Catch

[Kari Aittomäki]

Tuli muuten mieleen että tuo yhdyssana oxford on aikas huumoristinen.
Sonnien kahluupaikka yli vaikean veden.
Sinänsä hyvin osuva mielikuva. Britit osaa maalata sanoilla, miltei yhtähyvin kuin venäläiset.

Juu, koirakoirat haittää hävitessään selälleen kurkkunsa paljastaen eli totaaliantautuu. Jalostetuista raatelukoirista mulla on ristiriitaisia tietoja.
Mä olen saanu rotweilerista antautumisreaktion aikaan, löin kovahkon avarin kaaliinsa ja nostin kurkusta selälleen tonttiin, ääntäkin käyttäen.
Sälli luopu ja jätti mun vanhan pystykorvani rauhaan.

Omistajansa pääsi miltei catch-karuselliin kun kuvitteli olevansa pahakin niska.
Sattans paukapää.

[tapsaattori]

Tässä videolla catch(?) valmentaja David Petrone. Minkähän tason tekijä hän?

Tässä tekniikka ohjeessa haetaan venäläinen ikäänkuin kyynärvarren baseball otteeseen josta taitetaan alas ja jatketaan suoraan linkkariin.. no enpä oo hommaa koittanut, mutta tuntuu jotenkin että osaava kaveri olis tosi hankala noin taittaa maton pintaan mä oon tehny nyppäystä alas venäläisestä ja se vaatii tosi hyvän kontrollin hartiaseudusta ja onnistuneen työntö-veto vaihdon

Toi baseballote sinällään vois pelata ja kenties se jälkimmäinen turparuuvi siinä ei tartte niin alas..

[Jasse]

Ei ole tuttu tämän videon tyyppi. Ei vakuuta tyyppi eikä tekniikka. Catch-wrestlingin nimissä on nykyään jos jonkinlaista yrittäjää ja tekniikkaa. Itselleni Catch on vapaata painia seläytykseen tai luovutukseen. tästä pisimmät peristeet on Catch Wrestling Alliancen porukoilla. Eli Snake Pit Wiganin ja American Hook Wrestingin linjoilla. Sitten on vielä catch-vaikutteista lukkopainia ja vapaaottelua jota edustaa hienosti ainakin Sakuraba ja Barnett. Vahva pruspaini on kuitenkin kaiken perusta. Ilman sitä tempuilla ei tee mitään. Siihen lähtisin mallia katsomaan ihan colliage/folkstyle-painista.

Pro-paini on tietysti erottomasti yhteydessä Catchiin. Varsinkin Japanissa:



Itse olen tosta positiosta lopettnut hyviäkin tyyppejä salilla:

[tapsaattori]

Onpa tiukan näkönen nelson paketti. Itse asiassa just Japanilaisilta painijoilta näkee paljon erilaisia käsivääntöjä mistä kammetaan selälleen. Se, että liittyykö se muuhun kuin siihen, että otteet on toimivia niin en tiedä.

Ei vakuuta Petrone muakaa, alas nyppäykset ei vaan toimi tollai. Linkkareihin muutenki päästään useassa tapauksessa ennemminkin vastustajan aloitteesta, ei tuollee kuten Petrone että nypätään alas ja näppärästi ukko on valmiiksi linkussa.

David Taylor selittää tekniikkaa yksityiskohtaisesti ja otteeseen päästään kun vastustaja tuo pään lähelle polvia


Linkkari vastaliikkeenä yhden jalan alasvientii, on mahdollista kun vastustaja pitää jalat lähelle pysyäkseen pystyssä paineen alle


Mä oon päässy linkkariotteisiin half guard ohitus tilanteissa missä vastustaja menee sykkyrään ja siitä kun kravattiotteesta alta nousee jaloille

[tapsaattori]

Ylempään viitaten tässä Yui Susaki hakee selätystä jalkakäännöllä (turk) ja kampeamalla leuasta.

[Jasse]

Hyvän näkösiä linkkareita.

Tässä väkevä kuva. Taitaa olla sopupaini menossa. Mutta catchiä sekin.

[Jasse]

Historioitsija Mark Hewitt laittoin taas mielenkiintoista catch-stooria FBn painihistoria-saluunaan. Tässä kokonaisuudessaan kopioituna(lihavointi omaani):

There has been some recent discussion about the Pesek vs Plestina contest in 1921. As with many other of Pesek's iconic matches, I've been researching the subject for many years. Though I've previously written about this particular bout, in light of additional information, it may be a good time to revisit it. Pesek vs. Plestina is a classic example of an old-time professional wrestling "policeman" in action. So below find my first offering of 2023. Best wishes to all in this new year.

Tigerman John Pesek and Marin Plestina-Irresistable Force Meets Immovable Object

John Pesek was a Nebraska farm boy and a natural-born wrestler. He recalled, “I have been wrestling as long as I can remember. When I was a boy going to school, I learned to look after myself, and a little later I wrestled with the cowboys out on the prairies. We knew little or nothing about rules. The hard ground was the mat, and it was always rough and tumble-Rafferty’s rules, where the one that could last the longest was the winner.” (1.) After beating all the locals who fancied that they could wrestle, everyone on the itinerant threshing crews, and a notorious town bully in a bloody street fight, Pesek began making a name for himself in the pro mat ranks and soon was reputed to be one of top men on the circuit.
Pesek’s rugged prowess was such that he was recruited by the Billy Sandow/Ed “Strangler” Lewis troupe to serve as their “policeman.” Pesek functioned as a buffer against unwanted and untested challengers. The threat of having to face Pesek was enough to ward off most troublemakers. He was pitted against several of Lewis’ persistent challengers in legit “shoot matches”, including the Olympian Nat Pendleton, Armas Laitenen of Finland, Jack Taylor, Charley Hanson and the highly-publicized “Trustbuster” Marin Plestina.
He related in an interview, “I was the policeman of the camp of Ed ‘Strangler’ Lewis for years, taking care of the wrestlers Lewis did not desire, for one reason or another, to meet...” He further noted that “the bigger they were when they tried to get by me, the farther they wanted to get away from the Lewis camp after the match was over.” (2.)
Canadian Jack Taylor was vying to prove himself a worthy contender for heavyweight title honors. Taylor had been trained by Clarence Eklund and then further honed his catch-as-catch-can skills under the tutelage of Farmer Burns. Pesek and Taylor had a long-standing feud. Their first encounter ended in a no-contest, and a subsequent rematch was awarded to Pesek after he had won the only fall in 2 hours and 20-minutes’ worth of grueling wrestling.
A Pesek backer passed through Casper, Wyoming, where Taylor was making his headquarters, and talked up a third contest between the two antagonists. A side-bet match was arranged for October 31, 1921 at the Iris Theater in Casper. Both Taylor and Pesek placed a $1,000 wager on the outcome. Considerable betting action among the sporting crowd followed, with the Tigerman being the favorite. Weights were announced as 215 pounds for Taylor and 208 for Pesek.
After 2 ½ hours of stalemate, the wrestlers requested a draw, as both were in a state of exhaustion. Ready to riot, the crowd cried out for a decisive ending. The wrestlers took a 10-minute rest and resumed the battle. Thirty minutes later, Pesek had his opponent trapped in an armlock combined with a scissors. Taylor called out to referee Tony Woblenski, “Take him off me! He’s hurting me!” The referee patted the Nebraskan on his back and awarded him the fall on a submission.
The two ringside judges disputed the ref’s ruling and maintained that Taylor had not surrendered, but rather was alerting the official that he was being fouled. Following a heated discussion among all parties involved. The wrestlers retreated to their dressing rooms for a 15-minute break. Several doctors examined Taylor, and they all concurred that he had severe groin injuries, including a rupture. Taylor would later claim to have been eye-gouged as well. The Canadian could not return to the mat, and the referee proclaimed Pesek the winner.
The judges disagreed among themselves and insisted that all bets be called off; which the ref refused to do. The side-bet money was held up until the next day. It was decided, in the interest of good sportsmanship, that Pesek should receive his hard-earned winnings.
A few weeks later following the Taylor bout, Pesek handed the big Croat Marin Plestina a brutal drubbing. Plestina, billed as the “Tarzan of the Mat,” was the most publicized of all the “trustbusters”; meaning wrestlers not affiliated with the promotional “trusts” or alliances. Plestina had been recruited while still a teenager to be Frank Gotch’s workout partner. Big, bulky, and strong, he was trained by Paul Martinson in Chicago, before being scouted by Gotch and Farmer Burns. In fact, the Farmer had hoped to make him Gotch’s successor. In addition to Burns and Gotch, Plestina also did stints under the tutelage of Billy Sandow, Emil Klank and Pete Loch-quite a pedigree. Plestina was a slow defensive-style wrestler and lacked the color to catch on with either the promoters or the fans. Plestina and his blustery manager J.C. Marsh, himself a veteran wrestler, were the proverbial thorns in the flesh of organized professional wrestling. The Marsh-Plestina duo were the last of the independent barnstorming wrestling troupes. The enigmatic J.C. Marsh was the one most responsible for making Plestina into a nationally-known figure. Marsh had a long and colorful career in pro wrestling and should actually be considered one of the sport’s all-time greats as to both his influence and his accomplishments. He used different monikers during his mat career, including Ole Marsh and Joe Carroll before finally settling on J.C. Marsh. Marsh began life in 1869 in Decorah, Iowa. His father was an early settler and blacksmith. J.C. Marsh’s birth name was Melvin Marsh, but he soon became known as George. Influenced by old-time wrestler Duncan McMillan he became an accomplished grappler and began touring the circuit along with another Iowan Martin “Farmer” Burns. They later added yet another native of Iowa, the future great Frank Gotch into their troupe. They barnstormed the countryside wrestling one another and taking on all comers. Marsh made a couple forays up to the Klondike where he wrestled before the Gold Rush miners. Marsh took Gotch along on one of the tours to the “far north”. He took over managing Gotch and helped train him for his first heavyweight championship; which he won from Tom Jenkins in 1904.
Marsh split with Gotch and set up his base in the Seattle area wrestling and promoting. In 1909 he was indicted for his involvement with the John C. Mabray gang of sports swindlers. Mabray and his cronies set up staged wrestling and boxing matches and horse and foot races to defraud victims with betting schemes and con games. Marsh pled guilty to conspiracy and fraud and was sentenced to 15 months in Leavenworth Prison. He was released after serving a little under a year. Marsh was involved in mining and real estate interests until 1917 when his old associate Farmer Burns persuaded him to get back into the game and manage one of his prize pupils Marin Plestina.
As a team, Plestina and Marsh proved to be custom made for one another; a natural combination if there ever was one. The Tarzan was trumpeted up and down the length and breadth of North America as the unbeatable, uncrowned champion that everyone was afraid to meet. This was not actually true, since both Joe Stecher and Earl Caddock held clean victories over him. But the sportswriters ate up the trustbuster story and gave it plenty of press and publicity, much to the chagrin of the ever-cautious Billy Sandow. Lewis, as fierce as a buzz saw, would have jumped into the ring with a gorilla if need be. The Strangler displayed his capability in a street fight with Plestina that took place in a New York Pullman car in June of 1920. Crossing paths while traveling, Plestina lashed out at Lewis as being afraid to meet him in the ring. Lewis plowed into his rival, took him down and pounded on him until he was pulled off by porters and passengers. Plestina was left with a bloody nose and two black eyes. (3.) Nevertheless, Sandow ruled out a contest with Plestina. There was too much money at stake, and for all he knew the hype might be real.
The eccentric physical culture guru Bernarr MacFadden, himself a former wrestler, took up Plestina’s cause and promoted a “world championship” contest between the Tarzan and Jack Taylor, which was won by the former. MacFadden posted a $50,000 guarantee to match his “champ” with any top-notch wrestler on the current scene. Madison Square Garden boxing promoter Tex Rickard was anxious to get his hands into the lucrative pro wrestling game and also jumped on the Plestina bandwagon. The leading sports periodical in the country, the Police Gazette regularly trumpeted Plestina’s claims. Even the Brooklyn chapter of the American Legion issued a statement backing Plestina. Something had to be done. But as it would turn out, the bark of Plestina’s backers would prove to be bigger than the wrestler’s actual bite!
At what the New York Herald described as “a meeting of the majority of the managers of the leading wrestlers,” (4.) it was decided that Pesek would be put forth as a trial horse for Plestina. If the much-vaunted “trustbuster” could get through the Tigerman, other matches with likes of Strangler Lewis would be arranged. Pesek publicly took up the gauntlet thrown down by Marsh and Plestina. Rickard set up the contest at the Garden in New York City for November 14, 1921. It was billed for the “American Heavyweight Championship.” A handsome diamond-studded trophy belt was promised the winner. One sportswriter opined that it would be “the first legitimate championship title contested for since the days of Gotch.” (5.) Rickard planned to match the victor with one of the Zbyszko brothers, Stanislaus or Wladek.
It was announced that Rickard was ushering in the start of “real ‘shooting’ matches.” (6.) A lot of publicity was generated about what holds would be allowed. It was finally declared that only the strangle hold would be barred. The contest was best two-out-three falls or one fall in two hours. In the case that the match went the full two hours without a single fall, Plestina and Pesek would wrestle an additional hour. After that extra sixty minutes if there were still no falls, the match would end in a draw. Master old-time wrestler George Bothner was called on by Rickard to serve as the referee. Bothner had helped arrange Pesek’s participation on the Rickard card. But the New York State Boxing Commission denied him a permit, citing that he was already licensed as a matchmaker. Johnny Fleeson from the Prospect Sporting Club in Brooklyn was selected as the referee. Fleeson was well-known as a sports promoter, manager and mat official. It was stated that Fleeson was “the only referee who could be put in who wouldn’t know the winner in advance.” (7.) Former champ Tom Jenkins and Frank ”Bucky” O’Neil, an attorney, sportswriter and former boxing commissioner served as the judges. The State Commission would be represented by chairman William Muldoon, deputy commissioner and boxing impresario Tom O’Rourke, and “honorary commissioner” Charles A. Thorley. Both wrestlers met with the commission and posted $1000 appearance forfeits.
On the day of the contest, it was announced that Pesek had injured one of his arms in training, Rickard’s doctors promptly examined him and pronounced him in perfect shape. Plestina’s camp suspected that the injured arm claim was simply an extra insurance policy in the event that Pesek lost, at which time he could insist that he had not been at his best due to the bad limb. But the Tigerman had no intention of being pinned by the mighty Tarzan. Weights were recorded as 184 pounds for Pesek and 230 ½ pounds for Plestina. Pesek’s weight varied from 180-208. Coming in at a lighter weight shows that he how finely trained he was for the bout, nothing but muscle and bone. In contrast, Plestina was said to look chunky around the waist. One reporter even called him “hog fat.”
Insiders knew this was going to be a “blood match”, meaning the real thing, and all were anxious to find out what the Tarzan could actually do. Sitting at ringside was a virtual who’s who of pro wrestling, past and present. The observant faces of Ernest Roeber, Dr. B.F. Roller, Ed “Strangler” Lewis, and Billy Sandow were all noted in the crowd. The match would turn out to be an old-fashioned rough-and-tumble brawl, the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the days of Mike Fink or Bill “the Butcher” Poole. (8.)
Pesek lost no time, immediately tearing into his 230-pound adversary. From the onset, Pesek resorted to rough-and-tumble tactics: eye gouging, strangling, and head butting. Pesek’s son Jack recounted, “Very early in the match a cruel and neck-wrenching front face lock had taken much of the fight out of Plestina.” (9.) The Tigerman trapped Plestina in a reverse headlock a few times, but the Croat powered himself loose. The referee warned Pesek repeatedly against his penchant for foul tactics, but the words fell on deaf ears. Finally, at the 11-minute and 19-second mark, Fleeson stepped between the combatants and disqualified Pesek for the first fall. O’Rourke approached the Nebraskan and ordered him to refrain from any further gouging. Plestina’s second Al Copeland shouted that his man didn’t want to win by the disqualification route.
As the two adversaries resumed the match, Pesek took Plestina down with a body hold and roll. Maintaining the top position, Pesek went after a chinlock. “Pesek could do nothing with the mountain of beef that was beneath him. He tugged and hauled and he tried to get first one and then another hold…” (10.) Plestina finally gathered up his strength, and rose up, shaking the human tiger off his back. There was no question that Plestina was indeed a powerful man. They had spent seven minutes grappling on the mat, and that was the total amount of ground work throughout the entire contest. Several times Pesek was observed looking over at Sandow and Lewis seated at ringside, as if seeking advice. Pesek attacked again, gouging, butting, and punching his big opponent. Former boxing champion James J. Corbett described that “Pesek used every dirty trick that a wrestler could use. He gouged, butted, kicked and punched, He ripped open both of Plestina’s eyes and tore at his ears…blood ran down in rivulets.” (11.) After 24-minutes and 4-seconds of this mayhem, the ref separated the wrestlers and again disqualified Pesek for the second fall, and thus the match.
Fleeson left the ring; as far as he was concerned the bout, or more accurately the fight, was over. O’Rourke rushed up and confronted the departing referee and questioned why he had stopped the match. Fleeson expressed concern for Plestina’s eyes. O’Rourke responded, “He’s big enough to defend himself. Why don’t he rough it too?” (12.) O’Rourke pointed to Muldoon who gruffly ruled that they must keep at it until a fall was registered, even “if it takes all night.” (13.) Fleeson was forced to resume the bout.
The commission’s over-ruling of the referee was “like a tonic to Pesek, who became even more daring in his fouls…” (14.) A slugging and mauling brawl ensued as Plestina vainly tried to fight back against his relentless aggressor. Plestina swung and punched at the air. He was heard to mutter, “God! Don’t kill me!.” (15.) One of his eyes was completely closed, and the other was half shut. He was bleeding from his nose, mouth, and from cuts on his face. Pesek pummeled his foe with open-hand strikes, forearm smashes, and shoulder butts. The fans were at a fever pitch, and the police had to restrain several spectators who attempted to climb into the ring and join the battle royal. Just five seconds more than seven minutes after the match was resumed, the referee jumped between the desperate gladiators and ordered Pesek to his corner. He then proceeded to stop the match for the final time. O’Rourke and Muldoon still wanted the match to continue to a positive finish. O’Neil and Thorley were adamant that it should be halted. Roeber joined the debate and sided with Fleeson’s call. Muldoon relented and Plestina was declared the winner due to Pesek’s constant and deliberate fouling. Furthermore, Muldoon barred the Nebraska Tigerman from ever wrestling in New York again. Rickard was ordered to withhold Pesek’s share of the purse. A Nebraska newspaper remarked that the match’s real outcome was that Fleeson had “won a three -round decision from the commission.” (16.)
Both Pesek’s manager Larney Lichtenstein, and Plestina’s manager, J.C. Marsh, had their licenses suspended pending an investigation. The Tarzan could barely see and had to be led out of the ring. He was taken to Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, where his eyes were treated. Lichtenstein denied all responsibility for Pesek’s actions and announced that he would sever all his ties with the Tigerman. In realty Lichtenstein continued managing the Tigerman into the next year, when Billy Sandow outright bought his contract and placed him under his brother Max Baumann.
Pesek retaliated against the allegations with a telegram, insisting, “Everything I did in my match with Marin Plestina was ordered by Larney Lichtensten…If I did anything wrong it was because I was told to do so by him.” He added that he was ready to “wrestle Plestina in any State where all holds are not barred and will bet my own money that I can win.” (17.) “It’s unclear as to whether Lichtenstein’s orders ultimately came from Curley or Sandow, but it is clear that John Pesek didn’t foul because he felt like fouling. Nevertheless, he had done his job. Plestina was discredited as a viable threat.” (18.)
Pesek always insisted that he couldn’t get Plestina to “mix it up” and boasted that during the entire match his opponent “never saw my back.” (19.) It was said that Sandow had specifically instructed Pesek to gouge the eyes of the “trustbuster.” Rickard charged that he’d been “jobbed” and that rival promoters under Jack Curley had conspired to discredit his initial venture into the wrestling biz. It was much more likely a double-hit, two birds with one stone. Curley was trying to shut down a rival promoter and Plestina was targeted to end his “trustbusting” campaign.
A sportswriter reported, “Plestina revealed no great ability.” (20.) Another scribe called him “a fourth-rater possessed of little heart.” (21.) Plestina, who’d been hailed as a superman, was exposed; his fangs had been pulled. At Marsh’s insistence, Plestina and Pesek met in a rematch at the Coliseum in Chicago under promoter John “Doc” Krone. The Windy City was believed to be a much friendlier atmosphere for Marsh and Plestina than New York. Krone put up an advertised $20,000 purse. The Chicago Athletic Commission warned both competitors that any illegal “roughhouse” practice would not be tolerated. Plestina was guaranteed a match with Lewis if he won. After some initial disagreement over the choice of referee, the commission stepped in and named Emil Thiry to officiate along with two judges; Charlie Postl for Plestina and Charlie Lavine for the Tigerman.
The Tarzan went into serious training and reduced his weight down to 220 pounds. Pesek weighed in at a rock-hard 195 pounds. The return match was inconclusive. At 1:30 A.M., after Pesek and Plestina had been tussling for three hours without a fall. The ref called the bout “no contest.” The fans were in an uproar, hurling everything they could get their hands on into the ring, including their own hats. Plestina had once again adopted his “protect himself” style of matwork throughout the match. A newspaper write-up reported that “Pesek...had the better of the contest. He was more aggressive than Plestina, who escaped from numerous holds by tugging his lighter opponent to the ropes.” (22.) The fans were heard shouting, “Give the decision to Pesek!” (23.) Billy Sandow was at ringside to witness the fray.
Pesek’s hometown newspaper reported, “the sports writers and critics seem to accord Pesek the match on points and all agree that he is one of the greatest wrestlers of the present generation…The way in which Pesek toyed with Plestina was a revelation.” (24.) The Tarzan accused Pesek of eye-gouging him early in the bout. A post-match medical examination confirmed that Plestina’s eyes had indeed been injured.
The city athletic commission investigated the charge that the wrestlers had stalled and didn’t really try their best. The majority concurred that Pesek was doing everything he could do to wrestle and that Plestina was at fault. Pro wrestling fans had become so used to seeing spectacular hippodrome matches, that in contrast the real thing seemed fake.
The two Pesek-Plestina bouts served to take the wind out of the Marsh/Plestina sails, just what Sandow, Lewis and their compatriots had wanted. The mighty Tarzan had failed to vanquish a smaller man, who had dropped matches to Lewis, Stecher, and Caddock. All Pesek’s roughhousing and brawling notwithstanding, Plestina was shown as vulnerable and unable to protect himself. Marsh attempted to continue his ballyhoo routine, but Plestina’s credibility had been shattered. The J.C. Marsh/Marin Plestina "trustbuster" barnstorming days were winding down. Plestina’s wife died and with four children to support the Tarzan needed a steady income. He finally caved in and broke with Marsh in 1926, becoming a regular with the Sandow/Lewis troupe. Marsh continued his independent "trustbuster" campaign with Jack Sherry.
It is interesting to note, that Pesek could wrestle clean, scientific catch-as-catch-can matches, as he demonstrated in “shoots” with stellar grapplers Nat Pendleton and Charles Hansen. However, he was just as dangerous when sticking to the rules. Pendleton could testify to this, as his bout with the Tigerman left him with ligaments torn loose by a Pesek foot lock.
Billy Sandow went on record, saying, “Lewis was a great wrestler, but the greatest of all is Nebraska’s own John Pesek. I’ve traveled the world and handled all sorts of men. Pesek is the greatest scientific wrestler I have ever met.” (25.) Farmer Burns once remarked that, “Pesek is the best in the business today...Frank Gotch would have given the Tigerman lots of trouble in his heyday...Pesek’s superior speed and footwork would have given him the title had the two met when Gotch was in his prime.” (26.) Tigerman John Pesek was truly one of a kind.
John Pesek was the consummate North American-style catch-as-catch-can wrestler and rough-and-tumble fighter combined.
1.) Wireless Weekly; 11/1/1929. Rafferty’s rules means “no organized rules at all.”
2.) The Arena; May 1930
3.) Cedar Rapids Gazette; 6/26/1920. The incident was covered up by eastern papers, but was reported by Nebraska and Iowa news services.
4.) New York Herald; 11/16/1921
5.) New York Daily News; 11/3/1921
6.) ibid
7.) Brooklyn Daily Eagle; 11/15/1921
8.) Mike Fink was a legendary riverboat brawler. His regular boast was, “I can our-run, out-hop, out-jump, throw down, drag out, and lick any man in the country”; and he was always willing to prove it. William “Bill the Butcher” Poole was the infamous rough-and-tumble champion of pre-Civil War New York. He soundly defeated champion prize fighter John Morrissey. Poole had started out in his family trade of butcher, thus his nickname, but quickly became a tough political enforcer himself representing the Whig Party and later the anti-immigration Native American Party (popularly called “the Know-Nothings.”), the opposition faction to the powerful political machine Tammany Hall. In his classic book Gangs of New York, Herbert Ashbury described that Poole “was commonly held to be the champion brawler and eye gouger of his time, and not even the ferocious mayhem experts of the Five Points and the Fourth Ward dared engage him in combat.” (The Gangs of New York/Herbert Ashbury) Another account states that “Pooleis noted as being one of the best, if not the very best, rough-and-tumble fighters in the country.” (Portland Weekly Advertiser; 8/1/1854)
It was purely a case of Poole and Morrissey being “the two toughest kids on the block”, notwithstanding the fact that they were “strong-arm” enforcers for rival political groups, which led to their epic confrontation. The political “bullies” of that era were referred to as “shoulder-hitters” It was their job to dissuade or persuade potential voters as to how to cast their ballot and to safeguard the ballot-boxes. Both Morrissey and Poole were also involved in operating gambling saloons.
The pair of hard cases had been growling at one another for some time and had already been involved in a few minor skirmishes when their paths crossed one evening in a local watering hole, the City Hotel on Broadway. Poole overheard Morrissey boasting that he could defeat fellow pugilist Tom Hyer, a friend of “the Butcher.” Poole questioned Morrissey’s claim and the latter defiantly replied, “You dare not fight me for $100-name your place and time.” Bill the Butcher quickly consented to meet the following morning July 27, 1854 at Christopher Street Pier. Knowing that the pier was in Poole’s home turf, the boxing champ objected. Poole than offered an even bet, $50 a side, and the Amos Street Dock as the battleground. The champion boxer agreed, not realizing that this location was also in Poole territory. The bets were placed in the hands of a stakeholder, and further heavy wagering went on across town through the night. They agreed to fight “until one or the other was disabled or quit.” (St. Louis Republican, 9/1/1902)
A crowd of several hundred was assembled at the dock by 5 AM, not wanting to miss the action. Poole was already on hand, when Morrissey showed up, threw off his coat and called for his opponent. The spectators gave the gladiators some room and they squared off measuring each other and moving about. Quickly Morrissey, the larger man at 175 pounds, threw a powerful left punch, which Poole dodged. Like a flash the Butcher, dropped down, charged in, and grabbed his antagonist about the waist and one leg. Poole smashed Morrissey violently to the ground and then like a berserker in full rage attacked the downed boxer with fists, feet and teeth.
Morrissey attempted to fight back, but was overwhelmed by the relentless assault. Poole maintained the top position and viciously began to gouge his opponent’s right eye. The fray lasted for about twelve and a half minutes, when Morrissey cried out, “Enough!” The American prize-fighting champion was forced to concede to a rough-and-tumble street fighter. Strangler Lewis would later use this encounter to bolster his claims of a grappler’s superiority over any boxer. Lewis stated, “Poole whipped the best prize fighter in the world, not because he could box, but simply because he could wrestle.” (Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, 4/24/21, Says Wrestling True Art of Self Defense)
The combatants separated and stood up. Both Morrissey’s eyes were swollen shut, and his face was badly cut up and bleeding. Poole sported one black eye. The boxing champ called for a pistol. When one of his supporters reached into his pocket to retrieve one, a Poole crony knocked him down and a general brawl erupted. A cry that the police were coming caused the largely Poole-partisan crowd to break up and disperse. Morrissey was driven away in a carriage. Poole was cheered by his friends and paraded around on their shoulders. The victory party moved on to Coney Island where they celebrated Poole “whipping the bully.” (Evening Star, 7/28/1854)
Morrissey later attempted to save face by claiming that it was not just Poole but it was his whole gang that administered the horrible beating he’d received. However, all the contemporary accounts relate that it was a fair one-on-one fight, albeit without rules.
“The rough and tumble fighters of whom they were more besides Poole practiced a combination of wrestling and boxing but without regard to the regulations governing either sport. Most of the boxers were afraid of these savage warriors, and the defeat of Morrissey by Poole was but one of many instances in which men of recognized standing as pugilists went down to defeat when they mixed things with the rough and tumble boys.” (El Paso Herald, 7/27/1918)
9.) Author’s personal conversations with the Tigerman’s daughter Mary Lee Pesek. Her brother Jack had tape-recorded an interview with their father where he recalled his battle with Plestina.
10.) Brooklyn Daily Eagle; 11/15/1921
11.) Arkansas Democrat; 11/21/1921. Corbett, an eyewitness to the bout, wrote a syndicated sports column.
12.) Brooklyn Daily Eagle; 11/15/1921
13.) ibid
14.) Ed “Strangler” Lewis Facts within a Myth/Steve Yohe; 2015
15.) see footnote #9
16.) Lincoln Journal Star; 11/15/1921
17.) Brooklyn Daily Eagle; 11/23/1921
18.) The Nebraska Tigerman The John Pesek Story/ Geoff Pesek
19.) see footnote #9
20.) New Castle News; 11/23/1921
21.) New York Tribune; 11/15/1921
22.) Evening Star; 5/17/1922
23.) Kansas City Star; 5/19/1922
24.) Ravenna News, 5/26/1922
25.) Ravenna News; 2/22/1945
26.) Charleston Gazette; 12/12/1932
Closing thoughts:
Pesek simply performed his job as the “policeman” for the Sandow/Lewis camp. As Steve Yohe wrote,
“Billy Sandow had made his orders clear to Pesek: he wasn’t looking for a pin, he wanted Plestina hurt and humiliated.” (see footnote #14) Plestina and Marsh had made themselves odious to the big-time promoters by persistently calling them, their champions and stars frauds. As they barnstormed around the country, they received sensational publicity challenging one and all, waving wads of money, posting forfeits and demanding matches. This was the “wild west” era of professional wrestling. Anything went, and in the case of Pesek and Plestina this was taken literally. It is conjectured that Plestina went into the bout with a stalling strategy, hoping that Pesek, known for his cyclonic rushes, would wear himself out. Pesek became frustrated at Plestina’s refusal to engage him. Instead of any offensive moves or counter-techniques, he seemed content with just wiggling out of Pesek’s grip. The initial eye-gouge by the Tigerman was to let him know he meant business. The “rough stuff” accumulated as Plestina just would not fight back. Jon Langmead commented, “In matching Plestina against Pesek, Rickard was either unaware of Pesek’s reputation or confident that Plestina would be capable of handling himself. Honest wrestling would have its day. It wouldn’t be pretty.” *
*Jon is putting the finishing touches on a highly-anticipated jack Curley biography.
Additional notes:
At the time of the Pesek/Plestina contest, the powerful New York State Athletic Commission had sent out unclear signals about what holds could and could not be used in pro wrestling bouts under their jurisdiction. It was first announced that the headlock, the toehold and scissors would be barred. Before the Pesek/Plestina match this was clarified to allow every hold but chokes and strangles, but not to be used as a punishing hold. Geoff Pesek expounded, “With limited use of his most effective submission holds, Pesek opted to wrestle Plestina using ‘old school’ means.” (see footnote # 17). Things became even more complicated when the commission announced after this match that the controversial and unpopular rolling and flying falls would be acknowledged; but that’s another story.

[Jasse]

Tässä hyvää koukuttelua Johnny Huskeylta American Hook Wrstling porukasta. Eli siis edesmenneen Billy Wicksin oppilas. Minä en ole kyllä koskaan tajunnut miksi tekniikkaa demotessa/opettaessa pitää rykiä lukot kahdalleen nopeasti ja jatkuvasti satuttaa kaveria.. John Stricklandilla on sama tyyli tai taa siis tulla Billy Wicksiltä. Turhaa kovistelua.

[tapsaattori]

Tuo kimura lopetus tehdään eri lailla kuin bjj:ssa minulle on opetettu, lähtöote kutakuinkin sama. Tuolla tavalla tehtynä näyttää siltä, että siinä pystyy säilyttämään turvallisesti painon päällä.

Painitossu jää tiukan näköisedti jumiin heel hook otteeseen

[Jasse]

Juu. Kimuran voipi viimesistellä eri kulmilla ja jengoilla.

Tossa John Striklandvääntelee jonkun varpaita:

[Jasse]

Naamalukko yhdellä kädellä:






Uuden catch-dokkarin traileri:

[Jasse]

Vielä kaks:

[JanneM]

Minä en ole kyllä koskaan tajunnut miksi tekniikkaa demotessa/opettaessa pitää rykiä lukot kahdalleen nopeasti ja jatkuvasti satuttaa kaveria.. John Stricklandilla on sama tyyli tai taa siis tulla Billy Wicksiltä. Turhaa kovistelua.

MÄ uskon että se johtuu kovanaamailun lisäksi myös siitä että kun tekniikka ei ole kovinkaan hienostunutta, vaan perustuu voimaan ja vauhtiin, niin ei voi näyttää tekniikkaa hienovaraisesti koska se ei demotessa toimi samalla tavalla.

[Jasse]

Olet Janne varmaan oikeassa.

Tässä Mark Hewittin kirjoitus ensimmäisistä JJ vs Catch matseista FBn puolelta kopioituna:

"Below find an updated article I put together on the Bothner/Higashi contest in 1905. It includes details about that match as well as Higashi/Swanson, Bothner/Swanson, Bothner/Miyake and Miyake/Bingham:
East Meets West-George Bothner Versus Katsukuma Higashi-1905
As Lancashire catch-as-catch-can wrestling began to be popularized in North America in the late 19th century and adopted to the new environment, it was sometimes referred to as “rough-and-tumble wrestling” to distinguish it from stand-up wrestling styles like collar and elbow, and side-hold, which were popular at the time. There is a long association between rough-and-tumble fighting aka “gouging” and catch wrestling and they share a lot of common heritage. Most rough-and-tumble fighters incorporated a lot of grappling methods into their arsenal and many catch wrestlers were also adept at rough-and-tumble. In fact, American pro catch wrestlers employed rough-and-tumble tactics when they first faced the challenge of the Japanese martial arts invasion.
Beginning at the turn of the twentieth century Japanese martial arts, with its long and storied history, began making its introduction into the western world-North and South America and Europe. The west already had its own established combat sports, notably boxing and wrestling, so a confrontation was inevitable. Or to state it better, many confrontations were inevitable. The actual skill level of the early “martial arts evangelists” varied. Some of the Nipponese martial artists were legitimate judoka from Kano’s Kodokan. Various older jiu-jitsu schools were also represented. Some initially sought only to give demonstrations and teach their arts to the military and police. Others immediately sought out professional opportunities with circuses, the vaudeville theater circuit, and on professional wrestling cards. The Japanese fighting arts carried an aura of mystery and the practitioners were believed to have almost supernatural powers at bone-breaking, utilizing “nerve holds,” and dealing out “death touches.”
One of the first “jiu-jitsu versus wrestling” contests to gain national attention in the U.S. pitted Katsukuma Higashi against the well-known lightweight champion catch-as-catch-can wrestler George Bothner. Higashi arrived in the United States in the early 1900’s and established himself as a New York-based jiu-jitsu expert and teacher. He was said to have formerly taught the martial art at Doshisha College in Kyoto, Japan and to be descended from a samurai clan. There is some debate about his actual background. Some indications are that Higashi had been trained in Tsutsumi Hozan-ryu jiu-jitsu. He claimed to teach “the Kano system.” Whatever the case, Higashi practiced what has been described as “generic jiu-jitsu”. At a diminutive 5’3” and 120 pounds, he announced that he was ready and willing to put his skills to the test against any western wrestler or boxer who dared take him on.
Higashi gave a demonstration at the Manhattan Police Headquarters and agreed to take on the city’s toughest policemen one after another on December 22, 1904. Five of the force’s best athletes including three boxers and Selig “Ajax” Whitman, the strongest man in the city’s police department agreed to face him. Their weights ranged from 165 to 230 pounds. Higashi easily defeated them all. Ajax was choked out and had to be revived by the jiu-jitsu man. Chief Inspector Cortright exclaimed, “There isn’t a man in the room that that Jap couldn’t put out of business in two minutes.” (1.)
Higashi boldly issued a challenge to heavyweight boxing champion James J. Jeffries in March of 1905. When boxer Jack Blackburn expressed his willingness to battle it out with the martial artist, Higashi drew the infamous “color line” and said, “he does not like to meet a negro”. (2.) On another occasion Higashi gave a demonstration in Tuxedo Park, NY. Alex Swanson and another wrestler also gave an exhibition and afterwards challenged Higashi to wrestle. Higashi turned to the club officials and asked them if they were ready to be responsible for any serious injuries or fatalities that might occur. Nothing came of the challenge and the Americans accused the Japanese of using their cautionary warning merely as an excuse to avoid a contest.
Heavyweight wrestling champ Tom Jenkins counter-challenged Higashi or “any expert of jiu-jitsu” to meet his protégé Clarence Bouldin, “the Cuban Wonder” in an “anything goes” rough-and-tumble bout. Jenkins commented, “The work of jiu-jitsu reminds me of the rough and tumble style in which the purpose is to put your opponent out of business. Of course, there are many ways of beating an antagonist in a brawl, for which the Japanese method is especially commended, but it does not seem at all likely that the user of jiu-jitsu is going to have matters all his own in such a scrimmage. It is an easy thing after you have obtained a hold to overcome an opponent, but he certainly is not going to remain passive while you are getting that hold.” (3.)
John Piening, “the Butcher Boy”, who claimed the American Greco-Roman wrestling championship counter-challenged Higashi repeatedly but was ignored. Piening weighed in at the 165-170 pound range but regularly battled heavyweights. Many of his matches were wrestled with strangle holds allowed. Higashi versus the Butcher Boy would have likely been an interesting match-up.
Higashi teamed up with one of the early American jiu-jitsu proponents H. Irving Hancock. Hancock was a chemist, war correspondent, and prolific writer. Together they authored The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu. It was published in 1905 and became a martial arts classic. Higashi was touted as “the greatest jiu jitsu expert now in this country” and it was claimed “he can kill a man in several seconds simply by pressing on the back of his neck or on his spine.” (4.) One of Higashi’s early advertisements stated that Jiu-Jitsu “gives the weakest women the power to overcome the most powerful man. It is the most scientific method of self-defense known to man, and is more effective than pistol, club or knife. It is the application of the unexpected. An adversary or foe finds his muscles suddenly paralyzed or himself placed in such a position that resistance leads to unbearable pain or broken bones.”
Bothner was a master catch-as-catch-can wrestler and the current claimant of the world lightweight wrestling championship. A former amateur champion, he had been a professional wrestler since 1896 and also served as the mat coach for Princeton University for several seasons. As one sportswriter described, Bothner was “without a doubt the most clever and versatile wrestler in the country.” (5.) He was known as “the handicap king” due to his penchant for taking on heavier opponents in handicap contests. Even tough Tom Jenkins was unable to throw Bothner the agreed upon number of times in one such bout. (6.) Bothner was familiar with the "dark side” of catch-as-catch-can since his amateur days. In 1893 he competed in a Metropolitan Association of the AAU tournament, representing the Pastime Athletic Club. He defeated Henry Bittrich of the New York Turnverein utilizing a strangle hold. He locked on the grip and held it until his opponent dropped his shoulders to the mat in submission. In another bout in this same tourney, one wrestler actually choked his adversary into unconsciousness to win a fall. It is noteworthy to see that strangle and choke holds were not prohibited in these amateur catch-as-catch-can events.
The wrestling fraternity was growing restless at both the jiu-jitsu men’s bold claims and the media and the public’s fascination with them. Bothner was ready to take up their gauntlet. Initially he tried to make a match with jiu-jitsu expert Waraubo Hakowi. When that proposed match fell through, he set his sights on Higashi, who readily expressed his willingness to comply with Bothner’s challenge. He boasted to sportswriter Robert Edgren, “I must be careful not to hurt Mr. Bothner. He seems a very nice man, and I would not like to kill him or break any of his bones. Of course most of the tricks are fatal. There are only a few simple ones that I can use in wrestling. If I were free to use any of them I could easily defeat any wrestler or boxer…More than a thousand years ago, perhaps, but now you cannot kill men in a public contest. It would be like a bull fight if I used the secret tricks. I could kill a man just as the bull fighter kills a bull.” (7.)
Higashi furthermore declared that the recently held contests between American wrestlers and “self-proclaimed jiu-jitsu experts” were not good examples of the prowess of the martial art. He proclaimed, “Those Japanese who have been defeated are not capable exponents of our national Japanese art. In Japanthey would not be seriously considered as exponents of the work. I desire to assure the American public that these countrymen of mine know nothing of the real practice of jiu jitsu. They are parading the scanty knowledge that they obtained at school when boys…I am ready at any time to meet any American wrestler, and am confident of my ability to overcome any opponent through the use of jiu jitsu methods.” (8.)
The Higashi and Bothner camps began ironing out the details of the upcoming battle. They would contest under a combination of catch-as-catch-can and jiu-jitsu, ceremoniously dubbed “official mixed-style Japanese jiu-jitsu rules.” Strangle and choke holds would be allowed, but otherwise it would be a grappling bout, winnable by pinfall, submission or choke-out. The issue of just what constituted a fall became a hot topic. Higashi insisted that flying falls be counted. A flying fall was gained when one contestant’s shoulders touched the mat even for the briefest moment. It could be called while both men were scrambling about the mat, and not just due to one wrestler forcibly pinning the other down. Flying falls were highly controversial and very unpopular with the fans.
Higashi also demanded that both contestants wear traditional jiu-jitsu jackets, called “kimonos” at the time. Bothner objected and instead offered to wrestle in alternating falls with and without the kimono. The jiu-jitsu artist wouldn’t budge on that point and the catch wrestler reluctantly conceded. He did hold his ground on the choice of referee however and rejected Higashi’s choice of using his associate Hancock as the third man in the ring. Well-known sports authority Tim Hurst was selected to serve as the referee. Hancock would be Higashi’s ringside judge. Bothner would have in his corner Professor John J. O’Brien. The Professor had been familiarizing Bothner with the ins and outs of the Japanese art. O’Brien was a veteran wrestler and police self-defense instructor and had studied jiu-jitsu in Japan in the 1880s. One of O’Brien’s pupils was no less than President Theodore Roosevelt.
The contest was set to take place April 6, 1905 in New York City at the Grand Central Palace. Preliminaries included a jiu-jitsu rules match between Kona and Kargo, and Alex Swanson in a catch wrestling handicap bout. Swanson would take on two opponents one after the other. A crowd estimated at some 4000 people gathered to see what was hoped to be an epic confrontation. The bout had stirred up wide-spread attention. In fact, this was the highest-profile jiu-jitsu versus wrestling contest to yet take place in North America. A good number of Higashi’s countrymen were on hand to support him. Likewise a contingent of Princetonstudents were present to back their coach. Edgren commented, “Most people who came expected to see the little brown man break Bothner’s bones.” (9.)
Higashi had even demanded that his opponent sign a waiver exonerating him from any serious or fatal injuries resulting from his use of jiu-jitsu. It was rumored that Bothner even purchased a life insurance policy before going into the match. Higashi weighed in at 118 pounds, about twenty pounds less than Bothner. The men wore “kimono” jackets and belts into the ring, Higashi entered first. Higashi complained that at the last minute he was forbidden to use any of his “dangerous tricks”, like joint-twists and open-hand strikes. Bothner would later state that the jackets had been furnished by Higashi’s camp and that his was very loose and ill-fitting and even had a hand hold cut into the back of it. Higashi remained adamant about allowing flying falls, even refusing to go on otherwise. When the announcer made this known to the crowd, he was greeted by boos and jeers.
The two gladiators from different corners of the globe met in the center of the ring and shook hands. Time was called and the battle commenced. “Higashi immediately assumed the role of aggressor. He went right after Bothner, grabbing his collar with both hands. The jiu-jitsu expert was working methodically to tighten the folds of the jacket around Bothner’s throat and choke him out. O’Brien had coached the American in advance in defending himself against this tactic, so he quickly pulled some slack into his collar, although try as he might, he couldn’t shake Higashi loose. Higashi maintained the grip and proceeded to pull Bothner down to his knees. He then wrapped an additional fold of cloth over Bothner’s face, but the catch wrestler resisted, broke free, and rose to his feet. Higashi attacked again, latched onto Bothner’s collar, and forced him to the mat, all the while working to choke the breadth out of his opponent. The American was warily biding his time, defending himself against the choke hold, and waiting for an opening. Higashi kept busy tugging, pulling, and twisting the cloth around Bothner’s neck while holding him down firmly. In the midst of the struggle, Higashi lost his grip. Like a lightning bolt, Bothner went into action. He dropped to one knee and grabbed his antagonist’s right leg with his left hand. Bothner’s work was likened to an octopus using its tentacles.” (10.) For the first time Higashi was on the defensive, and he struggled wildly. Bothner continued to unleash his catch-as-catch-can arsenal. He secured a neck hold, cinched up on the leglock, and slowly pressed his advantage. With almost irresistible grappling skill, Bothner slowly and decisively planted Higashi’s shoulders squarely on the canvas. Bothner was awarded the first fall after 14 minutes and 35 seconds of grueling battle. Higashi refused to stop wrestling and held onto Bothner from the bottom position, Referee Hurst finally managed to separate the grapplers, and Bothner rose up to deafening applause.
The contestants took the customary 15-minute break before resuming the match. Higashi came out furious and aggressive and soon had Bothner down on all fours while holding tight with a ‘death grip’ around the American’s collar. Higashi was cautious of his adversary’s catch techniques and stayed at arm’s length, keeping his legs out of reach. The jiu-jitsu expert kept working to tighten the folds of the jacket while Bothner struggled to keep enough slack in his collar to allow him to continue breathing. Bothner tried unsuccessfully to release himself from Higashi’s two-hand hold. He also attempted to seize one of Higashi’s well-protected legs but failed. After a clever maneuver that brought Bothner in close, he lunged and broke Higashi’s grip. The Japanese grappler retaliated by clamping on a half-nelson. Bothner perked up at this familiar hold, countered it with ease, and became the aggressor. He attempted to secure a choke hold, but Higashi fended it off. They were wrestling about the mat and sparring for holds. Higashi got his usual collar grip locked on and kept his legs out of Bothner’s reach. Higashi dropped one hand and tried to grab one of the American’s legs but failed.
Higashi and Bothner were in a seeming stalemate when the referee warned them to pick up the pace. Some fast groundwork followed, which drew loud approvals from the crowd. Higashi suddenly stood up and accused Bothner of deliberately head-butting him. The ref waved his claim off and told them to continue wrestling. They tied back up and scrambled about. Higashi executed a move known as tomoe-nage, or a stomach throw. He deftly planted one foot in Bothner’s stomach, fell to his own back, and sent his adversary sailing head over heels. As Bothner bounded back to an upright position, Higashi and Hancock excitedly claimed a flying fall. O’Brien entered the fray and insisted that Bothner’s shoulders never touched the mat. The referee ruled in the American’s favor and ordered them to return to the battle, adding that if another fall wasn’t gained within the next 20 minutes, he would call the match a draw.
Higashi tore into Bothner and after some fast work tossed him airborne with another stomach throw. Again he claimed a flying fall. This time it was clearly observed that Bothner had avoiding landing on his shoulders. Ordered by Hurstto get busy, they mixed it up until Bothner took Higashi down with a body hold. Bothner secured a neck and crotch hold and slowly levered his opponent down for a pinfall. Hurst awarded a second fall to Bothner. The men had been grappling for a total of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It was noted that Bothner’s head and neck were badly bruised from Higashi’s handiwork. The Japanese martial artist was upset and refused to continue. Higashi, backed up by Hancock, asserted that he had gained three falls from his opponent and had already won the contest. Beyond the two debatable flying falls, what constituted the third fall was unclear. Higashi was insistent. Hancock later stated, ‘‘We claim three falls tonight by the rules of jiu-jitsu…Higashi has clearly won.’’
Higashi was convinced to continue the match by some Japanese backers. Bothner wrestled confidently and used a crotch hold to pin his antagonist after 15 minutes and 20 seconds. Higashi and Hancock disputed that an actual fall had occurred, but much to their chagrin Hurst awarded the fall and the match to Bothner. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported the following day: “The death knell of jiu-jitsu, the favorite wrestling and bone-breaking pastime of the Orient, was sounded last night…” The New York Times chimed in with,”…George Bothner threw Higashi three times last night…The Little Jap threw George at least once, flat on his back, but the flying tails of Bothner’s kimona probably blinded referee Tim Hurst for he didn’t see the fall.” (11.)
Officially Higashi was defeated, but he did not concede the loss. He insisted that he had won three falls. He stated, “It had been agreed that a flying fall should count. I made two in succession, each time hurling Mr. Bothner over my head. My judge claimed the falls for me, but they were disallowed, although explicitly provided for in the final agreement. Then I secured another well-known jiu-jitsu fall by folding my opponent’s arms around me and going over backwards, landing him under me on his back. All these falls are allowed under the Japanese rules...” Higashi also challenged the qualification of Hurstto have served as the referee due to his unfamiliarity with jiu-jitsu. (12.)
In recalling the contest years later, Bothner alleged that Higashi used the stomach-throws as an opportunity to deliver a powerful kick straight into his groin. He admitted that he retaliated in kind, and before effecting the final fall he shot a swift knee into his opponent’s groin. He further reflected, “I suffered more injuries that day than in any other contest I had ever engaged…It was a test as to which could hold out the longer. I knew that if I weakened I would be so badly garroted that I could not continue the match, and that I might even get a broken neck…I began to wheeze, spots danced before my eyes, and I felt my face suffused with blood…When he began to garrote me, I’ll remember that if I live to be a hundred.” (13.)
Robert Edgren summed up his take on the Bothner/Higashi fight by penning, “When Higashi met Bothner in New York, and in several other alleged jiu jitsu encounters, all kicks and bone-breaking grips were barred. The jiu jitsu artist was limited to playing the wrestler’s game.” (14.) The sportswriter was echoing the sentiment frequently voiced over the years by martial arts-based fighters that in public style-versus-style contests they were not allowed to use their full repertoire of brutal hand-to-hand combat techniques and thus were not able to fully demonstrate their capabilities and prowess.
Higashi did not take his defeat by Bothner lightly and he sought another chance to prove the merits of jiu-jitsu over western grappling. A round of challenges and negotiations began between the Japanese martial artist and pro wrestler Alex Swanson. Swanson claimed the catch-as-catch-can welterweight championship of the world, based on his defeat of Harvey Parker on December 12, 1904. Hailing from New York, he had been wrestling since 1898 and was described as “all muscle. In physical development he is as near perfect as any man. He is very fast on the mat and his great ability to punish his opponent through leg work gives him an opportunity to ‘put’ it on any wrestler of his weight.” (15.) Higashi, seeking another chance to prove the superiority of his art, claimed he was handicapped in his bout with Bothner, “bound down by a set of rules that robbed him of all opportunities to use the tricks at his command.” (16.) A contest between Higashi and Swanson was arranged for October 13, 1905 at Sulzer’s Harlem Casino with none other than Bothner selected as the referee.
Sports columnist Robert Edgren stated, “From all appearances this will be something nearer the genuine Japanese fighting goods than the Bothner-Higashi match showed…the Jap is at liberty to use any of the jiu jitsu trickery, if he can…if he can get either a strangle or a bone-breaking hold, he is simply to put on the pressure until Swanson ‘quits’ or the referee…interferes to save the wrestler’s life.” (17.) Only punching and kicking were barred, and this was at Higashi’s request. The articles of agreement detailed, “If strangled or otherwise rendered unable to speak either man can signify his surrender by rapping on the floor with his knuckles or signaling to the referee. The referee shall have the power to stop the bout if, in his opinion, either man is unconscious or in danger of serious injury, and unable to signal his surrender. All holds, either of wrestling or jiu jitsu, shall be allowed.” (18.) It was to be three out of five falls. The contest could be won by one-minute pinfalls, by concession, or by referee stoppage. Both competitors wore gi jackets. The press labeled the affair a “death holds” contest with “bone-breaking, strangling and all other rough-housing tactics...permissible.” The articles of agreement were described as “the strongest that have ever been signed by either wrestlers or fighters.” (19.)
Higashi dared Swanson to try and use choke holds on him and performed demonstrations allowing an iron gas pipe to be rammed and pressed against his throat while he resisted. They met on a mat with a rope around it. As the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “It took Alec Swanson less than a half an hour to demonstrate that catch-as-catch-can wrestling is superior to Jiu Jitsu, the Japanese style of attack, in a finish contest with…Higashi, the premier exponent of the Oriental game…When the men shook hands, they immediately got to work.” (20.)
Another sports writer commented that, “At no stage of the affair did Higashi show any sign of being Swanson’s master.” (21.) The Japanese combatant tried to execute a flying mare in his opening offense. Swanson resisted and only landed on one shoulder, countered with a hammerlock and put Higashi on the defense. Higashi dug his fingers into the pressure points behind the Swedish-American’s ear, forcing him to break. Higashi snatched a collar choke and began tightening the garrote. Swanson managed to break the hold, only to have his opponent quickly reapply it. Higashi used his leverage to force Swanson to the mat as he continued to work the choke hold. The western grappler plunged through the ropes to escape and force a restart.
It had been agreed that if the men tumbled off the mat, they would restart in the center with the same holds applied. Higashi was content to just start the battle again from standing positions and didn’t insist on being placed in a top mount with a collar choke locked on his adversary. Higashi pressed into Swanson but couldn’t take him down. Swanson cleverly hip-locked his opponent and landed on top of him. He quickly applied a chancery and inside crotch hold. Swanson used the combination to plant Higashi’s shoulders to the mat and hold them there for the full minute. The first fall, a clean pin, went to the catch wrestler at the fifteen minute and five second mark. Swanson was heartily cheered.
Following a ten-minute break, they were back at it. Higashi was the aggressor and tried but failed to execute a flying mare. Swanson out-maneuvered him and took him down. He rapidly locked up Higashi’s legs and started working for another pinfall. Higashi desperately resorted to his pressure-point attacks and even hair-pulling, but couldn’t avoid his inevitable demise. He was pinned for the second fall in a fast-paced four minutes and fifteen seconds. Another intermission followed and the battle resumed. Higashi was game if he was nothing else. He rushed Swanson, firmly gripped his gi with both hands, fell to his own back and sent the wrestler flying through the air over his head. Swanson landed heavily and the duo grappled furiously for top position. Swanson won out and was astride his opponent, fishing for crotch and chancery holds. He locked him up and again had Higashi in trouble. The jiu-jitsu man tried everything to escape including not only pressure-point attacks behind the ears but even eye-gouging. Swanson held on and continued to press his advantage. Trapped and unable to free himself, Higashi tapped out. This round lasted six minutes and 28 seconds.
The catch wrestler had triumphed over the jiu-jitsu exponent with three falls, two by pin and one by submission within a total mat time of 25 minutes 48 seconds. In two attempts, Higashi had come up short against two skillful catch-as-catch-can wizards. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle writer declared, “…the result of this contest will likely sound the death knell of the Oriental game for competitive purposes in this country. The general impression seems to be that any ordinary wrestler of the rough and ready school could subdue a Jap with all his Jiu Jitsu tricks in an impromptu combat.” (22.) The Sun included the statement that, “Both sides played fair and Higashi after the struggle admitted that jiu-jitsu had received as fair a test as he desired.” (23.)
In a footnote to Bothner and Swanson’s contests with Higashi, there was an intense rivalry between the two catch wrestlers that culminated in a contest between them. Both grapplers were New Yorkers and though Bothner was a lightweight and Swanson a welterweight, they both quite often squared off against opponents outside their weight classes. After years of challenges and counter-challenges, they were finally matched up to wrestle on January 12, 1906 in New York City. Bothner’s lightweight championship would be on the line, if Swanson made 139 pounds at ringside. Bothner prepared for the contest honing up on jiu-jitsu tactics, again training with Professor John J. O’Brien. The lightweight champ was “imbued with the idea that a combination of jiu jitsu and wrestling will be too much for the strength of Swanson to overcome.” (24.)
Swanson waved off the jiu-jitsu threat, stating, “I exploded the game of jiu jitsu when I defeated Higashi, the Japanese expert. After his defeat Higashi went abroad, and the other exponents of the supposed fearful bone-crushing art have kept up a powerful silence. Bothner had better stick to the game at which he won a championship and at which he is considered a wonder. I can beat him at that game, and will upset any theories he may have of the Japanese game if he tries them.” (25.) Swanson came into the match heavy at 143.5 pounds and his opponent initially threatened to call off the contest. There was also a dispute over the referee with suggestions ranging from Tom Jenkins to Prof. O’Brien. All parties finally agreed on old-time boxer, trainer and manager “Florrie” Barnett as the third man. Bothner stayed on the defense throughout the bout. “Swanson tried every hold he knew to turn Bothner on his back, but the champion was not to be tempted to take the offensive, and contented himself with stretching himself full length on the mat or wriggling out of holds.” (26). Bothner injured his arm, breaking free from a hammerlock and refused to continue wrestling. They had been at it for an hour and a half. Two doctors examined the lightweight champ and concurred that a ligament had been torn in his arm. Barnett awarded the victory to Swanson. The whole affair was generally viewed as unsatisfactory. One critic labeled it “a resting match.” (27.)
Following his losses to Bothner and Swanson, Higashi took his act across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. On November 30, 1905 in Paris at Bostock’s Hippodrome he contested with Yukio Tani for “the jiu-jitsu championship of the world.” Tani won in two minutes and 28 seconds, forcing Higashi to concede to a collar choke.
The same year, down in the mountain city of Asheville, NC, yet another widely-publicized “east meets west” battle took place. Notorious barnstorming side bet “shooter” Charles Olson met the challenge of legit Kodokan judoka Akitaro Ono under “anything goes” rules and soundly defeated him. It was one of the most savage, bloody matches that ever took place in an American ring. (28.)
Olson later offered some comments about jiu-jitsu. He told a reporter in Albuquerque, New Mexico, “I have seen the Japanese system of wrestling, the widely heralded jiu-jitsu, tried out pretty thoroughly a good many times and my conclusion is that it is a false alarm. In my opinion jiu-jitsu got its vogue while the Japanese were in the limelight during the war with Russia and there is a great deal of superstition about it. I have seen the Japanese go up against some of the best catch as catch can wrestlers in America and in no instance have I seen the Jap make good or even make a creditable showing against the ordinary method of wrestling. As a means of getting the best of an ordinary man who is not a trained wrestler the famed jiu-jitsu may be all right; but try it out with a man who knows the game and the Japanese is quite out of the running.” (29.)
One of the grand old men of Lancashire catch-as-catch-can wrestling and a pioneer of spreading the art on this side of the Atlantic, namely Tom Connors, went on record with his thoughts on jiu-jitsu, declaring, “These same holds were in use in Lancashire catch-as-catch-can up to some forty years ago until the magistrates of Lancashire prohibited such unfair methods. I for on remember three men being killed by the choke hold and double-nelson.” (30.)
George Bothner, Alex Swanson and Charles Olson met the jiu-jitsu invasion head-on with their North American-style catch-as-catch-can wrestling/rough-and-tumble fighting skills and proved victorious.
1.) New York Sun, 12/23/1904
2.) Minneapolis Journal, 5/3/1905
3.) Deadwood Pioneer-Times, 3/30/1905
4.) Coschocton Daily Age, 3/28/1905
5.) Outing Magazine, Dec. 1905
6.) Tom Jenkins took on George Bothner on 12/22/1903 in New York in a handicap bout. Jenkins agreed to throw the lightweight 5x in one hour. Jenkins weighed in at 196 pounds to Bothner’s 142. When the time had expired Rough Tom had only managed to score three falls, thus losing the handicap contest. Bothner also held his own in handicap matches with John Piening and Leo Pardello.
7.) New York Evening World, 3/28/1905
8.) Chicago Inter-Ocean, 3/12/1905
9.) Outing Magazine, Dec. 1905
10.) Catch Wrestling/Mark S. Hewitt, 2005; New York Herald, 4/7/1905
11.) Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 4/8/1905; New York Times, 4/7/1905
12.) New York Herlad, 4/8/1905
13.) From Milo To Londos/Nat Fleischer, 1936; page 30; Evening Sun, 1/12/1925
14.) El Paso Herald, 5/1/1927
15.) The Tennessean, 2/21/1907
16.) Brooklyn Times Union, 10/12/1905; Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 10/11/1905
17.) New York Evening World, 10/3/1905
18.) Ibid
19.) Butte Daily Miner, 10/12/1905
20.) Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 10/14/1905
21.) The Sun, 10/14/1905
22.) Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 10/14/1905
23.) The Sun, 10/14/1905
24.) St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/8/1906
25.) Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1/12/1906
26.) New York Times, 1/13/1906
27.) Minneapolis Journal, 1/21/1906
28.) The Olson/Ono contest will be the subject of an upcoming article.
29.) Albuquerque Journal, 7/21/1909
30.) Manchester Evening News, 3/24/1905
Addendum: Bothner and Miyake Besides his match with Higashi, George Bothner also faced tough jiu-jitsu fighter and pro wrestler Taro Miyake. Taruji “Taro” Miyake was born in Okayama, Japan in 1881. Unlike many of his prominent contemporary Japanese martial arts “evangelists” like Ito, Maeda and Ono, Miyake was not from a Kodokan judo background. Miyake explained in a 1915 interview, “All, or practically all, of the Japanese jiu-jitsu experts who have exhibited in this country have been exponents of the Kodokan style, which has its headquarters in Tokyo. Kodokan jiu-jitsu became popular here because it is the style brought into play when two men are standing, and it is spectacular. Therefore, it was the most suitable method to furnish Americans and Europeans with an illustration of how to repel attacks in ordinary assaults. The other school of jiu-jitsu is called Handa, and its great teachers are at Osaka, where I learned. Handa is more particularly the kind of jiu-jitsu used when two men are on the mat, as in catch-as-catch-can…there is little stand-up work in catch-as-catch-can, and Handa experts are the ones to offer a comparison between the Japanese and American methods. Of course, every Kodokan expert knows more or less about Handa, and every Handa man knows more or less about Kodokan…each school has its own box of tricks.” (1.)
There seemed to be something of a language miscommunication in the article, as Miyake’s manager James Fujino did the translating for the American journalist. Miyake’s reference was actually to Yataro Handa, a jiu-jitsu teacher not a school of jiu-jitsu. Miyake trained from a young age under Handa, as well as Mataemon Tanabe, with both instructors employing a strong emphasis on ground grappling. Miyake became a teacher himself and in 1901 began training the Kobe police, until he lost that job for being involved in a street brawl. On May 9, 1903 he competed in the All-Japan Bujutsu Championship in Kobe. This tournament was held as part of the 5th National Industrial Exhibition and involved matches between Kodokan judokas and representatives from various “old school” jiu-jitsu dojos. Miyake won his bout.
He was again involved in street-fighting and he reportedly ran afoul of the Yakuza. It became pertinent for him to get out of town. Miyake headed west, following another Handa/Tanabe student Yukio Tani to England. In December 1904 Miyake clashed with Tani in a London bout and emerged victorious. They teamed up and taught jiu-jitsu together as well as traveled about Europe taking on challenge matches.
Miyake agreed to take on British heavyweight boxer William Huggins. They squared off at the Bostock Hippodrome in Paris on April 5, 1906. Huggins wore four-ounce gloves and in addition agreed to don a jiu-jitsu jacket. Miyake started on the offense, holding his hands out, grabbing at Huggins’ sleeves, and extending his leg forward. Huggins was not intimidated and threw punches as he was able. He caught his opponent on the jaw and landed a hard blow on Miyake’s shoulder. The jiu-jitsu man clinched and brought the action to the ground. The combatants briefly rolled about, but soon enough Miyake seized an arm lock and methodically forced the boxer to concede the contest. The match had lasted 37 fast-paced seconds.
Miyake continued as a regular on the European combat sports scene and competed in a grand catch-as-catch-can wrestling tournament called “The Championship of Champions” held in Paris in 1913 and 1914. The tourney attracted participants from around the world including Stanislaus and Wladek Zbyszko, Jimmy Esson, and even exiled boxing champ Jack Johnson. In the middleweight division Miyake battled his way to the final, losing to Maurice De Riaz. Further competing in the heavyweight class, he won a number of contests before being eliminated.
With the outbreak of the First World War, Miyake ventured to the United States and began making inroads onto the pro wrestling circuit. Over the next few decades he appeared all over North Americaand faced all the mat greats including Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Jim Londos, Marin Plestina, Joe Stecher and Ad Santel. He competed in catch-as-catch-can bouts, jiu-jitsu rules contests, mixed jiu-jitsu versus catch wrestling matches, and in a few instances he plied his art against boxers, style versus style.
Upon his arrival in America he proclaimed himself “the jiu-jitsu champion of the world” and issued a sweeping challenge. If allowed to use his jiu-jitsu methods, he was ready and willing to tackle Frank Gotch or any other heavyweight wrestler for a side bet. Sticking to catch wrestling rules, he wanted to meet George Bothner, agreeing to throw him three times in one hour.
Bothner, who had previously and successfully met the challenge of Higashi almost a decade earlier, quickly accepted Miyake’s defi. A match was arranged for December 14, 1914 at Brown’s Gymnasium in New York City. They would contest under catch wrestling rules with a handicap stipulation. Miyake, who at 160 pounds outweighed Bothner, had to throw him three times within 60 minutes to win. If Bothner was able to get a single fall, or even manage to keep from being thrown the required three times, he would be declared the victor.
Will Bingham, an all-around grappler from England, jiu-jitsu expert and currently the wrestling instructor at the New York Athletic Club, appeared in a preliminary bout against Raku Kato, held under jiu-jitsu rules. Bingham forced his opponent to give up twice.
300-pound wrestler Joe “Apollo” Rogers served as the referee for the main event. The venue was packed and people were still trying to purchase tickets until sales were halted as the headline bout was begun. Bothner, a masterful catch-as-catch-can artist, remained cautious and assumed a strictly defensive mode from the start of the match. Miyake worked to lock on hold after hold, only to have them broken by the clever American. It was noted, that Bothner had gone into the bout with a large carbuncle on his shoulder and that might have accounted for his cagey stratagem.
Miyake latched on a ½ Nelson-hammerlock combination. He tightly secured the grips, and held it firmly despite Bothner’s struggles to escape. The Japanese grappler forced a pin fall at the 21 minute, 12 second mark. One fall down, two more to go.
It had been a tough go for the jiu-jitsu expert. Bothner had let him do most of the work and remained the fresher of the two as they resumed the contest, following a five-minute rest. Some rough wrestling opened up the bout and then Bothner unleashed his catch-as-catch-can skill-set. He became the aggressor. Bothner was “on top most of the time, using his legs as much as his hands to harry the Jap. Twice he almost gained a fall with leg holds.” (2.) He finally locked up Miyake in a full-Nelson and pinned him clean “by superior knowledge of the game, not by superior strength.” (3.) A sportswriter commented that Bother’s winning full-Nelson “bent the Oriental’s neck to the breaking point.” (4.)
The American won the fall in eight minutes and 45 seconds, thus winning the match according to handicap rules. Overall, the contest was described as “fast, furious and exciting.” (5.) Despite the pin fall, Miyake wasn’t ready to call it a night and rushed after Bothner. Rogers simply grabbed ahold of him and tossed him across the ring. Bothner was 2-0 in his matches against jiu-jitsu grapplers, although the contest with Miyake was held under catch-as-catch-can regulations. There was talk of re-matching Bothner and Miyake in Brooklyn, but plans were dropped when the former announced his retirement from active competition. Bothner had caught wind of a report that he and Miyake were working up a cross-country tour hippodroming matches against one another and took umbrage at the accusation. He made a few more forays on the mat but spent most of his time refereeing, coaching and operating his gym. The grand old man of catch-as-catch-can passed away in 1954.
Shortly after the Bothner/Miyake contest, a bout was arranged for the Japanese martial artist to defend his “world jiu-jitsu championship” against Will Bingham. The contest took place on February 1, 1915 at Brown’s Gym. Bingham in addition to being a jiu-jitsu adept was also skilled at catch-as-catch-can, Greco-Roman, Cornish, and collar-and-elbow styles of grappling. It would be one of the first jiu-jitsu contests between acknowledged experts of the art ever held in New York City and generated a lot of publicity. The weights of the main event stars were announced as 165 pounds for Miyake and 153 for Bingham. The latter had a popular following being the wrestling instructor at the New York Athletic Club. He had also been appearing in the northeast on pro wrestling cards against Bothner and other opponents. Bingham was said to be undefeated in jiu-jitsu bouts and demonstrated his prowess several times against otherwise unknown opponents.
Three catch wrestling preliminary bouts opened the festivities. Miyake and Bingham came out for the highly-anticipated contest. The Japanese champ wore a jacket and trunks and was barefoot. Bingham was similarly attired with the addition of shoes and socks. They would continue until one man had won two out of three falls, but these were understood to not mean a traditional wrestling pin. No holds were barred and a round lasted until one man was forced to concede or was disabled.
As the action commenced both men showed initial caution, sizing one another up. Miyake kicked violently at Bingham’s knee, the force of which sent him to the mat. The Englishman jumped right back up and charged his opponent. Miyake eluded the rush and kicked his opponent back to the ground. He followed him down and started working to secure a choke hold. Some fast grappling on both their parts followed until Bingham escaped and regained his feet.
Miyake quickly launched another kick and sent his adversary crashing down. Miyake went after him on the ground and they tussled about. Bingham ended up on top and attempted to lock on a choke hold. Miyake used his powerful legs to toss Bingham across the ring. Both fighters were back upright and Miyake again kicked Bingham to the mat. The grueling pace continued and Bingham managed to toss his antagonist with a shoulder throw. Down on his back, Miyake raised his legs as a defense, threatening Bingham and holding him at bay.
The Japanese jiu-jitsu champion was back on his feet and went after Bingham relentlessly. Four times in quick order he smashed him to the ground. Each time, Bingham gamely got back up, though visibly shaken. Yet again and again Miyake sent him earth-ward. The final throw was achieved when Miyake back-heeled Bingham and with both his hands gripping tightly on his jacket, flung him waist high to the ground. His head, shoulder and hips were slammed down with all the force and power Miyake could muster. Bingham was rendered nearly unconscious but managed to yell out “quits!”
Bingham was given time to recover but it was determined he was too badly battered to continue and the match was called in favor of the man from Japan. The bout had lasted sixteen minutes and twenty-four seconds of “bone-crushing, head-splitting work.” (6.) The contest made the national news service and was covered in newspapers across the country. In an interview a few years later, Bingham said that “there is no question of Miyake being the greatest living exponent of jiu-jitsu.” (7.)
Miyake became a fixture in the North American pro wrestling scene into the early 1930’s. In 1928 Miyake returned to his homeland for a brief, unsuccessful attempt to hold North American-style pro wrestling matches. Returning to the US he resumed an active mat career, appearing all over North America. His last recorded matches (found thus far) were in June of 1932. It was reported that he died in Okayama in August, 1935.
It has mistakenly been related that Miyake ventured to Brazil and lost a jiu-jitsu contest to the legendary Helio Gracie in Rio de Janeiro on June 24, 1934. It has become part of the Gracie lore that Helio defeated the world-renowned Taro Miyake. However, Gracie’s opponent was a lighter and younger Japanese jiu-jitsu fighter named “Myaki”, not the famous pro wrestler. They were two different individuals. Gracie’s opponent weighed in at 141.5 pounds and was associated with the Ono brothers’ troupe of jiu-jitsu artists. (8.) Even in his early career, Taro Miyake’s weight was in the 160-170-pound range. By the early 1930’s, as his career was winding down, Taro weighed from 183-195 lbs. and was a grizzled, battle-scarred veteran of the ring. One reporter described him in 1931 as bald, suffering from a boil outbreak, and out of condition. He’d been fighting for a living since the early 1900’s.
Nevertheless, Taro Miyake stands tall as one of the all-time greats of combat sports. In this author’s opinion he was the most prolific of the early Japanese martial artists fighting in the western world. Miyake traveled the globe for some thirty years, demonstrating and teaching jiu-jitsu, meeting all comers in challenge matches, and holding his own in the wild and wooly realm of professional wrestling.
1.) Brooklyn Daily Eagle; 2/1/4/1915
2.) New York Tribune; 12/15/1914
3.) New York Times; 12/15/1914
4.) New York Tribune; 12/15/1914
5.) ibid
6.) Duluth News-Tribune; 2/2/1915
7.) San Francisco Chronicle; 10/27/1918
8.) Choque The Untold Story Of Jiu-Jitsu In Brazil Volume 1/Roberto Pedreira; 2014; O Livro Proibido Do Jiu Jitsu Volume 1/ Marcial Serrano; 2014
Notable Early “East vs West” contests (judo/jiu-jitsu versus western combat sports)
4/18/1904-London, England-Yukio Tani beat Jem Mellor-catch-as-catch-can rules
9/18/1904-Bellingham, WA-Frank Gotch beat K. Aoyagi. Gotch and Aoyagi met for the best 3 of 5 falls under mixed-style rules for a side bet. Gotch had to sign a waiver in case he was seriously injured by the “deadly bone breaking Jiu Jitsu.” The American tossed his opponent three times in 32 seconds.
2/27/1905-Salt Lake City, UT-Eddie Robinson beat Kaduro Murayama
3/8/1905-Baltimore, MD-Columbus (Anthony Wallenofer) beat Hako
3/17/1905-St. Louis, MO-George Baptiste beat Arata Suzuki
4/6/1905-NY, NY-George Bothner beat Katsukuma Higashi
8/4/1905-Asheville, NC-Charles Olson beat Akitaro Ono
10/26/1905-Paris, France-Professor Re-Nie (Ernest Regnier) beat George Dubois, savate. To make it an authentic “street fight” both men wore a full set of clothes. They agreed not to eye-gouge, bite or attack the groin.
12/18/1905-Athlanta, GA-Eisei Maeda beat Sam Murbarger-mixed match, alternating falls at catch-as-catch-can and jiu-jitsu. Eisei Maeda aka Mitsuyo Maeda, Conda Koma, Yamato Maedi was a Kodokan judoka who barnstormed the world spreading Japanese martial arts and wrestling professionally, becoming quite adept at catch-as-catch-can wrestling in the process. He is regarded as the grandfather of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
1/20/1906-Paris, France-Yukio Tani beat Marc Gaucher, boxer. Tani also defeated boxers Jack Scales. Young Josephs, and Frank Craig as well as wrestlers and street fighters in challenge bouts.
2/8/1906-Berlin, Germany-Katsukuma Higashi beat R. Fitzsimmons, boxer. This was not the famous boxer Bob Fitzsimmons.
4/5/1906-Paris, France-Taro Miyake beat William Huggins, boxer
2/3/1908-London, England-Big Jimmy Esson beat Eisei Maeda-catch-as-catch-can rules. This bout was the final in the heavyweight class of a five day tournament held at the Alhambra Theater by the National Sporting Club. The tourney was “the first legitimate international championship tournament in catch-as-catch-can” and sought to establish champions in the heavy, middle and light weight classes through competitive matches; pinfalls only. Weighing 154 pounds, Maeda entered both the middle and heavy brackets. Eliminated from the middleweights by Henri Irslinger, he battled his way to the final of the heavies, after defeating two giant wrestlers. A future article will detail this historic tournament.
12/31/1908-Paris, France-Sam McVea, boxer beat Tano Matsuda (Jack Payton)
1/9/1909-Kansas City, MO-Leopold McLaglen beat Lee Blye, boxer
1/22/1909-Vancouver, BC-Matty Matsuda beat Fred O’Neil-“rough-and-tumble with no-holds-barred”
9/2/1909-Seattle, WA-Tokugoro Ito beat Eddie Robinson-“jiu-jitsu rules…only closed fists strikes barred.” Robinson, a wrestler and boxer claimed to be the “white jiu-jitsu champion of the world.” He defeated several Japanese martial artists before meeting his match in Ito.
12/15/1909-Broken Hill, Australia-Prof. P. W. Stevenson beat “Panther Dick” Hill-“All-In Jiu-Jitsu rules”. No holds barred “all-in” contests enjoyed several years of popularity Down Under during this period pitting judo and jiu-jitsu fighters against wrestlers and boxers. As John S. Nash described, “Australia, it was…at the time…probably the world’s center for all-in fighting.” (The Martial Chronicles All-In Down Under with Sam McVea/ John S, Nash, 2015)
12/19/1910-London, England-Johannes Josefsson, glima beat Akitaro Ono-“Icelandic Glima rules”
12/14/1915-Manuas, Brazil-Eisei Maeda beat Barbadiano Adolpho Corbiniano, boxer
2/15/1916-San Francisco, CA-Ad Santel beat Tokugoro Ito. Ito won a rematch held 6/10/1916.
4/8/1916-Los Angeles, CA-Ad Santel drew Taro Miyake.
12/30/1916-Hilo, HI-Taro Miyake beat Ben de Mello, boxer
7/2/1920-Los Angeles, CA-Ed “Strangler” Lewis drew Taro Miyake. Lewis and Miyake met several more times over the next few years under both jiu-jitsu and mixed style rules as part of pro wrestling cards. This first bout was held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club and was quite likely a “shoot.” Miyake had been trying to goad Tokugoro Ito into a match, when Lewis took up his gauntlet. What a contest, Miyake versus Ito might have been!
7/12/1920-Wilmington, NC-Miaki Oishi beat Fritz Hanson
3/5/1921-Tokyo, Japan-Ad Santel drew Reijiro Nagata…Henry Weber drew Sotaro Masuda
3/6/1921-Tokyo, Japan-Ad Santel drew Hikoo Shoji…Hitoshi Shimizu beat Henry Weber
3/ /1921-Nagoya, Japan-Ad Santel beat Horoshi Shimizu…Henry Weber drew Sotaro Masuda
Author’s Dream Match: “Tigerman” John Pesek versus Helio Gracie. Such a match was in the realm of possibility in the 1930’s. Stanislaus Zbyszko had talked about bringing Gracie to the US while touring South America. Wladek Zbyszko had bouts with both Helio and George Gracie in Brazil. Stanislaus later tried to recruit Pesek for one of his South American tours.
As always, all comments, questions and corrections are welcomed at: mhewitt0728@hotmail.com
Mark S. Hewitt/Combat Sports Research, 2023
12 kommenttia"

[Andy]

En ruvennut lukemaan tuota hillittömän pitkää englanninkielistä tekstiä, joten jos siinä on jotain argumentteja, ne jäävät tässä huomiotta.

Lajinäytöksissä se nopea ja tehokkaan näköinen suorittaminen on järkevää siksi, että se on näyttävämpää yleisölle, joka ei kuitenkaan nyansseista ymmärrä. Lisäksi treenipari varmaankin yleensä on kokenut kamppailija, joka on tavallaan valmis kärsimään vähän epämukavuutta, että lajia/tyyliä/salia saadaan markkinoitua. Hokutoryun näytöksissä käytetään usein sellaista tekniikkaa, että ensin tehdään suoritus hitaasti ja sitten kovaa ja tämä on minusta varsin hyvä tehokeino.

Opetustilanteessa parin satuttaminen on lähtökohtaisesti älytöntä ja valitettavasti jotkut opettajat käyttävät sitä keinona hankkia henkinen yliote oppilaisiinsa. Joskus voi olla opetusteknisesti perusteltua näyttää täysitehoinen suoritus, joka voi sattua parille vähän, mutta se pitäisi olla sen yhden kerran ja mahdollisimman turvallisesti ja opetus lähtökohtaisesti tehdä niin, ettei paria satuteta.

Tämä inhottava tapa on selvästi yleisempää vääntölajeissa. Kaiketi siksi, että kovat heitot ja nivelten kivulias vääntely ei ole niin itsestäänselvästi älytöntä, kuin jos kiskaisisi nyrkillä leukaan vastustelematonta näyttöparia.