Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} The Lessons in and - Grappling Wrestling Submission!! by Martin Farmer Bu . Martin "Farmer" Burns (February 15, 1861 – January 8, 1937) was a world champion "catch-as-catch-can" wrestler as well as wrestling coach and teacher. Born in Cedar County, Iowa he started wrestling as a teenager and made money traveling around the Midwest wrestling in carnivals and fairs. As a professional he claimed the American Heavyweight Championship by defeating Evan "Strangler" Lewis in 1895 and held the title for three years. Martin Burns himself claimed to have wrestled in more than 6,000 matches and is said to have lost only seven. [ 1 ] After the end of his active wrestling career he started a successful wrestling school in Omaha and later coached Cedar Rapids' Washington high school to the very first Iowa high school state wrestling tournament title. He died in Council Bluffs in 1937. In 2001 Martin "Farmer" Burns was inducted into the International Wrestling Institute and Museum Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2002. The Hall of Fame inducted Martin Burns in 2003. Contents. Childhood. Martin Burns was born on February 15, 1861, in a log cabin on a farm in Cedar County, Iowa. Growing up amidst the Civil War, Burns was exposed at an early age to the sport of wrestling, which was a preferred activity among the soldiers while stationed in camp. Consequently, the sport’s popularity further increased during the 1860s, and many historians also speculate that the added interest may be due to the fact that President Abraham Lincoln had himself been a champion wrestler in his younger years (it is documented that Lincoln once beat the Louisiana State Champion in New Salem, LA in 1831). Burns wrestled impromptu matches as a child; and at age 8, he tossed an older rival to claim a fifteen cent prize. His father died when he was 11, leaving him to support his mother, brother, and five sisters. To earn money, Burns worked at a nearby farm for $12 per month; and while he received little schooling, it was this physical labor that enabled Burns to develop his tremendous physical strength. He also spent time working in grading camps, where he competed in regular competitions against rugged strongmen. However, while these men focused on brute strength, Burns spent much time meticulously perfecting the strategies and techniques of catch wrestling, which is the basic grappling style where various holds and tactics are used with the intent to pin both opponent’s shoulders to the ground at once. Therefore, the combination of Burns’ superior conditioning, intellect, and advanced skill made him a nearly unbeatable wrestling opponent. Early career. By 1880, Martin Burns had developed a formidable reputation; and at 19, he wrestled his first match against a professional grappler when he battled David Grafft to a 2 hour and 19 minute draw. He then honed his skills against the top pro wrestlers of the day, losing decisions to Henry Clayton and Tom Connors in 1886 and 1887 respectively. The defeat to Clayton particularly irked Burns, as he was unable to offset the feared stranglehold that subsequently earned Clayton the moniker Evan “Strangler” Lewis (long before the more famous Ed “Strangler” Lewis was ever born). Consequently, Burns launched into a rigorous program of neck development; and soon built an immense 20” neck that possessed such strength that he could be dropped six feet on a hangman’s noose to no effect (a stunt that Burns would often perform at carnivals and fairs). While on a trip to Chicago in the spring of 1889, Burns saw a sign offering $25 to anyone who could last fifteen minutes against top grapplers Jack Carleek and Evan Lewis. Burns accepted the challenge and showed up at the Olympic Theater dressed in his regular farmer’s overalls. Consequently, the event’s announcer introduced Martin to the crowd as “Farmer” Burns; and the “Farmer” promptly made a monkey out of Carleek, throwing him across the stage before being declared the winner after fifteen minutes. The next challenge was Burns’ much-awaited rematch against Evan “Strangler” Lewis, who was now the reigning Catch-as-Catch-Can Heavyweight Champion, having defeated Joe Acton on March 14, 1887. However, fifteen minutes proved not enough time for Lewis to throw Burns; and again, the unknown “Farmer” was declared the winner and was subsequently lauded as a wrestling hero the next day in Chicago newspapers. American Champion. Following Farmer Burns’ emergence as a premier grappler, he traveled the country, taking on the greatest wrestlers of the day, while also beating all comers at carnivals. Though he weighed just 165 pounds, he regularly defeated men who outweighed him by as much as 50-100 pounds. At the time, professional catch-as-catch-can (freestyle) wrestling often used no time limit, and a match was usually decided when a wrestler “threw” his opponent to the ground. However, Burns became known as the master of the pinfall, as he perfected the art of trapping his opponents’ shoulders to the mat while contriving such dangerous maneuvers as the full and half-nelson, hammerlock, double-wrist lock, chicken wing, and a variety of submission toe holds. Farmer Burns soon encountered the renowned Sorakichi Matsuda, who is regarded as Japan’s first-ever pro wrestler, and who had been a top challenger to World Wrestling Champions and Ernest Roeber during the previous decade. The two faced off in Troy, NY on May 13, 1891, and Burns scored his biggest win yet when he pinned Matsuda in just four minutes. As a result, Farmer Burns soon became known as the world’s premier all-around grappler; and between 1890–93, he never lost a single fall. Then, on March 2, 1893, Evan Lewis was recognized as wrestling’s American Heavyweight Champion when he beat Ernest Roeber to unify the American Greco-Roman Title with the Catch-As-Catch-Can Championship. This set up yet another rematch between Farmer Burns and Strangler Lewis; and on April 20, 1895, Burns pinned Lewis to capture the title. Burns would go on to reign as wrestling’s American Champion for two years until he was finally beaten by Dan McLeod and Tom Jenkins in 1897. Retirement and Post-Career. Nevertheless, Farmer Burns’ greatest contribution to wrestling’s evolution may be as a trainer. He opened a gymnasium in Rock Island, Illinois in 1893, and helped to establish schools that enlightened young grapplers to the world of catch wrestling. In 1899, Burns defeated a 21-year old Iowan named , but he recognized his raw talent and recruited him as his prized student. Burns would then mold Gotch into perhaps the greatest wrestling champion of all-time, as he defeated in 1908 to claim the undisputed World Heavyweight Title. In addition, Farmer Burns also served as a teacher to a myriad of grapplers who would transform the sport in the early 1900s, including future World Champion , future Middleweight World Champion and Champion Wrestler of the A.E.F. Ralph Parcaut, as well as creative pioneer Joseph “Toots” Mondt. Other big names he personally trained included Rudy Dusek, Joe Malcewicz, Emil Klank, Jess Westergaard, Fred Beell and Jack Sherry. It is said he trained more than 1,600 wrestlers in all. [ 2 ] Burns was so respected as a trainer that he was even recruited to serve as the conditioning coach for boxer Jim Jeffries’ 1910 title bout against Jack Johnson. In 1914, Burns published a 96-page mail-order course entitled The Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture , which incorporated breathing techniques, calisthenics, stamina exercises, and Eastern martial arts principles, thus becoming the bible for all aspiring wrestlers during the early 1900s. Moreover, it is said that Ed “Strangler” Lewis, the great wrestling champion of the 1920s and 30’s (and the eventual teacher of ) got his start in wrestling by following Burns’ training methods. Consequently, it is because of Burns’ many efforts that his native state of Iowa has subsequently become the nation’s amateur wrestling capital, with the University of Iowa consistently serving as an NCAA powerhouse, and with the International Wrestling Institute and Museum also based in Newton. Personal Life. Burns had two sons, Raymond and Charlie, who became musicians in Chicago, and a daughter, Mayme. He suffered the loss of his wife Amelia in 1930 and his daughter in 1932, which led to the deterioration of his own condition. [ 3 ] Death. Burns died on January 8, 1937, in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of 76, and was buried at the St. James Cemetery in Wheatland, Iowa. The "Farmer" Burns Workout. The "Farmer" Burns workout is a custom workout routine developed by Martin Burns for himself and his students. It is based only on resistance provided by one's own body, a pair of dumbbell weights, and supplemental aerobic exercise, such as running. The workout consists of three phases of exercises organized into sets and repetitions. The first phase is a combination of warm-ups and stretches, using only one's own body for resistance. The second phase uses a pair of dumbbells for resistance, otherwise resembling aerobics in appearance. The third phase of exercises are partner exercises, again only relying on the two persons' bodies for resistance. Martin Burn's career success is often accredited greatly in part to this intense workout routine. Feats of Strength. Burns was well known in the early twentieth century for his neck. Despite the fact that he was only one hundred-sixty pounds, he managed to have a twenty-inch neck. With this neck, according to an article in WWE Magazine, he gained fame by being put into a noose, getting hanged, and living, while whistling "Yankee Doodle". Championships and accomplishments. Iowa Sports Hall of Fame Inducted by Des Moines Register in 1951 Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee in 2003 Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards (Class of 2002) Other titles (1 time) World Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time) - alleged George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame - inducted in 2001. Nicknames. Farmer The Grandmaster of American Wrestling. References. ^ The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Martin “Farmer” Burns http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/burns.asp ^ Hornbaker, Tim, Farmer Burns Wrestling History http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/FarmerBurns.html ^ Hornbaker, Tim, Farmer Burns Wrestling History http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/FarmerBurns.html. This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer) The Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture - Grappling Wrestling Submission!! by Martin "Farmer" Burns. "Professional wrestling" - as we refer to it today, has no relationship to real wrestling. When I speak of real wrestling, however, I don't mean "amateur wrestling." I mean real professional wrestling. At one time in the long distant past, when a wrestler was referred to as a "pro" - it meant that he stood head and shoulders above the amateurs. Olympic and national champion wrestlers who thought that there wasn't any real difference between amateur and pro, often found out the hard way. "Nebraska Tigerman" John Pesek, one of the old-time rippers of pro wrestling's early days, demonstrated this all too well. Two notable occasions are with former Olympians Nat Pendleton and Robin Reed. Pendleton was an Olympic freestyle silver medalist at 174 pounds in 1920. Upon his return he bravely challenged a professional boxer by the name of Jack Dempsey, who was the world heavyweight boxing champion at the time. But a fellow wrestler named Pesek was not going to let Pendleton off the hook by fighting a boxer. The two met in a match and Pesek man- handled him, not only taking him down, but submitting him twice with a toe hold. Robin Reed was an Olympic champion in 1924 and greatly feared across the nation by wrestlers small and large. He never tasted defeat. Reed regularly dusted everyone in the practice room from lightweight through heavyweight. He had a mean streak as long as the Mississippi River and whenever possible, liked to hurt his opponents. One summer day, Reed visited John Pesek's greyhound farm in Ravenna, Nebraska, and the two agreed to a work out. Reed went at Pesek with the same ferocity he attacked all opponents with, but Pesek was not an amateur and didn't mind. At first Pesek thought he would take it easy on Reed as he was a smaller guy, but he changed his tune after the first note. In the barn where they had their workout, there was a hole in the roof, and as it had been raining, water had leaked onto the mat, forming a small puddle. Reed, wily as can be, maneuvered Pesek to the wet spot, then attacked him. Pesek slipped and Reed went behind for the takedown. Pesek instantly turned Reed's aggression into pain. Five minutes later, Reed was so badly beaten that he gave up. He was not prepared to wrestle the way the real "pros" wrestled. Pesek's method was not the way of the amateur and Reed reportedly said afterward, "After I took him down, I never saw so many elbows and knees in my life." Over the years there have been some entertainers who have promoted themselves as if they were real professional wrestlers, but if you read between the lines, and if you are fortunate enough to be learning the real pro style, as I am with Karl Gotch, you will quickly separate the corn from the cob. Real pro wrestling is NOT the learning of as much amateur wrestling as you possibly can, then spicing it up with flying dropkicks and other nonsense. Real pro wrestling has a foundation of takedowns, throws, rides, reversals, pins and the like - but, as in any pro sport, the amateur technique pales in comparison. The set-ups are much more refined in the pro style, as are the techniques. And when you add the "hooks" (submissions) as well as the art of "ripping" - you begin improving by leaps and bounds. Rules of a Real Pro Match. A real professional catch wrestling bout, was not like an amateur bout. It wasn't just money that made the bout "professional" either - it was skill level. In an old-time shoot, each side put up money to back the athlete and oftentimes the winner of the bout won it all, which created incentive. Side-bets were common and there were no promoters; the wrestler promoted himself. In addition to the money, the following characteristics were part of a shoot match: 1. One-hour time limit. 2. Best out of three falls. 3. Can earn a fall by three-second pin or by submission. 4. Strangle hold barred. 5. No biting, gouging, fish hooking or grabbing of the genitals. 6. No points are kept. 7. If the mandatory number of falls is not met, the bout is ruled a draw. Shooting and Shooters. In amateur wrestling, "shooting" is what you do when you attempt a single or double-leg takedown. You literally "shoot in" on your opponent's legs. The old-timers, however, didn't refer to leg attacks this way. Singles and doubles were referred to as "leg dives." "Shooting," on the other hand, meant you had a match that was on the level, with rules like those shown above. As professional wrestling devolved, however, it became necessary to distinguish between the real pros or "shooters," and the pretend wrestlers, known as "workers." In order to be known as a "shooter" - you had to be schooled in the professional style, replete with submissions. Even if you were an amateur champion, you were not considered a "shooter" until you knew the professional game. Most importantly, you had to be someone who went to the post. In the United States, after the late 1920's, there were no more shoots, but there were professional wrestlers who were trained in the real pro method. These men may have never had a professional shoot, but they were known as "shooters" because they could and would go to the post at any time, if someone wanted to try them. Additionally, these men were known to train for real during the day, so there skills were always razor sharp. Hooks, Hookers and Hooking. When referring to the submission holds of professional catch wrestling, the common term they used was "hook." The world's foremost catch wrestling authority, Karl Gotch, also known as "The God of Pro Wrestling" in Japan, describes the term thusly: "Think of fishing. When you have a fish on the end of a hook, he wiggles and squirms and can't get free. You've hooked him. That's where the term comes from. You hook a guy when you have a submission hold on him and he can't do anything to wiggle free. But, like in fishing, once you have the guy hooked, you still have to reel him in. We always said, 'take up the slack.' Once you take up the slack, you position the fulcrum and apply the leverage. And the big thing about it is, bulls get killed on the floor. Submission is not something you do standing up." To be known as a "hooker" in professional wrestling, you had to be highly skilled in the art of submissions. But, a "hooker" and a "shooter" were one in the same. And it had to be this way. "A shooter who didn't know hooking wasn't a shooter," said Gotch. "It would be like going into a professional boxing match without knowing a jab, a right cross, a hook and an uppercut. Hooking was basic to professional catch wrestling. All shooters knew how to hook. And when you could hook faster than the others, you became known as a hooker, but you were still a shooter." Rippers and Ripping. In boxing you have the knockout artist. He knows the same punches as the others, but he's rougher and tougher than the rest and does whatever it takes to put his foe out for the count. Professional wrestling's equivalent of boxing's knockout artist is called the "ripper." It is the highest form of praise that a shooter can receive from his peers. A "ripper" doesn't simply work for a pin fall or a submission. His mission is to physically maul you. If you leave the ring bloodied, battered and injured, the ripper considers it a job well done. From the moment Karl Gotch entered the famous Billy Riley gym in Wigan, England, in 1950, he was trained to be a ripper. Nothing less. Gotch was a 14-time national champion in his native Belgium (seven titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman) and a member of the 1948 Olympics, where he competed in both styles. But it wasn't until he went to Wigan that he learned wrestling the way he had seen it as a ten-year old child, when his father took him to watch some old pros train. "The pros had a way that was far superior to that of the amateur, but you wouldn't know it by what we see today. Back in those days the wrestlers were truly great and the best wrestlers in the world lived right here in the U.S. By the time I went to Wigan, catch wrestling was almost dead. There weren't any more shoots, but I was fanatical about learning the real pro method, and I trained in it everyday, even though there was no one who would do a shoot with me. I took it seriously. My grandfather always told me, 'Everything you keep in between your ears, you don't have to carry in a suitcase and no one can ever take away from you." After spending eight years at the Wigan gym, Karl emigrated to the U.S. by way of Canada. In the 1960's he went to Japan and after the Japanese saw his skill level, they quickly recruited him to train their wrestlers. Today, nearly every pro wrestling organization in Japan, including Pancrase, is run by someone who once trained with Karl Gotch. Rippers in the U.S. The only ripper still living in England is the legendary Billy Joyce, whom Karl Gotch trained with at the Billy Riley gym. In the U.S., Gotch, 76, is the only one left. The era that has passed, however, had a number of "rippers" that were in a class of their own: Martin "Farmer" Burns was a "ripper" who wrestled in the late 1800's and early 1900's. "The Grandmaster of American Wrestling," Burns taught thousands how to wrestle. He set up schools around the country, sold a mailorder course on wrestling and physical culture and trained professionals like Frank Gotch and Earl Caddock to become world champions. Burns also coached the first Iowa high school state championship team. Frank Gotch (no relation to Karl), was the first American to win a world heavyweight title, when he defeated "the Russian Lion" George Hackenschmidt in 1908; he successfully defended the title against Hackenschmidt in 1911 as well. "Farmer" Burns taught Gotch his famous toe holds which he used to defeat opponents with ease. Many still consider Frank Gotch to be the greatest pro wrestler ever. He had an array of holds that he applied with lightning speed and technical brilliance. "Nebraska Tigerman" John Pesek was a ripper whom some, like Nat Pendleton and Robin Reed, made the mistake of taking lightly. Benny Sherman was a lightweight who would fight the devil himself if given the chance. He traveled the world and was ready for a match, anytime, anywhere. There were other rippers from the early era and there were a lot of great pros who were excellent hookers. At the same time, however, only a few possessed the mean streak that separated the men from the giants. The old-time "rippers" were the best of the best. They had what boxers call the "killer's instinct." Copyright © 1997-2004 Matt Furey Enterprises, Inc. Matt Furey, Combat Conditioning, and Gama Fitness are registered trademarks of Matt Furey Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Lessons In Wrestling and Physical Culture (Illustrated​)​ Lessons In Wrestling and Physical Culture: Illustrated, by Martin "Farmer" Burns. This is the complete course all twelve lessons in six books. The original Farmer Burns, the best known, and most scientific wrestler that ever lived, trainer and manager of the marvelous and undefeated World's Champion Frank Gotch, will teach you at home, all the science, holds, breaks, defenses, and tricks of the wonderful art of Wrestling and Self Defense. This incredible course, divided into twelve different lessons, is a literal gold mine of information on catch wrestling; including throws, pinning and submission holds. In his later years he ran a gym to train young athletes, and he also created his own custom mail order physical education course, which is where this exercise is derived. Learn to train these Ignored Muscles. What this exercise does is train two ignored groups of muscles of the midsection, the transverses abdominus and internal obliques. The Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture - Grappling Wrestling Submission!! by Martin "Farmer" Burns. by Matt Furey A 20-inch neck is not too common in today's world. If you see someone with a neck of that size, he is probably a heavyweight wrestler or a football player that weighs between 250 and 300 pounds. Imagine, though, that in the late 1800's there was a 165-pound man with a neck 20 inches around. Now, he would look like he was part-bull, wouldn't he? Well, in many ways, the man WAS part-bull. He was one of the most disciplined individuals the world has ever known. He had a work ethic that men today would shirk. Like the Shaolin monks in China, this man believed in training the mind and the body as one and his lifestyle was one of purity: no tobacco, no alcohol, no coffee, no tea and most importantly, no swearing. His name was Martin "Farmer" Burns, the "Grandmaster of American Wrestling" . a man that could take a six-foot hangman's drop and remain suspended in mid-air for three minutes . while whistling the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy. Sounds too incredible to believe, but it is true. In the early 1900's "Farmer" Burns performed the hangman's stunt a half-dozen times a day; tens of thousands witnessed it. More than any other accomplishment, the hangman's drop is what wrestling historians remember the most about "Farmer" Burns. But there was a lot more to the man than most people know. Taking the time to read about him will lift your spirits, give you strength and make you strive to make your life better than it already is. Martin "Farmer" Burns was born February 15, 1861, in a log cabin located in Springfield Township, Cedar County, Iowa. When Martin was only eleven, his father died, leaving him behind with his mother, one brother and five sisters. In order to help support the family, Martin worked for a neighboring farmer for twelve dollars a month. He also took jobs sawing wood, plowing corn and digging graves. Although he received little schooling, Martin made up his mind early on that he wanted to become a professional wrestler. When he was only eight years old he wrestled another boy for his first stake; fifteen cents was put up by each side. The opponent, James Magrin, was three years older than Burns, but young Martin tossed him and walked away with the prize. He also left with an even stronger desire to achieve even more. In the book, Life Work of Farmer Burns (copyright 1911), it says, "From the age of twelve to the age of nineteen years he spent his time plowing corn in the daytime and wrestling evenings every time he secured a chance with whoever he could find to hold up the other end of the work. At the age of nineteen years he was quite well known in the neighborhood of Dennison, Iowa, as a very husky young man with a reputation as a winner in every match into which he had entered, and it was here that he met a professional wrestler for the first time in his life." Burns' match with Graft lasted two hours and nineteen minutes and was declared a draw. Afterward Burns went to work in a grading camp, and on payday he would take on all-comers. It was in the grading camp that Burns developed many of his theories about wrestling, mostly because he had to continually whip bigger and stronger men who were in good condition. In 1886, Burns lost his first match to Henry Clayton, who wrestled under the name of Evan "Strangler" Lewis (not to be confused with Robert Friederich, who wrestled in another era under the name of Ed "Strangler" Lewis). One year later Burns lost again, this time to Tom Connors. Burns later avenged both of these losses. In the spring of 1889, Burns made a trip to Chicago with two carloads of hogs. Because he had a ten-day stay, Burns unloaded the hogs and went sight seeing. While wandering around the town he spotted various advertisements posted in regard to two wrestlers, Jack Carkeek and Evan "Strangler" Lewis, who were taking on all-comers. The bill read as follows: JACK CARKEEK and EVAN LEWIS, the STRANGLER, at the OLYMPIC THEATRE. WILL MEET ALL COMERS. $25.00 to anyone staying fifteen minutes or $2.00 per minute after the first seven minutes. No limit to time and nobody barred. Parson Davis, Manager. Burns, viewing this as his chance to break into the professional ranks of catch-as-catch-can wrestling, seized the day and went to the manager's office to say he wanted to take the $2 per minute challenge. The manager booked Burns for the following evening. But word soon got out and Carkeek met with the manager, trying to persuade him to call off the engagement. Burns was not to be turned away. He told Manager Davis that he would be in town for 10 days and any night would be just fine. The following evening was not only Burns' chance to make it big, it was also the night he became known as the "Farmer." As wrestling was only part of the show and most of the rest was comedy, the crowd waited for J.W. Kelly, who showed up for work drunk, to make the introduction of the next contestant. Burns had to literally shake Kelly awake, and when he finally came to and saw him dressed in overalls, he rushed onto the stage. "What would you call a man who hoes potatoes and squash and shucks corn?" Kelly asked. "A farmer," replied the musician. "Well, then," he continued, "if this farmer would get locked up in a house and the house would catch fire, what would happen to the farmer?" "I do not know," the musician replied. "Farmer Burns," replied Kelly. He then ran off the stage and the audience sat dumbfounded. A few moments later, however, when Burns appeared in overalls and shook hands with Carkeek, who was bare-chested, they understood. Although the large crowd now understood the joke, they had no idea that this "Farmer" was going to put on one helluva show. Burns took Carkeek off the mat and tossed him about the stage, knocking the scenery around with him for fifteen minutes. He was finally declared the winner after 15 minutes as Carkeek was unable to throw him. Then it was time for Lewis. 15 minutes proved to be too short a time for Lewis to throw Burns, and the "Farmer" won that bout as well. The next day the Chicago newspapers lauded this unknown "farmer" and within short order his story was known across the land. Burns went on to become champion of America, even though he was a middle-weight. In his day, professional wrestling matches were, for the most part, real contests (but not always). Unlike amateur catch-as-catch-can (collegiate or freestyle wrestling), professional catch wrestling often had no time limit. Some matches were takedowns only and the match was decided by a throw; other matches were decided by pin or submission. On several occasions, title matches would last for several hours. In some the objective was to throw the opponent within a specified time limit. If the match wasn't decided by a throw within a certain time, you could win the bout with a three-second pin (holding both shoulder blades of your opponent on the canvas) or by submission. In most matches, the strangle or choke holds were barred . in some, toe holds were banned. No points were given for takedowns, throws, reversals, escapes or the like in a professional match. Burns was an all-around wrestler who excelled on his feet as well as on the mat. He was a master of the pin, perfecting the Nelson series, the hammerlock, double-wrist lock, chicken wing and a great many toe holds. If Burns didn't pin you - he found a way to make you beg for mercy. From 1890-1893, "Farmer" Burns traveled around the country taking on all comers as part of various carnival shows. He never lost a fall. One of his biggest victories was over Japan's Matsada Sora Kichi, whom he defeated in Troy, New York, in four minutes. In 1893, "Farmer" Burns opened a gymnasium in Rock Island, Illinois, where he trained several hundred students. Later still he opened a wrestling and physical culture school in Omaha, Nebraska, and helped others across the country establish schools as well. In 1908, "Farmer" Burns top student, Frank Gotch, of Humboldt, Iowa, captured the world heavyweight championship when he soundly defeated the Russian Lion, George Hackenschmidt. Over the years there have been many Hack fans who have claimed that Gotch used "foul tactics" to win, but these claims are hardly worth entertaining. A Burns' trained wrestler didn't need to resort to foul tactics to win. Burns involvement in wrestling was so rich and so deep that he taught amateur catch-as-catch-can in Iowa high schools. Without question, the reason why high school and college wrestling is so BIG in Iowa to this day, is a direct result of the forgotten but not lost foundation the "Farmer" laid there a century ago. In fact, in 1921, "Farmer" Burns coached Cedar Rapids Washington to the first-ever Iowa high school state championship, held in Ames, Iowa. Burns also trained many other professional wrestlers. Three of the most noteworthy were light weight Jack Reynolds and heavyweights Earl Caddock, who won the world title in 1917, and Joe "Toots" Mondt, a man feared both outside and inside the ring. In wrestling historian Mike Chapman's book, From Gotch to Gable - A in Iowa, a number of renowned collegiate coaches heaped praise on Burns. One notable coach, Dave McCuskey, who led Iowa Teacher's College to the national team title in 1950 referred to Burns as "the cornerstone" of Iowa wrestling. "He organized clubs and taught young men to wrestle," McCuskey said. It wasn't just wrestlers who believed in "Farmer" Burns, either. In 1910, when Jim Jeffries was making a comeback after a long lay-off, he was viewed as a "Great White Hope." In order to get in shape for his title bout against Jack Johnson, Jeffries hired Burns to help with his conditioning. While in training camp in Reno, Nevada, Burns got into a heated debate with another trainer, who just happened to be Billy Papke, a former middleweight boxing champion. Burns, in his 50's, was much older than Papke, but the "Farmer" decided that the two should settle their argument in an all-out street fight. Papke took a few swings, then Burns took him down and submitted him, making him cry "Uncle." In 1914 Burns published a mail order course entitled, Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture. The course was sent out in a newsletter format. Each set of instructions was 16 pages long and contained two lessons. The first lesson was on exercise and physical culture; the second dealt with wrestling techniques. The complete course was 96 pages long; divided into six booklets containing a total of 12 lessons. Of all the wrestling books and literature I have ever read, there was something about the words of the late "Farmer" Burns that stirred my soul. How great it must have been, I wondered, to have been born during his era, and to have been one of his students. Although his course could never replace hands-on instruction, it was the next best thing. One of the amazing things about "Farmer" Burns is that he was thoroughly familiar with jiu-jitsu, judo and other methods of grappling and self- defense. His neck was so powerful and so resistant to pain, that he often challenged people to try and choke him out. No one ever succeeded although it is said that thousands tried. In his mail order course "Farmer" Burns laid out his training method for wrestlers . and for that matter, anyone who wanted to improve his overall health. Although Burns' contributions to the wrestling world were great, his training method is even more impressive, as he was teaching in the late 1800's and early 1900's what most people today would consider "Eastern" martial arts principles. Deep breathing exercises (known as chi kung in China) were the foundation of Burns' training method. Gymnastic and calisthenic exercises took the place of heavy weight lifting. Hand and foot movements were done speedily in order to develop timing. Light dumbbells were used to stretch the muscles more deeply in every direction. Bridging was done to develop the muscles of the neck and spine. Isometrics were done solo or with a partner for added resistance. Distance running and boxing were encouraged to build "wind." And wrestling was considered the greatest exercise an athlete could participate in. Martin "Farmer" Burns died at the age of 77. It may be hard to imagine, but can you picture yourself as a person who will devote nearly 70 years of your life to your chosen art? That's what "Farmer" Burns did. He championed "America's martial art" and showed why it was so effective. Copyright © 1997-2004 Matt Furey Enterprises, Inc. Matt Furey, Combat Conditioning, and Gama Fitness are registered trademarks of Matt Furey Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Martin Burns. Martin "Farmer" Burns (February 15, 1861 – January 8, 1937) was an American world champion "catch-as-catch-can" wrestler as well as wrestling coach and teacher. Born in Cedar County, Iowa he started wrestling as a teenager and made money traveling around the Midwest wrestling in carnivals and fairs. As a professional he claimed the American Heavyweight Championship by defeating Evan "Strangler" Lewis in 1895 and held the title for two years. Martin Burns himself claimed to have wrestled in more than 6,000 matches and is said to have lost only seven. [2] This was during the time when professional wrestling was a legitimate sport. After the end of his active wrestling career he started a successful wrestling school in Omaha and later coached Cedar Rapids' Washington high school to the very first Iowa high school state wrestling tournament title. He died in Council Bluffs in 1937. In 2001 Martin "Farmer" Burns was inducted into the International Wrestling Institute and Museum Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2002. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted Martin Burns in 2003. Contents. Childhood. Martin Burns was born on February 15, 1861, in a log cabin on a farm in Cedar County, Iowa. Growing up amidst the Civil War, Burns was exposed at an early age to the sport of wrestling, which was a preferred activity among the soldiers while stationed in camp. Consequently, the sport’s popularity further increased during the 1860s, and many historians also speculate that the added interest may be due to the fact that President Abraham Lincoln had himself been a champion wrestler in his younger years (it is documented that Lincoln once beat the Louisiana State Champion in New Salem, LA in 1831). Burns wrestled impromptu matches as a child; and at age 8, he tossed an older rival to claim a fifteen cent prize. His father died when he was 11, leaving him to support his mother, brother, and five sisters. To earn money, Burns worked at a nearby farm for $12 per month; and while he received little schooling, it was this physical labor that enabled Burns to develop his tremendous physical strength. He also spent time working in grading camps, where he competed in regular competitions against rugged strongmen. However, while these men focused on brute strength, Burns spent much time meticulously perfecting the strategies and techniques of catch wrestling, which is the basic grappling style where various holds and tactics are used with the intent to pin both opponent’s shoulders to the ground at once. Therefore, the combination of Burns’ superior conditioning, intellect, and advanced skill made him a nearly unbeatable wrestling opponent. Early career. By 1880, Martin Burns had developed a formidable reputation; and at 19, he wrestled his first match against a professional grappler when he battled David Grafft to a 2 hour and 19 minute draw. He then honed his skills against the top pro wrestlers of the day, losing decisions to Henry Clayton and Tom Connors in 1886 and 1887 respectively. The defeat to Clayton particularly irked Burns, as he was unable to offset the feared stranglehold that subsequently earned Clayton the moniker Evan “Strangler” Lewis (long before the more famous Ed “Strangler” Lewis was ever born). Consequently, Burns launched into a rigorous program of neck development; and soon built an immense 20” neck that possessed such strength that he could be dropped six feet on a hangman’s noose to no effect (a stunt that Burns would often perform at carnivals and fairs). While on a trip to Chicago in the spring of 1889, Burns saw a sign offering $25 to anyone who could last fifteen minutes against top grapplers Jack Carleek and Evan Lewis. Burns accepted the challenge and showed up at the Olympic Theater dressed in his regular farmer’s overalls. Consequently, the event’s announcer introduced Martin to the crowd as “Farmer” Burns; and the “Farmer” promptly made a monkey out of Carleek, throwing him across the stage before being declared the winner after fifteen minutes. The next challenge was Burns’ much-awaited rematch against Evan “Strangler” Lewis, who was now the reigning Catch-as-Catch-Can Heavyweight Champion, having defeated Joe Acton on March 14, 1887. However, fifteen minutes proved not enough time for Lewis to throw Burns; and again, the unknown “Farmer” was declared the winner and was subsequently lauded as a wrestling hero the next day in Chicago newspapers. American Champion. Following Farmer Burns’ emergence as a premier grappler, he traveled the country, taking on the greatest wrestlers of the day, while also beating all comers at carnivals. Though he weighed just 165 pounds, he regularly defeated men who outweighed him by as much as 50-100 pounds. At the time, professional catch-as-catch-can (freestyle) wrestling often used no time limit, and a match was usually decided when a wrestler “threw” his opponent to the ground. However, Burns became known as the master of the pinfall, as he perfected the art of trapping his opponents’ shoulders to the mat while contriving such dangerous maneuvers as the full and half-nelson, hammerlock, double-wrist lock, chicken wing, and a variety of submission toe holds. Farmer Burns soon encountered the renowned Sorakichi Matsuda, who is regarded as Japan’s first-ever pro wrestler, and who had been a top challenger to World Wrestling Champions William Muldoon and Ernest Roeber during the previous decade. The two faced off in Troy, NY on May 13, 1891, and Burns scored his biggest win yet when he pinned Matsuda in just four minutes. As a result, Farmer Burns soon became known as the world’s premier all-around grappler; and between 1890–93, he never lost a single fall. Then, on March 2, 1893, Evan Lewis was recognized as wrestling’s American Heavyweight Champion when he beat Ernest Roeber to unify the American Greco-Roman Title with the Catch-As-Catch-Can Championship. This set up yet another rematch between Farmer Burns and Strangler Lewis; and on April 20, 1895, Burns pinned Lewis to capture the title. Burns would go on to reign as wrestling’s American Champion for two years until he was finally beaten by Dan McLeod and Tom Jenkins in 1897. Retirement and Post-Career. Nevertheless, Farmer Burns’ greatest contribution to wrestling’s evolution may be as a trainer. He opened a gymnasium in Rock Island, Illinois in 1893, and helped to establish schools that enlightened young grapplers to the world of catch wrestling. In 1899, Burns defeated a 21-year-old Iowan named Frank Gotch, but he recognized his raw talent and recruited him as his prized student. Burns would then mold Gotch into perhaps the greatest wrestling champion of all-time, as he defeated George Hackenschmidt in 1908 to claim the undisputed World Heavyweight Title. In addition, Farmer Burns also served as a teacher to a myriad of grapplers who would transform the sport in the early 1900s, including future World Champion Earl Caddock, future Middleweight World Champion and Champion Wrestler of the A.E.F. Ralph Parcaut, as well as creative pioneer Joseph “Toots” Mondt. Other big names he personally trained included Rudy Dusek, Joe Malcewicz, Emil Klank, Jess Westergaard, Fred Beell and Jack Sherry. It is said he trained more than 1,600 wrestlers in all. [3] Burns was so respected as a trainer that he was even recruited to serve as the conditioning coach for boxer Jim Jeffries’ 1910 title bout against Jack Johnson. In 1914, Burns published a 96-page mail-order course entitled The Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture , which incorporated breathing techniques, calisthenics, stamina exercises, and Eastern martial arts principles, thus becoming the bible for all aspiring wrestlers during the early 1900s. Moreover, it is said that Ed “Strangler” Lewis, the great wrestling champion of the 1920s and 30s (and the eventual teacher of Lou Thesz) got his start in wrestling by following Burns’ training methods. Consequently, it is because of Burns’ many efforts that his native state of Iowa has subsequently become the nation’s amateur wrestling capital, with the University of Iowa consistently serving as an NCAA powerhouse, and with the International Wrestling Institute and Museum also based in Newton. Personal life. Burns had two sons, Raymond and Charlie, who became musicians in Chicago, and a daughter, Celia Burns Beem. He suffered the loss of his wife Amelia in 1930, which led to the deterioration of his own condition. At this point he went to live with his daughter who died in 1951. [4] Death. Burns died on January 8, 1937, in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of 76, and was buried at the St. James Cemetery in Toronto, Iowa. The "Farmer" Burns Workout. The "Farmer" Burns workout is a custom workout routine developed by Martin Burns for himself and his students. It is based only on resistance provided by one's own body, a pair of dumbbell weights, and supplemental aerobic exercise, such as running. The workout consists of three phases of exercises organized into sets and repetitions. The first phase is a combination of warm-ups and stretches, using only one's own body for resistance. The second phase uses a pair of dumbbells for resistance, otherwise resembling aerobics in appearance. The third phase of exercises are partner exercises, again only relying on the two persons' bodies for resistance. Martin Burns' career success is often accredited greatly in part to this intense workout routine. Feats of Strength. Burns was well known in the early twentieth century for his neck. Despite the fact that he was only one hundred-sixty pounds, he managed to have a twenty-inch neck. With this neck, according to an article in WWE Magazine, he gained fame by being put into a noose, getting hanged, and living, while whistling "Yankee Doodle".