The Snake Pit (Wigan): Difference between revisions
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{{About|the wrestling gym in Wigan, England|the movie released in 1948|The Snake Pit|other uses|Snake pit (disambiguation)}}{{Use British English|date=June 2024}} |
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{{Infobox martial art school |
{{Infobox martial art school |
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| aka = Riley's<br>Riley's Gym<br>[[:ja:ビリー・ライレージム|蛇の穴 / スネーク・ピット]]<br>Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club<br>Aspull Wrestling Club<br>Wigan |
| aka = Riley's<br>Riley's Gym<br>[[:ja:ビリー・ライレージム|蛇の穴 / スネーク・ピット]]<br>Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club<br>Aspull Wrestling Club<br>Wigan |
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| date founded = 1948 |
| date founded = 1948 |
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| country = England |
| country = England |
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| founder = [[Billy Riley]] |
| founder = [[Billy Riley]] |
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| head = Roy Wood, Andrea Wood |
| head = Roy Wood, Andrea Wood |
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| ancestor schools = |
| ancestor schools = |
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| descendant schools = |
| descendant schools = |
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| notable pract = [[Karl Gotch]], [[Billy Robinson]], [[Bert Assirati]], [[Jack Dempsey (wrestler)|Jack Dempsey]],{{Efn|name=fn1|Ring name of professional wrestler Tommy Moore. Not to be confused with the world heavyweight boxing champion of [[Jack Dempsey|the same name]].}} {{Interlanguage link|Billy Joyce|ja|ビリー・ジョイス}}, [[Les Thornton]], [[Dynamite Kid]] |
| notable pract = [[Karl Gotch]], [[Billy Robinson]], [[Bert Assirati]], [[Jack Dempsey (wrestler)|Jack Dempsey]],{{Efn|name=fn1|Ring name of professional wrestler Tommy Moore. Not to be confused with the world heavyweight boxing champion of [[Jack Dempsey|the same name]].}} {{Interlanguage link|Billy Joyce|ja|ビリー・ジョイス}}, [[Les Thornton]], [[Dynamite Kid]], [[Maria Dunn]] |
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| website = {{URL|snakepitwigan.com}} |
| website = {{URL|snakepitwigan.com}} |
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}} |
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'''The Snake Pit''' is a [[wrestling]] gym and organisation in [[Aspull]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Wigan|Borough |
'''The Snake Pit''' is a [[wrestling]] gym and organisation in [[Aspull]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Wigan|Wigan Borough]], England. It hosts the '''Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club'''.{{Efn|Not to be confused with the Aspull Warriors Wrestling Club.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sportsinbolton.com/item/aspull-warriors-wrestling-club/ |title=Aspull Warriors Wrestling Club |website=sportsinbolton.com}}</ref>}} Founded in 1948 by [[Billy Riley]] in the [[Wigan|town of Wigan]], it was originally known as '''Riley's Gym'''. Riley was succeeded by Roy Wood, one of his last living students.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /> In December 2023, Wood was recognised on the [[2024 New Year Honours]] and awarded a [[British Empire Medal]] (BEM) "for services to wrestling and young people" after coaching for almost 50 years.<ref name=":30">{{Cite web |last1=Lawton |first1=Maisie |last2=Walker |first2=Amy |date=2023-12-29 |title=Full list of Greater Manchester people recognised in New Year Honours 2024 |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/kings-new-year-honours-list-28364229 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":31">{{Cite web |title=Roy WOOD {{!}} British Empire Medal {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4521651 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=McAllister |first=Josh |date=January 3, 2024 |title=Local wrestling club legend named on The King's New Year honours list |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/other-sport/local-wrestling-club-legend-named-on-the-kings-new-year-honours-list-4464161 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Wigan Today}}</ref> An exhibition about Riley and the gym began at the [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]] Town Hall in April 2024.<ref name=":64">{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Conal |date=2024-04-12 |title=Exhibition to commemorate Leigh moulder who had a worldwide influence in wrestling |url=https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/24248651.exhibition-celebrate-leigh-wrestler-billy-riley-leigh-town-hall/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Leigh Journal |language=en}}</ref> |
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The gym has been a significant influence on |
The gym has been a significant influence on the evolution of [[Catch wrestling|catch-as-catch-can]] (CACC), [[Freestyle wrestling|freestyle]], and [[Professional wrestling|professional]] wrestling, as well as [[mixed martial arts]] (MMA), especially in Japan. Riley was the head coach for over 20 years, teaching the [[Lancashire wrestling|Lancashire style]] of catch wrestling, and the gym became known in Britain and internationally for producing skilled wrestlers. Riley closed the gym in the early 1970s due to theatrics overtaking legitimate skills in pro wrestling but it was soon revived through a community effort, with Roy Wood becoming head coach, assisted by Riley and other veteran wrestlers. The gym switched to freestyle wrestling, producing champions and international competitors, and hosting the Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International for over 35 years. The gym moved to Aspull during this time, establishing the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":20" /><ref name=":24">{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=2012-02-12 |title=MMA Origins: Catch Wrestling Travels to Japan |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/02/12/mma-origins-catch-wrestling-travels-to-japan-karl-gotch-istaz-satoru-sayama-antonio-inoki-shooto/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref><ref name=":47">{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Greg |date=January 12, 2015 |title=Talking Billy Riley with Greenfield & De Courcy |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2015/01/12/talking-billy-riley-with-greenfield-de-courcy/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Slam Wrestling |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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The gym continued to be one of the most essential sources for preserving catch wrestling and began to formally promote the style again in 2012 through competitions, training, and certification.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=KJ |date=2011-11-24 |title=Interview: The Return of Catch Wrestling's Snake Pit |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2011/11/24/interview-andrea-wood-return-of-catch-wrestling-snake-pit/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Bloody Elbow |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Brian |date=2007-06-22 |title=Catch DVD preserves Snake Pit's legacy |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2007/06/22/catch-dvd-preserves-snake-pits-legacy/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Slam Wrestling |language=en-US}}</ref> The Snake Pit has hosted the [[The Snake Pit (Wigan)#Championships|Catch Wrestling World Championships]] since 2018.<ref name=":0" /> The 2024 Catch Wrestling British Championships are scheduled for August 10, followed by the World Championships on September 7.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=THE SNAKEPIT BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024 - Snakepit Wigan |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/the-snakepit-british-championships-2024/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Snakepit Wigan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=THE SNAKEPIT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024 - Snakepit Wigan |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/the-snakepit-world-championships-2024/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Snakepit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
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The Snake Pit has hosted the Catch Wrestling World Championships since 2018 and the British Championships since 2023.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> |
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== History == |
== History == |
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=== Riley's Gym === |
=== Riley's Gym === |
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[[Billy Riley]] was a skilled professional wrestler in an era where bouts were still [[Shoot (professional wrestling)|legitimate]].<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":23">{{Cite web |last=Hatton |first=Nathan |date=Jan 12, 2015 |title=New Billy Riley book informs on both the man and Wigan's Snake Pit |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2015/01/12/new-billy-riley-book-informs-on-both-the-man-and-wigans-snake-pit/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Slam Wrestling |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=934s 15:34]}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=1587s 26:27]}}</ref> Riley trained in [[pub|pubs]] like the Crispin Arms or at his home before he and a handful of other wrestlers, who were also [[Tradesperson|tradesmen]], combined their resources to purchase a plot of land and build a dedicated gym in the [[Wigan|town of Wigan]].<ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=690s 11:30]}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=955s 15:55]}}</ref><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":25" /> The gym opened in 1948 to teach catch-as-catch-can |
[[Billy Riley]] was a skilled professional wrestler in an era where bouts were still [[Shoot (professional wrestling)|legitimate]].<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":23">{{Cite web |last=Hatton |first=Nathan |date=Jan 12, 2015 |title=New Billy Riley book informs on both the man and Wigan's Snake Pit |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2015/01/12/new-billy-riley-book-informs-on-both-the-man-and-wigans-snake-pit/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Slam Wrestling |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=934s 15:34]}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=1587s 26:27]}}</ref> Riley trained in [[pub|pubs]] like the Crispin Arms or at his home before he and a handful of other wrestlers, who were also [[Tradesperson|tradesmen]], combined their resources to purchase a plot of land and build a dedicated gym in the [[Whelley]] area of the [[Wigan|town of Wigan]].<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=690s 11:30]}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=955s 15:55]}}</ref><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":25" /> The gym opened in 1948 to teach [[Lancashire wrestling|Lancashire style]] catch-as-catch-can (CACC), freestyle, and professional wrestling (termed "show wrestling").<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":25" /> |
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The original building was described as a shed or shack with a tin roof, a |
The original building was described as a shed or shack with a tin roof, bare bricks inside, a worn wrestling mat stuffed with horse hair, a coal stove for heat, no toilet, rusting weights, and a shower in the corner that only had cold water.<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Banks-Smith |first=Nancy |date=February 8, 1989 |title=Going, going, gone with the wind |work=[[The Guardian]] |pages=46}}</ref><ref name=":28">{{Cite AV media |url=https://lolaclips.com/footage-archive/itv_archive/ITV-01-0721/screener_first_tuesday_the_pedigree_chums_the_wigan_hold |title=The Pedigree Chums / The Wigan Hold |date= |publisher=[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] |year=1989 |place=United Kingdom |series=[[First Tuesday (documentary strand)|First Tuesday]] |access-date=2024-02-06 |id=ITV-01-0721}}</ref>{{Rp|location=35:25}}<ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1228&v=5bg3qTlGx3Q 20:28]}}</ref><ref name=":33">{{Cite news |last=Laporte |first=Adam |date=January 3, 2013 |title=Aspull Wresting Club has a storied history of producing champions |work=Eckville Echo |pages=7}}</ref><ref name=":49" /> Riley was an active coach, known for hard training and demanding every opponent be approached as world-class, even if they were only a novice.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=825s 13:45]}}</ref> He wanted to be confident in his students' skills and was known for phrases like “you can never train too hard” and "do it again."<ref name=":28" />{{Rp|location=48:00}}<ref name=":48">{{Cite web |title=Profiles: Billy Riley |url=http://www.riverhorse.tv/catch/Profiles/riley.htm |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=riverhorse.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-07 |title=Billy Robinson - obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10814166/Billy-Robinson-obituary.html |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}</ref> He also kept a room of books and reference materials for wrestling.<ref name=":29" /> {{Interlanguage link|Billy Joyce|ja|ビリー・ジョイス}} and other veteran wrestlers would regularly coach alongside Riley. Many of the trainees were miners and hoped to boost their incomes by wrestling.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":28" />{{Rp|location=42:11}}<ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=3045s 50:45]}}</ref> There was a common saying that someone reaching into a local mine would grab either a wrestler or [[Rugby football|rugby player]].<ref name=":28" />{{Rp|location=36:37}}<ref name=":49">{{Cite web |last=Lee-Barron |first=James |date=August 2016 |title=Lancashire Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling: A jewel in the crown of English martial arts |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306323962 |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=[[ResearchGate]]}}</ref> The professionals usually trained in the morning and worked shows in the evening, then the wrestlers with day jobs trained after work.<ref name=":332">{{Cite news |last=Laporte |first=Adam |date=January 3, 2013 |title=Aspull Wresting Club has a storied history of producing champions |work=Eckville Echo |pages=7}}</ref> Since there had been legitimate wrestlers in every family, it became impossible to hold theatrical-style pro wrestling in Wigan.<ref name=":35">{{Cite news |last=Waring |first=Eddie |date=October 11, 1964 |title=I See Stars |work=[[Sunday Mirror]] |pages=36}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=1750s 29:10]}}</ref> Riley did not make much money as a coach because he kept his member fees modest.<ref name=":10" /> In 1964, they were only two [[shillings]] and six [[Penny (British pre-decimal coin)|pence]] (2s. 6., a [[Half crown (British coin)|half crown]], {{Inflation|UK|0.125|1964|r=1|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}), despite a wrestler like [[Karl Gotch]] reportedly earning £30,000 ({{Inflation|UK|30,000|1964|r=1|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}) annually.<ref name=":35" /> Although the training was tough and many visitors were one-time-only, the gym had [[Unspoken rule|unwritten rules]] against breaking limbs, eye-poking, hair-pulling, and similar behaviour.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=1073s 17:53]}}</ref><ref name=":59">{{Cite podcast |url=https://archive.org/details/NoHoldsBarredRoyWoodAndreaWoodTheSnakePitAndTheCatchWrestling |title=Roy Wood, Andrea Wood, The Snake Pit, and the Catch Wrestling Revival |website=No Holds Barred |last=Goldman |first=Eddie |date=November 9, 2011 |time= |access-date=2024-02-10}}</ref>{{Rp|location=34ː43}} Women and children were also disallowed in those days.<ref name=":23" /><ref name=":33" /><ref name=":6" /> |
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The hard-nosed environment produced some of the most popular and skilled wrestlers of their time, such as Karl Gotch, [[Billy Robinson]], [[Bert Assirati]], [[Jack Dempsey (wrestler)|Jack Dempsey]],{{Efn|name=fn1|Ring name of professional wrestler Tommy Moore. Not to be confused with the world heavyweight boxing champion of [[Jack Dempsey|the same name]].}} [[Les Thornton]], and Billy Joyce (Bob Robinson). Other wrestlers from the gym included Ernie Riley (Billy Riley's son), Joe Robinson (Billy Joyce's brother), Melvyn Riss (Harold Winstanley), John Foley, Alan Latham (Francis Sullivan), Mick and Seamus Dunleavy, Billy Chambers, Len Wetherby, Jackie Cheers, Frank Riley, Jimmy Hart, Alan Hartwood, Harry Duvall, Ken Baldwin, John Naylor, Brian Burke, and Roy Wood.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2018-09-11 |title=HISTORY |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/history/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date= |title=ASPULL OLYMPIC WRESTLING CLUB, WHY KNOW OUR HISTORY? |url=http://www.aspullolympicwrestlingclub.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406202222/http://www.aspullolympicwrestlingclub.co.uk/ |archive-date=2005-04-06 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://rileygymkyoto.is-mine.net/english.history.html |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Riley's Gym Kyoto}}</ref> As well as Bob Sherry (Jimmy Niblett)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catch Profiles: Jimmy Niblett |url=http://www.riverhorse.tv/catch/Profiles/niblett.htm |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=www.riverhorse.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-02-28 |title=Jimmy was the ultimate sportsman |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6042488.jimmy-was-the-ultimate-sportsman/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=The Bolton News |language=en}}</ref> El Diablo (Tony Francis),<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 28, 2019 |title=Tony Francis |url=https://wrestlingheritage.co.uk/tony-francis/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=Wrestling Heritage |language=en-GB}}</ref> George Gregory,<ref name=":29">{{Cite web |last=Encarnacao |first=Jack |date=Apr 8, 2014 |title=Sherdog Rewind: An Interview with Billy Robinson |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Sherdog-Rewind-An-Interview-with-Billy-Robinson-66305 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}</ref> Count Bartelli (Geoff Condliffe),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Dave |date=August 4, 1993 |title=The mild man behind the mask |work=[[The Chronicle]] |pages=7}}</ref> Jack Mountford,<ref name=":49" /> and Tommy Heyes.<ref name=":23" /> |
The hard-nosed environment produced some of the most popular and skilled wrestlers of their time, such as Karl Gotch, [[Billy Robinson]], [[Bert Assirati]], [[Jack Dempsey (wrestler)|Jack Dempsey]],{{Efn|name=fn1|Ring name of professional wrestler Tommy Moore. Not to be confused with the world heavyweight boxing champion of [[Jack Dempsey|the same name]].}} [[Les Thornton]], and Billy Joyce (Bob Robinson). Other wrestlers from the gym included Ernie Riley (Billy Riley's son), Joe Robinson (Billy Joyce's brother), Melvyn Riss (Harold Winstanley), John Foley, Alan Latham (Francis Sullivan), Mick and Seamus Dunleavy, Billy Chambers, Len Wetherby, Jackie Cheers, Frank Riley, Jimmy Hart, Alan Hartwood, Harry Duvall, Ken Baldwin, John Naylor, Brian Burke, and Roy Wood.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2018-09-11 |title=HISTORY |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/history/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date= |title=ASPULL OLYMPIC WRESTLING CLUB, WHY KNOW OUR HISTORY? |url=http://www.aspullolympicwrestlingclub.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406202222/http://www.aspullolympicwrestlingclub.co.uk/ |archive-date=2005-04-06 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://rileygymkyoto.is-mine.net/english.history.html |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Riley's Gym Kyoto}}</ref> As well as Bob Sherry (Jimmy Niblett),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catch Profiles: Jimmy Niblett |url=http://www.riverhorse.tv/catch/Profiles/niblett.htm |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=www.riverhorse.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-02-28 |title=Jimmy was the ultimate sportsman |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6042488.jimmy-was-the-ultimate-sportsman/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=The Bolton News |language=en}}</ref> El Diablo (Tony Francis),<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 28, 2019 |title=Tony Francis |url=https://wrestlingheritage.co.uk/tony-francis/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=Wrestling Heritage |language=en-GB}}</ref> George Gregory,<ref name=":29">{{Cite web |last=Encarnacao |first=Jack |date=Apr 8, 2014 |title=Sherdog Rewind: An Interview with Billy Robinson |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Sherdog-Rewind-An-Interview-with-Billy-Robinson-66305 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}</ref> Count Bartelli (Geoff Condliffe),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Dave |date=August 4, 1993 |title=The mild man behind the mask |work=[[Crewe Chronicle|The Chronicle]] |pages=7}}</ref> Jack Mountford,<ref name=":49" /> Johnny Eagle (Roy Boyd),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Walton |first=Kent |title=This Grappling Game |publisher=[[Neville Spearman]] |year=1967 |location=London |pages=40 |language=En |asin=B00121ZHPY}}</ref> and Tommy Heyes.<ref name=":23" /> |
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The gym became well-known internationally and hosted wrestlers from countries |
The gym became well-known internationally and hosted wrestlers from countries including France, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Spain, India, Pakistan, Turkey, the United States, and Canada.<ref name=":36">{{cite magazine |last=Kay |first=Graeme |date=September 1967 |title=Town That Put Wrestling On The Map |url= |access-date= |magazine=[[TVTimes]] |publisher= |location=United Kingdom}}</ref> Riley also encouraged his wrestlers to bring knowledge back from other gyms and styles. During Billy Robinson's eight years at Riley's, he was sent to Hungary to learn [[Greco-Roman wrestling]], and to Sweden and Germany.<ref name=":37" />{{Rp|page=141}} Gotch, Robinson, Joyce, Thornton, and other Riley's wrestlers toured Japan, where the wrestlers and their style developed an enduring popularity. Rumours of the gym's reputation inspired the "Tiger's Den" in [[Tiger Mask|''Tiger Mask'']], a [[manga]] and [[anime]] series about pro wrestling, and Robinson inspired the manga/anime character [[List of Kinnikuman characters#Robin Mask|Robin Mask]].<ref name=":38">{{Cite web |last=Ninomiya |first=Seijun |date=September 12, 2022 |title=外国人国内初エース、B・ロビンソン 筋金入りシューターの原点は「蛇の穴」 |url=https://www2.myjcom.jp/special/tv/thema/pro-wrestling/column/detail/20220912.shtml |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=myjcom.jp |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":50">{{Cite web |title=What is CATCH AS CATCH CAN ? |url=http://www.uwf-snakepit.com/catch.html |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=UWF Snake Pit |language=Ja}}</ref><ref name=":51">{{Cite web |date=March 4, 2014 |title=「キン肉マン」ゆでたまご嶋田、ロビンマスクとビル・ロビンソンさん追悼 |url=https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0061135 |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=シネマトゥデイ |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":52">{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=2692s 44:52]}}</ref> |
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Although Riley's was the most well-known gym, it had several rivals such as the Belshaws, who were a family of [[Funeral director|undertakers]] that specialised in takedowns.<ref name=":48" /> They had been trained by Billy Riley's |
Although Riley's was the most well-known gym, it had several rivals such as the Belshaws, who were a family of [[Funeral director|undertakers]] that specialised in [[Takedown (grappling)|takedowns]].<ref name=":48" /> They had been trained by Billy Riley's coach Willie "Pop" Charnock, who also had his own gym.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":47" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-28 |title=The Belshaw Brothers |url=https://wrestlingheritage.co.uk/the-belshaw-brothers/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Wrestling Heritage |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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Riley's was featured in "The Wrestlers", a documentary by [[ITV Granada]], which premiered on September 5, 1967. The documentary focused on the lives and personalities of popular pro wrestlers outside the ring, featuring Billy Robinson, [[Les Kellett]], Johnny Eagle, Vic Faulkner, Abe Ginsberg, Jim Hussey, Alan Dennison, and Roy "Bull" Davis, along with Billy Riley. It was directed by Michael Elster, filmed by David Wood, produced by Denis Mitchell, edited by Leonard Trumm, with sound recording by John Muxworthy.<ref name=":36" /><ref name=":53">{{Cite news |last=North |first=Max |date=August 25, 1967 |title=Private Life Of A Wrestler |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 5, 1967 |title=Behind the beefcake brigade... |work=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]] |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 5, 1967 |title=TV Preview |work=[[Liverpool Daily Post|Daily Post]] |pages=4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 5, 1967 |title=Out-of-the-ring lives of professional wrestlers |work=[[Evening Sentinel]] |pages=6}}</ref> |
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==== Revival ==== |
==== Revival ==== |
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By the 1970s, the theatrical elements of pro wrestling had completely overtaken legitimate wrestling ability and Riley closed his famous gym. However, the gym was revived when Roy Wood's son Darren wanted to wrestle, but it needed repairs first. Using materials donated by Bill Swiers, a group of locals rebuilt the gym to twice the original size. Wood then became the head coach and Riley returned to mentor from his chair, along with Tommy Heyes. Riley's converted to freestyle wrestling because there were no opportunities for catch wrestlers in Britain coupled with safety concerns for training youth. Riley's grandsons Mark and Paul, and nephew Patrick Burns also trained at the revived gym.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":23" /><ref name=":33" /><ref name=":49" /><ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Jenness |first=Kirik |date=2018-01-10 |title=Journey to the Snake Pit |url=https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/journey-to-the-snake-pit |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=MMA Underground |language=en}}</ref> After a lifetime in wrestling, Billy Riley died on September 15, 1977.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hornbaker |first=Tim |url=https://archive.org/details/legendsofprowres0000horn/page/38/mode/2up?q=Riley |title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc. |year=2012 |isbn=978-1613210758 |location=United States |pages=39 |language=en}}</ref> |
By the 1970s, the theatrical elements of pro wrestling had completely overtaken legitimate wrestling ability and Riley closed his famous gym. However, the gym was revived when Roy Wood's son Darren and a friend wanted to wrestle, but it needed repairs first. Using materials donated by Bill Swiers, a group of locals rebuilt the gym to twice the original size. Wood then became the head coach and Riley returned to mentor from his chair, along with Tommy Heyes. Riley's converted to freestyle wrestling because there were no opportunities for catch wrestlers in Britain coupled with safety concerns for training youth. Riley's grandsons Mark and Paul, and nephew Patrick Burns also trained at the revived gym.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":23" /><ref name=":33" /><ref name=":49" /><ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Jenness |first=Kirik |date=2018-01-10 |title=Journey to the Snake Pit |url=https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/journey-to-the-snake-pit |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=MMA Underground |language=en}}</ref> After a lifetime in wrestling, Billy Riley died on September 15, 1977.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hornbaker |first=Tim |url=https://archive.org/details/legendsofprowres0000horn/page/38/mode/2up?q=Riley |title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc. |year=2012 |isbn=978-1613210758 |location=United States |pages=39 |language=en}}</ref> |
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In 1986, Darren Wood won [[Gold medal|gold]] at the [[European Cadets Wrestling Championship#European Cadets Wrestling Championship (U17)|European Cadets Championship]] followed by gold at the 1987 [[List of Cadet, Junior, and Espoir World Champions in men's freestyle wrestling|Cadet World |
The gym consistently produced British champions and top competitors.<ref name=":28" />{{Rp|location=35ː19, 43ː35}} In 1986, Darren Wood won [[Gold medal|gold]] in freestyle wrestling at the [[European Cadets Wrestling Championship#European Cadets Wrestling Championship (U17)|European Cadets Championship]] followed by gold at the 1987 [[List of Cadet, Junior, and Espoir World Champions in men's freestyle wrestling|Cadet World Championships]] and the 1987 British Senior Championships.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |title=Wood, Darren (GBR) |url=https://whatsmat.uww.org/daten.php?spid=273397FF44F14F16BB7D0DD9567523C0 |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=whatsmat.uww.org}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=List of British Senior Champions from 1904 - 2001 |url=https://britishwrestling.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/List-of-British-Senior-Champions-1904-2001.pdf |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Britishwrestling.org}}</ref> |
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On February 7, 1989, the documentary series [[First Tuesday (TV programme)|First Tuesday]] premiered "The Wigan Hold", produced by Roger Finnegan, focusing on Riley's gym.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Macfarlane |first=Ian |date=February 7, 1989 |title=Pick of the Day |work=[[Cambridge Evening News]] |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 7, 1989 |title=TV and Radio Tonight |work=[[Herald Express]] |pages=4}}</ref> The piece focused on the lives of Ernie Riley and Tommy Moore (Jack Dempsey); Riley, Moore, and Roy Wood coaching |
On February 7, 1989, the documentary series [[First Tuesday (TV programme)|First Tuesday]] premiered "The Wigan Hold", produced by Roger Finnegan, focusing on Riley's gym.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Macfarlane |first=Ian |date=February 7, 1989 |title=Pick of the Day |work=[[Cambridge Evening News]] |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 7, 1989 |title=TV and Radio Tonight |work=[[Torquay Herald Express|Herald Express]] |pages=4}}</ref> The piece focused on the lives of Ernie Riley and Tommy Moore (Jack Dempsey); Riley, Moore, and Roy Wood coaching youth; retrospectives on wrestling history in Wigan, Billy Riley, the gym, and theatrical pro wrestling. It also included archival footage from "The Wrestlers" documentary of Riley coaching a young Wood.<ref name=":28" /> The deteriorating state of the facility and lack of resources shown on the programme prompted a government offer to renovate the gym. Instead, the decision was made to relocate, establishing the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club (AOWC).<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":49" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Lister |first=John |date=November 28, 2007 |title=The British Beat |url=http://thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5515 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221205246/http://thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5515 |archive-date=December 21, 2007 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=The Fight Network}}</ref> The original gym was later demolished after a fire and houses were built on the land.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":40">{{Cite web |title=第3章 ロイ先生との出会い |url=https://rileygymkyoto.is-mine.net/road-to-rgk3.html |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Riley's Gym Kyoto |language=ja}}</ref> |
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=== The Aspull Wrestling Club === |
=== The Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club === |
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In 1990, pro wrestlers [[Kazuo Sakurada]] and [[KY Wakamatsu]] approached Billy Joyce, who directed them to Wood, with an offer to coach in Japan for [[Super World of Sports]] (SWS). After a training session, Wood and Joyce took them to the ruins of Riley's, where the visitors looked noticeably upset by the famed gym's condition and offered financial assistance to rebuild it. Wood then travelled to Japan and coached the SWS roster in Lancashire-style catch wrestling. He ended his tour with an exhibition match in front of 17,000 spectators at [[Yokohama Arena]].<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":25">{{Cite web |last=Alderman |first=Sergei |date=November 11, 2023 |title=1.6 {{!}} Catch-as-Catch-Can Roots in Lancashire {{!}} Under the Learning Tree |url=https://www.prowrestlingmusings.com/post/1-6-catch-as-catch-can-roots-in-lancashire-under-the-learning-tree |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=prowrestlingmusings.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":12" /><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=2773s 46:13]}}</ref> During this trip, Wood broke the leg of a Japanese wrestler who challenged him, which convinced the others of his ability.<ref name=":15" /> |
In 1990, [[Professional wrestling in Japan|Japanese pro wrestlers]] [[Kazuo Sakurada]] and [[KY Wakamatsu]] approached Billy Joyce, who directed them to Wood, with an offer to coach in Japan for [[Super World of Sports]] (SWS). After a training session, Wood and Joyce took them to the ruins of Riley's, where the visitors looked noticeably upset by the famed gym's condition and offered financial assistance to rebuild it. Wood then travelled to Japan and coached the SWS roster in Lancashire-style catch wrestling. He ended his tour with an exhibition match in front of 17,000 spectators at [[Yokohama Arena]].<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":25">{{Cite web |last=Alderman |first=Sergei |date=November 11, 2023 |title=1.6 {{!}} Catch-as-Catch-Can Roots in Lancashire {{!}} Under the Learning Tree |url=https://www.prowrestlingmusings.com/post/1-6-catch-as-catch-can-roots-in-lancashire-under-the-learning-tree |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=prowrestlingmusings.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":12" /><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=2773s 46:13]}}</ref> During this trip, Wood broke the leg of a Japanese wrestler who challenged him, which convinced the others of his ability.<ref name=":15" /> |
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In 1993, the |
In 1993, the club had another visitor from Japan, Osamu Matsunami. An 18-year-old Matsunami had learned about the club from an article about [[Dynamite Kid]] in ''Weekly Gong'' magazine (No. 257, May 25, 1989). A quote by Joyce in the article inspired Matsunami's interest in Lancashire wrestling, which grew when Wood coached for SWS in 1990. In May 1993, Matsunami made his first trip to the club, despite knowing little English or the location.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=2018-10-29 |title=Osamu Matsunami |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/team_member/osamu-matsunami/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Snakepit Wigan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=第2章 ウィガンへの旅立ち |url=https://rileygymkyoto.is-mine.net/road-to-rgk2.html |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Riley's Gym Kyoto |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":41">{{Cite web |title=第6章 ウィガン訪問者 |url=https://rileygymkyoto.is-mine.net/road-to-rgk6.html |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Riley's Gym Kyoto |language=ja}}</ref> After an extended journey and the assistance of several people, Matsunami met Wood, who introduced Matsunami to his family and the community. Matsunami accompanied Wood for several days, including wrestling practices, meeting Riley's wrestlers, and visiting the ruins of Riley's. His visit was covered by the [[Wigan Post]].<ref name=":40" /><ref name=":42" /> Matsunami made several more journeys to Wigan, staying for several months at a time. He trained with Wood, Ernie Riley, Billy Joyce, and several other wrestlers, and helped Wood coach kids classes. Matsunami also competed, including a trip to France early-on and placing fifth at the 1995 British Freestyle Wrestling Championships.<ref name=":42" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=第4章 本格修行の開始 |url=https://rileygymkyoto.is-mine.net/road-to-rgk4.html |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Riley's Gym Kyoto |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=第5章 実態を知る |url=https://rileygymkyoto.is-mine.net/road-to-rgk5.html |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Riley's Gym Kyoto |language=ja}}</ref> |
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In 1995, Wood was recruited by [[Tatsumi Fujinami]], a popular |
In 1995, [[Osamu Nishimura]] visited and trained at the gym. Soon after, Wood was recruited by Nishimura's mentor [[Tatsumi Fujinami]], a popular pro wrestler and then-president of [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|New Japan Pro Wrestling]] (NJPW), to train NJPW's roster.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":41" /><ref name=":17">{{Cite web |title=Profiles: Tatsumi Fujinami |url=http://www.riverhorse.tv/catch/Profiles/fujinami.htm |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=riverhorse.tv}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=2750s 45:50]}}</ref> In Japan, Wigan and Riley's were regarded as the spiritual home of wrestling, and Fujinami viewed CACC as the foundation of pro wrestling and wanted it to be preserved.<ref name=":46">{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=2562s 42:42]}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=3488s 58:08]}}</ref> Wood was accompanied by five wrestlers including Shane Rigby, a three-time Commonwealth [[Silver medal|silver medallist]] from Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club, who learned catch wrestling under Wood.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |title=Profiles: Shane Rigby |url=http://www.riverhorse.tv/catch/Profiles/rigbyshane.htm |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=riverhorse.tv}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{Cite web |title=Rigby, Shane (ENG) |url=https://whatsmat.uww.org/daten.php?spid=001D84152EC940C4B566135C19BB7404 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=whatsmat.uww.org}}</ref><ref name=":54">{{Cite news |last=Coleman |first=Alison |date=November 15, 1996 |title=Wigan's dragons getting to grips in Japan |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |pages=40}}</ref> After the success of the first tour, Wood coached in Japan several more times and NJPW held several Lancashire wrestling-style shows featuring Wood's wrestlers under the brand "Muga" {{Nihongo|2=無我|4=selflessness}}.<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":17" /><ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=2574s 42:54]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=無我 |url=https://prowrestlingdata.com/category/%e7%84%a1%e6%88%91/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=プロレス試合結果データべース |language=ja}}</ref> |
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Other visitors from Japan included [[Shigeo Miyato]], [[Yoji Anjo]], and [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|UWF]] [[Booker (professional wrestling)|booker]] Shinji Sasazaki. In 1999, Miyato founded a gym based on Riley's, the UWF Snake Pit Japan (now {{Interlanguage link|CACC Snake Pit Japan|ja|C.A.C.C.スネークピットジャパン}}), with Billy Robinson and [[Lou Thesz]] as the first head coaches.<ref name=":50" /><ref name=":41" /><ref name=":55">{{Cite web |title=当ジムについて |url=http://www.uwf-snakepit.com/#history |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=UWF Snake Pit |language=ja}}</ref> |
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In 2000, Roy Wood and his daughter Andrea helped establish freestyle wrestling programs at several schools in Greater Manchester, one of which quickly won back-to-back British championships for boys and girls.<ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=3182s 53:02]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2003 |title=Withins clinch top British title again |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/5892973.withins-clinch-top-british-title-again/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=The Bolton News |language=en}}</ref> Wood had pushed for more female participation in wrestling since the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club's opening.<ref name=":9" /> He also worked with the [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] and [[Wigan Warriors]] rugby clubs to introduce wrestling into professional rugby, with St Helens going on to win the [[Challenge Cup]] |
In 2000, Roy Wood and his daughter Andrea helped establish freestyle wrestling programs at several schools in Greater Manchester, one of which quickly won back-to-back British championships for boys and girls.<ref>{{harvnb|Bennett|Todd|2004|loc=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q&t=3182s 53:02]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2003 |title=Withins clinch top British title again |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/5892973.withins-clinch-top-british-title-again/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=The Bolton News |language=en}}</ref> Wood had pushed for more female participation in wrestling since the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club's opening.<ref name=":9" /> He also worked with the [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] and [[Wigan Warriors]] rugby clubs to introduce wrestling into professional rugby, with St Helens quickly going on to win the [[Challenge Cup]] several times.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":32" /> Paul Stridgeon, a student of Wood and a British freestyle champion, transitioned to professional rugby, coaching for clubs including the [[England national rugby union team|England national team]] and [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales national team]].<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":43" /><ref name=":44" /> |
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⚫ | In 2008, Wood coached the British wrestling team for the [[2008 Commonwealth Youth Games|Commonwealth Youth Games]] in India.<ref name=":34" /> In April 2009, Wood was voted as the England-Northern representative for British Wrestling's then-newly established Nations & Regions Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Colin |date=2009-07-23 |title=Members' Update on Modernisation Process |url=https://britishwrestling.org/members-update-on-modernisation-process/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=British Wrestling |language=en-GB}}</ref> In May 2010, AOWC was among the first clubs to receive British Wrestling's Clubmark certification.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2010 |title=British Wrestling Association Annual Report |url=https://britishwrestling.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2009-10_Annual_Report_Final.pdf |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=britishwrestling.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Michaelas |first=Andreas |date=2010-06-04 |title=Wrestling adopts Clubmark |url=https://britishwrestling.org/wrestling-adopts-clubmark/ |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=British Wrestling |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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In 2008, Wood coached the British wrestling team for the [[2008 Commonwealth Youth Games|Commonwealth Youth Games]] in India.<ref name=":34" /> |
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⚫ | Wood coached [[Maria Dunn]], a [[Freestyle wrestling|freestyle wrestler]] from Guam, for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympics]].<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":26">{{Cite news |date=2011-11-08 |title=Olympic wrestler trains in Wigan |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15641955 |access-date=2023-12-12}}</ref> Wood and Ben Johnson also served as [[2012 Summer Olympics torch relay|torchbearers]] for the [[Olympic flame]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michaelas |first=Andreas |date=2012-07-09 |title=Wrestling carries the flame |url=https://britishwrestling.org/wrestling-carries-the-flame/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=British Wrestling |language=en-GB}}</ref> Dunn later married Bolton wrestling coach Nathan Tully and they founded the Snakepit Wrestling Academy in Guam. Tully died in 2020 after a battle with cancer.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=July 25, 2020 |title=TIYAN WRESTLING COACH NATHAN TULLY PASSES AWAY |url=https://www.guamsportsnetwork.com/2020/tiyan-wrestling-coach-nathan-tully-passes-away/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Guam Sports Network |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":58">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=Jul 25, 2020 |title=Legendary wrestling coach, Snakepit Wrestling Academy founder Nate Tully loses bout to cancer |url=https://www.postguam.com/sports/local/legendary-wrestling-coach-snakepit-wrestling-academy-founder-nate-tully-loses-bout-to-cancer/article_aa0ac880-ce29-11ea-98ac-3f61b4f9aea7.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=The Guam Daily Post |language=en}}</ref> The Nathan Tully award "for dedication to grassroots/paying it forward" is presented in his memory at the [[The Snake Pit (Wigan)#Championships|Catch Wrestling World Championships]].<ref name=":3" /> |
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In April 2009, Wood was voted as the England-Northern representative for British Wrestling's then-newly established Nations & Regions Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Colin |date=2009-07-23 |title=Members' Update on Modernisation Process |url=https://britishwrestling.org/members-update-on-modernisation-process/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=British Wrestling |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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⚫ | In May 2010, |
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⚫ | Wood coached [[Maria Dunn]], a [[Freestyle wrestling|freestyle wrestler]] from Guam, for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympics]].<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":26">{{Cite news |date=2011-11-08 |title=Olympic wrestler trains in Wigan |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15641955 |access-date=2023-12-12}}</ref> Wood and Ben Johnson also served as [[2012 Summer Olympics torch relay|torchbearers]] for the [[Olympic flame]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michaelas |first=Andreas |date=2012-07-09 |title=Wrestling carries the flame |url=https://britishwrestling.org/wrestling-carries-the-flame/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=British Wrestling |language=en-GB}}</ref> Dunn later married Bolton wrestling coach Nathan Tully and |
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The club hosted the Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International for 35 years as of 2012.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=35th Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International |url=https://britishwrestling.org/events/35th-aspull-freestyle-wrestling-international-2/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=British Wrestling |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
The club hosted the Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International for 35 years as of 2012.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=35th Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International |url=https://britishwrestling.org/events/35th-aspull-freestyle-wrestling-international-2/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=British Wrestling |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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==== Recognitions ==== |
==== Recognitions ==== |
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In February 2009, Wood was named " |
In February 2009, Wood was named "coach of the year" at the ninth annual Wigan and Leigh Borough Sports Awards for mentoring coaches, coaching British wrestlers at the Commonwealth Youth Games, and preparing 2012 Olympic hopefuls. Nicky Slack, also from AOWC, was named "volunteer of the year."<ref name=":34">{{Cite web |date=2009-02-09 |title=Leigh sports awards winners |url=https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/sport/4112376.leigh-sports-awards-winners/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Leigh Journal |language=en}}</ref> |
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In 2011, Wood was the [[BBC North West|North West regional]] winner of the [[BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award]], recognising "outstanding contribution by individuals at the grassroots level of sport."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Scots duo win Unsung Hero award |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/sports-personality/16249817 |access-date=2023-12-11}}</ref> In November 2012, Wood received the " |
In 2011, Wood was the [[BBC North West|North West regional]] winner of the [[BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award]], recognising "outstanding contribution by individuals at the grassroots level of sport."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Scots duo win Unsung Hero award |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/sports-personality/16249817 |access-date=2023-12-11}}</ref> In November 2012, Wood received the "coach of the year" and the "be inspired" awards at the Greater Manchester Sports Awards'',''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rhodes |first=Oliver |date=2012-11-12 |title=London 2012 heroes Jade Jones and David Weir unite for 'lifeline' projects in Greater Manchester Sport Awards |url=https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/news/12112012-london-2012-heroes-jade-jones-and-david-weir-unite-for-lifeline-projects-in-greater-manchester-sport-awards/ |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=Mancunian Matters |language=en-GB}}</ref> and AOWC was named "club of the year" at the Borough Sports Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Templeman |first=Ian |date=November 1, 2012 |title=Bits And Pieces |url=https://www.nwcfl.com/news-articles.php?id=2435 |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=www.nwcfl.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> |
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In December 2023, after almost 50 years of coaching, Wood was recognised on the [[2024 New Year Honours]] and awarded a [[British Empire Medal]] (BEM) "for services to wrestling and young people."<ref name=":30" /><ref name=":31" /><ref name=":32" /> |
In December 2023, after almost 50 years of coaching, Wood was recognised on the [[2024 New Year Honours]] and awarded a [[British Empire Medal]] (BEM) "for services to wrestling and young people."<ref name=":30" /><ref name=":31" /><ref name=":32" /> |
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=== The Snake Pit === |
=== The Snake Pit === |
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The often-anachronistic "Snake Pit" {{Nihongo|2=スネーク・ピット}} name was popularised in Japan. In Britain, the gym was known as "Riley's."<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":15" /> Wood was unaware of the "Snake Pit" moniker until his trip to coach in Japan for SWS.<ref name=":59" />{{Rp|location=12ː00}} |
The often-anachronistic "Snake Pit" {{Nihongo|2=蛇の穴 / スネーク・ピット}} name was popularised in Japan. In Britain, the gym was known as "Riley's."<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":15" /> Wood was unaware of the "Snake Pit" moniker until his trip to coach in Japan for SWS.<ref name=":59" />{{Rp|location=12ː00}} |
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⚫ | The Snake Pit took its current form around 2011. Due to prior frustrations, Wood maintained his focus on freestyle wrestling until his daughter, Andrea, convinced her father to help preserve the sport of catch wrestling by coaching again.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /> Alongside the 35th Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International in November 2012,<ref name=":16" /> The Snake Pit held the first catch wrestling matches to take place in [[Wigan]] in fifty years, with participants from Britain and Europe, the United States, Canada, and Japan.<ref name=":39">{{Cite web |title=第11章 ロイ・ウッド認定 |url=https://rileygymkyoto.is-mine.net/road-to-rgk11.html |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Riley's Gym Kyoto |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Toshiyuki |first=Fujii |date=2023-03-03 |title=[ファイトクラブ]トークイベント成功!ロイ・ウッド公認蛇の穴ライレー・ジム京都に潜入 |url=https://miruhon.net/233600 |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=週刊ファイト |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=zlV2nHjRvwg|title=CATCH TOURNAMENT 10/11/12 PART I.}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=Rt1BjAeA7Ec|title=CATCH TOURNAMENT 10/11/12 PART II.}}</ref> The Snake Pit also held its first certification that month. Osamu Matsunami and Ian Bromley became the first certified coaches and Riley's Gym Kyoto became the first certified affiliate gym.<ref name=":39" /> Since then, The Snake Pit has held regular workshops, interclub competitions, and annual "international weeks" for foreign visitors.<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-05 |title=Inter-Club Competition December 2021 Results |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/inter-club-competition-december-2021-results/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Snakepit Wigan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-19 |title=Inter-Club Competitions 2022 |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/inter-club-competitions-2022/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Snakepit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
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⚫ | The Snake Pit marked its 70th anniversary with the first annual [[The Snake Pit (Wigan)#2018 World Championships|Catch Wrestling World Championships]] on November 2, 2018. The event was held at the [[University of Bolton Stadium]] and featured competitors from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, South Africa, Sweden, Lithuania and New Zealand.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Wigan's Snakepit wrestling club celebrates anniversary |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigans-snakepit-wrestling-club-celebrates-anniversary-213775 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Wigan Today}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> |
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⚫ | The Snake Pit took its current form around 2011. Due to prior frustrations, Wood maintained his focus on freestyle wrestling until his daughter, Andrea, convinced her father to help preserve the sport of catch wrestling by coaching again.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9" /> Alongside the 35th Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International in November 2012,<ref name=":16" /> The Snake Pit held the first catch wrestling matches to take place in [[Wigan]] in fifty years, with participants from Britain |
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⚫ | After the death of coach Ian Bromley in February 2019, The Snake Pit partnered with the charity [[Andy's Man Club]] (AMC) to raise awareness and combat stigma around [[mental health]]. The [[The Snake Pit (Wigan)#2019 World Championships|2019 Catch Wrestling World Championships]] in November were held in tribute to Bromley. A message from the charity's founder and footage of Bromley's final interview were played between matches. A voluntary group was also set up, promoting the [[hashtag]] #17:17.{{Efn|{{Bibleverse|Proverbs|17:17|NIV|A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.|nobook=|wlink=yes|multi=}} A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.}} AMC donated wristbands, flyers and other items to be given out at the event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nowell |first=Andrew |date=October 23, 2019 |title=Wigan venue the Snake Pit wrestling with the scourge of mental illness |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/wigan-venue-the-snake-pit-wrestling-with-the-scourge-of-mental-illness-923889 |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Wigan Today}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-06 |title=17:17 – The Snakepit Hub |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/1717-the-snakepit-hub/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> The award for best/outstanding wrestler at the World Championships was named in Bromley's honour.<ref name=":2" /> The number of entrants for the event doubled from the previous year, including accomplished grapplers and mixed martial artists such as [[Olga McGlinchey]] ([[2012 World Wrestling Championships|2012 world championships bronze medallist]] and [[Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics|Olympian]]), [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] fighters [[John Hathaway]] and [[Tom Watson (fighter)|Tom Watson]], and Nathaniel Brown, a 2019 British freestyle silver medallist.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=British Senior Freestyle Wrestling Championships 2019 |url=https://britishwrestling.org/events/british-senior-freestyle-wrestling-championships-2019/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=British Wrestling |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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In January 2022, documents found in the Snake Pit's archives helped reveal Britain's first black Olympian - Louis Bruce, a biracial wrestler and [[tram driver]] from [[Edinburgh]], Scotland. It was previously thought that [[Harry Edward]] was Britain's first black Olympian.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ingle |first=Sean |date=2022-01-27 |title=History rewritten with wrestler Louis Bruce revealed as Britain's first black Olympian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/27/louis-bruce-revealed-as-britains-first-black-olympian |access-date=2024-05-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |
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⚫ | After the death of coach Ian Bromley in February 2019, The Snake Pit partnered with the charity [[Andy's Man Club]] (AMC) to raise awareness and combat stigma around [[mental health]]. The 2019 Catch Wrestling World Championships in November were held in tribute to Bromley. A message from the charity's founder and footage of Bromley's final interview were played between matches. A voluntary group was also set up, promoting the [[hashtag]] #17:17.{{Efn|{{Bibleverse|Proverbs|17:17|NIV|A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.|nobook=|wlink=yes|multi=}} A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.}} AMC donated wristbands, flyers and other items to be given out at the event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nowell |first=Andrew |date=October 23, 2019 |title=Wigan venue the Snake Pit wrestling with the scourge of mental illness |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/wigan-venue-the-snake-pit-wrestling-with-the-scourge-of-mental-illness-923889 |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Wigan Today}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-06 |title=17:17 – The Snakepit Hub |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/1717-the-snakepit-hub/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> The award for best/outstanding wrestler at the World Championships was named in Bromley's honour.<ref name=":2" /> The number of entrants for the event doubled from the previous year, including accomplished grapplers and mixed martial artists such as [[Olga McGlinchey]] ([[2012 World Wrestling Championships|2012 world championships bronze medallist]] and [[Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics|Olympian]]), [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] fighters [[John Hathaway]] and [[Tom Watson (fighter)|Tom Watson]], and Nathaniel Brown, a 2019 British freestyle silver medallist.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=British Senior Freestyle Wrestling Championships 2019 |url=https://britishwrestling.org/events/british-senior-freestyle-wrestling-championships-2019/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=British Wrestling |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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After a two-year postponement due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on June 4, 2022 at the University of Bolton Stadium.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":11" /> The event featured 33 competitors wrestling in a total of 29 matches.<ref name=":12" /> |
After a two-year postponement due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the [[The Snake Pit (Wigan)#2022 World Championships|Catch Wrestling World Championships]] took place on June 4, 2022 at the University of Bolton Stadium.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":11" /> The event featured 33 competitors wrestling in a total of 29 matches.<ref name=":12" /> |
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The Snake Pit held |
The Snake Pit held the [[The Snake Pit (Wigan)#2023 British Championships|2023 Catch Wrestling British Championships]] on August 5 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan, England. The tournament was open to competitors residing in the [[British Isles]].<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":62">{{Cite web |date=2023-02-22 |title=Catch Wrestling British Championships 2023 (announcement) |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/catch-wrestling-british-championships-2023/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Snakepit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
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The 2023 Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on October 28 at the University of Bolton Stadium.<ref name=":4" /> Previous champions [[Josh Barnett]] and [[Owen Livesey]] faced each-other in the headline bout.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Blackett |first=Todd |date=2023-10-11 |title=Josh Barnett Takes On Owen Livesey In Catch Wrestling |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/josh-barnett-takes-on-owen-livesey-in-catch-wrestling/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Jitsmagazine.com |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":63">{{Cite web |last=Lindsey |first=Alex |date=October 22, 2023 |title=Polaris and WNO announce excellent lineups – Grappling Report |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2023/10/22/polaris-wno-lineups-grappling-report/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> This event had the most international competitors to date, including an American team assembled by Barnett - the ACWA Warbringers, all of whom reached the finals in their divisions.<ref name=":56">{{Cite Instagram|author=Josh Barnett|author-link=Josh Barnett|user=joshlbarnett|postid=C0FOvDjPrd0|date=November 25, 2023|title=The 2023 The Snake Pit World Catch Wrestling Championships was a great event with their highest international turnout as well. Our team The ACWA Warbringers, funded by the like of all of you and Sespe Creek Distillery, sent 5 wrestlers to compete and all 5 made the finals with 2 taking silver and 3 taking home the championship and the custom belts.|location=Bolton Stadium|access-date=2023-12-21|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|ref=}}</ref> |
The [[The Snake Pit (Wigan)#2023 World Championships|2023 Catch Wrestling World Championships]] took place on October 28 at the University of Bolton Stadium.<ref name=":4" /> Previous champions [[Josh Barnett]] and [[Owen Livesey]] faced each-other in the headline bout.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Blackett |first=Todd |date=2023-10-11 |title=Josh Barnett Takes On Owen Livesey In Catch Wrestling |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/josh-barnett-takes-on-owen-livesey-in-catch-wrestling/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Jitsmagazine.com |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":63">{{Cite web |last=Lindsey |first=Alex |date=October 22, 2023 |title=Polaris and WNO announce excellent lineups – Grappling Report |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2023/10/22/polaris-wno-lineups-grappling-report/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> This event had the most international competitors to date, including an American team assembled by Barnett - the ACWA Warbringers, all of whom reached the finals in their divisions.<ref name=":56">{{Cite Instagram|author=Josh Barnett|author-link=Josh Barnett|user=joshlbarnett|postid=C0FOvDjPrd0|date=November 25, 2023|title=The 2023 The Snake Pit World Catch Wrestling Championships was a great event with their highest international turnout as well. Our team The ACWA Warbringers, funded by the like of all of you and Sespe Creek Distillery, sent 5 wrestlers to compete and all 5 made the finals with 2 taking silver and 3 taking home the championship and the custom belts.|location=Bolton Stadium|access-date=2023-12-21|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|ref=}}</ref> |
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In April 2024, [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]] Town Hall began hosting an exhibition about Billy Riley, catch wrestling, and the gym. Supported by funding from the [[National Lottery Community Fund]], it preserves and displays memorabilia contributed to the collection by The Snake Pit and others.<ref name=":64" /> |
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== Notable people == |
== Notable people == |
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* Darren Wood - Roy's son, won [[Gold medal|gold]] at the 1986 [[European Wrestling Championships#European Cadets Wrestling Championship (U17)|European]] and [[List of Cadet, Junior, and Espoir World Champions in men's freestyle wrestling#List of 16 and Under World Champions in Men's Freestyle Wrestling|1987 World Championships]] for cadets, and 1987 British Senior Championships<ref name=":21" /><ref name=":22" /> |
* Darren Wood - Roy's son, won [[Gold medal|gold]] at the 1986 [[European Wrestling Championships#European Cadets Wrestling Championship (U17)|European]] and [[List of Cadet, Junior, and Espoir World Champions in men's freestyle wrestling#List of 16 and Under World Champions in Men's Freestyle Wrestling|1987 World Championships]] for cadets, and 1987 British Senior Championships<ref name=":21" /><ref name=":22" /> |
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* [[Kazuo Sakurada]] and [[KY Wakamatsu]] - pro wrestlers<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":25" /><ref name=":12" /> |
* [[Kazuo Sakurada]] and [[KY Wakamatsu]] - pro wrestlers<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":25" /><ref name=":12" /> |
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* [[Osamu Nishimura]] - pro wrestler<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=プロフィール {{!}} 文京区議会議員 西村修 オフィシャルサイト |url=http://www.nishimura-osamu.net/profile |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=www.nishimura-osamu.net}}</ref> |
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* [[Tatsumi Fujinami]] - pro wrestler, hall of famer; Fujinami's son {{Interlanguage link|LEONA|ja|藤波怜於南}} also trained under Wood<ref name=":17" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2012 |title=藤波の長男玲於南さん英プロレス留学 |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/p-bt-tp0-20120821-1003913.html |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=nikkansports.com |language=ja}}</ref> |
* [[Tatsumi Fujinami]] - pro wrestler, hall of famer; Fujinami's son {{Interlanguage link|LEONA|ja|藤波怜於南}} also trained under Wood<ref name=":17" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2012 |title=藤波の長男玲於南さん英プロレス留学 |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/p-bt-tp0-20120821-1003913.html |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=nikkansports.com |language=ja}}</ref> |
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* Shane Rigby - [[Wrestling at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]] and [[Commonwealth Wrestling Championships|Championships]] [[Silver medal|silver medallist]] from Bolton WC, trained in CACC by Roy Wood<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":19" /> |
* Shane Rigby - [[Wrestling at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]] and [[Commonwealth Wrestling Championships|Championships]] [[Silver medal|silver medallist]] from Bolton WC, trained in CACC by Roy Wood<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":19" /> |
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* Paul Stridgeon - British freestyle wrestling champion |
* Paul Stridgeon - British freestyle wrestling champion, international competitor; professional rugby coach<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":43">{{Cite web |title=Profiles: Paul Stridgeon |url=http://www.riverhorse.tv/catch/Profiles/stridgeon.htm |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=riverhorse.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stridgeon, Paul (ENG) |url=https://whatsmat.uww.org/daten.php?spid=D5FA7C056E074E28916077A88307ACA5 |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=whatsmat.uww.org}}</ref><ref name=":44">{{Cite news |last=Schofield |first=Daniel |date=June 22, 2021 |title=Strongman Paul Stridgeon sets the tone as the joker in the Lions pack |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2021/06/22/strongman-paul-stridgeon-sets-tone-joker-lions-pack/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> |
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* [[St Helens R.F.C.]] - professional rugby club, multi-time [[Challenge Cup]] champions while training with Wood<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Joynt |first1=Chris |title=Chris Joynt: The Quiet Man |last2=Critchley |first2=Mike |publisher=Vertical |year=2005 |isbn=9781904091110 |pages=177–179 |language=En}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Neil |date=2007-02-15 |title=Cup Countdown: Saints hoping to grapple Wigan into submission |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/cup-countdown-saints-hoping-to-grapple-1108704 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref> |
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* [[Maria Dunn]] - freestyle wrestler from Guam, coached by Roy Wood for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympics]]<ref name=":26" /> |
* [[Maria Dunn]] - freestyle wrestler from Guam, coached by Roy Wood for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympics]]<ref name=":26" /> |
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* [[Davey Richards]] - pro wrestler<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-08-28 |title=ROH Tag Team Tournament Update, Davey Richards Note, More |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2012/08/roh-tag-team-tournament-update-555745/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Wrestling Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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* [[Gentleman Jack Gallagher|Jack Gallagher]] - pro wrestler and MMA fighter<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Alexander K. |date=Apr 12, 2020 |title=WWE's Jack Gallagher talks about being mistaken for Conor McGregor, likelihood of future in MMA |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/4/12/21217067/wwes-jack-gallagher-talks-about-being-mistaken-for-conor-mcgregor-likelihood-of-future-in-mma |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref> |
* [[Gentleman Jack Gallagher|Jack Gallagher]] - pro wrestler and MMA fighter<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Alexander K. |date=Apr 12, 2020 |title=WWE's Jack Gallagher talks about being mistaken for Conor McGregor, likelihood of future in MMA |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/4/12/21217067/wwes-jack-gallagher-talks-about-being-mistaken-for-conor-mcgregor-likelihood-of-future-in-mma |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref> |
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The Snake Pit's certified coaches are Greg Crompton and Chris Lomas, along with level 2 coaches Kevin Lloyd, Wei Tran, Mark Ganaden, Rikk Georgiades, and level 1 coach Jimmy Kelly.<ref name=":45" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-22 |title=Coaches |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/coaches/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
The Snake Pit's certified coaches are Greg Crompton and Chris Lomas, along with level 2 coaches Kevin Lloyd, Wei Tran, Mark Ganaden, Rikk Georgiades, and level 1 coach Jimmy Kelly.<ref name=":45" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-22 |title=Coaches |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/coaches/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
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At present, Riley's Gym Kyoto is the only Snake Pit certified affiliate club in the world.<ref name=":45">{{Cite web |date=2018-09-11 |title=Affiliate Clubs |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/affiliate-clubs/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> Wood named the gym in Riley's honour. |
At present, Riley's Gym Kyoto is the only Snake Pit certified affiliate club in the world.<ref name=":45">{{Cite web |date=2018-09-11 |title=Affiliate Clubs |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/affiliate-clubs/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> Wood named the gym in Riley's honour. Its head coach, Osamu Matsunami, made several extended trips to Wigan to train with Wood and other Riley's wrestlers, and trained in Tokyo with Billy Robinson and [[Shigeo Miyato]].<ref name=":42" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=第8章 ビル・ロビンソン先生 |url=https://rileygymkyoto.is-mine.net/road-to-rgk8.html |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Riley's Gym Kyoto |language=ja}}</ref> Matsunami and Ian Bromley were the first two coaches to be certified in 2012.<ref name=":39" /> |
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== Legacy and influence == |
== Legacy and influence == |
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Along with their in-ring careers, Gotch and Robinson became prolific coaches and trained students in the Riley's style for decades. Gotch was a trainer at the [[Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance|JWA]] and [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|NJPW]] dojos, and a [[Booker (professional wrestling)|booker]] for NJPW. His students included [[Antonio Inoki]], [[Tatsumi Fujinami]], [[Satoru Sayama]] (the first [[Tiger Mask (professional wrestling)|Tiger Mask]]), [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]], [[Akira Maeda]], [[Nobuhiko Takada]], [[Minoru Suzuki]], and [[Masakatsu Funaki]].<ref name=":24" /><ref name=":12" /> Robinson's students included [[Kazushi Sakuraba]], [[Kiyoshi Tamura]], [[Shigeo Miyato]], and [[Hideki Suzuki]]. Gotch, Robinson, and their students innovated a [[Shoot wrestling|realistic pro wrestling style]], leading to [[Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki]], the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|UWF]] and [[Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi]], and setting a foundation for modern MMA. Sayama founded {{Interlanguage link|Super Tiger Gym|ja|スーパータイガージム}} followed by [[Shooto]] in 1985, to combine catch wrestling with striking for legitimate competition. Shooto held its first professional event in 1989, several years before the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] was established.<ref name=":24" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=KJ |date=July 24, 2012 |title=Karl Gotch Week: Satoru Sayama, Shooto And The Style Of Japanese Catch Wrestling |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/07/24/karl-gotch-week-satoru-sayama-shooto-japanese-catch-wrestling-erik-paulson-brock-lesnar/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> In 1993, Suzuki and Funaki co-founded and competed in [[Pancrase]], a [[shootfighting]] promotion which held [[Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 1|its first event]] a month before [[UFC 1]]. Gotch suggested the name as a reference to the [[Ancient Olympic Games|ancient Olympic]] sport of [[pankration]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Stephen |date=September 4, 2007 |title=Kitaoka Headlines Pancrase's Karl Gotch Memorial |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Kitaoka-Headlines-Pancrases-Karl-Gotch-Memorial-8852 |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=February 20, 2012 |title=MMA Origins: Birth of Japanese MMA |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/02/20/ufc-144-japan-mma-history/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> Maeda founded [[Fighting Network Rings|RINGS]], a shoot-style pro wrestling promotion that transitioned to MMA. And Takada co-founded [[Pride Fighting Championships|PRIDE]], one of the most popular MMA promotions in history. These promotions and their associated training facilities produced many of the top Japanese and international MMA fighters of their time.<ref name=":24" /><ref name=":61">{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=KJ |date=July 28, 2012 |title=Karl Gotch Week: Rest In Peace Kamisama, 'God Of Wrestling' 1924 – 2007 |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/07/28/karl-gotch-week-rest-in-piece-kamisama-god-of-catch-wrestling-1924-2007/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> Among them were Sakuraba and Tamura. Sakuraba utilised catch wrestling to regularly defeat the best fighters of his time despite often being much smaller, and was nicknamed "The Gracie Hunter" for his victories over four members of the [[Gracie family|Gracie jiu-jitsu family]] including [[Royce Gracie|Royce]].<ref name=":27" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=September 13, 2013 |title=Gods of War: Kazushi Sakuraba |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2013/09/13/gods-of-war-kazushi-sakuraba-saku-gracie-hunter-catch-wrestling-ufwi/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> Tamura performed well at the top levels of MMA, later founding the gym {{Interlanguage link|U-FILE CAMP|ja|U-FILE CAMP}} and the promotion U-STYLE.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mancuso |first=Ryan |date=October 19, 2006 |title=Complete Playbook: Pro Wrestling U-Style on SKYPerfecTV PPV February 15, 2003 |url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/complete-playbook-pro-wrestling-u-style-on-skyperfectv-ppv-february-15-2003/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=411mania.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-04-06 |title=Kiyoshi Tamura |url=http://www.rizinff.com/en/fighter/20160406_4837.html |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=[[Rizin Fighting Federation]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Other notable gyms include {{Interlanguage link|Kiguchi Dojo|ja|木口宣昭}}, founded by Sayama's associate Noriaki Kiguchi, who also founded {{Interlanguage link|combat wrestling|ja|コンバットレスリング}};<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tasaki |first=Kenta |date=September 30, 2021 |title=【追悼】木口宣昭さん 「真説佐山サトルノート」round 20 期間限定無料公開します。 |url=https://note.com/tazakikenta/n/n078211c18242 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=note(ノート) |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Asahi |first=Noboru |date=2021-12-01 |title=日本レスリング&MMAの功労者・木口宣昭先生を語ろう■朝日昇 |url=https://ch.nicovideo.jp/dropkick/blomaga/ar2065951 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Dropkick:ブロマガ - ニコニコチャンネル |language=ja}}</ref> {{Interlanguage link|Paraestra|ja|パラエストラ}}, founded by Sayama's student [[Yuki Nakai]];<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tasaki |first=Kenta |date=2018-09-06 |title=プロレスも格闘技も「猪木」に行きつくワケ |url=https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/235767 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=東洋経済オンライン |language=ja}}</ref> and {{Interlanguage link|CACC Snake Pit Japan|ja|C.A.C.C.スネークピットジャパン}}, founded by Miyato as UWF Snake Pit Japan, with Robinson and [[Lou Thesz]] as the first head coaches.<ref name=":50" /><ref name=":41" /><ref name=":55" /> |
Along with their in-ring careers, Gotch and Robinson became prolific coaches and trained students in the Riley's style for decades. Gotch was a trainer at the [[Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance|JWA]] and [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|NJPW]] dojos, and a [[Booker (professional wrestling)|booker]] for NJPW. His students included [[Antonio Inoki]], [[Tatsumi Fujinami]], [[Satoru Sayama]] (the first [[Tiger Mask (professional wrestling)|Tiger Mask]]), [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]], [[Akira Maeda]], [[Nobuhiko Takada]], [[Minoru Suzuki]], and [[Masakatsu Funaki]].<ref name=":24" /><ref name=":12" /> Robinson's students included [[Kazushi Sakuraba]], [[Kiyoshi Tamura]], [[Shigeo Miyato]], and [[Hideki Suzuki]]. Gotch, Robinson, and their students innovated a [[Shoot wrestling|realistic pro wrestling style]], leading to [[Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki]], the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|UWF]] and [[Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi]], and setting a foundation for modern MMA. Sayama founded {{Interlanguage link|Super Tiger Gym|ja|スーパータイガージム}} followed by [[Shooto]] in 1985, to combine catch wrestling with striking for legitimate competition. Shooto held its first professional event in 1989, several years before the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] was established.<ref name=":24" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=KJ |date=July 24, 2012 |title=Karl Gotch Week: Satoru Sayama, Shooto And The Style Of Japanese Catch Wrestling |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/07/24/karl-gotch-week-satoru-sayama-shooto-japanese-catch-wrestling-erik-paulson-brock-lesnar/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> In 1993, Suzuki and Funaki co-founded and competed in [[Pancrase]], a [[shootfighting]] promotion which held [[Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 1|its first event]] a month before [[UFC 1]]. Gotch suggested the name as a reference to the [[Ancient Olympic Games|ancient Olympic]] sport of [[pankration]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Stephen |date=September 4, 2007 |title=Kitaoka Headlines Pancrase's Karl Gotch Memorial |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Kitaoka-Headlines-Pancrases-Karl-Gotch-Memorial-8852 |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=February 20, 2012 |title=MMA Origins: Birth of Japanese MMA |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/02/20/ufc-144-japan-mma-history/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> Maeda founded [[Fighting Network Rings|RINGS]], a shoot-style pro wrestling promotion that transitioned to MMA. And Takada co-founded [[Pride Fighting Championships|PRIDE]], one of the most popular MMA promotions in history. These promotions and their associated training facilities produced many of the top Japanese and international MMA fighters of their time.<ref name=":24" /><ref name=":61">{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=KJ |date=July 28, 2012 |title=Karl Gotch Week: Rest In Peace Kamisama, 'God Of Wrestling' 1924 – 2007 |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/07/28/karl-gotch-week-rest-in-piece-kamisama-god-of-catch-wrestling-1924-2007/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> Among them were Sakuraba and Tamura. Sakuraba utilised catch wrestling to regularly defeat the best fighters of his time despite often being much smaller, and was nicknamed "The Gracie Hunter" for his victories over four members of the [[Gracie family|Gracie jiu-jitsu family]] including [[Royce Gracie|Royce]].<ref name=":27" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=September 13, 2013 |title=Gods of War: Kazushi Sakuraba |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2013/09/13/gods-of-war-kazushi-sakuraba-saku-gracie-hunter-catch-wrestling-ufwi/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> Tamura performed well at the top levels of MMA, later founding the gym {{Interlanguage link|U-FILE CAMP|ja|U-FILE CAMP}} and the promotion U-STYLE.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mancuso |first=Ryan |date=October 19, 2006 |title=Complete Playbook: Pro Wrestling U-Style on SKYPerfecTV PPV February 15, 2003 |url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/complete-playbook-pro-wrestling-u-style-on-skyperfectv-ppv-february-15-2003/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=411mania.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-04-06 |title=Kiyoshi Tamura |url=http://www.rizinff.com/en/fighter/20160406_4837.html |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=[[Rizin Fighting Federation]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Other notable gyms include {{Interlanguage link|Kiguchi Dojo|ja|木口宣昭}}, founded by Sayama's associate Noriaki Kiguchi, who also founded {{Interlanguage link|combat wrestling|ja|コンバットレスリング}};<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tasaki |first=Kenta |date=September 30, 2021 |title=【追悼】木口宣昭さん 「真説佐山サトルノート」round 20 期間限定無料公開します。 |url=https://note.com/tazakikenta/n/n078211c18242 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=note(ノート) |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Asahi |first=Noboru |date=2021-12-01 |title=日本レスリング&MMAの功労者・木口宣昭先生を語ろう■朝日昇 |url=https://ch.nicovideo.jp/dropkick/blomaga/ar2065951 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Dropkick:ブロマガ - ニコニコチャンネル |language=ja}}</ref> {{Interlanguage link|Paraestra|ja|パラエストラ}}, founded by Sayama's student [[Yuki Nakai]];<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tasaki |first=Kenta |date=2018-09-06 |title=プロレスも格闘技も「猪木」に行きつくワケ |url=https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/235767 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=東洋経済オンライン |language=ja}}</ref> and {{Interlanguage link|CACC Snake Pit Japan|ja|C.A.C.C.スネークピットジャパン}}, founded by Miyato as UWF Snake Pit Japan, with Robinson and [[Lou Thesz]] as the first head coaches.<ref name=":50" /><ref name=":41" /><ref name=":55" /> |
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After establishing itself in Japan, the style expanded abroad. In 1989, Shooto instructor [[Yorinaga Nakamura]] immigrated to the United States. He became training partners with [[Dan Inosanto]] and they established the first Shooto school outside of Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yori Nakamura |url=https://www.usashooto.com/yori-nakamura |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=USA Shooto |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1993, [[Ken Shamrock]] brought the style from Pancrase to the UFC, became the inaugural [[List of Pancrase champions#Openweight championship|Pancrase Champion]] and [[List of UFC champions#Superfight Championship|UFC Superfight Champion]], and founded the first MMA team, the [[Lion's Den (mixed martial arts)|Lion's Den]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2008 |title=Ken Shamrock's greatest hits |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/dd-shamrockmoments092908.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> Americans [[Maurice Smith (fighter)|Maurice Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=July 23, 2013 |title=MMA Origins: Revenge of the Striker |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2013/07/23/ufc-mma-history-origins-revenge-of-the-strikers-ken-frank-shamrock-maurice-smith-mark-coleman/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |date=April 23, 2017 |title=Maurice Smith named to 2017 UFC Hall of Fame class |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/4/23/15398116/maurice-smith-the-first-striking-specialist-to-win-a-ufc-title-named-to-2017-hall-of-fame-class |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref> and [[Frank Shamrock]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levick |first=Bryan |date=November 1, 2011 |title=UFC History: Frank Shamrock on the Early Days of MMA & the UFC |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/921222-ufc-history-frank-shamrock-on-the-early-days-of-mma-the-ufc |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |date=Oct 14, 2017 |title=Frank Shamrock returns for fight he's waited 18 years for at Rizin |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/10/14/16407842/frank-shamrock-returns-for-fight-hes-waited-18-years-for-at-rizin |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref> and the Dutch [[Bas Rutten]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=September 17, 2012 |title=MMA Origins: A New Era Dawns as Bas Rutten Reigns in Pancrase |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/09/17/ufc-mma-origins-history-bas-rutten-frank-shamrock/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> also trained in the catch-based Pancrase style and went on to become [[List of UFC champions|UFC champions]].<ref name=":61" /> [[Erik Paulson]] trained under Nakamura and Inosanto, becoming a [[List of Shooto champions#Light Heavyweight Championship|Shooto champion]] and coach. According to Paulson, the Shooto submission lock-flows are all based on the Riley's style.<ref name=":60">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLjMjIxZuk0&t=657s |title=For The Love Of Catch |date=2022 |last=Jacobs |first=Curran |time=10ː57 |time-caption=At |via=[[Youtube]]}}</ref> Paulson coached notable fighters including [[Brock Lesnar]], [[Sean Sherk]], [[Renato Sobral]], [[Cub Swanson]], and Lesnar's team on [[The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos|The Ultimate Fighter 13]], which included winner [[Tony Ferguson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=January 27, 2011 |title=The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13: Introducing Team Brock Lesnar |url=https://www.mmamania.com/2011/1/27/1960140/the-ultimate-fighter-tuf-13-introducing-team-brock-lesnar |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMAmania.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raimondi |first=Marc |date=May 13, 2021 |title=Ferguson refocused with new team led by Roach |url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/31441075/tony-ferguson-boxing-trainer-freddie-roach-corner-vs-beneil-dariush |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1994, [[Matt Hume]] began his MMA career fighting in Pancrase. Hume was a pioneer of American MMA, having co-founded the [[AMC Pankration]] gym several years prior to combine grappling and striking. He cited Suzuki, Funaki, and Shamrock as significant influences on his career.<ref name=":60" /><ref name="interview">{{cite web |last= |first= |date=Summer 2006 |title=An in depth interview with the legendary Matt Hume |url=http://www.nwfightscene.com/Downloads/NW-FightScene-Zero-Issue.pdf |access-date=2024-02-09 |publisher=North West Fight Scene}}</ref> Hume was a primary coach for world champions [[Josh Barnett]],<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Onzuka |first=Chris |date=2000-04-26 |title=The NHB Jack Of All Trades: Matt Hume |url=https://www.onzuka.com/interviews/Hume-Matt4-26-00.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Onzuka.com}}</ref><ref name=":57">{{Cite web |title=The Warmaster |url=https://www.joshbarnett.com/thewarmaster |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Josh Barnett |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Demetrious Johnson]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fowlkes |first=Ben |date=September 3, 2015 |title=UFC champ Demetrious Johnson, coach Matt Hume on creating a 'perfect martial artist' |url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2015/09/ufc-champ-demetrious-johnson-coach-matt-hume-on-creating-a-perfect-martial-artist |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMA Junkie |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Jeff Monson]],<ref name=":02" /> and [[Rich Franklin]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2009 |title=With lines drawn, Rich Franklin on side of new training partner Anderson Silva |url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2009/05/with-lines-drawn-rich-franklin-on-side-of-new-training-partner-anderson-silva |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMA Junkie |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goyder |first=James |date=Oct 15, 2011 |title=Matt Hume talks Asian MMA and a possible move to flyweight for Demetrious Johnson |url=https://www.mmamania.com/2011/10/15/2491610/matt-hume-talks-asian-mma-and-a-possible-move-to-125-lbs-for |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMAmania.com |language=en}}</ref> Barnett became one of the most prominent modern catch wrestlers, trained under Robinson and Paulson, and coached [[Shayna Baszler]], [[Jessamyn Duke]], [[Marina Shafir]], and [[Victor Henry (fighter)|Victor Henry]].<ref name=":57" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Luke |date=Sep 7, 2014 |title=Technique Talk: What is catch wrestling's value? |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/9/7/6093013/technique-talk-josh-barnett-on-catch-wrestlings-place-in-the |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UWF USA |url=https://www.tapology.com/gyms/5361-uwf-usa |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Tapology |language=en}}</ref> He founded the American Catch Wrestling Association (ACWA), which assembled a dominant team for |
After establishing itself in Japan, the style expanded abroad. In 1989, Shooto instructor [[Yorinaga Nakamura]] immigrated to the United States. He became training partners with [[Dan Inosanto]] and they established the first Shooto school outside of Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yori Nakamura |url=https://www.usashooto.com/yori-nakamura |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=USA Shooto |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1993, [[Ken Shamrock]] brought the style from Pancrase to the UFC, became the inaugural [[List of Pancrase champions#Openweight championship|Pancrase Champion]] and [[List of UFC champions#Superfight Championship|UFC Superfight Champion]], and founded the first MMA team, the [[Lion's Den (mixed martial arts)|Lion's Den]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2008 |title=Ken Shamrock's greatest hits |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/dd-shamrockmoments092908.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> Americans [[Maurice Smith (fighter)|Maurice Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=July 23, 2013 |title=MMA Origins: Revenge of the Striker |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2013/07/23/ufc-mma-history-origins-revenge-of-the-strikers-ken-frank-shamrock-maurice-smith-mark-coleman/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |date=April 23, 2017 |title=Maurice Smith named to 2017 UFC Hall of Fame class |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/4/23/15398116/maurice-smith-the-first-striking-specialist-to-win-a-ufc-title-named-to-2017-hall-of-fame-class |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref> and [[Frank Shamrock]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levick |first=Bryan |date=November 1, 2011 |title=UFC History: Frank Shamrock on the Early Days of MMA & the UFC |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/921222-ufc-history-frank-shamrock-on-the-early-days-of-mma-the-ufc |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |date=Oct 14, 2017 |title=Frank Shamrock returns for fight he's waited 18 years for at Rizin |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/10/14/16407842/frank-shamrock-returns-for-fight-hes-waited-18-years-for-at-rizin |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref> and the Dutch [[Bas Rutten]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=September 17, 2012 |title=MMA Origins: A New Era Dawns as Bas Rutten Reigns in Pancrase |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/09/17/ufc-mma-origins-history-bas-rutten-frank-shamrock/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> also trained in the catch-based Pancrase style and went on to become [[List of UFC champions|UFC champions]].<ref name=":61" /> [[Erik Paulson]] trained under Nakamura and Inosanto, becoming a [[List of Shooto champions#Light Heavyweight Championship|Shooto champion]] and coach. According to Paulson, the Shooto submission lock-flows are all based on the Riley's style.<ref name=":60">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLjMjIxZuk0&t=657s |title=For The Love Of Catch |date=2022 |last=Jacobs |first=Curran |time=10ː57 |time-caption=At |via=[[Youtube]]}}</ref> Paulson coached notable fighters including [[Brock Lesnar]], [[Sean Sherk]], [[Renato Sobral]], [[Cub Swanson]], and Lesnar's team on [[The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs. Team dos Santos|The Ultimate Fighter 13]], which included winner [[Tony Ferguson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=January 27, 2011 |title=The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13: Introducing Team Brock Lesnar |url=https://www.mmamania.com/2011/1/27/1960140/the-ultimate-fighter-tuf-13-introducing-team-brock-lesnar |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMAmania.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raimondi |first=Marc |date=May 13, 2021 |title=Ferguson refocused with new team led by Roach |url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/31441075/tony-ferguson-boxing-trainer-freddie-roach-corner-vs-beneil-dariush |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1994, [[Matt Hume]] began his MMA career fighting in Pancrase. Hume was a pioneer of American MMA, having co-founded the [[AMC Pankration]] gym several years prior to combine grappling and striking. He cited Suzuki, Funaki, and Ken Shamrock as significant influences on his career.<ref name=":60" /><ref name="interview">{{cite web |last= |first= |date=Summer 2006 |title=An in depth interview with the legendary Matt Hume |url=http://www.nwfightscene.com/Downloads/NW-FightScene-Zero-Issue.pdf |access-date=2024-02-09 |publisher=North West Fight Scene}}</ref> Hume was a primary coach for world champions [[Josh Barnett]],<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Onzuka |first=Chris |date=2000-04-26 |title=The NHB Jack Of All Trades: Matt Hume |url=https://www.onzuka.com/interviews/Hume-Matt4-26-00.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Onzuka.com}}</ref><ref name=":57">{{Cite web |title=The Warmaster |url=https://www.joshbarnett.com/thewarmaster |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Josh Barnett |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Demetrious Johnson]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fowlkes |first=Ben |date=September 3, 2015 |title=UFC champ Demetrious Johnson, coach Matt Hume on creating a 'perfect martial artist' |url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2015/09/ufc-champ-demetrious-johnson-coach-matt-hume-on-creating-a-perfect-martial-artist |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMA Junkie |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Jeff Monson]],<ref name=":02" /> and [[Rich Franklin]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2009 |title=With lines drawn, Rich Franklin on side of new training partner Anderson Silva |url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2009/05/with-lines-drawn-rich-franklin-on-side-of-new-training-partner-anderson-silva |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMA Junkie |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goyder |first=James |date=Oct 15, 2011 |title=Matt Hume talks Asian MMA and a possible move to flyweight for Demetrious Johnson |url=https://www.mmamania.com/2011/10/15/2491610/matt-hume-talks-asian-mma-and-a-possible-move-to-125-lbs-for |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMAmania.com |language=en}}</ref> Barnett became one of the most prominent modern catch wrestlers, also trained under Robinson and Paulson, and coached [[Shayna Baszler]], [[Jessamyn Duke]], [[Marina Shafir]], and [[Victor Henry (fighter)|Victor Henry]].<ref name=":57" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Luke |date=Sep 7, 2014 |title=Technique Talk: What is catch wrestling's value? |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/9/7/6093013/technique-talk-josh-barnett-on-catch-wrestlings-place-in-the |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UWF USA |url=https://www.tapology.com/gyms/5361-uwf-usa |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Tapology |language=en}}</ref> He founded the American Catch Wrestling Association (ACWA), which assembled a dominant team for the 2023 Catch Wrestling World Championships.<ref name=":56" /> The ACWA then held the first modern US National Championships for catch wrestling in December 2023, with over 90 wrestlers competing across 10 weight classes.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-12-19 |title=Catch Wrestling US National Championship 2023 Full Results And Review |url=https://jitsmagazine.com/catch-wrestling-us-national-championship-2023-full-results-and-review/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Jitsmagazine.com |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindsey |first=Alex |date=December 25, 2023 |title=AIGA 2023 & Catch Wrestling US champions crowned |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2023/12/25/aiga-catch-wrestling-grappling-report/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref> |
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After Wood coached her for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympics]], [[Maria Dunn]] and her husband Nathan Tully, a [[Bolton]] wrestling coach, established the Snakepit Wrestling Academy in Guam.<ref name=":58" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Santo Tomas |first=Jojo |date=July 5, 2017 |title=Wrestlers off to England |url=https://www.guampdn.com/sports/wrestlers-off-to-england/article_8eaa770f-919d-5346-ad42-b16b5c8516e9.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Guam Pacific Daily News |language=en}}</ref> |
After Wood coached her for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympics]], [[Maria Dunn]] and her husband Nathan Tully, a [[Bolton]] wrestling coach, established the Snakepit Wrestling Academy in Guam.<ref name=":58" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Santo Tomas |first=Jojo |date=July 5, 2017 |title=Wrestlers off to England |url=https://www.guampdn.com/sports/wrestlers-off-to-england/article_8eaa770f-919d-5346-ad42-b16b5c8516e9.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Guam Pacific Daily News |language=en}}</ref> |
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Additionally, super heavyweight champion Josh Barnett and heavyweight runner-up Ian Jones faced each-other in a challenge match that went to a draw. Heavyweight champion Wade Barrick was named " |
Additionally, super heavyweight champion Josh Barnett and heavyweight runner-up Ian Jones faced each-other in a challenge match that went to a draw. Heavyweight champion Wade Barrick was named the "best wrestler" of the event, Ian Bromley, Ian Jones and Greg Crompton were recognised for coaching, and Roy Wood received a lifetime achievement award for sixty years of service.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> |
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=== 2019 World Championships === |
=== 2019 World Championships === |
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The 2019 Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on November 1 at the University of Bolton Stadium. The event was held in memory of Ian Bromley.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Whittle |first=Jay |date=October 30, 2019 |title=Wigan snakepit to host World Championships - with UFC fighters and Olympian taking part |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/other-sport/wigan-snakepit-to-host-world-championships-with-ufc-fighters-and-olympian-taking-part-923027 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Wigan Today}}</ref> Results:<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2019-07-30 |title=Catch Wrestling World Championships 2019 |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/catch-wrestling-world-championships-2019/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
The 2019 Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on November 1 at the University of Bolton Stadium. The event was held in memory of coach Ian Bromley.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Whittle |first=Jay |date=October 30, 2019 |title=Wigan snakepit to host World Championships - with UFC fighters and Olympian taking part |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/other-sport/wigan-snakepit-to-host-world-championships-with-ufc-fighters-and-olympian-taking-part-923027 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Wigan Today}}</ref> Results:<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2019-07-30 |title=Catch Wrestling World Championships 2019 |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/catch-wrestling-world-championships-2019/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
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Additionally, middleweight champion John Hathaway faced Nathaniel Brown in a challenge match, which Hathaway won. Hathaway received the Ian Bromley trophy as " |
Additionally, middleweight champion John Hathaway faced Nathaniel Brown in a challenge match, which Hathaway won. Hathaway received the Ian Bromley trophy as "best male wrestler of the night" and Olga McGlinchey received the Arthur Silcock trophy as "best female wrestler of the night'''."'''<ref name=":2" /> |
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=== 2022 World Championships === |
=== 2022 World Championships === |
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After a two-year postponement due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on June 4, 2022 at the University of Bolton Stadium.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Frost |first=Mark |date=20 July 2022 |title=He's Got The Whole World In His Hands |url=https://www.questmedianetwork.co.uk/news/sport/hes-got-the-whole-world-in-his-hands/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Quest Media Network |language=en}}</ref> The event featured 33 competitors wrestling in a total of 29 matches.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Steven |date=March 15, 2023 |title=The Snake Pit: Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Catch Wrestling and Puroresu |url=https://monthlypuroresu.com/features/the-snake-pit-karl-gotch-billy-robinson-catch-wrestling-and-puroresu/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Monthly Puroresu |language=en-US}}</ref> Results:<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-05 |title=Catch Wrestling World Championships 2022 |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/catch-wrestling-world-championships-2022/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
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Additionally, Tommy Hawthorn was awarded the Ian Bromley Cup as " |
Additionally, Tommy Hawthorn was awarded the Ian Bromley Cup as "best wrestler of the night", Greg Crompton received the Nathan Tully Award for "dedication to grassroots/paying it forward", and John Hathaway received the Jack Carroll award for fastest win (pin or submission).<ref name=":3" /> |
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=== 2023 British Championships === |
=== 2023 British Championships === |
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The |
The 2023 Catch Wrestling British Championships took place on August 5 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in [[Wigan]], England. Entries were open to competitors residing in the [[British Isles]].<ref name=":62" /> Results:<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-05 |title=The Snake Pit British Championships 2023 (results) |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/the-snake-pit-british-championships-2023/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
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=== 2023 World Championships === |
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The 2023 Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on October 28 at the University of Bolton Stadium. Previous champions Josh Barnett and Owen Livesey faced each-other in |
The 2023 Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on October 28 at the University of Bolton Stadium. Previous champions Josh Barnett and Owen Livesey faced each-other in the headline bout.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":63" /> Results:<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-13 |title=Snake Pit World Championships 2023 |url=https://www.snakepitwigan.com/snake-pit-world-championships-2023/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Snake Pit Wigan |language=en}}</ref> |
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In the main event, Owen Livesey (2022 heavyweight champion) defeated Josh Barnett (2018 super heavyweight champion). Angel Verduzco was named the Ian Bromley Cup " |
In the main event, Owen Livesey (2022 heavyweight champion) defeated Josh Barnett (2018 super heavyweight champion). Angel Verduzco was named the Ian Bromley Cup "outstanding wrestler", Brett Pfarr was named "best male wrestler of the night", Nikki Hilton was named "best female wrestler of the night", Jordan Stott received the Nathan Tully award for "dedication to grassroots/paying it forward", and Mike Clark received the Jack Carroll Award for fastest win (pin or submission).<ref name=":4" /> |
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== Notes == |
== Notes == |
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q Catch: The Hold Not Taken], a 2004 documentary on the roots of pro wrestling and amateur wrestling featuring the gym |
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bg3qTlGx3Q Catch: The Hold Not Taken], a 2004 documentary on the roots of pro wrestling and amateur wrestling featuring the gym |
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Latest revision as of 13:52, 1 July 2024
53°33′57″N 2°35′12″W / 53.5658°N 2.5866°W
Also known as | Riley's Riley's Gym 蛇の穴 / スネーク・ピット Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club Aspull Wrestling Club Wigan |
---|---|
Date founded | 1948 |
Country of origin | England |
Founder | Billy Riley |
Current head | Roy Wood, Andrea Wood |
Arts taught | Catch wrestling Freestyle wrestling |
Ancestor arts | Lancashire wrestling |
Practitioners | Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Bert Assirati, Jack Dempsey,[a] Billy Joyce , Les Thornton, Dynamite Kid, Maria Dunn |
Official website | snakepitwigan |
The Snake Pit is a wrestling gym and organisation in Aspull, Wigan Borough, England. It hosts the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club.[b] Founded in 1948 by Billy Riley in the town of Wigan, it was originally known as Riley's Gym. Riley was succeeded by Roy Wood, one of his last living students.[2][3] In December 2023, Wood was recognised on the 2024 New Year Honours and awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) "for services to wrestling and young people" after coaching for almost 50 years.[4][5][6] An exhibition about Riley and the gym began at the Leigh Town Hall in April 2024.[7]
The gym has been a significant influence on the evolution of catch-as-catch-can (CACC), freestyle, and professional wrestling, as well as mixed martial arts (MMA), especially in Japan. Riley was the head coach for over 20 years, teaching the Lancashire style of catch wrestling, and the gym became known in Britain and internationally for producing skilled wrestlers. Riley closed the gym in the early 1970s due to theatrics overtaking legitimate skills in pro wrestling but it was soon revived through a community effort, with Roy Wood becoming head coach, assisted by Riley and other veteran wrestlers. The gym switched to freestyle wrestling, producing champions and international competitors, and hosting the Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International for over 35 years. The gym moved to Aspull during this time, establishing the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club.[2][3][8][9][10]
The gym continued to be one of the most essential sources for preserving catch wrestling and began to formally promote the style again in 2012 through competitions, training, and certification.[2][3][8] The Snake Pit has hosted the Catch Wrestling World Championships since 2018.[11] The 2024 Catch Wrestling British Championships are scheduled for August 10, followed by the World Championships on September 7.[12][13]
History
[edit]Riley's Gym
[edit]Billy Riley was a skilled professional wrestler in an era where bouts were still legitimate.[2][14][15][16] Riley trained in pubs like the Crispin Arms or at his home before he and a handful of other wrestlers, who were also tradesmen, combined their resources to purchase a plot of land and build a dedicated gym in the Whelley area of the town of Wigan.[3][17][18][19][20] The gym opened in 1948 to teach Lancashire style catch-as-catch-can (CACC), freestyle, and professional wrestling (termed "show wrestling").[2][20]
The original building was described as a shed or shack with a tin roof, bare bricks inside, a worn wrestling mat stuffed with horse hair, a coal stove for heat, no toilet, rusting weights, and a shower in the corner that only had cold water.[2][21][22]: 35:25 [23][24][25] Riley was an active coach, known for hard training and demanding every opponent be approached as world-class, even if they were only a novice.[3][26] He wanted to be confident in his students' skills and was known for phrases like “you can never train too hard” and "do it again."[22]: 48:00 [27][28] He also kept a room of books and reference materials for wrestling.[29] Billy Joyce and other veteran wrestlers would regularly coach alongside Riley. Many of the trainees were miners and hoped to boost their incomes by wrestling.[2][22]: 42:11 [30] There was a common saying that someone reaching into a local mine would grab either a wrestler or rugby player.[22]: 36:37 [25] The professionals usually trained in the morning and worked shows in the evening, then the wrestlers with day jobs trained after work.[31] Since there had been legitimate wrestlers in every family, it became impossible to hold theatrical-style pro wrestling in Wigan.[32][33] Riley did not make much money as a coach because he kept his member fees modest.[2] In 1964, they were only two shillings and six pence (2s. 6., a half crown, equivalent to £3.2 in 2023), despite a wrestler like Karl Gotch reportedly earning £30,000 (equivalent to £767,899.5 in 2023) annually.[32] Although the training was tough and many visitors were one-time-only, the gym had unwritten rules against breaking limbs, eye-poking, hair-pulling, and similar behaviour.[3][34][35]: 34ː43 Women and children were also disallowed in those days.[14][24][36]
The hard-nosed environment produced some of the most popular and skilled wrestlers of their time, such as Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Bert Assirati, Jack Dempsey,[a] Les Thornton, and Billy Joyce (Bob Robinson). Other wrestlers from the gym included Ernie Riley (Billy Riley's son), Joe Robinson (Billy Joyce's brother), Melvyn Riss (Harold Winstanley), John Foley, Alan Latham (Francis Sullivan), Mick and Seamus Dunleavy, Billy Chambers, Len Wetherby, Jackie Cheers, Frank Riley, Jimmy Hart, Alan Hartwood, Harry Duvall, Ken Baldwin, John Naylor, Brian Burke, and Roy Wood.[2][3][36][37] As well as Bob Sherry (Jimmy Niblett),[38][39] El Diablo (Tony Francis),[40] George Gregory,[29] Count Bartelli (Geoff Condliffe),[41] Jack Mountford,[25] Johnny Eagle (Roy Boyd),[42] and Tommy Heyes.[14]
The gym became well-known internationally and hosted wrestlers from countries including France, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Spain, India, Pakistan, Turkey, the United States, and Canada.[43] Riley also encouraged his wrestlers to bring knowledge back from other gyms and styles. During Billy Robinson's eight years at Riley's, he was sent to Hungary to learn Greco-Roman wrestling, and to Sweden and Germany.[44]: 141 Gotch, Robinson, Joyce, Thornton, and other Riley's wrestlers toured Japan, where the wrestlers and their style developed an enduring popularity. Rumours of the gym's reputation inspired the "Tiger's Den" in Tiger Mask, a manga and anime series about pro wrestling, and Robinson inspired the manga/anime character Robin Mask.[45][46][47][48]
Although Riley's was the most well-known gym, it had several rivals such as the Belshaws, who were a family of undertakers that specialised in takedowns.[27] They had been trained by Billy Riley's coach Willie "Pop" Charnock, who also had his own gym.[2][10][49]
Riley's was featured in "The Wrestlers", a documentary by ITV Granada, which premiered on September 5, 1967. The documentary focused on the lives and personalities of popular pro wrestlers outside the ring, featuring Billy Robinson, Les Kellett, Johnny Eagle, Vic Faulkner, Abe Ginsberg, Jim Hussey, Alan Dennison, and Roy "Bull" Davis, along with Billy Riley. It was directed by Michael Elster, filmed by David Wood, produced by Denis Mitchell, edited by Leonard Trumm, with sound recording by John Muxworthy.[43][50][51][52][53]
Revival
[edit]By the 1970s, the theatrical elements of pro wrestling had completely overtaken legitimate wrestling ability and Riley closed his famous gym. However, the gym was revived when Roy Wood's son Darren and a friend wanted to wrestle, but it needed repairs first. Using materials donated by Bill Swiers, a group of locals rebuilt the gym to twice the original size. Wood then became the head coach and Riley returned to mentor from his chair, along with Tommy Heyes. Riley's converted to freestyle wrestling because there were no opportunities for catch wrestlers in Britain coupled with safety concerns for training youth. Riley's grandsons Mark and Paul, and nephew Patrick Burns also trained at the revived gym.[2][3][14][24][25][54] After a lifetime in wrestling, Billy Riley died on September 15, 1977.[55]
The gym consistently produced British champions and top competitors.[22]: 35ː19, 43ː35 In 1986, Darren Wood won gold in freestyle wrestling at the European Cadets Championship followed by gold at the 1987 Cadet World Championships and the 1987 British Senior Championships.[56][57]
On February 7, 1989, the documentary series First Tuesday premiered "The Wigan Hold", produced by Roger Finnegan, focusing on Riley's gym.[58][59] The piece focused on the lives of Ernie Riley and Tommy Moore (Jack Dempsey); Riley, Moore, and Roy Wood coaching youth; retrospectives on wrestling history in Wigan, Billy Riley, the gym, and theatrical pro wrestling. It also included archival footage from "The Wrestlers" documentary of Riley coaching a young Wood.[22] The deteriorating state of the facility and lack of resources shown on the programme prompted a government offer to renovate the gym. Instead, the decision was made to relocate, establishing the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club (AOWC).[8][25][36][60] The original gym was later demolished after a fire and houses were built on the land.[3][61]
The Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club
[edit]In 1990, Japanese pro wrestlers Kazuo Sakurada and KY Wakamatsu approached Billy Joyce, who directed them to Wood, with an offer to coach in Japan for Super World of Sports (SWS). After a training session, Wood and Joyce took them to the ruins of Riley's, where the visitors looked noticeably upset by the famed gym's condition and offered financial assistance to rebuild it. Wood then travelled to Japan and coached the SWS roster in Lancashire-style catch wrestling. He ended his tour with an exhibition match in front of 17,000 spectators at Yokohama Arena.[2][20][19][62] During this trip, Wood broke the leg of a Japanese wrestler who challenged him, which convinced the others of his ability.[54]
In 1993, the club had another visitor from Japan, Osamu Matsunami. An 18-year-old Matsunami had learned about the club from an article about Dynamite Kid in Weekly Gong magazine (No. 257, May 25, 1989). A quote by Joyce in the article inspired Matsunami's interest in Lancashire wrestling, which grew when Wood coached for SWS in 1990. In May 1993, Matsunami made his first trip to the club, despite knowing little English or the location.[63][64][65] After an extended journey and the assistance of several people, Matsunami met Wood, who introduced Matsunami to his family and the community. Matsunami accompanied Wood for several days, including wrestling practices, meeting Riley's wrestlers, and visiting the ruins of Riley's. His visit was covered by the Wigan Post.[61][63] Matsunami made several more journeys to Wigan, staying for several months at a time. He trained with Wood, Ernie Riley, Billy Joyce, and several other wrestlers, and helped Wood coach kids classes. Matsunami also competed, including a trip to France early-on and placing fifth at the 1995 British Freestyle Wrestling Championships.[63][66][67]
In 1995, Osamu Nishimura visited and trained at the gym. Soon after, Wood was recruited by Nishimura's mentor Tatsumi Fujinami, a popular pro wrestler and then-president of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), to train NJPW's roster.[36][65][68][69] In Japan, Wigan and Riley's were regarded as the spiritual home of wrestling, and Fujinami viewed CACC as the foundation of pro wrestling and wanted it to be preserved.[70][71] Wood was accompanied by five wrestlers including Shane Rigby, a three-time Commonwealth silver medallist from Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club, who learned catch wrestling under Wood.[72][73][74] After the success of the first tour, Wood coached in Japan several more times and NJPW held several Lancashire wrestling-style shows featuring Wood's wrestlers under the brand "Muga" (無我, selflessness).[65][68][75][76]
Other visitors from Japan included Shigeo Miyato, Yoji Anjo, and UWF booker Shinji Sasazaki. In 1999, Miyato founded a gym based on Riley's, the UWF Snake Pit Japan (now CACC Snake Pit Japan ), with Billy Robinson and Lou Thesz as the first head coaches.[46][65][77]
In 2000, Roy Wood and his daughter Andrea helped establish freestyle wrestling programs at several schools in Greater Manchester, one of which quickly won back-to-back British championships for boys and girls.[78][79] Wood had pushed for more female participation in wrestling since the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club's opening.[3] He also worked with the St Helens and Wigan Warriors rugby clubs to introduce wrestling into professional rugby, with St Helens quickly going on to win the Challenge Cup several times.[2][6] Paul Stridgeon, a student of Wood and a British freestyle champion, transitioned to professional rugby, coaching for clubs including the England national team and Wales national team.[57][80][81]
In 2008, Wood coached the British wrestling team for the Commonwealth Youth Games in India.[82] In April 2009, Wood was voted as the England-Northern representative for British Wrestling's then-newly established Nations & Regions Committee.[83] In May 2010, AOWC was among the first clubs to receive British Wrestling's Clubmark certification.[84][85]
Wood coached Maria Dunn, a freestyle wrestler from Guam, for the 2012 Olympics.[3][86] Wood and Ben Johnson also served as torchbearers for the Olympic flame.[87] Dunn later married Bolton wrestling coach Nathan Tully and they founded the Snakepit Wrestling Academy in Guam. Tully died in 2020 after a battle with cancer.[88][89] The Nathan Tully award "for dedication to grassroots/paying it forward" is presented in his memory at the Catch Wrestling World Championships.[90]
The club hosted the Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International for 35 years as of 2012.[3][91]
Recognitions
[edit]In February 2009, Wood was named "coach of the year" at the ninth annual Wigan and Leigh Borough Sports Awards for mentoring coaches, coaching British wrestlers at the Commonwealth Youth Games, and preparing 2012 Olympic hopefuls. Nicky Slack, also from AOWC, was named "volunteer of the year."[82]
In 2011, Wood was the North West regional winner of the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award, recognising "outstanding contribution by individuals at the grassroots level of sport."[92] In November 2012, Wood received the "coach of the year" and the "be inspired" awards at the Greater Manchester Sports Awards,[93] and AOWC was named "club of the year" at the Borough Sports Awards.[94]
In December 2023, after almost 50 years of coaching, Wood was recognised on the 2024 New Year Honours and awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) "for services to wrestling and young people."[4][5][6]
The Snake Pit
[edit]The often-anachronistic "Snake Pit" (蛇の穴 / スネーク・ピット) name was popularised in Japan. In Britain, the gym was known as "Riley's."[3][54] Wood was unaware of the "Snake Pit" moniker until his trip to coach in Japan for SWS.[35]: 12ː00
The Snake Pit took its current form around 2011. Due to prior frustrations, Wood maintained his focus on freestyle wrestling until his daughter, Andrea, convinced her father to help preserve the sport of catch wrestling by coaching again.[2][3] Alongside the 35th Aspull Freestyle Wrestling International in November 2012,[91] The Snake Pit held the first catch wrestling matches to take place in Wigan in fifty years, with participants from Britain and Europe, the United States, Canada, and Japan.[95][96][97][98] The Snake Pit also held its first certification that month. Osamu Matsunami and Ian Bromley became the first certified coaches and Riley's Gym Kyoto became the first certified affiliate gym.[95] Since then, The Snake Pit has held regular workshops, interclub competitions, and annual "international weeks" for foreign visitors.[2][99][100]
The Snake Pit marked its 70th anniversary with the first annual Catch Wrestling World Championships on November 2, 2018. The event was held at the University of Bolton Stadium and featured competitors from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, South Africa, Sweden, Lithuania and New Zealand.[11][101]
After the death of coach Ian Bromley in February 2019, The Snake Pit partnered with the charity Andy's Man Club (AMC) to raise awareness and combat stigma around mental health. The 2019 Catch Wrestling World Championships in November were held in tribute to Bromley. A message from the charity's founder and footage of Bromley's final interview were played between matches. A voluntary group was also set up, promoting the hashtag #17:17.[c] AMC donated wristbands, flyers and other items to be given out at the event.[102][103][104] The award for best/outstanding wrestler at the World Championships was named in Bromley's honour.[105] The number of entrants for the event doubled from the previous year, including accomplished grapplers and mixed martial artists such as Olga McGlinchey (2012 world championships bronze medallist and Olympian), UFC fighters John Hathaway and Tom Watson, and Nathaniel Brown, a 2019 British freestyle silver medallist.[103][106]
In January 2022, documents found in the Snake Pit's archives helped reveal Britain's first black Olympian - Louis Bruce, a biracial wrestler and tram driver from Edinburgh, Scotland. It was previously thought that Harry Edward was Britain's first black Olympian.[107]
After a two-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on June 4, 2022 at the University of Bolton Stadium.[90][108] The event featured 33 competitors wrestling in a total of 29 matches.[19]
The Snake Pit held the 2023 Catch Wrestling British Championships on August 5 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan, England. The tournament was open to competitors residing in the British Isles.[109][110]
The 2023 Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on October 28 at the University of Bolton Stadium.[111] Previous champions Josh Barnett and Owen Livesey faced each-other in the headline bout.[112][113] This event had the most international competitors to date, including an American team assembled by Barnett - the ACWA Warbringers, all of whom reached the finals in their divisions.[114]
In April 2024, Leigh Town Hall began hosting an exhibition about Billy Riley, catch wrestling, and the gym. Supported by funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, it preserves and displays memorabilia contributed to the collection by The Snake Pit and others.[7]
Notable people
[edit]Head coaches
[edit]- Billy Riley (1948–1970s) - founder of the gym, wrestler, coach, and promoter[14]
- Roy Wood BEM (1970s–present) - born in 1943 to a family of boxers, Wood joined Riley's when he was fifteen; he was a molder by trade and began "show" wrestling after Riley told him "you can't eat medals, turn professional and earn some money", and boxing for Matt Moran's fairgrounds boxing booth.[2][3][54][115] In December 2023, after coaching for almost 50 years, Wood was recognised on the 2024 New Year Honours and awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) "for services to wrestling and young people"[4][5][6]
Original gym
[edit]Under head coach Billy Riley:
- Karl Gotch - 1948 Olympic wrestler, pro wrestler, coach, nicknamed "God of Wrestling" in Japan, major influence on development of MMA[9][116]
- Billy Robinson - 1957 British freestyle wrestling champion, pro wrestler, coach, influenced development of MMA[116]
- Billy Joyce - pro wrestler, regarded as Riley's most skilled legitimate wrestler[3][27][44]: 133
- Bert Assirati - pro wrestler and strongman[19]
- Jack Dempsey[a] - pro wrestler[117]
- Les Thornton - pro wrestler[118][119]
Revived gym
[edit]Under head coach Roy Wood:
- Dynamite Kid - pro wrestler, known for his rivalry with MMA pioneer Satoru Sayama (the original Tiger Mask)[19]
- Darren Wood - Roy's son, won gold at the 1986 European and 1987 World Championships for cadets, and 1987 British Senior Championships[56][57]
- Kazuo Sakurada and KY Wakamatsu - pro wrestlers[2][20][19]
- Osamu Nishimura - pro wrestler[36][120]
- Tatsumi Fujinami - pro wrestler, hall of famer; Fujinami's son LEONA also trained under Wood[68][121]
- Shane Rigby - Commonwealth Games and Championships silver medallist from Bolton WC, trained in CACC by Roy Wood[72][73]
- Paul Stridgeon - British freestyle wrestling champion, international competitor; professional rugby coach[57][80][122][81]
- St Helens R.F.C. - professional rugby club, multi-time Challenge Cup champions while training with Wood[123][124]
- Maria Dunn - freestyle wrestler from Guam, coached by Roy Wood for the 2012 Olympics[86]
- Jack Gallagher - pro wrestler and MMA fighter[125]
Certified coaches and affiliates
[edit]The Snake Pit's certified coaches are Greg Crompton and Chris Lomas, along with level 2 coaches Kevin Lloyd, Wei Tran, Mark Ganaden, Rikk Georgiades, and level 1 coach Jimmy Kelly.[126][127]
At present, Riley's Gym Kyoto is the only Snake Pit certified affiliate club in the world.[126] Wood named the gym in Riley's honour. Its head coach, Osamu Matsunami, made several extended trips to Wigan to train with Wood and other Riley's wrestlers, and trained in Tokyo with Billy Robinson and Shigeo Miyato.[63][128] Matsunami and Ian Bromley were the first two coaches to be certified in 2012.[95]
Legacy and influence
[edit]The gym has been well-known in Britain[43][50][129][130] and internationally for decades,[43][74] being regarded as a home[70] and mecca[22]: 35:19 for wrestling due to its influence on catch-as-catch-can, professional, and freestyle wrestling, as well as mixed martial arts (MMA).[3][25] The gym's Lancashire catch wrestling style produced some of the most popular and skilled professionals of their time (see above) before transitioning to freestyle wrestling and consistently developing top wrestlers and British champions, with pro wrestlers occasionally training there as well.[22]: 43:35 [25] The gym became one of the most essential sources to preserve catch wrestling as the style struggled to survive.[3][19]
Outside of Britain, the gym's influence has been felt most in Japan, where Riley's wrestlers including Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Billy Joyce, Les Thornton, Dynamite Kid, and others regularly toured, with Gotch and Robinson in particular becoming very popular in the country.[19][45][47][48] The gym's reputation was an inspiration for the "Tiger's Den" in Tiger Mask, a manga and anime series about pro wrestling, and Robinson inspired the character Robin Mask in the Kinnikuman manga/anime series.[45][46][47]
Along with their in-ring careers, Gotch and Robinson became prolific coaches and trained students in the Riley's style for decades. Gotch was a trainer at the JWA and NJPW dojos, and a booker for NJPW. His students included Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Satoru Sayama (the first Tiger Mask), Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Akira Maeda, Nobuhiko Takada, Minoru Suzuki, and Masakatsu Funaki.[9][19] Robinson's students included Kazushi Sakuraba, Kiyoshi Tamura, Shigeo Miyato, and Hideki Suzuki. Gotch, Robinson, and their students innovated a realistic pro wrestling style, leading to Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki, the UWF and Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi, and setting a foundation for modern MMA. Sayama founded Super Tiger Gym followed by Shooto in 1985, to combine catch wrestling with striking for legitimate competition. Shooto held its first professional event in 1989, several years before the UFC was established.[9][131] In 1993, Suzuki and Funaki co-founded and competed in Pancrase, a shootfighting promotion which held its first event a month before UFC 1. Gotch suggested the name as a reference to the ancient Olympic sport of pankration.[132][133] Maeda founded RINGS, a shoot-style pro wrestling promotion that transitioned to MMA. And Takada co-founded PRIDE, one of the most popular MMA promotions in history. These promotions and their associated training facilities produced many of the top Japanese and international MMA fighters of their time.[9][134] Among them were Sakuraba and Tamura. Sakuraba utilised catch wrestling to regularly defeat the best fighters of his time despite often being much smaller, and was nicknamed "The Gracie Hunter" for his victories over four members of the Gracie jiu-jitsu family including Royce.[116][135] Tamura performed well at the top levels of MMA, later founding the gym U-FILE CAMP and the promotion U-STYLE.[136][137] Other notable gyms include Kiguchi Dojo , founded by Sayama's associate Noriaki Kiguchi, who also founded combat wrestling ;[138][139] Paraestra , founded by Sayama's student Yuki Nakai;[140] and CACC Snake Pit Japan , founded by Miyato as UWF Snake Pit Japan, with Robinson and Lou Thesz as the first head coaches.[46][65][77]
After establishing itself in Japan, the style expanded abroad. In 1989, Shooto instructor Yorinaga Nakamura immigrated to the United States. He became training partners with Dan Inosanto and they established the first Shooto school outside of Japan.[141] In 1993, Ken Shamrock brought the style from Pancrase to the UFC, became the inaugural Pancrase Champion and UFC Superfight Champion, and founded the first MMA team, the Lion's Den.[142] Americans Maurice Smith[143][144] and Frank Shamrock,[145][146] and the Dutch Bas Rutten[147] also trained in the catch-based Pancrase style and went on to become UFC champions.[134] Erik Paulson trained under Nakamura and Inosanto, becoming a Shooto champion and coach. According to Paulson, the Shooto submission lock-flows are all based on the Riley's style.[148] Paulson coached notable fighters including Brock Lesnar, Sean Sherk, Renato Sobral, Cub Swanson, and Lesnar's team on The Ultimate Fighter 13, which included winner Tony Ferguson.[149][150] In 1994, Matt Hume began his MMA career fighting in Pancrase. Hume was a pioneer of American MMA, having co-founded the AMC Pankration gym several years prior to combine grappling and striking. He cited Suzuki, Funaki, and Ken Shamrock as significant influences on his career.[148][151] Hume was a primary coach for world champions Josh Barnett,[152][153] Demetrious Johnson,[154] Jeff Monson,[152] and Rich Franklin.[155][156] Barnett became one of the most prominent modern catch wrestlers, also trained under Robinson and Paulson, and coached Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, Marina Shafir, and Victor Henry.[153][157][158] He founded the American Catch Wrestling Association (ACWA), which assembled a dominant team for the 2023 Catch Wrestling World Championships.[114] The ACWA then held the first modern US National Championships for catch wrestling in December 2023, with over 90 wrestlers competing across 10 weight classes.[159][160]
After Wood coached her for the 2012 Olympics, Maria Dunn and her husband Nathan Tully, a Bolton wrestling coach, established the Snakepit Wrestling Academy in Guam.[89][161]
Wood also worked with the St Helens and Wigan Warriors rugby clubs to introduce wrestling into professional rugby, with St Helens going on to win the Challenge Cup soon after.[2][6] Paul Stridgeon, a student of Wood and a British freestyle champion, transitioned to professional rugby, coaching with the Wasps, Toulon, Broncos, England national team, and Wales national team.[57][80][81]
Championships
[edit]2018 World Championships
[edit]The Snake Pit held its first Catch Wrestling World Championships on November 2, 2018 at the University of Bolton Stadium, featuring competitors from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, South Africa, Sweden, Lithuania and New Zealand. Results:[11][101]
100+ kg
Super heavyweight |
100 kg
Heavyweight |
90 kg
Light heavyweight |
82 kg
Middleweight |
74 kg
Welterweight |
68 kg
Lightweight |
74 kg
Female |
63 kg
Female |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Josh Barnett | Wade Barrick | John Hathaway | Greg Crompton | Dominic Dillon | John Byrne | Sami Fletcher | Chareen Millward |
Additionally, super heavyweight champion Josh Barnett and heavyweight runner-up Ian Jones faced each-other in a challenge match that went to a draw. Heavyweight champion Wade Barrick was named the "best wrestler" of the event, Ian Bromley, Ian Jones and Greg Crompton were recognised for coaching, and Roy Wood received a lifetime achievement award for sixty years of service.[11][101]
2019 World Championships
[edit]The 2019 Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on November 1 at the University of Bolton Stadium. The event was held in memory of coach Ian Bromley.[103] Results:[105]
100+ kg
Super heavyweight |
100 kg
Heavyweight |
82 kg
Middleweight |
74 kg
Welterweight |
68 kg
Lightweight |
63 kg female
Featherweight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Lomas | Ian Jones | John Hathaway (2) | Dinu Bucalet | Brett Hawthorn | Olga McGlinchey |
Additionally, middleweight champion John Hathaway faced Nathaniel Brown in a challenge match, which Hathaway won. Hathaway received the Ian Bromley trophy as "best male wrestler of the night" and Olga McGlinchey received the Arthur Silcock trophy as "best female wrestler of the night."[105]
2022 World Championships
[edit]After a two-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on June 4, 2022 at the University of Bolton Stadium.[108] The event featured 33 competitors wrestling in a total of 29 matches.[19] Results:[90]
100+ kg
Super heavyweight |
100 kg
Heavyweight |
90 kg
Light heavyweight |
82 kg
Middleweight |
74 kg
Welterweight |
68 kg
Lightweight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Lomas (2) | Owen Livesey | Bobby Warde | John Hathaway (3) | Tommy Hawthorn | Brett Hawthorn (2) |
Additionally, Tommy Hawthorn was awarded the Ian Bromley Cup as "best wrestler of the night", Greg Crompton received the Nathan Tully Award for "dedication to grassroots/paying it forward", and John Hathaway received the Jack Carroll award for fastest win (pin or submission).[90]
2023 British Championships
[edit]The 2023 Catch Wrestling British Championships took place on August 5 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan, England. Entries were open to competitors residing in the British Isles.[110] Results:[109]
100+ kg
Super heavyweight |
100 kg
Heavyweight |
90 kg
Light heavyweight |
82 kg
Middleweight |
74 kg
Welterweight |
68 kg
Lightweight |
59 kg
Bantamweight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Khizar Rehman | Wade Barrick | Adam Berry | Johnny White | Ben Robson | Alex King-Zhang | Gareth Melia |
2023 World Championships
[edit]The 2023 Catch Wrestling World Championships took place on October 28 at the University of Bolton Stadium. Previous champions Josh Barnett and Owen Livesey faced each-other in the headline bout.[112][113] Results:[111]
100+ kg
Super heavyweight |
100 kg
Heavyweight |
90 kg
Light heavyweight |
82 kg
Middleweight |
74 kg
Welterweight |
68 kg
Lightweight |
63 kg
Featherweight |
59 kg female
Bantamweight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Olivieri | Angel Verduzco | Brett Pfarr | Thomas Higgins | Finlay Marshall | Jonathan Powell | Ewan Lister | Nikki Hilton |
In the main event, Owen Livesey (2022 heavyweight champion) defeated Josh Barnett (2018 super heavyweight champion). Angel Verduzco was named the Ian Bromley Cup "outstanding wrestler", Brett Pfarr was named "best male wrestler of the night", Nikki Hilton was named "best female wrestler of the night", Jordan Stott received the Nathan Tully award for "dedication to grassroots/paying it forward", and Mike Clark received the Jack Carroll Award for fastest win (pin or submission).[111]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Aspull Warriors Wrestling Club". sportsinbolton.com.
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Bennett, Ian; Todd, Mike (2004). Catch: The Hold Not Taken. Riverhorse – via YouTube.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- The Snake Pit on YouTube
- The Snake Pit on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
- First Tuesday - The Wigan Hold, a 1989 edition of the documentary programme First Tuesday focused on the gym (begins at 35:12)
- Catch: The Hold Not Taken, a 2004 documentary on the roots of pro wrestling and amateur wrestling featuring the gym
- Buildings and structures in Wigan
- Buildings and structures in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
- Organisations based in Greater Manchester
- Sport in Wigan
- Sport in Greater Manchester
- Catch wrestling
- Freestyle wrestling
- Professional wrestling schools
- Wrestling clubs
- Wrestling in England
- Sports governing bodies in the United Kingdom