Wrestling Wisdom: Farmer Burns for the Modern Athlete

CHAPTER XI.

THE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER.

There are many formulas today that will improve a man's physical condition, but we believe that no one set of ideas or methods will place a man in a position to defy and defeat the man who has practiced and used many methods, for experience teaches such a man to use his brain in meeting unexpected conditions with which his opponent is liable to confront him without a moment's notice.

There are, however, certain fundamental lines of development that must be experienced before a candidate attempts to seek entrance to the profession with a hope of meeting success, and they are —

First. The training of every muscle and tendon to do the bidding of the mind, by working with these muscles and tendons unceasingly.

Second. The use of those foods that give health and strength to the nerves and muscles.

Third. Regularity is essential, that is, a certain amount of time should be devoted to work and so much to periods of rest.

Fourth. The learning of every hold, bar and lock that it is possible to learn, and aside from this learning to invent as many ways as possible to get away from these holds, bars and locks.

Fifth. The strict abstinence from every form of excess, either physical or mental.

By strictly observing the above and by diligent practice of every known method of physical development the wrestler gradually acquires endurance, one of the most valuable assets that a wrestler can possess — an asset upon which he can depend implicitly to tide him over an unexpected disadvantage by tiring his opponent.

According to “Farmer” Burns the knack of resting is really a wonderful thing. To it “Farmer” Burns attributes his remarkable ability to cope with the strongest and most agile men in America, men who are young and in their prime, and still emerge from the conflict the victor in spite of the fact that most men at his age are fatigued after a brisk walk to lunch.

“After I had worked for years learning every point of the wrestling game, studying the sport from every angle, and by continually experimenting on new holds and locks, I still found that something else was needed to make me superior to other wrestlers.

“I wanted to be just a little better than the other fellow,” continued the man who taught Champion Frank Gotch practically all he knows, and can still instruct him in some points of the game, “and so I kept studying. I was no stronger physically than other men and found that there were others that had mastered the various holds, bridges and locks just as well as I. Something had to be done to give me an advantage.

“I did not go to a gymnasium to ruin my chances by trying to acquire abnormal strength in a hurry, but just used my head a little. It seemed that it might be well to learn a way to rest up and regain strength while my opponent was tiring himself out, and then when an opening offered itself I would be able to take advantage of my tired antagonist.

“So I learned to rest during a bout. I do not mean that I conceived of a way to ‘stall,' but I systematically studied out a campaign that would give me breathing and resting spells, and all during this time my opponent would be wasting his fast decreasing strength. Then it was my cue to do something.

“To the fact that I am able to rest during a bout, together with the fact that I have never used intoxicating liquors, tea, coffee or tobacco in any form, I attribute my good physical condition at this age.

“My plan is, to a large extent, to tire my opponent out while I am still fresh.

“I make him carry me around, and while I may appear to be working hard for a fall, I am exhausting the other fellow by making him hold me up. In this way I am always ready for a spurt, and I do most of my best work in spurts, using my head really more than my muscles, because I am no ‘strong man,' and then, too, it is much easier. I will still be wrestling when many of those in the limelight now will be almost forgotten.

“In speaking to the professional wrestler, I might tell him how I acquired quickness, skill, endurance and strength, and give it as a recipe that would produce splendid results for them because it did for me; but were the reader to follow my instructions to the letter, he would probably find that my individual demands would not meet his individual requirements. So I can only advise that a man who possesses the strength, health and determination to practice with men who are as skillful as he can find, and keep his eyes open and his brain working, noting the defects of both himself and his opponent, and save his strength for the time when his opponent is weary and worried.

“When exercising remember that fresh air is food for the blood, and that blood is really food for muscle and brain, so never be without plenty of fresh air. And also remember that brisk walks of ten or twelve miles in the early morning air are excellent methods of giving the blood an ample supply of fresh healthy food. These walks should be on the brisk walking and fast running order, the running consuming about one-third of the time spent covering the whole distance.

“The morning exercise should be performed after the cold bath and brisk rub, and the clothes worn during this exercise should be as few as possible to allow as much skin breathing as possible for this method of breathing is as important as lung breathing.

“However each man after his own taste for it is a well-known fact that the individual usually has his own ideas about these things which are the result of his knowledge that his own requirements are best supplied by methods that have given him best results at former times.”

The following pictures illustrate bars locks and holds that “Farmer” Burns has used during his many years before the public.

FINIS.