Catch Wrestling

[DixieDestroyer]

As a fan of old-school NHB fighting, I'm a also a big advocate & fan of Catch Wrestling. In a street fight (IF it goes to the ground, which you should avoid), catch wrestling is as effective as BJJ (in the way of submission) & even more so with "ripping" (fishhooks, etc.). Some of the old school legends were very dangerous hombres...guys like Mitchell "Farmer" Burns, Frank Gotch and pro wrestlers Stu Hart, Ed "Strangler" Lewis & Lou Thesz were vicious grapplers. I have a few Tony Cecchine DVDs & find catch wrestling to be effective when I roll BJJ. I've landed a few subs utilizing catch hooks. MMA fighers like Josh Barnett, Ken Shamrock, & trainer (of Lesnar, Sean Sherk, etc.) Erik Paulson train catch wrestling as well. Here's some good stuff...

Tony Cecchine's American Catch Wrestling

Intro to "Hooking"

Larry Hartsell - JKD, Judo, Wrestling & Catch "Hybrid" Master

Gene Lebell Submissions

***Fyi, there's tons of Tony Cecchine's catch wrestling instructional clips on YouTube.



Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[Liverlips]

Thanks for posting, Dixie. Might try some of these out as I am having problems in BJJ rolling with bigger guys in my class.

 

[hawkeye]

I personally prefer teaching the catch wrestling style over Freestyle or Greco, because there are alot less rules and there are better moves for trapping, grappling, and setting up submission and sweeps. Next to Sambo I think it is the best style for learing MMA. The two problems with catch wrestling are 1. there aren't many schools that teach it and 2. Because there aren't many school that teach it the talent level isn't as good. I am glad to see catch wrestling making a comeback because it is the first American sport.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

LL, I leverage many of the catch subs when I roll. I have a strong top game & good control, but my guard game (sweeps especially) are my weakest part. I'm alot bigger & stronger than about 99% of the guys I roll against (except for 1 powerlifter & 1 ex-AFL OL), but I'm not as agile, quick as the smaller guys from my back.

Hawkeye, I agree CW & Sambo are the best for MMA. I love BJJ, but some of the catch hooks are vicious. I only know a few Sambo leg locks, so I've not tried to utilize Sambo when rolling BJJ. Most of the BJJ instructors like us to strictly utlize BJJ, but since I got my Purple belt my coach lets me utilize catch hooks when we free-roll (no gi). Another "negative" of BJJ is the over-utilization of the gi. Many of the sweeps & transitions utilize the gi...which doesn't transfer to MMA, sub wrestling or street fights (unless someone has a heavy coat on). I also didn't like how my (former) BJJ instructor wouldn't let me use foot/leg locks until I made blue-belt.

For MMA, I'd say the best mix is CW, BJJ, freestyle & GR wrestling with MTKB. For street defense, I like MTKB, Krav Maga (especially against weapons) or JKD, with catch wrestling (IF it goes to the ground...which should be avoided). I'm pretty solid on MTKB, BJJ & CW & have "101" skill at Krav Maga & freestyle wrestling. Judo is also good for throws (MMA & street). I know a few basic throws from Judo.

 

[Liverlips]

Good analysis, Dixie. Lots of great fighting styles out there. It's funny but where I live there is a tae kwan do and/or karate studio in almost every strip mall. But the martial arts that really work - bjj, sambo, catch wrestling, muay thai ...etc are hard to find.


I am new to bjj but find that many of my fellow white belts are not only stronger (and younger) than me but they almost all have some wrestling or grappling background. So they usually get the best of me.

But rather than cry or quit I just remind myself that I am a white man and that I just have to out technique them and work harder.Edited by: Liverlips

 

[DixieDestroyer]

LL, hang in there amigo. As a white belt, I thought I could just overpower everyone (& did many times), but still would get caught by guys smaller, weaker than me...due to their better technique & gas. I'm very hard to sub in no gi...because of my size, strength, base & I sweat like crazy.

Technique is key. My instructor is about 6'2, 190 (a brown belt) but subs me a bit (his cardio is 3x mine). He also fights MMA.

P.S. - There's no MTKB or BJJ teaching schools where I live now, so I have to trek 35+ miles to train.

So, I don't train near as much as I did. Most the local places are TKD, CKD or Karate. If they start a school up here that teaches any MTKB, SW, BJJ or even Krav Maga, I'd probably join. The 70 mile round trip drive sux.