The New York herald., 1921-02-13
LEWIS HEADL0CK
NOT ONLY HOLD
THAT HDEADLY
S..echer's Body Scissors in
Front Rank as a Medium
Of Punishment.
TOE HOLD IS POWERFUL
Aberg's Hammer Lock Ingeni-
Gus Method Of Producing
Inconsistencies.
TOE HOLD IS POWERFUL
by CHARLES F. MATuIsox.

III the WHINING Oh DOUlS ana CtliT1i-
pionships are used in manner to in
flict severe physical pain, serious in
jury and in many instances produce
unconsciousness. From the strangle
hold Of Evan Lewis. which resulted iii
the death of several wrestlers, and
| which finally was barred. to the head
lock of Stranger Ed Lewis, the sue
cessful locks have been painful and
dangerous.
Following the abolition of the stran-
gle hold, the effects Of which were
similar to those of the garrote. Frank
Gotch perfected the toe lock, the ap-
plication Of which. while not fatal to
the victims. resulted in many broken
ankles.
The hammer lock. which caused
many broken and dislocated arms, also
came into use. but owing to the diff
Guilty of adjusting it. the hold is seldom
seen nowadays.
The double nelson. with which a
wrestler's neck may be broken IS used
at rare intervals. Que TO the fact that
1T is not easily applied.
The modern crop OF wrestlers have
| become so expert In defence against
| nearly ALI the ancient locks that fcw
| contests under the conditions of best
| two In three falls could be settled
within limit of three OF four hours.
| With the shortening of bouts 70 one
| decisive fall, the grapplers decided that
IL was necessary to perfect holds so
Furnishing in their effects that the VIC
Tins would succumb In short order.
Thus there came into play the suffo-
eating body scissors of Joe Stecher
the crushing head scissors OF Earl Cad
dock and the cruel elaboration of the
Gotch toe hold by the Zbyszkos, Stanis-
laus and Vladek.
Stechcr's Body Scissors.
Next to tho Lewis head lock. the
body scissors as exempified by former
champion Joe Stecher has been more
effective In subduing opponents than
| any other lock now in use. AS In the
case of the head lock. the body scissors
is purely furnishing in It's effects. AS
applied by Stecher 1t produces partial
| suffocation. the victims breath being
shut off by the terrific pressure OF
Stecher's legs on the diaphragm
The reason that Stecher has been able
to defeat his opponents so easily with
the body scissors is that his legs arc
peculiarly adapted to the application of
the lock. Stecher Is more than six feet
TALL with long arms and legs. but n
rather small trunk. His legs are
the most flexible lower limbs known to
the wrestling pad.
1t Is evident that In order to obtain
the hold Stecher and his opponent must
first go to the floor. II makes no diff
ference to Setcher IL he is underneath
or on top. for he quickly mannuvres
for an opportunity to wind his legs
about the body OF his opponent. Stecher
eagerly welcomes attempts by his ad-
versary to affix a hold, for in a ma
jority of cases 1t is when scramblIng
about on the canvas that the body
scissors expert slips his supple legs
about the waist Of the victim.
The favorite position of Stecher after
getting the hold Is shown In the accom-
panying reproduction of a striking pho
tograph When the body scissors Is
adjusted In this manner II Is but a mat
ter of a few minutes when the unfor-
tunate subject OF the hold collapses and
falls on his back. AS IL is but neces-
sary for the winner of a wrestling bout
to pin both shoulders OF his opponent to
the canvas fnomentariIy In order to win,
the Stechcr lock accornplishes its pur-
pose very thoroughly.
Modus Operandi.
In the illustration above Setcher rests
on his right side and the opposing
wrestler is on his back making a gall
liant attempt to bridge and thus keep
his shoulders off the canvas. Stecher's
left leg lies across the diaphragm and
the conqueror's right leg Is under the
small OF the back OF the victim. Stech-
er's feet are locked together. which en-
ables him to put on terrific pressure
front and back.
Having once wound his legs about HE
opponent and locked his feet Stecher's
next move Is to seize the wrists of the
victim. stretch the arms out on the floor
and hold them 40 the unfortunate wrest-
Ter cannot move them for defence or OF
fence. In the illustration Stecher has
seized the left wrist OF his victim aud
has II pinned TO the floor. while Stecher's
left hand hand clutches the mans neck.
Once having adjusted all his holds
stecher is compelled TO do nothing but
lie quietly on his side and. with look OF
serene contentment await the collapse
OF his victim.
stechsr conquered nearly all OF the
praa~--s. crop of wrestlers, including
Zbyszko. Caddock and Lewis. with his
body scissors. but fell n victim TO the
head lock when Lewis had perfected u
TO the point indicated by his recent VIC
tories.
The advantage of the head lock over
the body scissors Of Stecher or the head
scissors OF Caddock IL that the Lewis
hold can be taken when both men are
either In a standing position or on the
floor. Neither OF the scissors holds can
be adjusted when the contestants are
erect, which Is a disadvantage.
The body scissors checks the abdomi-
nal breathing OF tho victim. compelling
him TO yield rather than suffocatc. In
several Instances the subject OF the hold
has resisted TO an unwise extent and has
paid the penalty with period OF un-
consciousness.
The effect OF the head SCISSORS which
has been used frequently by Caddock. is
the same as that Of the deadlock. II
the pressure Is maintained for any length
OF time II produces vertigo and eventual
~ Inconsistencies
Tho head scissors however. is hold
difficult TO securc. Caddo.i. In adjust
Ing H. gets the victims head between
his legs. closes them like pair OF shear
and then with wrist lock to prevent
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