Wow. It's hard to find decent quality footage of Karl Gotch, sadly. He was amazingly popular in Japan (along with Lou Thesz) and I'm glad to see there's some Japanese footage out there of him. Gotch and Thesz were both tremendously important in shaping Japanese wrestling. Thesz was the ever present heel, trying to take Rikidozan's title. (And never quite succeeding.) He got Rikidozan over in a huge way. Gotch taught everyone how to really wrestle. Strong Style would not exist if not for Gotch.
Basically all the original Pancrase guys were Karl Gotch proteges. Fujiwara was Gotch's number one student, depending on which Gotch interview you go with, but basically Fujiwara's students back in those days were by default Gotch students as well. Gotch worked with all of them extensively and has said that Suzuki was the best wrestler he ever trained. The rules of Pancrase and even the name were all based on Gotch's suggestions.
Its called Catch Wrestling. Popularised in England and then imported mainly in japan and then the US and Canada to a certain degree. Sakuraba, masakatsu funali and Josh Barnett have been trained on catch wrestling
Definitely need more footage of Karl Gotch released. I'd love to see his matches against Lou Thesz. Both men pretty much shaped the Japanese wrestling culture.
at this time Japan was already down with BRAZIL ,, Inokii was born in Brazil,, or moved their when he was young, UNfortunatly Yoshimura had no choice but to come up with off the back techniches
+Wrestling Historian Bernkastel Who knows what he'd think? One would expect him to appreciate good work. If he worked in the era of those guys he would work like those guys. It's still pro wrestling.
Chinaboatman True, though Gotch was an old school traditionalist and tended to do what he pleased, which is why many promoters were wary of booking him. If he were to work a match with a Cena, or an Austin, or a Taker things would be fine as long as they followed his lead and did what he asked. He was just that type of person.
Not related to Frank Gotch. Karl Gotch aka Karl Krauser, true name Karl Istaz. The "God of Puroresu". Olympic Wrestler from Belgium. Snake Pit trained. Trained many of the great MMA / Shooto / Pancrase Shootfighters including Sakuraba, Masa Funaki, and Kiyoshi Tamura.
THAT is real wrestling :D. Ist das ein deutscher gewesen ? Und warum känpft er in Japan ? o,O Uuuund :D warum ist der kommentar auf japanisch ?! o.O Why is this all Japanese ? Its a german wretsler isnt he ?
