NO HOLDS BARRED

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Coach George Hero, the legendary coach and founder of the Midwood High School wrestling team in Brooklyn, New York.

On Thursday, October 30, Midwood High School will be the scene of the Midwood Wrestling Exhibition 2014.

The event runs from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM, at the Campus Road Gymnasium of Midwood High School, 2839 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11210, right across the street from Brooklyn College.

As in previous years, the Midwood Wrestling Exhibition 2014 kicks off and promotes the upcoming wrestling season.

We spoke with Coach Hero by phone Tuesday.

"We're going to have quite a few good matches" at this event, he said. "We have a very strong squad this year."

This year's matches all involve current Midwood High wrestlers, and will be held under American folkstyle rules. However, much attention is being given to a match which adds a twist to these rules: a tag-team match.

In it, Midwood wrestling captain David Nemirovsky will team up with David Tskhvedadze to face a team of Midwood's other captain, Makar Tchekalenkov, and Javlon Xaydarov.

They are "four of the best wrestlers on the team," Coach Hero said, and this tag-team match "should be very, very exciting."

The tag-team match combines the usual high school wrestling rules with a format of three four-minute periods, and two-out-of-three falls. Each team is allowed only one tag per period, and only when there is a stop in the action.

"We created tag-team rules for actual folkstyle wrestling, and they've been very successful and very popular at the MidwoodMania [held each spring], so we're now trying it with the kids at the Exhibition," he explained.

A key reason for organizing the Midwood Wrestling Exhibition is to build interest in the sport of wrestling, which Coach Hero said is the "greatest sport" in the world. "It needs more exposure," and he added that it is "disgusting" that non-sports are included in the Olympics, a move "motivated by profit, nothing else."

We also discussed how he plans to propose holding regular large tournaments for ex-wrestlers, how other schools should try putting on tag-team matches, plans for MidwoodMania in the spring where he will again return to the mat, and much more.

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

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

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Brooklyn, Coach George Hero, Eddie Goldman, folkstyle, greatest sport, Midwood Wrestling Exhibition 2014, No Holds Barred, tag teams

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with San Diego, California-based catch wrestler Luis Ojeda.

On Saturday, August 30, he will wrestling in the main event of the Liberty Bell Classic/King of Catch Wrestling Tournament.

This match will be for the American heavyweight catch wrestling championship.

In this match, Luis Ojeda, the two-time King of Catch Wrestling heavyweight champion, will face Anthony Sansonetti, the 2013 King of Catch Wrestling USA absolute division champion.

This match will be best two-out-of-three falls, with each fall having a 15-minute time limit, and take place in a ring.

Presented by the North American Catch Wrestling Association and Scientific Wrestling, the Liberty Bell Classic/King of Catch Wrestling Tournament takes place Saturday, August 30, at Primal Gym, 231 Bakers Basin Road, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648. At it, there will be an amateur tournament as well as this main event. In all these matches, you can only win by pin or submission, with no points or judges.

We spoke with Luis Ojeda by phone Monday.

With an extensive background in numerous grappling disciplines including freestyle and American folkstyle wrestling, judo, sambo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the Swiss folkstyle wrestling called Schwingen, Luis Ojeda was well-prepared when he finally started training and competing in catch wrestling.

"There was a match that I was supposed to do against an MMA fighter, and we were going to do a grappling match, but we couldn't decide on the rules," he recalled. "He was about 280 pounds, and I said, 'Hey, why don't we add pins? Let's add pins to this.' And he didn't really like that. He said, 'Ahh, I'm afraid you're going to pin me because I spend time on my back.'"

He continued, "That's when I was looking on the Internet and I was lucky to find Jake [Shannon] and Scientific Wrestling."

He was invited to train with them, and said, "I felt lucky, because I got to train with some of the best -- Dick Cardinal, and then later with the late Billy Robinson."

We thus discussed his accomplishments in this recently-revived sport, including winning the heavyweight championship in 2007 and 2012 at the King of Catch Wrestling USA tournaments.

We also discussed why he believes that watching catch wrestling is "more exciting than watching a UFC fight", why he actually finds Schwingen wrestling to be the "most challenging style", his continuing training in many styles of grappling, his coaching high school wrestling, the potential for catch wrestling to re-emerge as a major professional sport, and much more.

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

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

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

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

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

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

The Liberty Bell Classic / King of Catch Wrestling Tournament, presented by the North American Catch Wrestling Association and Scientific Wrestling. In this tournament, you can only win by pin or submission, with no points. It all takes place Saturday, August 30, at Primal Gym, 231 Bakers Basin Road, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648. For more information, go to KingOfCatchWrestling.com.

Scientific Wrestling, igniting a revolution in grappling based on the pursuit of traditional Catch-As-Catch-Can wrestling. Our people are legitimate Scientific Wrestling practitioners united around training, competition, innovation, grueling physical conditioning, camaraderie, and the sharing of reliable resources. For more information, go to ScientificWrestling.com.

Snake Pit U.S.A., whose primary mission is to breathe new life into real catch-as-catch-can wrestling and help lead the catch wrestling revolution for martial artists and those pursuing recreational training and fitness alike. For more information, 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 TakedownRadio.com.

Labels: Anthony Sansonetti, BJJ, catch wrestling, Eddie Goldman, folkstyle, freestyle, grappling, judo, Liberty Bell Classic, Luis Ojeda, No Holds Barred, sambo, Schwingen

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 U.S. freestyle wrestling Olympian, two-time NCAA Div. I national champion wrestler, and undefeated MMA fighter Ben Askren.

Although he was their welterweight champion and still unbeaten, he was recently released by Bellator MMA. He is now a free agent in MMA, so with his future uncertain, he is focusing much of his time on returning to his roots, the sport of wrestling.

But rather than resuming his career on the international freestyle circuit, Ben Askren is now playing a pivotal role in the revival of real wrestling as a professional sport. He wrestled in the main event of the debut show of the Agon Wrestling Championships on October 27, 2013, handily defeating two-time NCAA champion and four-time NCAA All-American wrestler Quentin Wright by a score of 22-8. Agon uses a blend of freestyle and American folkstyle rules, and this match was held at 195 pounds. Now Ben Askren will also act as the matchmaker for Agon, whose second show is slated for December in Michigan, as he decides what his future will be in MMA and in wrestling.

We spoke with Ben Askren by phone Monday.

The vote in February by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee, later overturned in September at the full IOC meeting, to remove wrestling from the program of the Olympic Games set off a firestorm of activity in the wrestling community. One key development in the U.S. was the re-emergence of a circuit featuring real professional wrestling. The Agon Wrestling Championships and Tour ACW had their first shows in October. The Victory Wrestling Challenge is debuting Friday, November 22, in Omaha, Nebraska. The second annual Grapple at the Garden event, set for December 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York, will be headlined by a professional freestyle match between Kyle Dake and Bubba Jenkins, along with its slate of NCAA dual meets and high school and middle school matches. Right now these events are operating independently, although several wrestlers have been competing in more than one of them.

"At this point we all have the same idea. It's just going to come down to who's going to execute the idea the best," said Ben Askren. But he believes that Agon has a bright future.

"We've already announced a second and a third and a fourth event. So we're getting pretty ambitious in this. I think we have a really good plan to be around for a long time, to the point where we're not really losing money off the bat. We're kind of breaking even with our events, and that way we'll be around for a long time."

We discussed how Agon plans to get more high-level wrestlers involved and run regular events, how they hope to create a situation where top wrestlers can make a good living from the sport, and how Agon is non-exclusive for the athletes. We also talked about the "untapped market" of both athletes and spectators in wrestling, his desire to wrestle Kyle Dake, the concurrent rebirth of catch wrestling, and much more.

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

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

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

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

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

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: Agon Wrestling Championships, Ben Askren, Eddie Goldman, folkstyle, freestyle, MMA, No Holds Barred, real professional

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Teague Moore, head wrestling coach at American University and a founder of the Association of Career Wrestlers - Tour ACW.

The Tour ACW inaugural and test event, using a blend of freestyle and American folkstyle wrestling rules, is set to take place Sunday, October 20, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency - Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

There will be a free, live stream of this event at Nside Wrestling.

Among the competitors in the five weight classes being contested are former NCAA Div. I national champions Frank Molinaro, Jay Borschel, and Cam Simaz, as well as numerous former All-American and experienced folkstyle and freestyle wrestlers.

The format for the competition in each weight class is a same-day, single elimination tournament. Each match will have no time limit, with the winner being determined when one wrestler scores ten points, or, of course, scores a pin. The winners in each weight class will earn $2500.

We spoke with Teague Moore by phone Sunday to preview this event.

"We're excited to see how they mix it up next Sunday, this twist in the rules that we've created with the first-to-ten," he said. "We really think that we're going to see some great head-to-head matchups, and we're excited about that."

We also spoke about how he expects this test event to unfold, what changes may have to be made in the future, the future plans for Tour ACW in 2014 and beyond, the growing list of this event's sponsors, the essential use of social media to promote wrestling, and much more.

"Our future is in the hands of the fans," he stressed.

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.

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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: Association of Career Wrestlers, Eddie Goldman, folkstyle, freestyle, No Holds Barred, Teague Moore, Tour ACW, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Coach George Hero, the legendary coach and founder of the Midwood High School wrestling team in Brooklyn, New York.

On Friday, October 11, Midwood High School will be the scene of the Midwood Wrestling Exhibition 2013.

The event runs from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM, at the Campus Road Gymnasium of Midwood High School, 2839 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11210, right across the street from Brooklyn College.

As in previous years, the Midwood Wrestling Exhibition 2013 both kicks off and promotes the upcoming 2013-14 wrestling season, and features a number of alumni matches, all under American folkstyle rules.

The current Midwood wrestlers have been divided into a blue team against a red team. Coach Hero, now 55 years old, will be wrestling in a folkstyle tag team match, otherwise under NCAA rules, teaming with Dan Brereton against the team of Brian Anderson and Jon Guarino. This match will have three four-minute periods, with only one tag allowed per period, and only when there is a lull or stop in the action. There will also be three individual alumni matches under folkstyle rules.

We spoke with Coach George Hero by phone Monday about the Midwood Wrestling Exhibition 2013 and the state of wrestling.

Besides what is going on at Midwood wrestling, the historical and abject failure of the people running wrestling to publicize and promote the sport was one of our main topics.

"Again, part of the problem is we really don't advertise the sport enough. People aren't familiar enough with it," said Coach Hero. "And as a result, most people tend to associate wrestling with WWE and the sideshows. And they really don't understand what wrestling is.

"For me, I think wrestling is probably the purest sport in the sense that it's physical chess. It really requires not only conditioning and strength, and drilling and technique, it also requires a lot of strategy. It's a thinking person's sport. It really is."

He continued, "It's the purest form, because you're not beating someone bloody or knocking them out. You're not putting them in holds to punish them, to make them submit. You're actually using skill, technique, endurance, and strategy to beat the person, to pin their shoulders, or to be able to scores point. And I think that there's something about that that makes it even more challenging."

We also discussed the need for wrestling to be aggressively promoted, why his favorite wrestling style is American folkstyle, why champion wrestlers like Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake should be major sports stars, 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.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

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: Brooklyn, Coach George Hero, Eddie Goldman, folkstyle, Midwood Wrestling Exhibition 2013, No Holds Barred, purest sport, tag teams, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Ernie Ciaccio, the associate director of the newly-founded Agon Wrestling Championships.

Using a blend of American folkstyle and freestyle wrestling rules, the Agon Wrestling Championships is planning a series of shows featuring real professional wrestling.

The first event, named Agon 1 - The Revolution, will take place at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, October 27, 2013. The main event will feature the undefeated Bellator MMA welterweight champion, two-time NCAA champion, and 2008 U.S. Olympian, Ben Askren, against another two-time NCAA champion and four-time NCAA All-American wrestler, Quentin Wright. More matches are set to be announced, starting at their kickoff news conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Saturday, August 31.

A live Internet pay-per-view of Agon 1 - The Revolution is also being planned to be shown on FloWrestling.org.

We spoke with Ernie Ciaccio by phone Friday night about this new organization and their plans.

"The pinnacle of wrestling should be a professional world champion," he said. "If we can create that system, it will protect the Olympic dream, the collegiate dream, and high school wrestling and wrestling at the grassroots."

He added, "That's what we believe. It's our conviction, and we're going to execute on it."

We had a lengthy discussion on the highlights of the rules for this new event.

"This is going to be a style unique to itself," he said. "It's going to take the best of folkstyle and the best of freestyle and combine them, and take the worst part of those styles and throw them out the window."

In the Agon Wrestling Championships, a takedown is worth two points, but requires control, as in American folkstyle. There are no points for escapes.

Getting back exposure, like in freestyle, will be worth two points, with extended exposure such as in a near-fall worth an additional point. The push-out rule will also be kept.

After the action goes to the mat, the offensive wrestler will have 30 seconds to score. If there is no scoring, then the wrestlers are returned to their feet.

Pins are called after one-half second.

A system for dealing with stalling is being worked on, with the possibility of having a yellow card system, similar to the one Pride FC had, although that is not set.

Each match is three periods of three minutes each. If the score is tied at the end of three periods, there is an unlimited, sudden victory overtime, with no time limit.

"These rules easy for fans to understand," he said, while also guaranteeing action.

We also discussed the philosophy behind the establishment of the Agon Wrestling Championships; why creating an event which showcases role models for the youth is key; why they want to develop a "quality show" which learns from the best parts of how MMA has been promoted; the need for getting the best personnel and building a self-sustaining enterprise; why they are developing this independently from the "wrestling bureaucracy"; how they can avoid the mistakes which led to the downfall of previous attempts at building real professional wrestling organizations; and much more.

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

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

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

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

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

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.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

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 First Annual Liberty Bell Classic East Coast King of Catch Tournament, organized by the North American Catch Wrestling Association in conjunction with Scientific Wrestling. This catch wrestling tournament will take place Saturday, August 31, 2013, at the Klein JCC, 10100 Jamison Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19116. No points! No politics! Only submissions and pins win! For more information, go to http://nacwa.weebly.com.

Labels: Agon Wrestling Championships, Ben Askren, Eddie Goldman, Ernie Ciaccio, folkstyle, freestyle, No Holds Barred, Quentin Wright

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses the future of wrestling, the continuing problems and crisis facing Olympic wrestling, and the rebirth and growth of catch wrestling.

Highlighted are audio quotes we have gotten over the years on these topics from many people around the world, including: MMA pioneer and grappler John Perretti; Clint Kingsbury of Wrestling Canada Lutte; Olympic freestyle wrestling champion, coach, and former MMA fighter Kevin Jackson; MMA legend and former Greco-Roman wrestling US champion Randy Couture; NCAA Div. 2 wrestling champion and pro wrestler Bob Backlund; NCAA champion Teague Moore of Tour ACW; wrestling historians Nathan Hatton and Mike Chapman; Snake Pit Wigan catch wrestling legends Roy Wood and Billy Robinson; Garry Davis of Brazen Martial Arts; Steve Nelson of USWF Shootfighting and head wrestling coach at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, Texas; Dan Kanagie of the North American Catch Wrestling Association; Jon Strickland of American Carny Style Catch as Catch Can Wrestling; John Potenza of the Snake Pit USA Catch Wrestling Association; Raul Ramirez of Catch Wrestling Los Angeles; Kris Iatskevich of the ISWA: Coach George Hero of Midwood High School Wrestling; and Jake Shannon of Scientific Wrestling.

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.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

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 First Annual Liberty Bell Classic East Coast King of Catch Tournament, organized by the North American Catch Wrestling Association in conjunction with Scientific Wrestling. This catch wrestling tournament will take place Saturday, August 31, 2013, at the Klein JCC, 10100 Jamison Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19116. No points! No politics! Only submissions and pins win! For more information, go to http://nacwa.weebly.com.

Labels: catch, catch-as-catch-can, Eddie Goldman, folkstyle, freestyle, Greco, No Holds Barred, Olympics, Snake Pit Wigan, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Teague Moore, head wrestling coach at American University and a founder of the Association of Career Wrestlers - Tour ACW.

The Association of Career Wrestlers - Tour ACW is a new, independent organization which aims at creating a series of wrestling events featuring "past collegiate wrestlers not focusing on training for the senior level to be able to continue to compete in the sport of wrestling," according to their web site. Eventually they hope to establish a new, real professional wrestling circuit, using a combination of American folkstyle and freestyle rules.

A major difference of Tour ACW rules, however, is that there will be no time limits, with the winner being determined when one wrestler scores ten points, or, of course, scores a pin. This is to ensure that there is continuous action and as little stalling as possible.

Their first event will be a test event, and will be held Sunday, October 20, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency - Pittsburgh International Airport in the Grand Ballroom. The event will award a total of $12,500 in prize money.

We spoke with Teague Moore by phone Thursday about this innovative concept and the plans for ACW.

"This first test event in Pittsburgh is really to just get our feet wet and see if we're on the right path," he said. "As we get into 2014, our hope is to have an event in April, another in July, and another in October of next year."

This one aims to "work out the kinks," and will mainly attract "dedicated wrestling fans," but this will also hopefully just be the start. ACW wants to build "something that mainstream media can start to look at."

He continued, "Ultimately long-term, we want to start to reach out to the casual sports fan, maybe the MMA fan that hasn't seen the sport of wrestling or followed the sport of wrestling. We're thinking we might be able to create a better product for them to follow."

We also discussed some of the problems that led to the early demise of the Real Pro Wrestling organization, in which he wrestled, almost a decade ago. He elaborated on the ACW scoring system, the possibility of webcasts of their events and eventually having them televised, 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.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

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 First Annual Liberty Bell Classic East Coast King of Catch Tournament, organized by the North American Catch Wrestling Association in conjunction with Scientific Wrestling. This catch wrestling tournament will take place Saturday, August 31, 2013, at the Klein JCC, 10100 Jamison Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19116. No points! No politics! Only submissions and pins win! For more information, go to http://nacwa.weebly.com.

Labels: Association of Career Wrestlers, Eddie Goldman, folkstyle, freestyle, No Holds Barred, Teague Moore, Tour ACW, wrestling

On this edition of No Holds Barred, the tables were turned as host Eddie Goldman was interviewed by Scott Casber, host of Takedown Wrestling Radio.

This discussion, which was recorded Wednesday, covered the major controversies and the latest developments in the world of wrestling, including international and catch wrestling.

Here is the description of the show by Scott Casber:

Eddie Goldman Brings It in a Candid Interview with Takedown Wrestling Radio

No Holds Barred founder and host Eddie Goldman has covered it all: boxing, wrestling, MMA, etc. Today he opens up as only the Godfather of MMA will do. The Conscience of Wrestling tells it the way he sees it. You may be surprised at some of the things he says. Join Eddie and me for our new monthly conversation on the condition of wrestling!

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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.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

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, Eddie Goldman, FILA, folkstyle, freestyle, Greco-Roman, IOC, Iowa, No Holds Barred, Olympics, Scott Casber, Takedown Radio, wrestling

Labels: college, Cornell, Eddie Goldman, folkstyle, freestyle, Grapple, Greco-Roman, Kyle Dake, Madison Square Garden, NCAA, No Holds Barred, wrestling