Karl Istaz
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Karl Istaz  |
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| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Karl Krauser Karl Gotch |
| Billed height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) |
| Billed weight | 111 kg (245 lb) |
| Born | 1924 Hamburg |
| Resides | Florida |
| Trained by | "Billy Joyce" Joe Robinson Bob Robinson Billy Riley |
| Debut | 1956 |
Karl Istaz , born in 1924) in Hamburg, Germany, is a German professional wrestler and trainer, who is best known by his ring name Karl Gotch. In Japan, he is called "The God of Pro Wrestling" due to his influence in shaping the Japanese professional wrestling style. He is of German and Hungarian ancestry. The German Suplex is named after Gotch.
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[edit] Career
Frank Gotch excelled in amateur wrestling, competing for Belgium in the 1948 Olympics (as Charles Istaz), in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Gotch also trained in the Indian martial art of Pehlwani. This led to Gotch's training regimen of calisthenic bodyweight exercise, used by Indian wrestlers and other athletes to build leg endurance and strength. He used Indian elements such as the bridge, Hindu squats and Hindu press ups in his wrestling. [1] This philosophy was later passed on to several of his students. [2][3]
Istaz's professional wrestling career began after training in the "Snake Pit", run by the renown catch wrestler, Billy Riley. He debuted as a professional wrestler in 1955, under the ring name Karl Krauser, beginning his career in Europe. After establishing himself as arguably the best wrestler in Europe, Gotch ventured to the United States in 1959.
In 1961, he adapted the ring name of Karl Gotch (after Frank Gotch). He captured his first major championship, winning the AWA (Ohio) Heavyweight Title in 1962 by defeating Don Leo Jonathon. Gotch held the belt for two years before dropping the title to Lou Thesz, one of the few American wrestlers he respected because of the similarities of their styles (the two also have common German and Hungarian heritage).
Gotch had a notorious behind-the-scenes feud with "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, starting when Gotch asked for a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Rogers wanted to avoid getting into the ring with a wrestler he feared would shoot on him, and legitimately "steal" his championship. This led to a locker room fist fight between the two, ending when Gotch broke Rogers' hand; putting him on the shelf for several weeks. These events only served to alienate Gotch from the American promoters, who already felt there was no place for his style in the flashier world of American pro wrestling.
During the early 70's, Gotch had a brief run in the World Wide Wrestling Federation. He won the WWWF Tag Team Championship with Rene Goulet, on December 6, 1971.
[edit] Japan
Gotch left for Japan, where he became very popular. He wrestled in the main event of the very first show held by New Japan Pro Wrestling, defeating Antonio Inoki. His more athletic, less entertainment-based wrestling style was passed on to Inoki, who further developed it into the strong style that has been the norm in New Japan Pro Wrestling ever since.
After retiring, Gotch became a successful trainer, some of his students include Tatsumi Fujinami, Hiro Matsuda, Osamu Kido, Satoru Sayama, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Some of these students, including Satoru Sayama and Yoshiaki Fujiwara, formed the original Japanese UWF, where the matches were entirely shoot wrestling.
[edit] Finishing and signature moves
- German suplex
- Cradle piledriver
- Cradle tombstone piledriver
- Bow and arrow hold
- Chickenwing with head scissors
- Release underhook suplex
- Crossface chickenwing
- Cross kneelock
- Cross arm breaker
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA Ohio Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- NJPW Real World Champion (2 times)
- World Wrestling Federation
- WWF World Tag Team Champion (1 time) - with Rene Goulet
- Others
- 1-Time WWA Tag Team Champion
[edit] References
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2] My Christmas with Karl Gotch - Jake Shannon
- ^ [3] Hindu Pushups And How They Benefit You - By Matt Furey
[edit] External links
- Website of the film 'Catch - the hold not taken', a documentary featuring Gotch on the history of Catch wrestling and Riley's gym, where Gotch trained
- An Interview with Karl Gotch (Karl has stated that he was egregiously misquoted in this interview and his responses were changed when he spoke outside of "kayfabe".
- Wrestling Museum Biography
- Scientific Wrestling.com Has Karl Gotch DVDs
- Nice biography of Karl Gotch
