Welcome to the official blog for Scientific Wrestling Online!
Check back often as I will be frequently updating information about my research into Catch Wrestling and Western combatives, as well as our new instructional releases, training events, and catch wrestling tournaments!
Last weekend Scientific Wrestling flew in submission master Yoshiaki Fujiwara and legendary carnival hook wrestler Dick Cardinal for a Catch Wrestling summit here in Los Angeles. There was also the added bonus of having Mr. Ishikawa (PWFG wrestler,
Pride fighter and BattleArts owner) along to help with training.
For those who may not know, Fujiwara made his name as the first graduate from the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo, as the man who taught Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki (the founding fathers of the Pancrase MMA promotion and the men who taught submissions to Frank Shamrock), and as the best student and protege of "God of Wrestling" Karl Gotch. Dick Cardinal is an amateur wrestling champion and a legendary carnival wrestler hailing from the Pacific NorthWest and frequent workout partner of legendary wrestler Ben Sherman.
25 men came from as far as Florida, Detroit, Atlanta, and Canada (one man even travelled all the way from Sweden) his chance!) to learn REAL catch wrestling from the authorities in the field. Neck cranks, toe-holds, wristlocks, sit-outs, switches, reversals; for 2 days everyone beat the living hell out of each other in the hopes of making the techniques and strategies of Catch-As-Catch-Can wrestling their own.
The first day opened with Fujiwara and Ishikawa giving a full speed grappling demonstration, then showed everyone neck cranks and leg locks. Catch wrestling does things a little differently so it was really great to see the attendees' faces light up as Fujiwara shared the technical and anatomical tricks that really made the concession holds work. After four hours of training, everyone broke for lunch while I went to LAX to pick up Dick Cardinal.
Dick got to the gym and quickly took command of the room with his coach's whistle. Everyone gathered around and Dick, at nearly 79 year old, cranked his demonstration partner and whipped around on the mat like a man half his age. He ran through a neck cranks, transitions into wristlocks, and the brutal Westpoint ride (this is a particularly dangerous move for a larger man to put on a smaller one. Bart Vale, who attended the seminar too, nearly broke someone's ribs with the hold).
Dick flew home that same night. The next day Fujiwara and Ishikawa were back at it, the morning session was spent further exploring wristlocks and chicken wings. The afternoon session was particularly special, Fujiwara asked everyone to get in a circle and one by one, he answered each person's question about anything they had seen during the clinic. The clinic closed a huge success. That night, everyone gathered for dinner in honor of Mr. Fujiwara at a nice Italian restaurant in Marina Del Rey.
The DVD of this event should be ready in a month. I will keep you posted.
Meanwhile, the next seminar we are putting together will give a very select few the opportunity to train with the world's VERY best wrestlers; Wade Schalles (holds the world's record for the most wins and pins in wrestling) and Mark Schultz (Olympic Gold Medalist and successful UFC fighter) in late July. I am limiting enrollment to a very small number, stay tuned for more information soon!
