Jake ShannonSay Uncle!: Catch-As-Catch Can Wrestling and the Roots of Ultimate Fighting, Pro Wrestling & Modern Grappling

It is hard to comprehend in today's BJJ-dominated climate, but there was a time, believe it or not, when catch-as-catch-can wrestling was the dominant submission grappling style in North America. Catch wrestlers could be found in basically every large city in the USA and Canada (and many smaller ones as well). There were regular contests, both public and private, where wrestlers competed for side bets on a winner-take-all basis. The public got involved, too, and there was a lot of money to be made, or lost, in laying cash down on these bouts. Years ago, I spoke to a man whose father (a talented catch wrestler) once participated in a match which allowed one of his financial backers to open a restaurant from the earnings. The son became a good college wrestler in the 1970s, but he noted that much of his father's technical repertoire wasn't useful to him because of the heavy emphasis on submission holds!In nearly every city you travel to, you can find similar, fading stories of a bygone era in our sporting history. As the twentieth century progressed, American catch-as-catch-can went into decline as professional wrestling, always a dubiously honest enterprise, began to adopt flashy theatrics in place of technical mat wrestling. Crowds responded well to the dramatics, and the necessity for actual wrestling skill became less important. By the late 1920s and early 1930s, "rasslin" had become the 'new normal,' and an aging cohort of real submission wrestlers found it increasingly difficult to ply their trade. Fortunately, some of them continued to pass their skills on to the next generation, many of whom are today in their 70s and 80s. Additionally, some of them ventured to Japan, where their skills were still held in high regard. If you looked closely enough, you could also find fragments of catch wrestling's legacy in the mainstream martial arts. The most famous martial arts tome in history, Bruce Lee's "Tao of Jeet Kune Do," for example, contains a few moves straight out of the catch-as-catch-can toolbox. However, by the 1990s, with few still around who could personally testify to the contrary on North American shores, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was able to assume the mantle as THE submission wrestling art. In the past few years, though, things have begun to come full circle.If you have been watching any MMA (mixed martial arts) broadcasts lately, you might notice that catch wrestling has been working its way back into the spotlight. Announcers such as Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan have been using catch terms for techniques, and a growing body of athletes have begun to acknowledge the importance of catch wrestling in their training, including Randy Couture and Josh Barnett. In light of catch wrestling's growing popularity, "Say Uncle!" represents a great starting point for both athletes and sports fans who wish to acquaint themselves with a submission wrestling tradition that predates not only BJJ's popularization in North America, but its advent in Brazil."Say Uncle" covers a lot of bases. The author, Jake Shannon, gives a general primer on catch wrestling's history as well as its impact on modern submission grappling, mma, and pro wrestling. It also contains a series of interviews with some of the 'old-timers' who learned their skills directly from masters of the art who traveled the countryside during the sport's heyday, as well as interviews with current day practitioners who are at the vanguard of mma competition. These interviews provide insight into both the 'culture' of catch wrestling that once existed as well as its technical nuances. The last part of the book will be of particular interest to athletes, as it addresses both training strategy and technical application.It also bears noting that Shannon is not an author who is simply trying to latch on to a growing trend. This book is the product of over a decade of his own research into catch wrestling, and the quality that comes from intensive study in the field is evident throughout its pages.By no means is this book the final word on the subject. There is much more to be said on catch wrestling's history, and there is a lot more technique that could be detailed. However, for someone wanting a general primer on a classic American combat sport that is gaining ever more mainstream notice, it is the best place to start as far as written sources go. You won't be disappointed.

This is a fascinating book! Catch Wrestling despite it being a battle tested, scientifically sound system of grappling has all but been forgotten. Thanks to people like Jake, Billy Robinson, Gene LeBell, Dick Cardinal etc there is now a resurgence in Catch. Most of us, myself included, are surprised to find a long and well documented American history of this formidable art.What I really love the most about this book is the interviews. Karl Gotch (rip), Billy Robinson, Gene LeBell, Fugiwara etc one gets an insight into the history. One on the fallacies of modern times is to assume everything we do is "new" what this book shows is that many of the training methods that are now in vogue, Mixed matches (boxers vs, wrestlers, judo vs wrestling, wrestling vs jujitsu, all in matches) are nothing new. Many of the elders interviewed were part of that often overlooked history.Because the interviews were done in an informal manner, one gets a real feel of that period of time.On a more pragmatic note, unless I'm mistaken there are only 4 or 5 men left with a first hand connection to this history and each are masterful practitioners and coaches of this art. All of them are interviewed in this book. Most of these men are older and sadly wont be with us forever. A great service has been done to get their words in print.A lot of space is given to the principles of biomechanics in effective grappling. Most books focus only on actual techniques which, in my view, can never be transmitted by pictures. However, the scientific or biomechanics i.e. various types of levers, torque etc. can be explained quite effectively.The unique body and "buddy" weight training regimens are also explained in great detail.Despite catch wrestlings deep arsenal of rides, throws and submissions, the author wisely gave us just a sample and perhaps just the sample that distinguishes Catch from other grappling systems.Having been a life long martial artist and having trained in Catch for a relatively short amount of time. I can say this without reservation. Catch has to be felt! One with experience can indeed look at a technique and gain some insights. What makes Catch come alive is when you feel it!! It is one of the most brutal arts I've studied yet for all its brutal-ness it is very scientific and paradoxically requires a lot of finesse and sensitivity to make it work in the way it is designed to.Kudos to Jake Shannon for all the research and passion. I recommend this book to anyone who loves martial arts and who loves the history of martial artist who put what they know to the test. Turns out it wasn't just happening in far away lands but right here in the United States.

This is a multi-faceted book. It covers equal parts of history, technique, and passion for the sport- which is very cool. I first heard about catch wrestling almost ten years ago when I saw Billy Robinson demonstrate a grovit at a seminar. Ten years later, I'm using that technique on the mat on a regular basis.If you're used to the modern multi angle comprehensive step by step exhaustive technique tutorial books that Victory Belt publishes (which are fantastic in their own right) just know, this isn't one of those. This is one of those books with words that requires a little bit of participation. (That's a good thing) Great read. Thanks Jake Shannon and friends for taking the time to put this book together.

Jake, you did it again! First with the Authoritative Encyclopedia of Scientific Wrestling you brought many great resources to light, then the Catch Wrestler Certification Course you made it possible for many (myself included) to train with some of the living legends of this sport, now you bring it all together in a book that covers it all! The history is rich and full of amazing tales of a bygone era! The interviews show a side of the old timers most never get to see or experience. Principles, philosophy, positions, techniques, it there anything not in here? This is a must read for everyone interested in Catch, amature wrestling, MMA, Pro Wrestling, modern submission grappling, or combat sports in general!