2021 SEMINAR SERIES The CAC Seminar Series was launched by the late Bob Leonard as an avenue to connect wrestling’s present generation with its past and to create a forum for careerminded rising stars to propel their careers forward. Check out this incredible line-up for the 2021 reunion!
Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling
Bridging the Past & Present of Pro Wrestling First done for side-bets in the fields and coal pits of Lancashire, England after a grueling day of labor, and later brought across the Atlantic after the Civil War, professional wrestling in North America traces its origins most directly to the art of catch-as-catch-can wrestling and its competitive champions like Evan “Strangler” Lewis, Tom Jenkins, and Frank Gotch. While showmanship always played a part in the wrestling business, the art was built upon a bedrock of real technical wrestling know-how (characterized by riding, pinning, escapes, and submissions). Professional wrestlers took their craft seriously, and despite the rise in prominence of showmanship, the most skilled competitors were still held in high esteem among their peers.
Those Crazy Canucks!
Ice Road Wrestlers and Northern Death Tours It’s come to be considered a rite of passage for aspiring wrestlers - a campaign across the northern Canadian wilderness to perform in the most remote aboriginal communities in the country.
The recent evolution of “sports entertainment” to focus on never-ending high spots and false finishes resulted in the near-disappearance of the foundations of professional wrestling. However, the rise in popularity of mixed martial arts is seeing increased attention to provide a more realistic product.
Braving temperatures plunging to minus 25 degrees Celsius (-13 Fahrenheit) and colder, waist-deep snow drifts, and miles of travel across ice-covered frozen lakes, it’s hard to believe anyone would subject themselves to this - let alone sign up to be booked the following year.
This Scientific Wrestling catch-as-catch-can learning seminar will revivify the heart and soul of what it once meant to be a professional wrestler by introducing attendees to the history, techniques, and sport of professional catchas-catch-can wrestling. For older CAC members, it may be a trip down memory lane, but it is also our hope to light a passion within younger members for the sport’s past by bringing real catch-as-catch-can wrestling into the future.
Among the alumni of these tours, which have been discussed on the WWE network and other podcasts and biographies include Edge, Chris Jericho, Lance Storm, Christian, Kerry Brown and dozens more. The experience they get is invaluable. The tales, shared by survivors of these tours will have you shaking your head in both disbelief and laughter.
Presenters: Jake Shannon, Head Coach at Scientific Wrestling Jake launched the first catch-as-catch-can competitions in nearly 100 years with his King of Catch Wrestling open tournaments in 2006. He apprenticed in coaching under Billy Robinson, helping ghost-write Billy’s autobiography “Physical Chess”. Prior, he trained in American carnival style catch-as-catch-can with Pacific Northwest hooker Dick Cardinal. Jake is a proud lifetime CAC member.
This year, for the first time ever, the Cauliflower Alley Club is pleased to present stories from the Ice Roads. It’s a 2021 Learning Series event that you certainly won’t want to miss! Panelists: Massive Damage Alumni of 13 Ice Road Tours 2014 CAC Jason Sanderson Humanitarian Honoree
Dr. C. Nathan Hatton is a professional historian who holds a PhD in History from the University of Waterloo. He is the author of two books and numerous academic and popular articles on the history of wrestling.
Bobby Sharp Alumni of 10 Ice Road Tours 2013 CAC Rising Star Award Honoree Vance Nevada Alumni of 6 Ice Road Tours 2010 CAC James C. Melby Honoree Steve Rivers Alumni of 6 Ice Road Tours 29-year ring veteran, long-time CAC member Kat Von Heez Her first tour was on the ice roads 8-year ring veteran, long-time CAC member Maddison Miles 2020 CAC Rising Star Award Honoree 6
