankind" ... keep reading

I have long known that wrestling (in particular the catch-as-catch-can style with its complimentary toolkit of surgical takedowns, pins, and submissions) is the single best style of Close Quarter Combat (CQC) for law enforcement officers (LEO). ... keep reading

Suffice it to say that without catch wrestling there would be no mixed martial arts. Catch wrestling's influence in the American amateur circuit and its profound effect on the Japanese pro wrestling scene have helped shape the development of MMA into what it is today. And while catch wrestling may have become something of a niche style today, it's still going strong thanks to the likes of Scientific Wrestling's Jake Shannon, and in 2014 has had one of its more noteworthy years of late. In a conversation with MMAWeekly.com, Shannon discussed the influence he sees catch wrestling having in MMA, the year the sport has had and the future of the Scientific Wrestling community. ... keep reading

From brutal side-bets in English coal mines to shaping the foundations of modern MMA, catch-as-catch-can wrestling has a history as fierce as the sport itself. Discover the legendary figures, controversial rules, and lasting impact of this forgotten combat style! ... keep reading

Gong Magazine recently asked me to write an article for the Japanese MMA scene about the recent Scientific Wrestling clinic featuring UWF coach Mr. Billy Robinson. As readers of this blog will recognize, I merely elaborated upon the blog entry made here earlier. ... keep reading

While many in the mainstream media aim to make steroids the scapegoat, many reporters seem to be overlooking the most obvious medical reason for this type of evil behavior. In a recent New York Times article, former WWE wrestler and Harvard graduate Christopher Nowinski became one of the few voices suggesting that repeated concussions may be the reason for this monstrous behaviour. ... keep reading

Ditch the dumbbells—grab a friend! Buddy Lifts bring a whole new challenge to strength training, engaging stabilizer muscles like never before. From fireman carries to squad push-ups, discover how to turn your workout partner into the ultimate piece of gym equipment! ... keep reading

Step into the world of authentic Catch Wrestling—a brutal, old-school grappling art where victory is earned by pin or painful submission. Join me on my journey training under Tommy Heyes, learning lost techniques, and discovering the tough-as-nails history of England’s true combat sport! ... keep reading