The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
SCIENCE OF The MAT
Amateur Wrestlers Should
Learn All Holds.
VALUABLE FOR sELF-DEFENsE
Weight Necessary ia Graeeo-ROman
Wrestling, but I'm CRfch-as-eateh-
can style Man Must he Light on
His Feet, Quick, and Capable Of
WIthstanding Tremendous Strain.

The question as TO which style Of
TeStling-GraecO-R Roman or catch-as-
eatch-can-will best suit man must
be determined to a large extent by his
physique Weight IS important in the
first-named style. but in the other
ouickness and skill play a far more i'm
portant part. and for that reason many
people prefer Hackenschmidt to
zbysco.
Some Of the principal things neces-
sary IN catch-as-catch-can wrestling
are that man shall be as light upon
his feet as a dancer, as quick as a
panther and capable OF withstanding a
tremendous strain. A man who depends
upon weight alone. no matter If he
plants his feet as solidly as a rock
would stand no possible chance against
lighter and more active opponent A
few preliminary passes. the usual dal-
lying with arms and hands at the start
and then-thud-a lightning leg stroke
Will have wrecked his hopes
Il IS computed that in this style Of
wrestling there are at least 80 dif-
ferent methods by which man may
hope TO place an opponent fairly and
squarely. both shoulders down. upon
the mat Then there are defensive
tackles. so that. taken ali around.
wrestler. before he becomes fully con-
versant with his art. must serve a long
apprenticeship. At the end Of twelve
months, however. the beginner is usual
ly able 10 ho.d his own in average com
pGny. Il is well 10 bear in mind
however. the very excellent advice
given by Prof. z. Coll. the well-known
instructor in many forms OF athletics
Learn for SeIF-defense.
Both wrestling and boxing" he SAYS.
are means OF offense and defense. Il
must. however. be remembered that In
cases Of personal defense no regula-
tions exist, and hence the pupil should
learn and The master should teach
those holds and blows that are classed
and rightly ciassed-as foul in con
tests between athletes" That is TO say.
a man who assaults you in the street Is
not going 20 trouble aboat whether he
is trying TO knock you out or throw
you down in fair regulation style. and
consequently you must be prepared 10
meet him on those terms
For Instance the hammerlock is
barred in all amateur contests Yet il
would be most useful IN meeting a
hooligan. To successfully accomplish
Il the wrist OF an opponent must be
Sripped tightly and the arm brought
round and forced up the back. The pain
is eXcruciating. and the man must give
way or the limb breaks. Once tEis
hold IS properly secured IL cannot be
broken.
The best. and probably the most fatal
hold in catch-as-catch-can wrestling.
however, is that introduced by Cher
piilo. who won the Coronation worlds
championship at the National Sporting
Club some time sgo- Il Is termed the
crutch hold and swing. To effect this
the balance Of an opponent must be de-
stroy9d. and. with one hand gripping
the body and the other the inside thigh.
he Is brought up as high as the shOul-
ders and swung around and down upon
the mat. Properly accomplished. the
man who enacts the role OF victim Is so
shaken that his Shoulders are pinned
down before he is enabled TO pull him
self together and recall his scattered
senses
Must Maintain Equilibrium.
one Of the first lessons which the
catch-as-catch-can wrestler has to
learn, however. is 70 keep his equiI-
brium. He is never safer than when
on his feet. and footwork plays a re-
markably prominent part. The legs OF
an opponent must be watched closely.
and the balance preserved at all costs
The feet must never be allowed TO
cross or overlap. for If this mistake is
made touch is only necessary to bring
the wrestler TO the mai. When playing
for an opening the elbows should be
closely pressed 10 the ribs and the fore
arms extended. The mere fact OF hold
ing the arms in this position prevents
an opponent from gripping a wrist
pulling you forward and around, and
so securing a hold upon the body
If thrown 20 the mat and your oppo-
nent tries 70 get the half-Nelson hold
throw out one leg. the left for prefer
ence, bring the right knee beneath your
body and by pulling your opponents
wrists and keeping your head well for
ward il is generally possible to rise and
break away. II, with your opponent
behind you, you find it necessary to go
down. iock your legs on his. press his
arms down. and drop forward TO the
floor still keeping on the leg lock BY
doing this II may be readily understood
that no attempt can be made to turn
the man beneath over until the legs are
released.
The success Of many holds depends
upon the Quickness with which an op-
portunity is seized and the hold applied.
Take, for instance, the cross bullock
which plays a very prominent part in
catch-as-catch can wrestling Il IS a
throw which must be brought into Opar-
alton without a moments hesitation.
Throwing one arm around your oppo-
nent's neck. YOU must grip him by the
upper arm or wrist, and bringing your
body round and under. sweep his legs
from under him by a stroke just above
the ankle. II this is done properly. he
is thrown over and round your hip. fall
ing with a shock that renders him an
easy prey as you grip him again. But
IL must be done smartly, or not at all.
Tommy DevIin Winner.
Hot Springs. Ark, Feb. 22-Tommy
Mowatt. Of Chicago after injuring his
hand yesterday In practice, declined the
issue last night under direction Of ply
sIcians, and did not meet Tommy Devlin.
oF DI,ffolnf,1go Vr.,pr~ ~