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.

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 discusses how the June 7 Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational in Los Angeles marked the beginning of a new era in catch wrestling, and what are the tasks and next steps in the revival of this sport.

In particular, the next major event in catch wrestling will be put on by the Snake Pit U.S.A. Catch Wrestling Association, the 2014 Catch Wrestling World Championship.

This event will take place Sunday, July 27, at the MMA World Expo at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. Registration is still open.

There will also be several other events in catch wrestling in the coming weeks, including the ISWA Catch Wrestling Open along with the North American Freestyle Sambo Championships on Saturday, August 9, at Kennedy's Martial Arts in Chicago; the Liberty Bell Classic/East Coast King of Catch Tournament, Saturday, August 30, at Primal Gym in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, put on by the North American Catch Wrestling Association; and numerous seminars and camps around the world.

Also discussed is the need for more media to cover these catch wrestling events, how many more people from various styles of wrestling and grappling are getting involved with catch wrestling, the need to support all these events and activities, 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.

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/.

The 2014 Catch Wrestling World Championship, presented by the Snake Pit U.S.A., taking place Sunday, July 27, at the MMA World Expo at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. You can only win by pin or submission. Best two out of three falls. All styles welcome. For more information or to register, go to snakepitusa.com.

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, a catch wrestling promotion that works with the highest level catch wrestlers from around the world with the goal of reviving the great sport of catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance organizes catch wrestling sporting events, and its primary organizer is Dr. Raul Ramirez. For more information, go to catchwrestlingalliance.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, Catch Wrestling World Championship, Eddie Goldman, MMA Expo, new era, No Holds Barred, Snake Pit U.S.A.

Curran Jacobs wrestles Christopher Crossan - Photo by Brad Wilder


Catch Wrestling Alliance group shot


Curran Jacobs


Crank Gym wrestlers


Colleen Schneider


Amin Nazer and Lucca Perretti


Ned Morales


Brooklyn Thomson pins Xochi Wilder


Frank Gotch 1910 poster


Gotch-Hackenschmidt


Roy Wood in Frank Gotch derby


Mike Chapman and Roy Wood


Eddie Goldman and Roy Wood


Mike Chapman wearing Frank Gotch's favorite derby hat - Photo by Brad Wilder


Raul Ramirez, Mike Chapman, Andrea Wood, and Roy Wood - Photo by Steve Moyer


Eddie Goldman and Lucca Perretti

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman presents the post-match interviews from the Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth, held June 7 at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. Plus, we present an analysis of this event, and explain why it represents the start of a new era in catch wrestling.

Interviewed at the event were victorious wrestlers Brooklyn Thomson, Ned Morales, Amin Nazer, Colleen Schneider, Adam Laporte, and Curran Jacobs; Snake Pit Wigan head coach Roy Wood; catch wrestler and MMA fighter Josh Barnett, who coached Colleen Schneider; and wrestling author and historian Mike Chapman.

Here are the complete results:

Catch Wrestling Alliance: The Rebirth
Collins Court, John Wooden Center
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
June 7, 2014

Catch wrestling rules: you can only win by pin or submission, 20-minute time limit, no points or judges.

1 - Brooklyn Thomson (Canada, Crank Gym) pins Xochi Wilder (USA, Catch Wrestling Los Angeles), 6:37, wins Billy Riley Award.

2 - Kyle Johnson (USA, Catch Wrestling Los Angeles) and Malcolm Tisdale (Canada, Crank Gym) draw, 20:00, share Martin "Farmer" Burns Award.

3 - Ned Morales (USA, Catch Wrestling Los Angeles) submits Stephen Greenfield (UK, Snake Pit Wigan) by facelock, 5:34, wins Roy Wood Award.

4 - Amin Nazer (UK, Snake Pit Wigan) submits Christopher Morales (USA, Catch Wrestling Los Angeles) by top wristlock, 5:43, wins John Perretti Contenders Award.

5 - Colleen Schneider (USA, Combat Submission Wrestling) submits Jennifer Thomas (USA, Catch Wrestling Los Angeles) by face crank, 7:01, wins Joe Stecher Award.

6 - Adam Laporte (Canada, Crank Gym) defeats Jon Strickland (USA, Billy Wicks Foundation), injury default (knee), 4:25, wins Billy Wicks Award.

7 - Curran Jacobs (USA, Catch Wrestling Los Angeles) pins Christopher Crossan (UK, Snake Pit Wigan), 2:02, wins Frank Gotch Award.

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.

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/.

The 2014 Catch Wrestling World Championship, presented by the Snake Pit U.S.A., taking place Sunday, July 27, at the MMA World Expo at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. You can only win by pin or submission. Best two out of three falls. All styles welcome. For more information or to register, go to snakepitusa.com.

The Catch Wrestling Alliance, a catch wrestling promotion that works with the highest level catch wrestlers from around the world with the goal of reviving the great sport of catch-as-catch-can wrestling. The Catch Wrestling Alliance organizes catch wrestling sporting events, and its primary organizer is Dr. Raul Ramirez. For more information, go to catchwrestlingalliance.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, Eddie Goldman, No Holds Barred, Snake Pit Wigan

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses why, after an almost century long exile from the world of real sports, catch wrestling is back.

Excerpts from previous interviews on No Holds Barred are played to explain this issue in depth, including from:

- Wrestling historian Nathan Hatton
- Wrestling historian and author Mike Chapman
- Roy Wood, head coach of the Snake Pit Wigan
- Wade Schalles, new coach of Scientific Wrestling
- Jake Shannon of Scientific Wrestling
- Raul Ramirez of the Catch Wrestling Alliance
- Jon Strickland of the Billy Wicks Foundation
- MMA and grappling pioneer John Perretti
- MMA legend Frank Shamrock
- wrestling and shootfighting coach and promoter Steve Nelson
- MMA and wrestling legend Randy Couture
- catch wrestler Curran Jacobs
- MMA fighter and catch wrestler Colleen Schneider
- catch wrestler Kyle Johnson
- catch wrestler Qin Yunquan
- catch wrestler Adam Laporte
- catch wrestler Jennifer Thomas
- Garry Davis of Brazen Martial Arts
- Dan Kanagie of the North American Catch Wrestling Association
- John Potenza of the Snake Pit USA Catch Wrestling Association
- Kris Iatskevich of the ISWA (International Submission Wrestling Alliance)
- Stephen Greenfield of the Snake Pit Wigan and the Llanelli Catch Wrestling and Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Club
- and, last but not least, the late catch wrestling legend Billy Robinson

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, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, No Holds Barred, real pro, Snake Pit Wigan

Mike Chapman - Photo courtesy of Mike Chapman Collection


Martin Farmer Burns poses with his most famous pupil, Frank Gotch, circa 1905 - Photo courtesy of Mike Chapman Collection


Abraham Lincoln wrestling at the age of 22 in New Salem, Illinois - Artwork by Carole and Jack Bender - Courtesy of Mike Chapman Collection


On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with wrestling historian and author Mike Chapman.

He is presently en route, by car, from his home in Iowa to California for what is shaping up to be an historical wrestling event.

That event is the Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth.

This event 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. In this event, you can only win by pin or submission.

We spoke with Mike Chapman by phone Thursday.

Aside from his dislike of flying, one of the reasons he is driving all the way from Iowa to California, with stops in-between, is because he is transporting an exhibition of rare catch wrestling memorabilia to be shown at the June 7 event. These include: the favorite derby hat of then-world heavyweight wrestling champion Frank Gotch, with a photo of Gotch wearing it in 1910; a poster of Frank Gotch and other top challengers for the world title from 1910; a program from the Frank Gotch-George Hackenschmidt wrestling match held on September 4, 1911, in Chicago in front of 30,000 fans (the most discussed pro match of all time); a framed signed letter that Frank Gotch wrote in 1913; a framed original artwork of a Frank Gotch poster; framed artwork of Abraham Lincoln wrestling as a young man, at the age of 22 in 1831 in New Salem, Illinois; and many more. He will also have wrestling books and posters for sale.

The main part of our discussion with Mike Chapman was about how catch wrestling can develop from these initial stages of revival into retaking its place as a major spectator and recreational sport.

Noting that already it is on the "right path," he said, "The test will be, can it grow?"

In order to grow, he mentioned several key requirements.

"The formula's there. We know what we have to do," he said.

"Catch wrestling has to form an alliance of leaders, and they have to come together and form a business plan. They have to find enough money to be self-sustaining for a couple of years and to hire an executive director who can put plans into action. And then they have to get on TV. To me, it's about a six-step process."

We also discussed how the upcoming film "Foxcatcher", about the life of Olympic and world champion wrestler Mark Schultz and the 1996 murder of his brother, fellow Olympic and world champion wrestler Dave Schultz, by multimillionaire John du Pont, may impact the sport of wrestling. Due to premiere in November of this year, the film's director, Bennett Miller, recently won the best director award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, with many film critics predicting that the film is a top Oscar contender.

In addition, we discussed that while catch wrestling is a "niche sport," it still has great potential to find a major audience; why it needs more exposure and promotion; how getting sponsors is essential; 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, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, Los Angeles, Mike Chapman, No Holds Barred, UCLA

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with catch wrestler and MMA fighter Colleen Schneider.

She is currently training with combat sports veterans Josh Barnett and Erik Paulson at Combat Submission Wrestling (CSW) in Fullerton, California. She also has been competing in MMA since 2010, including stints in Strikeforce, the Super Fight League, and on The Ultimate Fighter TV show.

Now she will be competing in catch wrestling, as this sport is being revived. She will be wrestling on the Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth.

This event 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.

In this event, you can only win by pin or submission. There are no points or judges.

Her opponent will be Jennifer Thomas.

We spoke with Colleen Schneider by phone Thursday.

Asked how she got involved with this event, she replied, "I actually went to them. I saw through Twitter that there was going to be a catch wrestling event, and I just jumped on it. I hit up Raul [Ramirez of Catch Wrestling Alliance].

"'Let me fight, let me fight, let me fight! I want to do this! This is awesome!' And I think he was stoked about my enthusiasm, so he put me on the card."

We discussed her training simultaneously in both catch wrestling and MMA, why she would like to continue competing in both sports, the potential for catch wrestling to be revived as a popular spectator sport, her MMA career including how she has developed since her loss in 2013 to Shayna Baszler, her preparations to face Jennifer Thomas, 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, Eddie Goldman, Jennifer Thomas, Los Angeles, No Holds Barred, Raul Ramirez, UCLA

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 once again spoke with Steve Greenfield, who runs the Llanelli Catch Wrestling and Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Club.

Located in Llanelli, Wales, in the U.K., it is the only club in Wales, and only one of two in the U.K., which are affiliate clubs of the home of catch-as-catch-can wrestling, the Snake Pit Wigan.

Steve Greenfield not only trains people in catch wrestling, but also competes himself. A veteran of the Snake Pit Wigan's international tournaments, he will be wrestling at the Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth.

This event will be held 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.

His opponent will be Ned Morales of Catch Wrestling Los Angeles.

We spoke with Steve Greenfield by Skype Sunday.

He explained that besides training and coaching, he is working on three books about the history of catch wrestling, focusing on the legendary Riley's Gym in Wigan, catch wrestling in Lancashire, and the many varied styles of wrestling.

A hot topic in contemporary catch wrestling is the issue of the absence of any central governing body. While the ranks of this reviving sport are presently relatively small, he agreed that a goal must be the eventual formation of precisely just such a body. This is especially true given the facts that, last century, the entire sport of professional catch-as-catch-can wrestling devolved into a staged spectacle, and that corruption is still evident today in international wrestling.

"All the problems you've sort of focused at have obviously shown their face in the history of professional wrestling," he said.

"The last thing we want to do is to see all this happening once more. So I agree, I think you have to have a central organization that everyone's sort of tied into and part of, but again is accountable to."

The current state of catch wrestling, with numerous small "disparate groups," even though they communicate with each other, will not advance the sport very much, he argued. Thus, a central governing body must eventually be formed.

"Unless that happens ... whilst we're all doing our own little thing here and there, it's going to remain what it is, a niche sort of market basically," he said.

We also discussed another controversy in catch wrestling: the use of strangulations or chokes. In the the old Riley's Gym and in current Snake Pit Wigan events, they are prohibited. Historically, they were also usually banned in catch wrestling in earlier times. We thus talked about the reasons for this, which included both the fact that strangulations and chokes "kill" or "change" the wrestling, and that there is some evidence that they can be dangerous.

In addition, we discussed what should be done today to create a foundation for the eventual establishment of a governing body for catch wrestling, how steps can be taken to fight corruption in 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:

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, corruption, Eddie Goldman, governing body, Llanelli, No Holds Barred, Snake Pit Wigan, Steven Greenfield, Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Club

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman was once again interviewed by Scott Casber, the host of Takedown Wrestling Radio.

This discussion took place on Takedown Wrestling Radio and was recorded Thursday.

The main topic of our discussion was the college wrestling "invasion" of catch wrestling and the Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational: The Rebirth. This event will be held 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.

We also discussed the origins of catch wrestling; how elite and college wrestlers may have a similar major impact on catch wrestling as they have had on MMA; the issue of head trauma in sports like MMA and the recent study from the University of Toronto Concussion Program, whose lead author was Dr. Michael Hutchison; concussions in wrestling; the Mayweather-Maidana and Stiverne-Arreola fights and boxing's woes; 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, catch-as-catch-can, college, concussions head trauma, Eddie Goldman, invasion, Los Angeles, MMA, No Holds Barred, Scott Casber, Takedown Radio, UCLA

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Adam Laporte, the owner-operator and coach at the Crank Gym in Eckville, Alberta, Canada.

He will be competing 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 catch wrestler Jon Strickland.

We spoke with Adam Laporte by phone Tuesday.

Although he has 15 years of submission wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and MMA experience, he has only recently started training in catch wrestling.

Asked how he was selected to wrestle on this event, he replied, "My name was passed off. We had gone to train with Roy Wood in the U.K. last July [at the Snake Pit Wigan], myself and two of my younger wrestlers." Those wrestlers "outperformed all expectations," and one of them, Brooklyn Thomson, will also be wrestling in the teen division at this event.

"Roy and Andrea [Wood] were quite impressed, or so they told us, and passed along our information to Raul [Ramirez], who had been setting up this tournament."

We discussed how those with backgrounds in other styles of wrestling are making the transition to catch wrestling, and how it compares for them learning gi and no-gi grappling.

"It's a seamless transition," he said, "because the majority of the holds or the tilts or the pins that you're using, with just a little bit of tweaking, can turn it into a submission very simple. Whereas going to the jiu-jitsu side, you're almost having to relearn some of the fundamentals, because now you're allowed to be going onto your back or you're using the chokes and things like that, which typically in the wrestling side you don't see, it's prohibited."

And he sees many more wrestlers taking up catch wrestling.

"Once more wrestlers start to see that this is an option for them, I think the hold that BJJ has over combative grappling will start to come down a bit. It'll become more of a 50-50, because both are proven systems. Just one has a head start in the market, I guess."

We also discussed the need for more youth to start training in wrestling, the need for catch wrestling to have proper organization, his own preparation for his June 7 match, 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/.

Labels: Adam Laporte, Alberta, alliance, Canada, catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, Crank Gym, Eddie Goldman, Los Angeles, No Holds Barred, submissions, UCLA

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Jon Strickland of the Billy Wicks Foundation.

As the sport of catch wrestling is being revived, the issues of rules and organization are being discussed and debated. One of the key discussions involves whether or not to permit chokes. These holds, lumped into a general category of strangulations, were traditionally not allowed in the past in most catch wrestling matches. What to do today, with the growth of modern MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and no-gi grappling, all of which allow chokes, is being debated.

We spoke with Jon Strickland by phone Saturday about this and other issues.

Saying he had "mixed thoughts on chokes in general," he noted how when the legendary Billy Wicks wrestled in "AT shows", i.e., athletic shows, which included both shoots and works, "they didn't use chokeholds." He added that while he had learned chokes in other styles such as jiu-jitsu, in his catch wrestling training, "I was never taught a chokehold."

Besides what was traditionally done in catch wrestling to keep the wrestling going, since many believe that chokes "kill wrestling," we discussed the issues of safety.

"With a choke, I think even a few seconds of having oxygen deprived of the brain could be dangerous. You just never what underlying conditions are there with somebody," he said.

"I spoke to a neurologist who I'm close with about the sport in general, and he said that he thought the chokes were very dangerous, and he had actually treated several people in his career who were horse-playing and practiced some wrestling moves, and a guy put another kid in a chokehold and the kid has a stroke, and causes the kid a seizure."

While the scientific research into chokeholds in the various styles of wrestling and grappling is just beginning, there is already a lot of evidence that concussions are a major problem in high school and college wrestling in the U.S.

A recent study by the National Academies "found that wrestling has the second highest rate of concussions per athlete exposure of the top fourteen most common men's and women's college sports." Only college football had more.

Thus, if catch wrestling wants to develop as a safer alternative to many of the existing combat sports, it must institute proper safety and health measures right from the start of its rebirth, and address the issue of the prevention and treatment of concussions.

We also discussed the need for eventually establishing a democratic, central governing body for catch wrestling to give it proper regulation as well as promotion and marketing in the crowded sports landscape. And we agreed that the sport will "never be taken seriously" without such a governing body.

As for his own wrestling career, he is still planning to return to the mat to wrestle 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 Canadian MMA fighter and submission grappler Adam Laporte.

So while much remains to be done to revive this sport, we also discussed how interest in it is the greatest it has been in many years, how it is appealing to former college wrestlers as a vehicle in which to compete and possibly earn a living in 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:

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/.

Labels: alliance, Billy Wicks Foundation, catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, chokeholds, chokes, concussions, Eddie Goldman, Jon Strickland, No Holds Barred, submissions