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Karl Gotch, the former professional wrestling champion, one of the few "grand masters" of catch-as-catch-can wrestling, passed away in his home in Tampa, FL. He was about to become 83.
Gotch, whose real name is Karl Iztas, was one of the old-time pro-wrestlers who, along with his contemporarly the late Lou Thesz, played a significant role to build a foundation for the pro-wrestling in Japan, where he initially known as Karl Crauser.
Though professional wrestling had very little to do to the current growth of mixed martial arts, however, his catch-wrestling expertise and philosophy of fighting indeed directly or indirectly developed some of the well-known fighters and champions in the world of MMA. Shooto organization (Sayama-Yori Nakamura-Eric Paulson), Kazushi Sakuraba, Ken and Frank Shamrock, Josh Barnett, and Bart Vale,etc are living proof that the Gotch style submission holds do work in not pre-determined combat as well.
Rest in peace, Karl, you were the great wrestler. You'll be truly missed.
Gotch, whose real name is Karl Iztas, was one of the old-time pro-wrestlers who, along with his contemporarly the late Lou Thesz, played a significant role to build a foundation for the pro-wrestling in Japan, where he initially known as Karl Crauser.
Though professional wrestling had very little to do to the current growth of mixed martial arts, however, his catch-wrestling expertise and philosophy of fighting indeed directly or indirectly developed some of the well-known fighters and champions in the world of MMA. Shooto organization (Sayama-Yori Nakamura-Eric Paulson), Kazushi Sakuraba, Ken and Frank Shamrock, Josh Barnett, and Bart Vale,etc are living proof that the Gotch style submission holds do work in not pre-determined combat as well.
Rest in peace, Karl, you were the great wrestler. You'll be truly missed.