NO HOLDS BARRED

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with catch wrestler Curran "The Giant Slayer" Jacobs.

On July 14, Curran Jacobs competed in the eight-man Snake Pit USA catch wrestling tournament in Hamilton, New Jersey. Facing three talented and heavier opponents in three grueling matches, he defeated Johnny Buck, then Erik Hammer, and lastly Brandon Ruiz in the finals, all by rear naked choke submission.

He wrestled about an hour and a half that night, with only 10- to 15-minute breaks between matches, and thus earned the right to be called not only by his new nickname of the "Giant Slayer", but also the best catch wrestler on the planet.

We spoke with Curran Jacobs by phone Tuesday.

After this tournament he had to rest up and heal from the injuries he suffered during it.

"I could not move the next day," he said. "I was in so much pain.

"I've never been in that much pain in my life, and I've wrestled all of my life. And that was the toughest tournament I've ever been in, and that was the most damage my body's ever taken. It was horrible, horrible pain, but I'm feeling great now.

"I'm looking to enjoy some more time off before I hit the mat."

Next up for him as he completes his healing is not a tournament, but conducting a catch wrestling seminar. This will be this Saturday, August 4, at the 2018 Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament.

Organized by the Catch Wrestling Alliance, this event takes place at the Westside Training Center, at Cheviot Hills/Palms, 3272 Motor Avenue, Suite D, Los Angeles, California 90034. This is the third annual Gotch Tournament, and its first two years, Curran Jacobs was victorious in every match he wrestled there.

We discussed how all his three matches went at the July 14 tournament, how he adapted Muhammad Ali's Rope-A-Dope technique to catch wrestling to wear down and defeat his three bigger opponents, how these matches and catch wrestling are "physical chess", how his "big mouth persona" is now a thing of the past, his dual career plans as a wrestler and an actor and how they sometimes conflict, why catch wrestling can develop to be "wrestling's NFL", and much, much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, resurrecting and promoting the sport of authentic catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance provides tournaments, seminars, and training as well as education about catch wrestling. Join the movement and keep real wrestling alive. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

Labels: catch wrestling, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, Giant Slayer, No Holds Barred

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Raul Ramirez of the Catch Wrestling Alliance.

We spoke with him by phone Friday.

There is a lot happening in the coming weeks in catch wrestling, including a tribute to Joe Stecher, who was a world heavyweight wrestling champion in the days before professional catch wrestling ceased to be a sport. This event is called "Joe Stecher Days" and takes place July 14-15 in the village of Dodge, Nebraska, Stecher's hometown. Raul Ramirez will be there, along with wrestling author and historian Mike Chapman, who will be a guest speaker.

Also on July 14, there will be an eight-man catch wrestling tournament organized by the Snake Pit U.S.A. at the Primal Gym in Hamilton, New Jersey. There undefeated Catch Wrestling Alliance wrestler Curran Jacobs will be competing.

Next is the 2018 Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament, organized by the Catch Wrestling Alliance, on August 4 at the Westside Training Center, at Cheviot Hills/Palms, 3272 Motor Avenue, Suite D, Los Angeles, California 90034.

We discussed all these, including Curran Jacobs's preparation for these tournaments, and how strength and conditioning is essential to being able to carry out his strategy.

"Personally I feel that that is the key to winning, regardless of your sport. So if you're really into competing at the highest level, having a good strength and conditioning coach is really the key," said Raul Ramirez.

"You do have to spend your time wrestling to get better at wrestling. But in order to minimize injuries, to make sure you're as strong as you can be, to make sure you have enough gas in your gas tank when you compete, especially in tournaments where you might have to have several matches, or at catch wrestling tournaments when we have a 20-minute match, you need this endurance. So having a good strength and conditioning coach can get your body to that level."

We also discussed that this year's Gotch Tournament will feature matches by both veteran wrestlers and new competitors, plans to hold mixed-styles grappling and catch wrestling matches in Singapore this year, and much more.

(Photo by Phil Monson, courtesy of Catch Wrestling Alliance.)

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, resurrecting and promoting the sport of authentic catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance provides tournaments, seminars, and training as well as education about catch wrestling. Join the movement and keep real wrestling alive. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

Labels: catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, conditioning, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, No Holds Barred, Raul Ramirez, strength

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the captain of the 2011 Michigan State University wrestling team and current undefeated catch wrestler, Curran Jacobs.

We spoke with him by phone Thursday.

After recently graduating from Michigan State University with a master's degree in acting, Curran Jacobs will be returning to the mat to compete in several events.

First up will be an eight-man catch wrestling tournament on July 14 organized by the Snake Pit U.S.A. at the Primal Gym in Hamilton, New Jersey. There he hopes to face rival Josh Barnett in the finals.

"Anyone in the catch wrestling world right now, and it's a small world, but anyone familiar with catch wrestling and the competition nowadays knows that there's only one guy that Josh Barnett should be wrestling right now, and that's me," he said.

Next up is the 2018 Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament, organized by the Catch Wrestling Alliance, on August 4 at the Westside Training Center in Los Angeles. He won last year's tournament, defeating veteran wrestler and MMA fighter Travis Wiuff in the finals by submission.

Also on his agenda is competing in the West Coast Trials for the 2019 ADCC Worlds in grappling. The West Coast Trials will take place in 2019 at a date and place to be announced.

We discussed his competing at all these events, why he believes that he is "a much better wrestler" than Josh Barnett, his working on training in submissions, why catch wrestlers should compete at ADCC events, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, resurrecting and promoting the sport of authentic catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance provides tournaments, seminars, and training as well as education about catch wrestling. Join the movement and keep real wrestling alive. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

Labels: catch wrestling, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, No Holds Barred, tournament

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the captain of the 2011 Michigan State University wrestling team and current catch wrestler, Curran Jacobs.

His next competition will be at the 2017 Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament.

He will be wrestling in the men's 199-pound division and, if he wins that, also in the absolute division.

This event, which had its inaugural edition last year, has emerged as the biggest and most important tournament in the world in catch wrestling.

This year's edition will take place Saturday, July 15, at Humboldt High School in Humboldt, Iowa. Humboldt is the hometown of the legendary wrestler Frank Gotch, who was world heavyweight champion in the early 1900s when professional wrestling was still a real sport.

We spoke with Curran Jacobs by phone Monday.

Catch wrestling, where you win by pin or submission, is an art making a comeback. It can appeal to wrestlers and grapplers from every style, discipline, and ruleset.

"I encourage everybody to learn all aspects of grappling, whether it's catch, whether it's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, judo. It doesn't matter. If you want to be a well-rounded grappler, I encourage everyone to learn it all," said Curran Jacobs.

"However, catch wrestling has a specific ruleset. So for all these Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guys complaining about the rulesets, the pinning rule, listen, if you don't like it, you don't have to compete in catch wrestling. There are BJJ tournaments out there."

But the potential of catch wrestling has largely been squandered since professional catch wrestling turned completely fake almost a century ago.

"Catch wrestling has the potential to be THE most exciting style of wrestling in the world," he said.

"It's important to me, it's important to everyone involved with the Catch Wrestling Alliance that we bring it back, and we create an NFL for collegiate, high school wrestlers alike, after they graduate, who don't have Olympic aspirations or who don't want to go through with the MMA scene.

"I think catch wrestling is the best outlet for wrestlers."

We also discussed his match at last year's Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament where he defeated Travis Newaza, the role of both pins and submissions in this style of wrestling, why top-level college wrestlers are better suited for catch than MMA, how the best catch wrestlers in the U.S. will be in this tournament, Jon Strickland's online catch wrestling program, plans for the Catch Wrestling Alliance to hold regional tournaments, the need for drug testing in catch wrestling, keeping greed and the antics seen in other combat sports out of catch, the drama and art of catch wrestling, and much, much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The 2017 Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament. On Saturday, July 15, 2017, catch wrestlers from all around the world will compete in Humboldt, Iowa, the hometown of the legendary world champion wrestler Frank Gotch. Organized by the Catch Wrestling Alliance (CWA) and co-sponsored by City of Humboldt Chamber of Commerce, Sprout Living (official protein powder of the CWA), and Ultima Replenisher (official electrolyte drink of the CWA), the event will take place at Humboldt High School. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

USA Combat Wrestling, the official U.S. governing body for combat wrestling and U.S. delegate of the International Combat Wrestling Federation (FICW), which was founded by the legendary wrestler Noriaki Kiguchi of Japan. For more information, go to CombatWrestling.us.

Labels: catch wrestling, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, Humboldt, Iowa, No Holds Barred, tournament

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the captain of the 2011 Michigan State University wrestling team and current catch wrestler, Curran Jacobs.

There has been a lot of discussion about the finish of the January 21 Bellator 170 MMA fight between Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen. Sonnen tapped out in the first round to what was said to be a rear naked choke, but a closer look at the actual hold Ortiz had applied says otherwise and shows that it was a neck crank.

Infuriatingly, many MMA fans who are ignorant of catch wrestling holds like neck cranks, and whose knowledge is limited to what they know, rightly or wrongly, of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, charged that this showed the match was "fixed" because the winning submission hold was not one which they had seen, a rear naked choke.

To discuss all this, we spoke with Curran Jacobs about this by phone Monday.

"You hear it constantly right now. 'It was fixed. It was fake. His arm wasn't even sunk. It wasn't even a rear naked choke. He didn't even have a choke,'" he said.

"That just proves how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, how popular it is and how heavy it is in the grappling world. And it really, what it really did was show how, it revealed the lack of knowledge people have on catch wrestling.

"I was just working out with my gym, Murcielago MMA, today, and all the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guys were like, 'Yeah, that was fake. That was fake.'

"And I said, 'Well, let me show you exactly why Chael tapped.'

"And I applied the same position that Tito Ortiz had, and it took them less than three seconds and they tapped.

"It's a very painful, painful neck crank."

Curran Jacobs also posted a video demonstrating this hold, which can be seen here.

We also discussed the need to educate people about neck cranks and other catch wrestling holds; why "catch wrestling is BJJ's Kryptonite"; the purposeful downplaying and denigration of wrestling and grappling by many MMA promoters; the second annual Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament, which is scheduled for the weekend of July 15, 2017, in Humboldt, Iowa; and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Boxing Tribune, boxing's independent media. Unlike every other major boxing website, The Boxing Tribune is not funded or owned by promoters, managers, or networks, and is fully independent and free to write the truth. For independent boxing news and views, go to TheBoxingTribune.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

USA Combat Wrestling, the official U.S. governing body for combat wrestling and U.S. delegate of the International Combat Wrestling Federation (FICW), which was founded by the legendary wrestler Noriaki Kiguchi of Japan. For more information, go to CombatWrestling.us.

Labels: alliance, Bellator, catch wrestling, Chael Sonnen, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, MMA, neck crank, No Holds Barred, Tito Ortiz

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the captain of the 2011 Michigan State University wrestling team and current catch wrestler, Curran Jacobs.

With the successful holding of the first Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament last year in Humboldt, Iowa, a second edition is planned this year, as well as many other catch wrestling events and activities in 2017.

To discuss all this, we spoke with Curran Jacobs by phone Thursday.

"There's a lot on the docket for catch wrestling, with the Catch Wrestling Alliance this year. It's going to start with the NCAAs," he said, referring to the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

"Of course, I've told you before, my mission is targeting wrestlers, specifically Division I wrestlers. Mike Chapman has invited us to join him and the WIN Memorabilia Show at the NCAAs March 16th through the 18th" at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

"So we're excited to see him there. We're going to set up our Catch Wresting Alliance booth and educate wrestlers and fans alike. And there's no better place to do it than the NCAA tournament."

Another way to help introduce people to catch wrestling is the American Hook Wrestling Long Distance Training Program. A century ago the legendary wrestler and trainer Martin "Farmer" Burns had a mail order wrestling program, and this program uses today's technology to reach those people who do not have access to a place to train in catch wrestling.

We discussed the various programs and seminars in catch wrestling, the many wrestlers going into MMA while there is no real professional wrestling, the historical ties between folkstyle and catch wrestling, the need for an international catch wrestling federation, the plan for the Catch Wrestling Alliance to begin holding regional qualifying tournaments in 2018 leading to a national tournament in the U.S., the growth of the Catch Wrestling Alliance, his plans to continue both coaching and competing in catch wrestling, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

The Boxing Tribune, boxing's independent media. Unlike every other major boxing website, The Boxing Tribune is not funded or owned by promoters, managers, or networks, and is fully independent and free to write the truth. For independent boxing news and views, go to TheBoxingTribune.com.

Skullz Double-End Bags, the perfect bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve timing, distance, and hand and eye coordination. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. For more information, go to SkullzDeBags.com.

USA Combat Wrestling, the official U.S. governing body for combat wrestling and U.S. delegate of the International Combat Wrestling Federation (FICW), which was founded by the legendary wrestler Noriaki Kiguchi of Japan. For more information, go to CombatWrestling.us.

Labels: alliance, catch wrestling, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, NCAA, No Holds Barred

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the captain of the 2011 Michigan State University wrestling team and current catch wrestler, Curran Jacobs.

He will next be competing in what is shaping up to be an historic event in the 21st century revival of catch wrestling: The Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament.

This event will take place Sunday, July 3, at Humboldt High School in Humboldt, Iowa, the hometown of the legendary world champion wrestler Frank Gotch.

We spoke with Curran Jacobs by phone Wednesday.

"This is going to be outrageous," he said. "I just spoke with Mike Chapman [the wrestling historian and author who inspired this event], and he said that in Iowa it's just blowing up. There are flyers everywhere."

When Curran Jacobs booked his hotel for this event by phone, the woman with whom he spoke "freaked out and treated me like I was LeBron James," saying that her whole family was going to go to it.

"There are a lot of people excited about this event. It's going to be pretty huge. And there are some serious competitors that are showing up to compete in it, so it's going to be quite the day."

He will be competing in the 180-200 lbs. weight class. On the other side of the four-man bracket will be Travis Newaza, who won the heavyweight division of the West Coast King of Catch Wrestling Tournament, has competed in numerous tournaments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling, and trains with Josh Barnett and Erik Paulson. If both Travis Newaza and Curran Jacobs advance to the finals, they will finally meet in a highly-anticipated match, and we discussed how they match up.

One of the issues which has been discussed at length in catch wrestling circles is the need for unity among the various organizations.

While he works with the Catch Wrestling Alliance, which is the main organizer of the Frank Gotch Catch Wrestling Tournament, he had a clear message to the entire catch wrestling community:

"To every catch wrestling organization out there, I think it's important that we start supporting each other and that we unify under one banner and that we agree to team up. We're very small in the grappling world right now. If we want to grow and succeed, then we're going to have to team up."

We also discussed his training with two-time NCAA Div. I wrestling champion Gabe Dean, the need to bring more college wrestlers into catch wrestling, how wrestling is like a "sledgehammer" while BJJ is like "water", and much, much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

The Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament. On Sunday, July 3, 2016, catch wrestlers from all around the world will compete in Humboldt, Iowa, the hometown of the legendary world champion wrestler Frank Gotch. Organized by the Catch Wrestling Alliance and co-sponsored by IAWrestle, the Frank Gotch Statue Committee, and the Frank Gotch Kids Wrestling Club, the event will take place at Humboldt High School. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

The North American Catch Wrestling Association, a grassroots organization designed to help rebuild the sport of catch-as-catch-can-wrestling. For more information, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/NorthAmericanCatchWrestlingAssociation.

BJJ Eastern Europe, for the latest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu news, articles, interviews, competition calendar, European belt rankings, academy directory, and more. For more information, go to BJJEE.com.

The National Registry for Wrestling, whose mission is to increase wrestling's fanbase, to build a registry of all wrestling fans, to serve as a connecting point for all wrestling fans, and to provide TV and Internet listings for wrestling. For more information, go to NR4W.com.

Labels: catch wrestling, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, Humboldt, Iowa, No Holds Barred, tournament

My latest blog for the Defense Soap site, "A Challenge in Catch Wrestling", is up at http://blog.defensesoap.com/news/a-challenge-in-catch-wrestling.

Labels: Catch Wrestling Alliance, combat wrestling, Curran Jacobs, Defense Soap, Eddie Goldman, Ivaylo Ivanov, No Holds Barred, Travis Newaza

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with wrestler and former Michigan State Spartans' team captain Curran Jacobs.

After a victory by pin over Christopher Crossan of the Snake Pit Wigan on June 7, 2014, in the main event of the Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth, at UCLA in Los Angeles, California, and thus winning the Frank Gotch Award, he is planning to return to action this year.

Towards this end, he is issuing a challenge to Travis Newaza, who was victorious at the West Coast King of Catch Wrestling Tournament held January 11, 2015, in San Diego, California.

We spoke with Curran Jacobs by phone Monday.

"I would like to actually call out that gentleman who won that tournament, Travis Newaza, I believe his name is," he said.

"He is being claimed the King of the West Coast, and I'm on the West Coast." He added that he was unaware of the January 11 event.

He went on to criticize his performance in that event.

"He's a good jiu-jitsu guy, but I saw no catch wrestling happening at all."

We discussed his continuing training at Catch Wrestling Los Angeles, why he considers there to be "fake titles" being handed out in catch wrestling today, why he believes that many of the matches at these tournaments are "not a good display of catch wrestling", why he calls the Catch Wrestling Alliance "the leader of the pack", and much, much more.

We also comment on the passing of an MMA pioneer, Phyllis Lee, who was known as the "First Lady of NHB".

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at AmericanTopTeam.com.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.

Payleg.com, which gives you the tools to develop a full-time income by building a home-based business. Teaching success in the home-based business industry since 1988, Payleg.com is available in 190 countries. For more information, go to Payleg.com.

Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to TakedownRadio.com.

Labels: Catch Wrestling Alliance, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, No Holds Barred, Travis Newaza

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Raul Ramirez of the Catch Wrestling Alliance.

Their first event, the Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth, will be held Saturday, June 7. The location is the Collins Court in the John Wooden Center on the campus of UCLA, at 221 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90095-1612.

Eight catch wrestling matches are scheduled, where you can only win by pin or submission. There are no points or judges.

We spoke with Raul Ramirez by phone Monday.

The most recent addition to the lineup is Colleen Schneider, a catch wrestler and MMA fighter who trains with Josh Barnett. She will face Jennifer Thomas in one of two women's matches. She replaces Qin Yunquan of Singapore, who had to withdraw because of a knee injury.

"I think everyone's really locked in now," Raul Ramirez said, as we discussed the entire card.

Essential to reviving catch wrestling today is learning the historical lessons from the 1800s and early 1900s, when professional catch wrestling completely degenerated into a staged spectacle.

"We can't be making the mistakes of the past. But luckily," he said, "we got a lot of history books that document all of the details of what not to do."

The general methods of good and proper sports governance have improved and developed tremendously since the early days of catch wrestling, and we agreed that this incarnation of catch wrestling must strive for excellence, both on and off the mat.

"We got to keep this more democratic. We got to allow for different voices to be heard," he said.

The Catch Wrestling Alliance is already working with many schools around the world to accomplish these goals, including the home of catch wrestling, the Snake Pit Wigan.

"It is truly an alliance where we're trying to work together to create good governance and keeping the wrestlers happy, but also healthy as well," he noted.

We also discussed the importance of former college wrestlers like former Michigan State captain Curran Jacobs entering the ranks of catch wrestling and how that will likely affect the sport, the many awards which will be presented at this event honoring catch wrestling and grappling greats, the catch wrestling memorabilia exhibition at this event organized and hosted by wrestling author and historian Mike Chapman including artifacts from the days of Frank Gotch, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City July 26 and 27, 2014, for the fifth annual MMA World Expo, featuring the Fighters Source U.S. Nationals amateur MMA tournament, two days of ADCC no-gi and gi grappling tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, 2014, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth. This invitational event will be held under catch wrestling rules, where you can only win by pin or submission. It will take place Saturday, June 7, in Collins Court in the John Wooden Center on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, California. For more information, go to catchwrestlingalliance.com.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to http://takedownradio.com.

Labels: alliance, catch wrestling, Colleen Schneider, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, governance, Los Angeles, Mike Chapman, No Holds Barred, Raul Ramirez, Snake Pit Wigan, UCLA

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with wrestler and former Michigan State Spartans' team captain Curran Jacobs.

He will be wrestling on the card of the Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth.

This event will take place Saturday, June 7, in Collins Court in the John Wooden Center on the campus of UCLA, at 221 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90095-1612.

This invitational event will be held under catch wrestling rules, where you can only win by pin or submission. His opponent will be U.K. catch wrestler Ian Bromley.

We spoke with Curran Jacobs by phone Friday.

After finishing his college wrestling career in 2012 and moving to California to pursue an acting career, Curran Jacobs, like many former college wrestlers, thought that he had "hung up my shoes for good." Then he had dinner with MMA and wrestling legend Randy Couture and wrestling historian and author Mike Chapman.

Discussing his decision to compete in catch wrestling, he said, "Well, it was a pleasant surprise, and it came by me completely by chance. I had dinner with Randy Couture and Mike Chapman in Malibu about a month ago. And Mike was talking about Frank Gotch, one of the greatest American wrestlers of all time, way back in the day. Not too many people are familiar with him, which is unfortunate because he played a huge role in what wrestling is today."

He continued, "I myself wasn't really aware of him until Mike brought him to my attention. I did a little research and was just completely blown away. And I got excited about this catch wrestling ordeal. And Mike told me about Coach Raul Ramirez putting on this tournament, this event on June 7th. And as he was talking about it, I kind of got a little excited and said, 'Where can I sign up?'"

After that, he began training in catch wrestling with Raul Ramirez of the Catch Wrestling Alliance.

We discussed his training in catch wrestling and his transition from American folkstyle wrestling to this discipline, where you can only win by pin or submission. Like many people, he believes that catch wrestling could be successfully revived as a major professional spectator sport.

"I think that it has all the potential in the world," he said. "What's wonderful about it is, it's not complex."

We also discussed how he is encouraging his former teammates at Michigan State to become involved in catch wrestling, how impressed he is with the training he is getting with Raul Ramirez, and much more.

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MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City July 26 and 27, 2014, for the fifth annual MMA World Expo, featuring the Fighters Source U.S. Nationals amateur MMA tournament, two days of ADCC no-gi and gi grappling tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, 2014, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

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Labels: catch wrestling, college, Curran Jacobs, Eddie Goldman, Michigan State Spartans, Mike Chapman, No Holds Barred, Randy Couture, Raul Ramirez