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 wrestling historian and author Mike Chapman.

We spoke with him by phone Thursday.

With two important catch wrestling tournaments scheduled for July and August, there appears to be some life left in this latest but small and struggling incarnation of catch wrestling. However, as we discussed, much, much more needs to be done, and very soon.

"I just hope that somebody out there will say, 'Catch wrestling is a cultural part of American history that deserves to continue to exist,'" he said.

"And that somehow, with all your cajoling and all my cajoling, that we can get this done. You and I are out there telling people that there's a formula for this. And we're both willing to work with anybody. I think we'd both serve on a board if somebody came up with some kind of a platform and plan.

"You have invaluable knowledge that you'd like to share, and I'd like to think that I do, too."

We discussed how undefeated catch wrestler Curran Jacobs has become "the face of catch wrestling" to many younger people, and these upcoming catch tournaments.

In addition, we discussed how Mike will be a guest speaker and part of the "Joe Stecher Days" event on July 14-15 in the village of Dodge, Nebraska, Stecher's hometown. Joe Stecher was a world heavyweight wrestling champion in the days before professional wrestling ceased to be a sport. His two matches with Earl Caddock, with Caddock winning the first and Stecher the second, are still talked about. A video of highlights of that second match, held at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 1920, still survives today.

And we discussed the passing at age 89 of 1952 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Bill Smith; the planning of several wrestling media projects including a full-length dramatic film; his offer to sell his inventory of books and posters; why we don't really retire; and much, much more.

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

You can play or download No Holds Barred here.

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: Bill Smith, catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, Joe Stecher, Mike Chapman, No Holds Barred, retiring

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 Monday.

Based in Los Angeles, in March Raul traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, for the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. There the Catch Wrestling Alliance had a booth at the WIN Memorabilia Show, and he met and talked with numerous people of all ages from the wrestling community about catch wrestling.

"It's always really great to go out to this event. And I have to definitely thank our mutual friend, Mike Chapman, for bringing it up to me a few years ago," he said.

"This event is huge. They pack arenas. and just the excitement there is electrifying. Everyone there is a wrestling expert basically. The vibe there is really amazing."

We discussed the history of catch wrestling and how it was a precursor to high school and college wrestling, and American folkstyle wrestling in general. At the NCAA tournament, he found many people both unaware of that history, but also open to the rules of catch wrestling where there are no points and you can win by pin or submission.

"The freedom of catch wrestling is attractive," he said.

We also discussed his plans to travel to Singapore this year, the growth of interest in grappling and catch wrestling in Singapore and Southeast Asia, how there will likely be more catch wrestling matches in Singapore at grappling and Catch Wrestling Alliance events, the finalizing of plans for this year's Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament, 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, college, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, grappling, NCAA, No Holds Barred, Raul Ramirez, Singapore, tournament

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

We focused on the plans for catch wrestling for 2018. We spoke with Raul Ramirez by phone Thursday.

This year, a key part of the plan is for "a lot more outreach, but then also trying to get more youth involved, but not exactly in pure catch-as-catch can with all the really painful submission holds," he said.

"Traditionally it was always seen as something a little bit too dangerous for children. But so we want to try to bring back what we call amateur catch-as-catch-can. We want to really try to get kids into that."

This amateur catch wrestling would have no submissions or points. Matches would have time limits, with victory either by pin, or if there is no pin, by judges determining the winner by who controlled the match and went for the pin the most.

We discussed plans to hold the first of these amateur tournaments in April; plans to appear at the 2018 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships and WIN Memorabilia Show in March in Cleveland; plans for a third annual Frank Gotch Tournament in the summer in a new location; training in Singapore along with the Kapap Academy; the close connections and historical links between catch wrestling, grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and judo; why catch wrestling is "most ideal" for self-defense; why Chinese kickboxing (sanda) is also important both for sport and self-defense; 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.

Trans Boxing, organizing boxing training for transgender and gender non-conforming people, for fitness and self-defense. For more information, go to TransBoxing.org.

Labels: catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, No Holds Barred, Raul Ramirez, tournament

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

It is now 100 years since the passing of Frank Gotch of Humboldt, Iowa, who was the professional wrestling heavyweight champion of the world from 1908 to 1913, at a time when pro wrestling was largely a real sport. His style was known as catch-as-catch-can wrestling, or simply catch wrestling, where matches were won by pin or submission. But along with his death, real professional wrestling died soon after.

We spoke with Mike Chapman by phone Tuesday.

"He died December 16, 1917, just a few weeks shy of his fortieth birthday, so he was 39 years old," he said. "And it marked a monumental turning point, I think, in Iowa history and in wrestling, because Frank Gotch was gone. In his place came Joe Stecher and Earl Caddock and Ed 'Strangler' Lewis and people like that. And the sport changed.

"I maintain it was largely a true athletic contest in his era. Not 100 percent, there were some worked matches. But I maintain Frank didn't work matches, and I can spend an hour explaining why I firmly believe that.

"But after he passed away, the regional territories developed and wrestling just went a completely different direction. So his passing, December 16, 1917, marked a huge changing in wrestling in America."

We discussed why Gotch's death was a "seminal moment in wrestling history"; why Gotch was "the father of wrestling in America"; the circumstances of his death and the context of what was the average life expectancy in his era; modern attempts at rebuilding catch wrestling; his latest book entitled "A Journey: Reflections on 50 Years of Writing, Wrestling, Weightlifting and Heroes"; why Mike's first sporting love was baseball; and much more.

(Photo of Mike Chapman wearing Frank Gotch's favorite derby hat by Brad Wilder.)

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, catch-as-catch-can, centenary, Eddie Goldman, Frank Gotch, Iowa, Mike Chapman, No Holds Barred, pro, wrestling

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

Continuing their tradition of annual events, their next one will be the 2016 Liberty Bell Challenge and Pennsylvania/New Jersey State King of Catch Tournament.

It will take place Saturday, August 27, at New World Mixed Martial Arts/NFF Boxing at 8801 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19136.

We spoke with Dan Kanagie by phone Monday.

"This will be our fourth year holding this event here in the Philadelphia area, actually our first year in the city of Philadelphia. So we have a new location," he said.

While the location is new, the basics of this event are the same as before.

There will be catch wrestling in six men's weight classes, a men's open weight division, and a women's division using the Madison System of pairing up the competitors. The open weight division winner will qualify for the national King of Catch championship.

Matches can only be won by pin or submission, with all submissions allowed, except moves considered unsportsmanlike such as eye-gouging, attacking the groin, etc. No striking is permitted. The matches have a win-lose-draw format, with each match consisting of the best of three falls with each fall having a 12-minute time limit. There can be an overtime if there is no winner after three complete periods, but after that the match will be declared a draw, with no one advancing in the tournaments in the case of a draw.

This event will be followed by an East Coast championship in November and the national championship in December, with details yet to be finalized. The national championship will likely feature two past King of Catch champions, Luis Ojeda and Thomas Velasquez.

We also discussed the importance of conditioning, how grapplers and wrestlers of all styles and rulesets are welcome at these events, how this revived catch wrestling is still in its infancy, the need to provide care for the athletes, how catch wrestling must use the latest technology and means of communication, why "there's a reason wrestling has lasted longer than anything," 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 free to listen to and 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 http://boxingtribune-news.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.

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, catch-as-catch-can, Dan Kanagie, Eddie Goldman, Liberty Bell Challenge, No Holds Barred

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Michael Rosales, coach of the Texas Catch Wrestling Club.

We spoke with him by phone Wednesday.

Beginning in September, the Houston chapter of the Texas Catch Wrestling Club will be moving to a new location: the Metroflex at 8150 Westpark Drive, Houston, Texas 77063.

This is, he said, "Houston's premier strongman, powerlifter, Olympic-type lifting gym." Besides the standard training available there, he explained that athletes can prepare for the types of events that take place in strongman contests.

"Something that has always been a part of our club is not just wrestling itself, but also strength and conditioning, or what they used to call in the old school parlance physical culture," he said.

We also discussed the state of catch wrestling today, how to spark more interest in it, upcoming tournaments in other styles such as sambo and grappling, 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:

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.

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

Labels: catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, Houston, Michael Rosales, No Holds Barred, physical culture, Texas Catch Wrestling 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

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with wrestling legend Wade Schalles, who has just been named the new coach at Scientific Wrestling.

A member of the U.S. National Wrestling Hall of Fame, a two-time NCAA champion, and known as a master pinner, his accomplishments and training were not only in American folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestling, but also in sambo and judo. In recent years he has been a coach, writer, and television announcer, among carrying out many other duties. Now he takes all his knowledge and experience to focus on the rebirth of catch wrestling.

We spoke with Wade Schalles by phone Wednesday.

"I'm excited. It's going to be a lot of fun," he said.

Noting the recent passing of catch wrestling legend Billy Robinson, whom he replaces as coach at Scientific Wrestling, he said, "To be able to try to replace him, I have big shoes to fill."

We discussed how catch wrestling is really "the grandfather of MMA today," how "every martial art has spun off of wrestling," teaching catch wrestling both for MMA and for catch wrestling competition itself, why catch wrestling needs to develop itself as a brand, plans for him to lead Scientific Wrestling camps and seminars around the world, some of the problems facing the entire sport of wrestling today, 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:

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.

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: catch, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, folkstyle, freestyle, Greco, judo, MMA, No Holds Barred, sambo, Scientific Wrestling, Wade Schalles

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Michael Rosales, coach of the Texas Catch Wrestling Club.

We spoke with him by phone Thursday.

"We are a catch wrestling club that we practice in the art and we compete whenever we can find actual catch matches," he said. "If not, we're competing in mixed martial arts or regular grappling tournaments."

He also noted that the club was actually "established in 2001, which makes us one of the oldest clubs of the neo-catch movement."

The next catch wrestling tournament in which wrestlers from the Texas Catch Wrestling Club will compete is the Monolith Grapplings Arts Catch Wrestling Tournament. Sanctioned by the ISWA (International Submission Wrestling Alliance), this tournament takes place Saturday, May 31, at Eastside Austin Elite MMA and Fitness, 507 Calles Street, Austin, Texas 78702.

While the Texas Catch Wrestling Club is currently based in Corpus Christi, Texas, we also discussed their plans to open a new, major facility in Houston.

Calling catch wrestling "a piece of our Americana," he discussed the style that is emphasized at Texas Catch Wrestling, how they teach wrestling as a martial art first and a sport second, and how they have been introducing the use of the pin to grapplers from other styles. Compared to those other styles, he said, catch is faster and "more exciting to watch."

We also discussed the current revival of catch wrestling, how it signifies that "a piece of American history is being brought back," what catch wrestling needs to do to continue to grow, 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:

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.

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: catch-as-catch-can, Corpus Christi, Eddie Goldman, grappling, Michael Rosales, MMA, No Holds Barred, submissions, Texas Catch Wrestling Club

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

While coaching wrestlers and fighters, and after recovering from a series of injuries, he will be returning 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.

We spoke with Jon Strickland by phone Wednesday.

Since 2008, he said that he has had about eight surgeries, while training other athletes.

"Now it's time to focus on Jon a little bit," he said. "I'm going on 43, so I don't know how much longer obviously that I will be able to continue to step out on the mat and do this. I certainly look forward to the opportunity, and am real appreciative for them having me out to do this."

He also explained why wrestling is so important to him, why he hopes that his young son will eventually wrestle but not compete in MMA, and the similarities and differences between catch wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and no-gi grappling.

Another major topic was what catch wrestling must do to re-establish itself as a major sport. "We're going to have to work together for the betterment of the sport," he said. We thus discussed why a democratically-run governing body is needed for 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:

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.

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, catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, Foundation, grappling, Jon Strickland, MMA, No Holds Barred, submissions

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

The catch wrestling and combat sports worlds were saddened last week to learn of the passing of the catch wrestling legend Billy Robinson at age 75. Billy and Jake had been conducting numerous catch wrestling seminars around the world, and had collaborated on many books and videos, including Billy's memoir, "Physical Chess: My Life in Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling" (ECW Press, 2012).

Jake has also created a tribute page for Billy on Facebook, called the Billy Robinson Memorial.

We spoke with Jake Shannon by phone Tuesday about the life and legacy of Billy Robinson.

While he said that Billy is "irreplaceable," he noted, "He lived and breathed catch-as-catch-can. And he would be pissed if we didn't continue it on."

He added, "I don't know what people believe, but he'd haunt you, and whack you with a ghost cane if we didn't keep this going. I can guarantee you that."

We discussed a lot more about Billy Robinson and his legacy, how he was considered to be the best catch wrestling coach, the many tributes to Billy pouring in from all around the world, plans for the next phase in the rebirth of 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.

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:

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.

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: Billy Robinson, catch, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, Jake Shannon, No Holds Barred, Riley's Gym, Scientific Wrestling, Wigan, wrestling

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

A pioneer in reviving catch wrestling through his books, tournaments, seminars, and camps, he now sees that a decade of work is resulting in a steady growth of the sport.

We spoke with Jake Shannon by phone Wednesday.

"We've kind of created a culture where people are holding it to a higher standard," he said. "There's no more b.s. We want people out on the mats. We want people learning the real history of it, not some made-up ad copy on the Internet to sell DVDs or something."

He stressed, "It's an exciting time. It really is exciting. It is beginning to blossom. So it's kind of 'Springtime for Catch Wrestling', if I can steal, if I could paraphrase a Mel Brooks movie title. I think it's a springtime for catch wrestling right now."

Coming up in 2014 are more events, including Scientific Wrestling's Certified Catch Wrestler Training Camp Winter 2014, February 7-8 in San Diego, California.

We also discussed the need for grassroots development of catch wrestling, the King of Catch tournaments which he started in 2007, the need for a professional level of catch wrestling, why investors should be involved with the sport, the sport's simple and fan-friendly rules, 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:

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.

GrappleGnostic, sponsored by Defense Soap. Where the will to win meets the power of knowledge. Features, interviews, analysis, health tips, and information on wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and all the grappling arts, written by some of the best writers and experts in the world. Check out their web site, a http://defensesoap.com/grapplegnostic.

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 http://defensesoap.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: catch wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, grappling, Jake Shannon, No Holds Barred, scientific

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with our correspondent Raul Ramirez of Catch Wrestling Los Angeles.

He has just returned from Wigan, England, where on November 9 he won both his matches at the second annual International Catch Wrestling Tournament, organized by the Snake Pit Wigan. He won his first match by hammerlock over Stephen Greenfield of Wales, and his second by pin over Ulli Koch of Germany. For these efforts, he also was awarded three trophies: the Alan Latham AKA Francis Sullivan Trophy presented by his daughter Karen Latham, the Billy Chambers AKA Jack Fallon Trophy, and the Roy Wood Trophy for Most Improved Wrestler of the Year, presented by Wigan head coach Roy Wood himself.

In addition, it was announced that Catch Wrestling Los Angeles is now an official Snake Pit Wigan Training Group.

We spoke with Raul Ramirez by phone Sunday.

We discussed the opportunity wrestling has with the void being created by all the problems in many combat and contact sports, especially those where evidence of head injuries and brain damage are mounting. In the U.S., there is a slow but steady rebirth of real professional wrestling events, with some using a mix of freestyle and American folkstyle rules, and others international freestyle rules.

"With the history of catch wrestling, ours is the granddaddy of them all," he said. "If everyone from Wigan and everyone in the United States works together, we can really try to get something going that's global and really exciting."

He noted that international participation in this Wigan event increased this year, as well as the quality of the wrestling. There are many freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers who are "really interested and really wanting to do catch wrestling." At this event alone, freestyle and Greco wrestler Muhammad Ali of Pakistan, a two-time South Asian Games champion, traveled all the way to England to train and wrestle, winning both of his matches by pin. Other international wrestlers included Osamu Matsunami of Japan and Ulli Koch of Germany, with, of course, Raul Ramirez from the U.S. and numerous wrestlers from the U.K.

"This can be global again," he said, as we discussed some of the plans to continue this revival of catch wrestling.

We also discussed plans to hold an international catch wrestling tournament in the Los Angeles area next year, the need for those in catch wrestling to be connected to the broader wrestling community, 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:

LenneHardt.com, the web site of the world's greatest ring announcer, Lenne Hardt. Need a unique and cool combat sports-related gift? At LenneHardt.com, you can order personalized messages, wedding calls, ringtones, phone answering messages, and more, all recorded by Lenne herself, in the style of your choice. For more information, go to LenneHardt.com.

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.

GrappleGnostic, sponsored by Defense Soap. Where the will to win meets the power of knowledge. Features, interviews, analysis, health tips, and information on wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and all the grappling arts, written by some of the best writers and experts in the world. Check out their web site, a http://defensesoap.com/grapplegnostic.

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 http://defensesoap.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: Billy Robinson, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman. Raul Ramirez, freestyle, International Catch Wrestling Tournament, Los Angeles, No Holds Barred, Roy Wood, Snake Pit Wigan

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Stephen Greenfield of the Snake Pit Wigan and our correspondent Raul Ramirez of Catch Wrestling Los Angeles.

They are both now in Wigan, England, the home of catch wrestling, for the second annual International Catch Wrestling Tournament, hosted by the historic Snake Pit Wigan. Several wrestlers from around the world have come to Wigan for this tournament and the annual International Week of training and seminars.

Catch wrestling is in the process of being revived, and this is the most important catch wrestling tournament in the world.

This event, alongside the 36th annual Aspull Freestyle Wrestling Competition, will be held this Saturday, November 9, at the Robin Park Sports Centre in Wigan. As was done last year, videos of the matches are expected to be posted online shortly.

We spoke with both Stephen Greenfield and Raul Ramirez by Skype Wednesday.

"The plan is, this year there's going to be a larger number of matches" than last year, said Stephen Greenfield. "I think currently it's anywhere between 10 and 15, depending on how many people we've got at the time."

He added, "It's not quite an open tournament yet. It's mostly populated by people who have sort of trained at the Snake Pit, and also some of the people that have come for the International Week.... Hopefully it will be interesting for people to watch." Next year, however, the plan is to hold an open tournament.

The influence of the Snake Pit Wigan has already spread far beyond the U.K., and there are plans for more similar catch wrestling tournaments internationally.

"Our mission," said Raul Ramirez, is "try to create that bridge, or outreach or education, on basically letting the American wrestlers - collegiate, folkstyle, freestyle wrestlers - know that we in the United States do have such a rich catch wrestling tradition as well, that they most likely don't know about."

Towards that end, discussions are now under way to plan a catch wrestling tournament in the Los Angeles area for sometime in the first half of 2014.

We also discussed the catch wrestling rules used by the Snake Pit Wigan, which are based on the original rules of Billy Riley of Riley's Gym. Under those rules, there are no points or judges, and a match can only be won by pin or submission. However, the Snake Pit Wigan rules do not allow chokes. Current Snake Pit and Aspull head coach Roy Wood, who was trained by Billy Riley, has argued, according to Stephen Greenfield, "The choke kills the wrestling."

In addition, we discussed the appeal of catch wrestling, the need for those involved in catch wrestling to have ties to the broader wrestling community, what is needed for the revival of catch wrestling to be successful, 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:

LenneHardt.com, the web site of the world's greatest ring announcer, Lenne Hardt. Need a unique and cool combat sports-related gift? At LenneHardt.com, you can order personalized messages, wedding calls, ringtones, phone answering messages, and more, all recorded by Lenne herself, in the style of your choice. For more information, go to LenneHardt.com.

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.

GrappleGnostic, sponsored by Defense Soap. Where the will to win meets the power of knowledge. Features, interviews, analysis, health tips, and information on wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and all the grappling arts, written by some of the best writers and experts in the world. Check out their web site, a http://defensesoap.com/grapplegnostic.

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 http://defensesoap.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: Aspull, Billy Robinson, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, freestyle, International Catch Wrestling Tournament, No Holds Barred, Roy Wood, Snake Pit Wigan, Stephen Greenfield. Raul Ramirez