Karl Charles Istaz, known internationally as Karl Gotch, passed away at 9:45 p.m. Eastern time tonight. He was a few days shy of 83 years old.
A former place-winner in the 1948 Olympics in London, Istaz went to the famed Wigan school where he learned submission wrestling. He migrated to the U.S. where he had a reputation in some circles as the toughest man alive.
He ended up becoming a legend in Japan, where he was eventually nicknamed “The God of Professional Wrestling.” He was the trainer for New Japan Pro Wrestling and later the original UWF, and his influence in students like Akira Maeda and Nobuhiko Takada led to the rise of shootfighting and eventually MMA in that country.
In pro wrestling - he was no joke - for he could do any move and drop you as soft as a mother placing her baby in a crib…conversely, he could also do the same move - and knock your spine out of your ass on landing.
He was an early proponent of total conditioning…a real ‘hooker’ - and his performances in the ring were only for show biz. In his hey-day, he would do the classic - anyone comes in and puts up money - I will double it. X mins in the ring - and he tapped out all comers. All the local tuff-guys in a traveling road show, just one step away from hucksterizm and flim flam.
Like ‘Killer Kowalski’ - they could tie you into a pretzel - or make it appear they had done so.
From what little I heard about him, he was also quite a charitable person. Seems to have lived a full life.
One of the last of the old school - of pro or real wrestling.
Another of the old school has passed - but ‘The Farmer -Carl Gotch’ never knew how he inspired so many of the early proto-types interested in combative methods, to go out and learn.
A one of a kind person, who lived an interesting life.
May we all be so damn well regarded, when our time comes.
I had put off going to see him in FL and now I will never have the chance. He still has a few legitimate students training under him so he will have someone to carry on his legacy.
I got in contact with some of Karl’s students through Jake Shannon and they are serious about promoting Karl’s work. There are other legit catch wrestlers out there but Karl was definitely a true legend.
