The legendary Karl Gotch passes away

**Mr. Nerfect** · 07-29-2007, 10:27 AM

Karl Charles Istaz; known the world over as Karl Gotch, passed away at 9:45 pm last night just days away from his 83rd birthday. Gotch was a "place-winner" in the 1948 Olympics in London. From there he moved onto the famed Wigan School, where he learned submission wrestling. After migrating to the US, he began to build a reputation as a shooter, and considered by some "the toughest man alive." While wrestling in the US Kotch captured the WWWF World Tag Team titles with Rene Goulet.

In Japan he was actually referred to the "The God of Professional Wrestling," later he became a trainer for both New Japan Pro Wrestling and later the original UWF. Gotch's influence is very apparent in students Akira Maeda and Nobuhiko Takada; and that led to the rise of not only shoot fighting but eventually MMA in that Japan.

Credit: Wrestlingobserver.com

07-29-2007, 10:27 AM	#1
Mr. Nerfect Posts: 61,516	The legendary Karl Gotch passes away Karl Charles Istaz; known the world over as Karl Gotch, passed away at 9:45 pm last night just days away from his 83rd birthday. Gotch was a "place-winner" in the 1948 Olympics in London. From there he moved onto the famed Wigan School, where he learned submission wrestling. After migrating to the US, he began to build a reputation as a shooter, and considered by some "the toughest man alive." While wrestling in the US Kotch captured the WWWF World Tag Team titles with Rene Goulet. In Japan he was actually referred to the "The God of Professional Wrestling," later he became a trainer for both New Japan Pro Wrestling and later the original UWF. Gotch's influence is very apparent in students Akira Maeda and Nobuhiko Takada; and that led to the rise of not only shoot fighting but eventually MMA in that Japan. Credit: Wrestlingobserver.com Pfft