The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-18
TOE HOLD MAY
BE DISCARDED
WREsTLERs CONTEND 1T CON.
TRACTS MUCH FROM WREST-
LING AS A eENTLEMANLY
SPORT.
BY Ed. w. Smith.


The deadly toe hold must go.
It's going, too. apparently, because
the man who owns the copywrigh, Mr..
Gotch, of Iowa. says he is willing to
let il die.
AS the other wrestlers who use it
are more or less clumsy with il and
are but feeble imitators of the real
champion when it comes to it's use or
abuse. what the champion says will
have wide effect.
Chicago authorities. too, have placed
the stamp of their disapproval on the
grip Assistant, Superintendent OF Po-
lice Herman Schuettler. who enjoys a
good wrestling match about as well
as any in the country, has been frown
ing upon the pedal catch for long
time and only recently was oatspoken
against it, $50
This decided Joe Coffey matchmak-
err. to leglslate as far as he can against
IL and when Coffey engaged Frank
Gotch To wrestle Ivan RomanhofT. the
Russian giant. at the Chicago Athletic
association IL was with the stipulation
that the champion would forget about
the toe hold.
Many Against It.
As a matter of fact. many of the
wrestlers are grumbling about it, The
held has put more than one of them
out of business with bad knees and
when mans earning capacity is af-
rected he is apt to rise up in wrath.
Just what is the toe hold?" Gotcii
was asked the other night when the
matter came up for discussion. y as,
there are lots of things that might be
called toe holds. all of them leg crush
ers. too OF course. there rs the one
that | have used at times. which inn
plies twisting an opponents leg AROUND
my own with his ankle I'm my elbow
or his foot i'm my hand. But there are
q lot of variations of that. too.
Not Gotsh's Chief Hold.
"But / never used the toe hold
much, excepting as q feint TO loosen
AN opponent up. n bit Those who
have watched my wrestling closely
know that my best hold is n crotch and
half nelson. Now, il is usually easy
enough To get nalf nelson on a man.
but 10 couple a crotch hold with IL is
another matter. The nelson is not much
without the crotch to help turn over,
When find man is suffering with his
legs twisted together, | usually have To
reint him with something TO get his
legs apart. The toe hold then comes
in handy. ] feint to reach below for
his feet and quick as a fish he opens
up and can get my crotch lock-"
We have received number nj let
ters regarding the disgrace To The
game of letting wrestlcrs use the toe
hold or any form of 1t. w. |. Sar-
gent. druggist, of Ottumwa. / a, who
never misses one of the big shows liz
Chicago makes a strong complaint
about the toe hold. He says that n
ruined the match between Charley Cut
Ter and lila Vincent at the Coliseum the
other night and mas put more than one
man out of business.
Should Be Ashamed OF II.
And a man of Mahmouts admitted
ability should he ashamed to use this
hold when he has everything else at
his command" writes Mr.. Sargent.
He could hsvc accomplished the de-
sired end by cleancut. "ca sell
entlhc catch-as-catchrca holds, thus
affording a decidedly more interesting
and sportsmanlike contest.
Illuminate the toe hold from the
Cutler Vincent match and you would
have had one Of the most thrilling'
interest struggles any man could
wish 10 see. Cutler has had the toe
held applied to himself and he knows
what IL is: therefore cannot sec
why he with all natural qualifications
in his favor, should design 20 use IL on
his opponents ! think voice a gem
eraI sentiment against the grip
IL is barely possible that all
matches made in Chicago in the future,