gentlemen,
this is a review I did for the submission master set of yoshiaki fujiwara...I had gotten word that several people were interested in it...so here it is.
Dear Friends,
My name is Drew Price, I'm a 22 year old catch-as-catch-can wrestler and a black belt in the art of Judo. For 6 years now I have been an avid enthusiast and practitioner of old-style catch-as-catch-can wrestling. I am a student of Billy Wicks and Dick Cardinal, two of the last old-time carnival shooters. My search for knowledge in this area has led me down many paths...some successful, some not so successful. Until recently there was very little material available regarding instruction in the teachings of one of the great old time pros, the "God of Wrestling" Karl Gotch. Much of the material that was available was in Japanese and was very hard to get. This is no longer the case. Jake Shannon, through his many connections in the grappling world, has been able to reproduce the 10 volume instructional set of Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Karl Gotch's top student. This new release is endorsed with Mr. Gotch's approval. This series is, in brief, perhaps the finest instructional of the professional art of catch-as-catch-can wrestling yet in existence.
The material is light years ahead of most of the grappling/submission wrestling material out there today. And the scary thing is that these materials were first published over a decade ago! These new video/DVD's are the perfect illustration of wrestling as an art and science of leverage and fulcrum, they are an illustration of the skills the old time professional matmen possessed. Here's what you get.
1. Fujiwara teaches you the proper points of leverage when apply the shinlock, both with the elbow and with the knee
2. He teaches you the Karl Gotch way of applying both inside and outside Achilles locks, utilizing points on the forearm for proper fulcrum as well showing the points on the leg that give you the most leverage.
3. Fujiwara shows you an ultra effective way of of transitioning to a reverse heel hook, and why ( if the leverage is correct, and the fulcrum in the right place) one hand is all that is needed to have your opponent hitting the "High C".
4. Simple and effective escapes are illustrated for the Achilles lock...you will actually beat your opponent up as you are escaping.
5. A wonderful, and unexpected, near side toe hold is demonstrated along with very sneaky set ups.
6. The Karl Gotch method of utilizing Hindu Squats and jumping squats is properly demonstrated.
7. Fujiwara then teaches transitioning from the shinlock to various toeholds...he teaches you ways to stabilize the leg using ripping techniques, and making it nearly impossible for your opponent to counter.
8. He briefly demonstrates several variations of from the step over toehold position.
9. Fujiwara introduces rough gouging setups for toeholds...it is easy to understand how the professional art of Catch-As-Catch-Can puts the opponent in so much pain that he doesn't know what is happening to him...and when he does it's to late.
10. In a wonderful display of proper leverage Fujiwara chains from a double wristlock to cleverly done toehold.
11. He next gives a seemingly endless display of toeholds from leg-rides being chained from one to the next.
12. Fujiwara gives a demonstration of how one simple addition to the kneebar can not only pop the knee, but shred the tendons and ligaments in the knee as well.
13. From the Ball and Chain position Fujiwara demonstrates the reverse banana-split submission in which the lower appendages are being cranked, locked and stretched all at once.
14. Next are demonstrated hindu, twisting, scorpion, and diamond pushups, along with various chair exercises for upper body strength and muscular conditioning.
15. Next comes the first section dealing with the arms...first fujiwara demonstrates the bio-mechanics of the arm joints.
16. The first move is this section is the Gotch version of the Side Double Wristlock...the bread and butter hold of the Old Time Shooters...this submission uses superior leverage to attack the shoulder...eventually tearing the rotator cuff. Some of the advocates of this great hold were/are John Pesek, George Tragos, Billy Wicks, Dick Cardinal, Ben Sherman, and Karl Gotch.
17. Another method of getting the proper leverage for the double wristlock by walking it over.
18. Fujiwara shows how to use the top wristlock to slip into a shoulder lock, gaining leverage from the angle of attack as well as the cranking of the head.
19. How to use leverage, space, and a good elbow to secure a double wristlock with only two fingers.
20. How to use your legs to enact a sneaky straight armbar from the head and arm position.
21. After some gouging setups to various moves, Fujiwara demonstrates a simple reversal out of a side double wristlock into a hammerlock...this reversal is worth the entire course, it is so unbelievably simple...it really gives you an indication of the intricate and sophisticated nature of the old timers' game.
22. Next are given numerous exercises for development of the abdomen...Gotch style.
23. Fujiwara demonstrates an incredibly painful wristlock setup into an armbar
24. He demonstrates "Turking"-a simple and effective use of your legs and hips against an appendage, follows by some ugly reverse armbars.
25. a sprawl and spin "turk" counter to a single leg takedown- this is another gem of a move that is worth the entire course...no practitioner of any grappling art today will expect this move.
26. Various head and arm submissions and the simplest counter to the head and arm position that I have ever seen...as Karl Gotch says "Victory goes over a Bridge"
27. Exercises for the arms using both weights and towels to provide resistance in various directions.
28. Fujiwara next generates a series of neck submissions beginning with the Triangle...this technical demonstration gives an intricate look at how attacking an opponents blood flow can put them to sleep...hence the meaning of the term "sleeper".
29. Fujiwara next includes many tips to make your chokes and strangles extra effective.
30. The Neck is an integral part of a wrestlers training...here 4 neck exercises are demonstrated...you'll learn wall walking and bridging (the Karl Gotch way)
31. Fujiwara concludes the tape/dvd with instruction in crossfacing and neck cranks and gouges to set them up...he shows how to incorporate the whole body making escape impossible.
Advanced dvd
32. Fujiwara gives a plethora of ways to maim a turtled opponent...this is one of the areas the old time pros excelled. You'll learn to blanket ride your opponent using knees, elbows, your chin, as well as neck cranks, toe holds, and Achilles locks to set them up. It is very easy to see why the old timers wanted to escape from the bottom as quickly as possible. This section will also be very good to judo players looking for ways to get an opponent out of the "turtle".
33. You'll learn a wonderful cradle technique that is the epitome of what proper leverage and fulcrum will do....the old timers didn't just "hook" their opponents...they maimed and stretched them too.
34. Kumicho next gives you a clinic on as many toeholds as you could imagine...yes even a toehold from the ball and chain (ala billy wicks). And he tops the segment off with the infamous oil check...nothing like challenging a man's masculinity to wear him down mentally!
35. In the next segment your instructed in some wrestling basics...pummeling, shrimping, and the Gotch Bible (you'll never look at a deck of cards the same way again).
36. Fujiwara shows you the proper method of riding an opponent crossbody (this is one of the areas that intrigued me the most because I was instructed in the same method by billy wicks...this is the way the old timers did it!)
37. the next move is another one of those gems that is worth the whole price of the series...fujiwara shows you the simplest technique in the world to counter a strong bridger when you have the mount...its simplicity will blow you away (and nobody does it!)
38. Next we see more ways to rip and gouge an opponent...this time from the north and south position. Pain is the name of the game...you want to put your opponent in so much pain he doesn't know what is happening to him...then BAM!!!....hook him and end it.
39. fujiwara shows you how to use the wrist flex to move into various submissions...one to the next...the shoulder-lock, the double wristlock, and to various armbars.
40. the next body-aking segment gives you instruction into 2 integral aspects of the wrestling game: the sitout and the sprawl. The sitout should be done in the manner done on this video...doing it the amateur way can often times open you up to neck cranks. Remember- without mastering the basics you cannot master the game...everything is built on that foundation.
41. Fujiwara then shows you escapes and counters for position you may find yourself in when wrestling, he give you an escape for the quarter nelson (it works), an escape for a single leg on the ground, a wonderful side roll from a bodylock, ways to break the grip, and a couple of escapes from underneath using a double wristlock.
42. The next segment on body-making teaches you the professional way to take breakfalls and it really does differ quite a bit from the traditional judo art of ukemi, you will also be taught basic stretching.
43. the final section on wrestling teaches you proper stance and some fighting basics (how to block kicks,etc.), and fujiwara ends with a sweet and simple takedown using a 2 on 1 grip that you likely have never seen before.
44. the final body-making segment deals with running, rope skipping, wheel barrow pushups, and Indian club swinging, and concludes with footage of a seminar and some strong style pro wrestling and shoot wrestling matches.
Again...let me reiterate...this is the best submission series on catch wrestling I have ever seen (by the way...Farmer Burns would agree)...this is truly the "Holy Grail" of the grappling world. If you have an interest in learning the methods of the old time shooters and in learning a professional art that has been proven all over the world for more than 100 years (no other art has a track record like that), then this is the series for you.
This is as close as you will ever come to learning from Kamisama himself... This is the style of the first Kings of Pancrase: Shamrock, Suzuki, Funaki, etc...this is Professional-style Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling taught by Yoshiaki Fujiwara, the #1 student of Karl Gotch. Enjoy.
3 BIG T's for this review drewprice. If you are into grappling, no matter what the style, this is a MUST own.
Awesome, thanks Drew! We should start posting reviews here of catch related material like this.
Drew,
is it in english or japanese? If japanese does it have subtitles?
cheers
Great review! I just got my copy of the DVDs and will watch them soon.
I have a question for you experienced catch wrestlers. Please understand I am not bashing, I am looking for information. I have been doing BJJ for a little over a year and one of my first teachers was big into catch, so I am very new to catch wrestling.
My questions is, why is catch better than BJJ, or are they both good? I ask in all honestly. Also, was Shamrock that good of a catch wrestler? I know he got tapped really quickly by Royce in the first UFC, so I am wondering if he was that good.
I ask these questions because from what I have seen and been told, catch seems so great. BJJ can be predicable and I am wondering why there aren't more catch wrestlers fighting in tournaments or gettting attention.
I think it is awesome what Jake is doing and all the work he is doing to help get catch back in the news. Keep up the great work.
I only have one complaint to Jake on submission master: There are a great deal of Japanese speaking people in LA and subtitles, I have been told, are easy to encode onto a dvd. I understand that everything is very clearly demonstrated, but the learning curve goes up considerably when one also knows what is being said.
First I don't believe one system is better than the other.Why aren't more catch guys in tournaments or recieving more attention?Well,how many people out there are teaching jiu jitsu?Catch wrestling really only has a few people who can teach or are willing to.Some of the guys from the club I train under have competed and done very well.Just because royce tapped ken in their first fight dosen't prove anything to me .The second fight ken whipped him,he kept gracie on his back the entire fight.You could make the same argument for sakuraba.How many gracie arms has he broken now?It all comes down to who is on that night and who isn't.I like catch better ,but that dosen't make me any better.It's the man deep inside that makes the style better.
I think one of the things we need to do away with is the idea that Catch is better than any other style. Its not better or worse just a different style with a different set of rules. Like Sambo guys compete in BJJ and BJJ guys in Sambo niether one is really better only different ways to the same goal.
Actually a translated version is in the works. Once it is done, I will offer current owners of SM v 1 & 2 a deep discount.
That question ("why is catch better than BJJ") has been a sore spot for long time. Here is the quick and dirty answer: IT ISN'T.
It isn't an apples to apples comparison. They are two different games with two different sets of rules. In MMA you see a lot of BJJ influenced competitors (Gracies, Penn, Arona, etc) and you see a fair share of Catch influenced competitors (Saku, Shamrocks, Barnett, etc)
Which is better, an apple or an orange?
It might be useful to look at which is better for what purpose? Street, MMA, sub grappling tourneys with BJJ rules, etc...
BJJ isnt better than CACC and CACC isnt better than BJJ. Just different and quite different at that. When people say " its all the same thing" i have to disagree. I have always felt that BJJ is great due to its simplicity and CACC is great due to its complexity.
I just cant stand the BJJ whitebelt sheep that preach about how superior their style is due to the current MMA situation. MMA is still a baby and know where near its full potential. The best BJJers do MMA. This cannot be said about the best wrestlers, Sambists and Judoka. Yes there have been a decent amount of these world class grapplers in the ring, but this cannot be considered a representation of these arts as a whole because not enough of them make the transition. I cant blame them, there isnt a rule that says you must represent your art in MMA, but the whitebelt sheeple dont understand this.
But wait kids, there's more. Its not just the whitebelts that are sheep. We have a few catch haters that are damn good on the mat and this is a threat. When you have a kid watching a fighting event and then the announcer has a negative comment about a particular style, he is killing the would be participant of this art. ie Bravo and his condescending words toward CACC, this has definatley made some shy away from our school of thought.
Not only is catch looked down upon, but wrestling in general, it is seen as nothing more than a set of takedowns to the average MMA fan. And we cant forget about boxing, its easily dismissed by the average UFC fan, yet i know for a fact that if a whole crop were to make the transition to MMA we would a lot of see a hell of a lot of broken jaws. I am not saying they would dominate across the board but a quite a few would gain respect they deserve.
were bravo's comments about catch or were they about tony c.? (oh, god...please don't make this question a hater thread). Just curious...you would think that he would have an appreciation for the art considering some of his weapons of choice are from the old time wrestling arsenal.
I'm currious too ....what did bravo say?Well, back to the topic of sub-master.Jake ,glad you got fugiwara to share his knowledge ,and with gotch's approval.Until now I don't think I have ever seen a catch instructional.Do any of you guys know about funaki's or suzuki's instructional stuff.I see that funaki has a self defense dvd out.Maybe we can get up with roy wood and see if he has anything he'd be willing to share.
hey guys, please read the thread topics bfore posting. Jake, will the translated copies be available while I am in LA? (2-24 thru 3-4)
I tried to get them done in time for the seminar but not enough time.
Eddie bravo and joe rogan's problems were with Tony in particular; one of them even posted specifically that. they also didn't like his material in particular. Some of those threads were they posted that might still be archived. Eddie posted good stuff about Sakuraba and his guard.
drew, I think you should edit and add paragraphs to make it easier to read.
Guys,
Thanks for your responses. You are right, saying Catch is better than BJJ wasn't what I was trying to say. From my little expereince with catch, I think it is awesome. I am just really suprised that it doesn't have a big following in the USA like BJJ; even since it was made in the USA.
I forgot about Sak, that guys is awesome. Yesterday I found a 15 minute video of Gomi wrestling in Japan, catch style. It is really good. That guy is awesome.
I really like your review drewprice
i just can't wait to see these fujiwara dvd in translated version jake
Ahh... the old 'catch vs whoever'. The bottom line is
that thanks to Jake and numerous others on this forum
CACC is trying to re emerge. With their continued work
perhaps one day there will be the opportunity for
"catch" practioners to compete with defined rules in a
sportive venue. That will be great. In the interim any
exposure that you have to CACC amd its principles and
techniques can only improve your game no matter what
your style is. People ask me,"what about CACC?" I say
look into it and find out all you can that you will
only benifit from it. I do not and would not be so
presumptous (sp) to claim to be a catch wrestler. I
practice it, teach it all wrapped up in what I do.
When asked about a certain tech or principle I give
credit where credit is due. Do I feel it has made my
art better? Very much so. So instead of fighting about
who is an authority and the only one to train or
certify people in CACC, just learn all you can and
incorporate it into your game and your self defense.
When sport CACC events come available take advatage of
them.
Khan!!!!!!! Welcome!
Boyd, good to see you. How are you doing?