NO HOLDS BARRED

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with catch wrestlers Thomas Velasquez, Justin Sumter, Joe Shick, and Pat Sabatini, along with Thomas Velasquez's coach Ray Karakas, right after their catch wrestling matches at the 2015 MMA World Expo. They were all part of the North American Catch Wrestling Association/King of Catch Wrestling competition, the third straight year in which there has been catch wrestling at the MMA World Expo.

In the four catch wrestling matches at the MMA World Expo this year, the victors were Thomas Velasquez, Justin Sumter, Joe Shick, and Pat Sabatini. With his victory over Travis Newaza, Thomas Velasquez captured the 2015 North American Heavyweight King of Catch championship.

The 2015 MMA World Expo took place Saturday, December 12, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

In our post-match interviews, each of the wrestlers discussed how their matches went, their varied backgrounds including college and high school wrestling as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, their plans for the future, the future of catch wrestling, and much more.

Here are the complete results:

North American Catch Wrestling Association/King of Catch Results
MMA World Expo
December 12, 2015
Jacob Javits Center, New York

Joe Shick vs. Anthony Pipola, middleweight
1 - Joe Shick pinned Anthony Pipola, 4:30
2 - Joe Shick pinned Anthony Pipola, 3:01
Joe Shick wins, 2 falls to 0

Pat Sabatini vs. Lee Yalowitz, catchweight
1 - Pat Sabatini pinned Lee Yalowitz, 1:31
2 - Pat Sabatini pinned Lee Yalowitz, 1:30
Pat Sabatini wins, 2 falls to 0

Justin Sumter vs. George Mecaj, light heavyweight
1 - Justin Sumter wins by rear naked choke submission, 37 seconds
2 - Justin Sumter pinned George Mecaj, 24 seconds
Justin Sumter wins, 2 falls to 0

West Coast King of Catch Travis Newaza vs. East Coast King of Catch Thomas Velasquez, for 2015 North American King of Catch Heavyweight Title
1 - Travis Newaza wins by inverted heel hook submission, 6:11
2 - Thomas Velasquez pinned Travis Newaza, 1:44
3 - Thomas Velasquez pinned Travis Newaza, 12:21

There is a photo gallery from the North American Catch Wrestling Association/King of Catch here.

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

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, at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/no-holds-barred-with-eddie-goldman.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player for iOS is available for free 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:

Gracie Tournaments, featuring regional, national, and world competitions in submission-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For more information, go to GracieWorlds.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.
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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.

Labels: Eddie Goldman, Joe Shick, Justin Sumter, King of Catch Wrestling, MMA World Expo, NACWA, No Holds Barred, Pat Sabatini, Ray Karakas, Thomas Velasquez

by Eddie Goldman

North American Catch Wrestling Association/King of Catch Results
MMA World Expo
December 12, 2015
Jacob Javits Center, New York

Joe Shick vs. Anthony Pipola, middleweight
1 - Joe Shick pinned Anthony Pipola, 4:30
2 - Joe Shick pinned Anthony Pipola, 3:01
Joe Shick wins, 2 falls to 0

Pat Sabatini vs. Lee Yalowitz, catchweight
1 - Pat Sabatini pinned Lee Yalowitz, 1:31
2 - Pat Sabatini pinned Lee Yalowitz, 1:30
Pat Sabatini wins, 2 falls to 0

Justin Sumter vs. George Mecaj, light heavyweight
1 - Justin Sumter wins by rear naked choke submission, 37 seconds
2 - Justin Sumter pinned George Mecaj, 24 seconds
Justin Sumter wins, 2 falls to 0

West Coast King of Catch Travis Newaza vs. East Coast King of Catch Thomas Velasquez, for 2015 North American King of Catch Heavyweight Title
1 - Travis Newaza wins by inverted heel hook submission, 6:11
2 - Thomas Velasquez pinned Travis Newaza, 1:44
3 - Thomas Velasquez pinned Travis Newaza, 12:21

Labels: Anthony Pipola, Dan Kanagie, Dan Severn, Eddie Goldman, George Mecaj, Joe Shick, Justin Sumter, King of Catch Wrestling, Lee Yalowitz, MMA World Expo, NACWA, Pat Sabatini, Thomas Velasquez, Travis Newaza

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with two-time East Coast King of Catch Wrestling Thomas Velasquez, and his coach, Ray Karakas.

As the reigning and two-time East Coast King of Catch Wrestling, Thomas Velasquez will be facing the West Coast King of Catch Wrestling, Travis Newaza, for the 2015 North American Heavyweight King of Catch championship.

This match will headline a catch wrestling card put on by the North American Catch Wrestling Association at the 2015 MMA World Expo.

The catch wrestling takes place Saturday, December 12, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

We spoke with Thomas Velasquez and Ray Karakas by phone Sunday.

Speaking of his extensive and varied background, Thomas Velasquez said, "I've been training for so long. I've enjoyed catch wrestling. It's a very beautiful sport. Vicious, and it really works every aspect of the grappling game, which is the most important in my eyes. So it's good. I have a little bit of everything."

He mentioned that besides catch wrestling, he is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, a judo brown belt, and has trained in sambo.

"So I have some stuff."

Interestingly, in the past he also had participated in the worked pro wrestling, and his arsenal also includes some submissions, especially crossfaces and armlocks, adapted from that to real competition. Since the worked pro wrestling largely emerged out of real catch wrestling, this should not be surprising.

We also discussed with both Thomas Velasquez and Ray Karakas how Thomas is a "hybrid wrestler"; how Travis Newaza's style is "made for us"; their training at the Endgame Combat Sports Academy in Teterboro, New Jersey, with people like grappler Nick Caggia, who was the catch wrestling absolute champion at the 2014 MMA World Expo; why catch wrestling deserves as much respect as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and any other sport; and much more.

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

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, at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/no-holds-barred-with-eddie-goldman.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player for iOS is available for free 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:

MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City December 12 and 13, 2015, for the sixth annual MMA World Expo, featuring submission-only grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13, 2015, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

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.

Gracie Tournaments, featuring regional, national, and world competitions in submission-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For more information, go to GracieWorlds.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: BJJ, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Eddie Goldman, grappling, King of Catch Wrestling, MMA World Expo, No Holds Barred, Ray Karakas, Thomas Velasquez, Travis Newaza

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with grappler and martial artist Travis Newaza.

As the reigning West Coach King of Catch Wrestling, he will facing the two-time East Coast King of Catch Wrestling, Thomas Velasquez, for the 2015 North American Heavyweight King of Catch championship.

This match will headline a catch wrestling card put on by the North American Catch Wrestling Association at the 2015 MMA World Expo.

The catch wrestling takes place on the second day of this two-day Expo, Sunday, December 13. The location is the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

We spoke with Travis Newaza by phone Sunday.

"I love being on No Holds Barred," he said.

"And we got an awesome opportunity for a lot of the martial arts to see catch wrestling on display and to actually see a national title brought together there. And I can't wait to bring it home for California."

While he respects his opponent's ability, he said he expects to win by submission, which is "my whole goal". He promised, "I'm going to be very vicious," and said that the best-of-three-falls match may never make it to a second fall.

Besides this match, he is also scheduled to compete at the Good Fight's Tournament of Brotherly Love submission-only jiu-jitsu event in a heavyweight title match against ADCC veteran and two-time ADCC North American Trials champion Tom DeBlass. That takes place March 12, 2016, at Cairn University in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. This no-time-limit, submission-only match will have him facing, said Travis Newaza, his "toughest opponent."

We also discussed his free seminar at the MMA World Expo following his catch wrestling match, his training at CSW with Erik Paulson and Josh Barnett, why he finds it necessary to be "a well-rounded grappler," competing and training under different rulesets such as jiu-jitsu and catch wrestling, and much, much more.

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

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, at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/no-holds-barred-with-eddie-goldman.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player for iOS is available for free 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:

MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City December 12 and 13, 2015, for the sixth annual MMA World Expo, featuring submission-only grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13, 2015, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

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.

Gracie Tournaments, featuring regional, national, and world competitions in submission-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For more information, go to GracieWorlds.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: BJJ, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Eddie Goldman, grappling, King of Catch Wrestling, MMA World Expo, No Holds Barred, Thomas Velasquez, Travis Newaza

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Dan Kanagie of the North American Catch Wrestling Association.

Their next event is a big one, as the 2015 North American Heavyweight King of Catch title will be decided as well as at least three more matches held at the 2015 MMA World Expo.

The catch wrestling takes place on the second day of this two-day Expo, Sunday, December 13. The location is the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Headlining the catch wrestling will be the 2015 North American Heavyweight King of Catch championship match between West Coast King of Catch champ Travis Newaza and two-time East Coast King of Catch champ Thomas Velasquez.

Also set are three more matches:
Joe Shick vs. Anthony Pipola - Middleweight
Phil Caracappa vs. Hassan Hope - Lightweight
Justin Sumter vs. Steven Yokay - Light Heavyweight

We spoke with Dan Kanagie by phone Friday.

This is the third consecutive year there will be catch wrestling at the MMA World Expo, but the first time it will be organized by the North American Catch Wrestling Association.

"This is going to be our first time at the Expo, which is exciting for us. It's a huge event, with a lot of exposure, a lot of big names going to be there," Dan Kanagie said. "It's exciting for us to be there and have them want us to be there part of it."

For catch wrestling, this is very important because there will be "a title match there to show everybody some of the top wrestling that we have."

Besides the four matches already set, opponents are being sought for a super heavyweight match with last year's absolute division tournament winner Nick Caggia, and a women's match with catch wrestler and grappler Gillian Davis.

We also discussed how these matches will use the Karl Gotch catch wrestling rules, how catch wrestling is still "at the beginning of the journey" in its revival, the backgrounds and experience of the wrestlers who will be competing, plans to video record these matches and post them online, and much more.

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

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, at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/no-holds-barred-with-eddie-goldman.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player for iOS is available for free 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:

MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City December 12 and 13, 2015, for the sixth annual MMA World Expo, featuring submission-only grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, catch wrestling competition, and much more. The MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13, 2015, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

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.

Gracie Tournaments, featuring regional, national, and world competitions in submission-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For more information, go to GracieWorlds.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: Dan Kanagie, Eddie Goldman, King of Catch Wrestling, MMA World Expo, No Holds Barred, Thomas Velasquez, Travis Newaza

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Dan Kanagie of the North American Catch Wrestling Association.

Our focus was the 2015 Virginia Shooter's Challenge / Virginia King Of Catch Wrestling tournament.

This event takes place Saturday, April 25, at Amherst County High School, 139 Lancer Lane, Amherst, Virginia 24521.

We spoke with Dan Kanagie by phone Friday.

"Jake Shannon [of Scientific Wrestling] and I were talking about how things are going with the tournaments, and we're expanding and there's more interest in more places," he said.

They agreed that it had become time for more tournaments to be held on "the regional and more of the state level." Thus, the Virginia Shooter's Challenge, now in its second year, would also be a Virginia King Of Catch Wrestling tournament. The Liberty Bell Classic, which mainly focuses on the Pennsylvania-New Jersey area, would continue as a King of Catch event, with possible new tournaments in New York, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.

We also discussed the rules for this event, where matches can only be won by pin or submission, with all submissions legal including chokes; plans for an East Coast vs. West Coast championship; the growing evidence for the potential for catch wrestling to re-emerge as a popular and real style of professional wrestling; the continuing growth of catch wrestling in 2015; why the catch wrestling organizations must work together to help the sport itself; why the creation of a democratic governing body for catch wrestling is 'inevitable"; why such an organization must listen to the wrestlers and not be bureaucratic like so many other sports organizations; 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:

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.

Labels: Dan Kanagie, Eddie Goldman, King of Catch Wrestling, No Holds Barred, Virginia Shooter's Challenge

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with grappler and catch wrestler Adam Roman.

With a varied background in wrestling, jiu-jitsu, judo, and Hayastan grappling under Gene LeBell and Gokor Chivichyan, Adam Roman is currently an instructor at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Costa Mesa's locations in Buena Park and Orange, California, and the Reign Training Center in Lake Forest, California.

He has also joined the many grapplers and wrestlers who are competing in catch wrestling.

On January 11, 2015, he was victorious in the middleweight division of the West Coast King of Catch Wrestling Tournament held in San Diego, California.

We spoke with Adam Roman by phone Sunday.

He explained how he had decided to compete in this tournament, while accompanying his friend, Travis Newaza, who won the absolute division at it, to this event.

What he saw, he liked.

He said that catch wrestling, where you win by pin or submission, has "an interesting ruleset" because "it brings several unique challenges to it that you don't necessarily get in a jiu-jitsu match. Specifically, the ability to be pinned for a fall, really changes the game."

"I like the idea of it, because I feel like it's very applicable to a certain mentality that you may need in like a street situation," he said.

"It's good to be able to submit people from more than just your back, which is probably the most common way in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It gives you just an interesting dynamic and challenge."

We also discussed more on his experience at the West Coast King of Catch Wrestling Tournament, his ongoing participation in competitions in numerous grappling styles, his plans to continue competing in catch wrestling, the need for all these styles to encourage action and discourage stalling, the potential of catch wrestling to grow as a spectator sport, the need for smart promoters, 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:

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: Adam Roman, BJJ, Eddie Goldman, grappling, jiu-jitsu, King of Catch Wrestling, No Holds Barred

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with catch wrestler and wrestling coach Luis Ojeda.

Since winning the American heavyweight catch wrestling championship on August 30, 2014, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and becoming the first holder of this title in real catch wrestling since the early 1900s, Luis Ojeda has stayed quite busy in catch and other styles of wrestling. But he also is still learning, and will be at the winter 2015 edition of Scientific Wrestling's Certified Catch Wrestler Training Camp in San Diego, California, from Friday, February 6, to Sunday, February 8.

We spoke with Luis Ojeda by phone Monday.

"We have Wade Schalles coming down, the head coach of Scientific Wrestling -- Jake Shannon. I know there's some people coming down from Kentucky -- Jay Grooms. I've never met these guys, and I know that they're good," he said. He added that he is "excited to be around and see what I'm going to learn from Wade Schalles and all these people."

We also discussed the results of the West Coast King of Catch Wrestling Tournament and No Gi Submission Only Grappling Tournament, which took place January 11, 2015, at San Ysidro High School in San Diego, where he also serves as wrestling coach, and which he helped run, and had Travis Newaza as the big winner; his plans to compete in the annual Schwingfest, a competition in the Swiss folkstyle wrestling known as Schwingen and hosted by the Imperial Valley Swiss Club; the challenge made by Curran Jacobs to have a catch wrestling match with Travis Newaza; his own challenge of Raul Ramirez also to have a catch wrestling match; his training in many grappling styles including jiu-jitsu and judo; his coaching and plans to compete in catch wrestling this year; 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:

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: challenges, Eddie Goldman, grappling, King of Catch Wrestling, Luis Ojeda, No Holds Barred, Schwingen, Swiss

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Jake Shannon of Scientific Wrestling.

2014 saw the greatest number of catch wrestling tournaments, events, seminars, and wrestlers participating in them all around the world, in the 21st century. Jake foresaw this when he declared on this show this past January: "It's a springtime for catch wrestling right now."

To review 2014 and discuss what to expect and needs to be done in catch wrestling for 2015 and beyond, we spoke with Jake Shannon by phone Monday.

"I call it a revolution," he said of catch wrestling's recent growth. He called it "a complete revolution, 360 degrees, that here we are, back again, with catch wrestling getting some respect."

We discussed the first catch wrestling tournament for 2015: the West Coast King of Catch Wrestling Tournament and No Gi Submission Only Grappling Tournament.

This event takes place Sunday, January 11, 2015, at San Ysidro High School at 5353 Airway Road, San Diego, California 92154.

We also discussed the historical importance of catch wrestling reviving as a sport in itself, why 2014 was a remarkable year for it, how the style vs. style format continues to capture people's imagination, how to utilize the catch wrestling vs. jiu-jitsu rivalry, why most catch wrestling matches end by pin, the appeal of catch wrestling for high school and college wrestlers, 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 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: Eddie Goldman, grappling, Jake Shannon, King of Catch Wrestling, Luis Ojeda, No Holds Barred, scientific, Wade Schalles

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with catch wrestler and wrestling coach Luis Ojeda.

He will help kick off 2015 for catch wrestling by helping to run the West Coast King of Catch Wrestling Tournament and No Gi Submission Only Grappling Tournament.

This event takes place Sunday, January 11, 2015, at San Ysidro High School at 5353 Airway Road, San Diego, California 92154, where he also serves as wrestling coach.

We spoke with Luis Ojeda by phone Monday.

Explaining how this event was set up, he said, "I saw this opportunity. I talked to my athletic director. We had lost another tournament that we were going do for the wrestling team, usually our big fundraiser. There was a conflict with basketball. I was like, 'Hey, why don't we do a King of Catch?'"

He got approval, and added, "I pitched the idea of doing a King of Catch and a grappling tournament, and it seems to be coming together."

We also discussed the California Catch Wrestling Association Test Tournament organized by that newly-formed group, which takes place Sunday, December 21, at Brea Olinda High School, 789 Wildcat Way, Brea, CA 92821.

We went over the rules for each of these events, the upcoming competitions in California in the Swiss folkstyle wrestling known as Schwingen, plans for his next catch wrestling match following his victory in August when he won the American heavyweight catch wrestling championship at the Liberty Bell Classic/King of Catch Wrestling Tournament, the future of catch wrestling, 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:

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: Eddie Goldman, grappling, King of Catch Wrestling, Luis Ojeda, No Holds Barred

Labels: catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, Jake Shannon, King of Catch Wrestling, No Holds Barred