Early Wrestling Trainers-Farmer Burns

[Shootkick Man]

Farmer Burns is the father of Catch Wrestling, also known as Catch as Catch Can style and he was as tough as they come. Rumor has that he wrestled a bear. He trained alot of stars in the business. See below who he trained:

Frank Gotch, Fred Beell, Fred Grubmeier, Gorgeous George, Gus Kallio, Henry Kolln, Hugh Nichols, Jack Reynolds, Jack Sherry, Jack Taylor, Joe Toots Mondt, Marin Pleština, Paul Jones, Ray Steele and Rudy Dusek.

[LionDen]

I would like to see footage of him wrestling a bear. lol

Catch World Championships 2018
Chris Lomas Vs Josh Barnett (former UFC Heavyweight Champion)


For those who do not know what 'catch wrestling' is, I could explain but here is the Wikipedia explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_wrestling

Catch wrestling (originally catch-as-catch-can) is a classical hybrid grappling style and combat sport. It was popularised by wrestlers of travelling funfairs who developed their own submission holds, or "hooks", into their wrestling to increase their effectiveness against their opponents. Catch wrestling derives from various different international styles of wrestling: several English styles (primarily Lancashire, as well as Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, Devonshire, and Irish collar-and-elbow wrestling). The training of some modern submission wrestlers, professional wrestlers and mixed martial artists is founded in catch wrestling.

Professional wrestling, once a legitimate combat sport, was competitive catch wrestling. The original and historic World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship was created in 1905 to identify the best catch-as-catch-can wrestler in the world, before the belt was retired in 1957 and unified with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Modern day professional wrestling has its origins in catch wrestling exhibitions at carnivals where predetermined ("worked") matches had elements of performing arts introduced (as well as striking and acrobatic maneuvers), turning it into an entertainment spectacle. In a few countries, such as in France and Germany, "Catch" is still the term used for professional wrestling.

Catch-as-catch-can was included in the 1904 Olympic Games, it had new rules and weight categories introduced similar to other amateur wrestling styles, and dangerous moves — including all submission holds — were banned. New rules and regulations were later developed and codified by FILA and amateur catch wrestling became known as freestyle wrestling, which was then considered separate from the dangerous, professional catch style.

Other martial arts with origins in catch wrestling include folkstyle wrestling, Sambo, Luta Livre, shoot-style, shootfighting and mixed martial arts (MMA).

CatchWorld Championships 2022
Tommy Hawthorn v Matthew Chambers