Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-06
FRANK GOTCH'S SUCCESS DUE
TO GREAT SPEED AND SCIENCE
Worlds Champion Exponent of Catch-as-
Catch-Can Style of Wrestling Studied
All Fine Points and Chose His Game.

in rather-a crude state for a long time.
Few effective new holds being per-
fected.
When Gotch entered the game he
saw that the catch-as-catch-c lean style
or wrestling held undeveloped posi-
bilities. He figured that there were
even more effective holds to be made
below the waist than above and after
much scientific research and expert
menting brought forth the deadly toe
hold. When a gent with a strong grip
secures a toe hold ON an opponent said
opponent. is doomed to almost imme-
date defeat.
However. Gotch denies that the toe
nold Is his best card. He claims to
nave beaten a majority of his men
with crotch"
Il found that the half-Nelson was
practically useless against a bulky op-
ponent," said Gotch. 1T was like put
ting a yoke on an OK. He simply
would walk away with ME- In my
quest for a new system of attack +
evolved the toe hold. However. | do
not use 1t as frequently as generally
believed. 1t is more of a strategical
asset.
True. the toe hold is a deadly con-
trivance when properly executed Re
cause OF my reputation for using il
1 round that most of my opponents
were continually on the defensive
AGAINST 1T. This sooner or later left
|
to my way of thinking, is the most eff
fective one in use. Never, as nearly
as can recall. has an opponent broken
one OF my crotch holds. 1t is with this
ties. my oo'
of course. / have beaten a number
OF men with the toe grin. but aside
from its moral effect on the enemy il
r mas mot played as important part in
my victories as is generally believed:
time and agaih it has been written
That Gotch owes his success with the
toe hold to the tremendous gripping
power of his hand.
.x IN reply to this the, Iowa farmer
extended his justly celebrated right
INIT, IL did not resemble a ham in
the least. In fact it was surprisingly
s snaii ana Wen formed for a man Of
ms size and who did manual labor
IN ms youth, such as milking COWS
Neither did it display outward evidence
or great strength.
Gotch explained the seeming MIA
nomenon.
AS wrestlers go. I have no unusual
gripping power in my hands," said he.
on, once l get hold
To speak succinctly, he does not win
by tearing the other guy asunder as
you or / would break a wishbone, but
by outlasting, outsaming and out
thinking him.
Gotch doesn't think much of George
Hackenschmidt. and does not hesitate
to brand him as an athlete with a wide
stratum Of saffron running his full length
He made clear his title to the cham
pionship of the world by defeating
Hackenschmidt in 1909. Hack curled
up and quit at the end of one hour
and three minutes.
Had Farmer Burns, who was hand
ling me in that match, allowed me
to cut loose. there never would have
been any excuse for a return engage
ment." explained Gotch BURNS held
me on the defensive for the first hour
He wanted me to play safe. Right
down in my heart, after we had grip
ped for the first time, I felt that
could beat Hack. and beat him quick
ly. But they kept holding me back.
In the end. Hackenschmidt quit cold.
He was never a real champion. Why?
Because he was yellow"