I'm sure most of the stalwart fans on here could spot the guys who wrestled stiff,but I'm interested to know was it noticeable then or now with the benefit of YouTube to identify who had the rigid style who had the floppy style.I was told by several old pros that if I wanted to avoid back trouble to adopt the floppy style,basically this was a very relaxed motion during throws this was to protect during bumps. The great divide is difficult to explain as it wasn't a North south thing like so much of the pro game was.To illustrate this and hopefully get views on this I'll highlight a few styles Bert Royal floppy,Jim Breaks floppy,Ivan Pencecoff floppy,Vic Faulkner trained by same people as Bert surprisingly rigid, Steve Logan Rigid,old Pallo floppy.
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Phil me too I'd never heard the term until I was told my style was the best to avoid back problems,kendos style was the same and I doubt he has any back problems ,the lead hand land used famously by Pat Roach was indeed to protect the back,it was John Foley who told me that his wrestling style resulted in stiffening of joints.I remember vividly when Ernie Baldwin reffed you could hear his creaking knee over the crowd noise.The price of loving the
I have posted previously about this. Jim Moser refused to do the kamikaze crash finish with Kendo because he claimed that Kendo had hurt him previously. This caused problems for Dixon at the time as, when Kendo came over, he had very few credible opponents for him which is why he featured so much against Albert "Rocky" Wall. Howes came over briefly as did Starr. There was Rowlands and Swann but that was about it. Most bouts with Moser had to end with "The Rack" submission hold or, as when I saw them together at New Mills Town Hall, Nagasaki being disqualified.
Like Phil, I had never heard the terms "floppy" and "rigid" but I was aware that Pallo had a very light touch and was easy to work with. I was also aware that Ackra was "stiff" but this could have been due to the fact that I gave him some of his very last bouts (Ginsberg at "The Dixon Arms", Chelford, and Sharron at Halton British Legion) although I did not realise it at the time.
Funny, I've never heard of "Floppy/Rigid" styles, even when I was wrestling myself, however after reading the write-up on these two styles, I suppose I was on the floppy style. This bears out that even today at 79 I don't have any back problems!
Cheers
Back when I was a kid, there were no video recorders, so it wasn't so apparent, when you were wrapped up in the action, watching it. These days, with everything being on line or on DVD/tapes, you can watch things over and over again and spot these things.
The wonder of modern technology!
In terms of taking a throw/bump and landing stiff, I don't think anyone comes close to the Dynamite Kid and those crazy, high back drops, he used to do.
I'd heard that Later in his Career The Great COUNT BARTELLI was 'Referred to'
by Some as a 'Stiff Old Queen'?!-If you Watch his '70's/'80's Matches-you can see This 'Rigidity'!-In his Case he could have been Governed by All The Long-Time
Injuries he was carrying!
Both his Shoulders-Both his Hips-and Both his Knees were Pretty Much Knackered!
-His Own Physio's Words!!
Also Last OCTOBER-PETER Was Telling Us that he Found PAT ROACH 'Awkward'
to Wrestle-and not just because of his Size!!
Interestingly when you watch BOTH These Wrestlers-When they Took a Throw-it was with a Standing Arm!!
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