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- May 11, 2005
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After a finishing a few drinks and sitting alone in my apartment, the cold hard truth hit me. I had to come to terms with it. I am a bonified catch wrestler.
It wasnt easy at first. Catch wrestlers are like the LAARPERS of jiujitsu. They only do a bunch of long technique sessions of bullshit moves, never compete, and are mainly just concerned with all of the geeky parts of the sport. "But what about Josh Barnett?" Ok, one guy, big whoop.
I analyzed my whole game. Once I did that, it all made sense. I wrestled at the highest level possible for 23 years. I represented my country on the wrestling mats many times. I was an All American in college. I wear spandex shorts or Ranger Panties to practice every day. I dont play closed guard. Ever. I go for takedowns. Every second of every roll, I am looking for some kind of slicer or a muscle crush. I pass with submissions. I stack. I use legitimate wrestling holds. It isnt a Kimura to me, its a Double Wrist Lock. I am hunting for the legs at all times. Scarf holds, headlocks, kesa gatame, this is my go to shit. I am embarrased to say it, but I even do that stupid diaphragm crush regularly that Gerbil showed months a go.
I had another drink and the denial set in. The inner dialogue was getting louder. "You pull guard a lot." "Your half guard is money." "You dont know or care about any old wrestlers like Gotch or Farmer Burns; those guys were bums."
The anger came. "Catch wrestlers are pussies." "You are tough." "You get laid." I threw the shot glass across the room and put my wrestling shoes outside. I saw my Nogi Worlds medal on the wall, right above one of those swords you win at NAGA in the expert division. I won that WITH A CALF SLICER. I threw it in the garbage. Then, the last nail in the coffin.
I was looking at some old photos of me in BJJ to validate that I in fact, am not a catch wrestler. There were pics with me beating a black belt when I was a blue belt, before that was cool. A side by side with me and Gabby Garcia, her arm over my shoulder. A candid hug shot with my Brazilian coach Pantcho after winning American Nationals. Then, I saw it. It was like seeing Medusa. Right there in front of me was a photo of myself, in a gi with some wrestling shoes on. I could not unsee it. I turned to stone. My fate was sealed.
I sighed and the final stage of grief was over. "My name is Dirty Holt, and I am a catch wrestler"
It wasnt easy at first. Catch wrestlers are like the LAARPERS of jiujitsu. They only do a bunch of long technique sessions of bullshit moves, never compete, and are mainly just concerned with all of the geeky parts of the sport. "But what about Josh Barnett?" Ok, one guy, big whoop.
I analyzed my whole game. Once I did that, it all made sense. I wrestled at the highest level possible for 23 years. I represented my country on the wrestling mats many times. I was an All American in college. I wear spandex shorts or Ranger Panties to practice every day. I dont play closed guard. Ever. I go for takedowns. Every second of every roll, I am looking for some kind of slicer or a muscle crush. I pass with submissions. I stack. I use legitimate wrestling holds. It isnt a Kimura to me, its a Double Wrist Lock. I am hunting for the legs at all times. Scarf holds, headlocks, kesa gatame, this is my go to shit. I am embarrased to say it, but I even do that stupid diaphragm crush regularly that Gerbil showed months a go.
I had another drink and the denial set in. The inner dialogue was getting louder. "You pull guard a lot." "Your half guard is money." "You dont know or care about any old wrestlers like Gotch or Farmer Burns; those guys were bums."
The anger came. "Catch wrestlers are pussies." "You are tough." "You get laid." I threw the shot glass across the room and put my wrestling shoes outside. I saw my Nogi Worlds medal on the wall, right above one of those swords you win at NAGA in the expert division. I won that WITH A CALF SLICER. I threw it in the garbage. Then, the last nail in the coffin.
I was looking at some old photos of me in BJJ to validate that I in fact, am not a catch wrestler. There were pics with me beating a black belt when I was a blue belt, before that was cool. A side by side with me and Gabby Garcia, her arm over my shoulder. A candid hug shot with my Brazilian coach Pantcho after winning American Nationals. Then, I saw it. It was like seeing Medusa. Right there in front of me was a photo of myself, in a gi with some wrestling shoes on. I could not unsee it. I turned to stone. My fate was sealed.
I sighed and the final stage of grief was over. "My name is Dirty Holt, and I am a catch wrestler"
