Author: Ken Zimmerman Jr Publisher: Independently Published ISBN: 9781720061199 Category : Sports & Recreation Languages : en Pages : 356
Book Description
"Don't break my leg!" As the two muscular men struggled in the center of the ring, the man on top continued to work on the downed man's legs. Again, the man on bottom yelled, "Please don't break my leg!" Frank Gotch looked over at his rival George Hackenschmidt, who was writhing in obvious pain. Despite a severe knee injury, Hackenschmidt went through with the rematch on Labor Day Weekend 1911. Gotch snarled, "What?" Hackenschmidt repeated, "Please don't break my leg." Gotch said plainly, "There'll have to be a fall." Hackenschmidt hesitated for a minute before laying back for the second and deciding fall, an anti-climactic ending to the second of the most anticipated wrestling matches in the legitimate wrestling era. The match was the second meeting between the men. On April 3, 1908, current World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion George Hackenschmidt met American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Frank Gotch in pro wrestling's version of The Match of the Century. Anticipated since 1905, the combatants finally settled on a location and date for the match in early 1908. George Hackenschmidt won the World Greco-Roman Heavyweight Wrestling Championship in 1901. He spent the next seven years touring the world defending his championship. Originally a weightlifter and holder of several world weightlifting records, "The Russian Lion" was one of the most powerful men in wrestling history. Standing only 5'09" tall, "Hack" weighed between 209 and 218 pounds in his prime. As he approached the match with Gotch, wrestling observers believed Hackenschmidt to be nearly unbeatable. The most serious previous challenge to his reign came from "The Terrible Turk," Ahmed Madrali. Hackenschmidt pinned Madrali in 41 seconds after dislocating his arm with a hammerlock. Gotch started wrestling in the late 1890s about the same time as Hackenschmidt, when he came to the attention of Martin "Farmer" Burns. Going into the first match, the only knock on Gotch was a lack of international experience. Hackenschmidt had been touring the world for seven years. Gotch did all of his wrestling in the United States including a brief stint in the Klondike during 1901. However, the years of touring may have damaged "Hack" more than it helped him. Hackenschmidt had not been defeated in a ring for seven years. He beat every credible challenger not named Frank Gotch. Frank Gotch had lost in 1901 to St. Louis Champion Oscar Wasem, in 1905 to Tom Jenkins and in 1906 to Fred Beell but otherwise maintained an equally impressive record. The anticipation built into the greatest legitimate wrestling match ever held in the United States. After building interest in the sport with the first match, the second match brought back all the doubts about legitimacy and spending hard earned money on wrestling bouts. If the first bout built the sport, the second bout wrecked it.
Author: George Hackenschmidt Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform ISBN: 9781466466302 Category : Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
"Some trainers recommend to their pupils for the training of all muscle groups one and the same (light) weight and believe they are able to obtain the same effect by frequent repetitions. My experience has taught me that this is wrong, for the muscles of men or animals who are distinguished for certain feats of endurance are by no means over-developed. A long-distance runner or long-distance cyclist always has comparatively thin legs, as have a racehorse, stag, or greyhound. Nature does not act without aim and purpose. Hence there is a great difference between feats of endurance and feats of strength. One must consider that, although it is quite possible to enlarge muscles by certain light, prolonged exercises, at the same time the development of the sinews may be neglected, and it is the sinews which transport the action of the muscles to the bone xframe. The sinews can only be exercised and strengthened by correspondingly heavy muscle work. Besides, to take a paradoxical example, it is quite impossible to improve strong muscle groups, as, for instance, the hip muscles, with light-weight exercises. A further illustration of the fallacy of attempting to develop the muscles by frequent repetitions with the same light exercises may be found in a comparison with any and every other form of athletics, in which a man would never think of merely repeating his training programme. In order to improve himself either in pace or distance, he must set himself a steady progression of arduous effort". - George Hackenschmidt This is an original version, restored and re-formatted edition of Hackenschmidt's 1908 classic. Visit our website and see our many books at PhysicalCultureBooks.com
Author: David Shoemaker Publisher: Penguin ISBN: 1592408818 Category : Sports & Recreation Languages : en Pages : 401
Book Description
A breakthrough examination of the professional wrestling, its history, its fans, and its wider cultural impact The Squared Circle grows out of David Shoemaker’s writing for Deadspin, where he started the column “Dead Wrestler of the Week” (which boasts more than 1 million page views)—a feature on the many wrestling superstars who died too young because of the abuse they subject their bodies to—and his writing for Grantland, where he covers the pro wrestling world, and its place in the pop culture mainstream. Shoemaker’s sportswriting has since struck a nerve with generations of wrestling fans who—like him—grew up worshipping a sport often derided as “fake” in the wider culture. To them, these professional wrestling superstars are not just heroes but an emotional outlet and the lens through which they learned to see the world. Starting in the early 1900s and exploring the path of pro wrestling in America through the present day, The Squared Circle is the first book to acknowledge both the sport’s broader significance and wrestling fans’ keen intellect and sense of irony. Divided into eras, each section offers a snapshot of the wrestling world, profiles some of the period’s preeminent wrestlers, and the sport’s influence on our broader culture. Through the brawling, bombast, and bloodletting, Shoemaker argues that pro wrestling can teach us about the nature of performance, audience, and, yes, art. Full of unknown history, humor, and self-deprecating reminiscence—but also offering a compelling look at the sport’s rightful place in pop culture—The Squared Circle is the book that legions of wrestling fans have been waiting for. In it, Shoemaker teaches us to look past the spandex and body slams to see an art form that can explain the world.
Author: Jonathan Snowden Publisher: ECW Press ISBN: 177090221X Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 401
Book Description
From William Muldoon to Brock Lesnar, this history covers those who have divided themselves as tough guys on the professional wrestling circuit and legitimate confrontations. From catch wrestling master Billy Robinson to the Japanese professional wrestler who gave birth to the global phenomenon that is modern mixed martial arts (MMA), this investigation travels from the shadowy carnival tent and the dingy training hall to the bright lights of the squared circle and the Las Vegas glitz of the octagon. Billy Riley's legendary Wigan Snake Pit and the rigorous UWF Dojo in Tokyo are explored, revealing the secret history of both professional wrestling and the rising sport of MMA. Squared circle icons Strangler Lewis and Lou Thesz and Olympic heroes Danny Hodge and Kurt Angle are also featured.
Author: Mike Chapman Publisher: Paladin Press ISBN: 9781581606461 Category : Sports & Recreation Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
In the early 20th century, one man ruled the tough world of professional wrestling -- Frank Gotch. Learning the ferocious craft of catch-as-catch-can wrestling under the tutelage of catch wrestling master Martin "Farmer" Burns and in regular, brutal bouts in the ring, Gotch went on to dominate the sport and become one of the most famous sports figures in the world. The Life and Legacy of Frank Gotch chronicles Gotch's rise to the pinnacle of the wrestling world before his untimely death in 1917. It provides little-known details about his earliest matches, his trip to Alaska to hone his wrestling skills, his training under Farmer Burns, his harshly instructive contests with the fierce Tom Jenkins and his two epic bouts against the "Russian Lion," the great George Hackenschmidt. Author Mike Chapman offers intriguing speculation about how Gotch may have matched up against some of the other top wrestlers of all time, and he has unearthed fascinating accounts from wrestling legends, promoters and sports writers, during and after the Gotch era, who all weigh in on why Gotch was the greatest of them all. Close to 80 photos, many of which are being published for the first time in nearly a century, round out this portrait of one of the most influential figures in the history of professional wrestling.
Author: Aubrey Sitterson Publisher: Ten Speed Graphic ISBN: 0399580506 Category : Comics & Graphic Novels Languages : en Pages : 186
Book Description
From the host of the critically acclaimed pro wrestling podcast Straight Shoot, this graphic novel history of wrestling features the key grapplers, matches, and promotions that shaped this beloved sport and form of entertainment. As a pop culture phenomenon, professional wrestling--with its heroic babyfaces and villainous heels performing suplexes and powerbombs in pursuit of championship gold--has conquered audiences in the United States and around the world. Now, writer/podcaster Aubrey Sitterson and illustrator Chris Moreno form a graphic novel tag team to present wrestling's complete illustrated history. Featuring legendary wrestlers like Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, and The Rock, and modern-day favorites like John Cena, Kenny Omega, and Sasha Banks, the book covers wrestling's progress from the carnival days of the Gold Dust Trio to the dominance of the WWF/WWE to today's diverse independent wrestling scene, and it spotlights wrestling's reach into Mexico/Puerto Rico (lucha libre), the U.K. (all-in), and Japan (puroresu).
Author: Ken Zimmerman, Jr Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 314
Book Description
Between 1923 and 1928, the Gold Dust Trio of World Champion Ed "Strangler" Lewis, manager Billy Sandow and promotional genius Joseph "Toots" Mondt dominated professional wrestling. Due to the promotional practices of the Trio, Ed "Strangler" Lewis earned the most money of any professional athlete in the 1920s. Riding a high tide of full houses and big gates, poor decisions led to trouble for both the Trio and professional wrestling.
Author: Dan Murphy Publisher: ECW Press ISBN: 1773056875 Category : Sports & Recreation Languages : en Pages : 368
Book Description
A walk-through wrestling history, starting with the founding fathers such as Ed “Strangler” Lewis and the incomparable Lou Thesz, to modern-day masters such as Daniel Bryan and Kurt Angle. The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers spotlights elite performers and analyzes exactly what made them your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestlers. Authors Dan Murphy and Brian Young interviewed more than 40 in-ring veterans, historians, referees, and promoters to get a unique insider’s look at the people who have made a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling. It offers a special peek “behind the curtain” and a rare look into the top stars’ thoughts on their peers, their influences, and their personal favorites. The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers is a history of professional wrestling but also a tribute to the frequently misunderstood art itself. Featuring stars of the 1920s to today, this essential read deserves a prominent spot on the bookcase of every fan and historian.
Author: Ken Zimmerman Jr
Author: George Hackenschmidt
Author: David Shoemaker
Author: Jonathan Snowden
Author: Mike Chapman
Author: Jake Shannon
Author: Ellington Darden
Author: Aubrey Sitterson
Author: Ken Zimmerman, Jr
Author: Dan Murphy