Classic Catch Wrestling

A couple weeks ago we did one of these black and white preservation deal on Judo and people really liked it alot and still go back and look at it. I thought it may be fun to do one on Catch As Catch Can Wrestling. It actually predates Judo and was also practiced by Maeda in and before he went to Brazil. It is currently enjoying a new interest among grapplers as well as MMA competitors. I've been doing Catchwrestling for many years and I for one love it and hope everyone enjoys these old film clips.

The above film is from 1903 the next one is from 1920 so the quality is obviously deteriorating which is all the more reason to try and preserve it.  To give you an idea of how old this art is I will give you a little known fact. What became the old NWA pro wrestling with Ric Flair and all that actually started in Illinois in the 1800's. Believe it or not the first ever champion was none other than Abraham Lincoln who of course went on to become president. George Washington defeated 10 other wrestlers back to back in his military unit to get his rank. another little known fact.

Now this next video features the first ever sanctioned MMA match in the United  States in 1963 Gene Lebell vs Milo Savage. Yes Gene Lebell did Judo too but everyone that follows grappling knows Gene Lebell was a Catchwrestler.

Gee do any of these submission attempts below look familiar in this vid from 1934?

Check out this old wrestling footage from France in 1906