No Holds Barred: Curran Jacobs on Catch Wrestling 2017

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with the captain of the 2011 Michigan State University wrestling team and current catch wrestler, Curran Jacobs.

With the successful holding of the first Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament last year in Humboldt, Iowa, a second edition is planned this year, as well as many other catch wrestling events and activities in 2017.

To discuss all this, we spoke with Curran Jacobs by phone Thursday.

"There's a lot on the docket for catch wrestling, with the Catch Wrestling Alliance this year. It's going to start with the NCAAs," he said, referring to the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

"Of course, I've told you before, my mission is targeting wrestlers, specifically Division I wrestlers. Mike Chapman has invited us to join him and the WIN Memorabilia Show at the NCAAs March 16th through the 18th" at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

"So we're excited to see him there. We're going to set up our Catch Wresting Alliance booth and educate wrestlers and fans alike. And there's no better place to do it than the NCAA tournament."

Another way to help introduce people to catch wrestling is the American Hook Wrestling Long Distance Training Program. A century ago the legendary wrestler and trainer Martin "Farmer" Burns had a mail order wrestling program, and this program uses today's technology to reach those people who do not have access to a place to train in catch wrestling.

We discussed the various programs and seminars in catch wrestling, the many wrestlers going into MMA while there is no real professional wrestling, the historical ties between folkstyle and catch wrestling, the need for an international catch wrestling federation, the plan for the Catch Wrestling Alliance to begin holding regional qualifying tournaments in 2018 leading to a national tournament in the U.S., the growth of the Catch Wrestling Alliance, his plans to continue both coaching and competing in catch wrestling, and much more.

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Thanks, Eddie Goldman
EddieGoldman.com