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Recently I Stayed and went to study and train with
Mick Fage Professional Wrestler and Old School
Carnival Wrestler. This is the fascinating interview I
conducted while there.
Greg Hall - Hi Mick , Can you tell us a bit about your
background in the martial arts?
Mick Fage - My martial arts background is Judo,Amateur
and submission wrestling.i was trained by clive
Douglas in judo ,who was second to Neil Adams in the
country at one time.i did alot of training in judo at
the same time wrestling around the country for
promoters Dale Martin.
Greg Hall - Can you tell us how got into the Wrestling?
Mick Fage - I got into wrestling my dad use to live
in London and use to go and watch the wrestling.he
told me about the wrestlers Dr Death,Steve Logan,Mick
McManus.i wrote to Mick McManus who used to write a
column for sky magazine.He replyed saying to learn
Amateur wrestling.There where no wrestling clubs near
to me,so i went to a Judo club. At the same time i use
to work with a guy who new Tony Rowney a professional
wrestler.I went to see Rowney and he trained me .More
importantly he said that i could use his name and tell
promoters,wrestlers he had trained me.This went along
way in to getting started.i wrote to Dale Martin
promoter Max Crabtree. The wrestlers did not except me
into the game,i worked on shows around the country and
i learnt the hard way.
Greg Hall - You Wrestled for a while with Dale Martins
Can you tell us what that was like?
Mick Fage - When i wrestled for Dale Martin it was
past its heyday,by then it had been of the TV for
about eight years.There where still wrestlers working
there from the ITV world of sport days.Pat Roach,Giant
Haystaksl,Marty Jones,Alan Kilby. Looking back they
still managed to draw a good crowd.i use to work in
the day and wrestle around the country at night.get
home about two in the morning.it was not easy but i
did it to gain experience.My first match with Dale
Martin was at a packed house at the Derngate
Northampton.Haystaks topped the bill,he was against
steve Regal,also Pat Roach V Marty Jones.
Greg Hall - You wrestled Alan Kilby whom I remember
from world of Sport was the deaf and dumb guy who was
by all accounts a very tough and good wrestler can you
tell us what that was like?
Mick Fage - .On one show i went eight rounds with him
and later on the same show he went on wrestled Johnny
kid for another seven or eight rounds.He was 48 when i
wrestled him.He was in great shape he had his own kick
boxing gym in Sheffield.years later i bought part of
his old boxing ring.My first match with him was a real
rough and tumble in Northampton.He nearly broke my
jaw.He was a tough bloke.I believe he use to work on
the door of a night club aswell has wrestling around
the country.A very good all round wrestler.
Greg Hall - You were taught by a great old Wrestler
called Tony Rowley can you tell us a bit about what
the sessions were like ?
Mick Fage - Tony Rowney The Ring Gladiator trained
me.Rowney originaly from Yorkshire.Gained experience
from wrestling on the fairground booths.Rowney a
former marine commando,Ex Boxer and a expert in
Aikido.His speciality was wrist locks.We trained above
a pub in Kettering ,I got some old carpet and put down
on the wooden floor boards and started training.The
training involved a combination of wrestling and Self
Defence.He showed me a few moves to get me out of
trouble. Rowney use to tell me stories off when he
used to wrestle for Max Crabtree,Dale Martin this gave
me a good insite into what to expect when i
started.Rowney was very much into the psychology of
fighting. A very quick, Skilful wrestler.
Greg Hall - In my studies of Western Martial Arts I
find them just as effective if not more so than other
martial arts The Catch, The Old School Pugilism, the
all in wrestling etc and yet it is very hard to find
places where you can study and learn these arts. Why
do you think that is ?
Mick Fage - Wrestlers are notorious for not passing
there knowledge on to anyone.Especially the old school
wrestlers.they would not give you anything in or out
of the ring. If they showed you a few moves you where
lucky. There way of looking at it is they learnt the
hard way, so why should they pass it on to anyone. So
the knowledge has been lost over the years. There are
not many old time wrestlers left in this country that
could show you anything in a old British style.
Greg Hall - Who In your opinion was the best wrestler
you ever seen ?
Mick Fage - i would say Alan Kilby was the best
wrestler i have seen and wrestled
Greg Hall - Recently you stood on the front at the
Fairground in Dorset on the boxing and wrestling
Booth. Can you tell us what that was like ?
Mick Fage - The fairground booth i worked and if you
see some old photos of The other booths .you will see
on the frontage All-in wrestling.it was no holds
barred wrestling.from what i know it was harder style
of wrestling than catch.with less rules.Holds that
where barred in catch could be used in the All-in
style.From what i have seen of the All-in wrestling it
looks nothing like a sporting contest.
Greg Hall - You told me that The Fairground wrestlers
don't call it Catch Wrestling but All In Wrestling is
there a difference in styles or mindset etc ?
Mick Fage - The fairground booth i worked and if you
see some old photos of The other booths .you will see
on the frontage All-in wrestling.it was no holds
barred wrestling.from what i know it was harder style
of wrestling than catch.with less rules.Holds that
where barred in catch could be used in the All-in
style.From what i have seen of the All-in wrestling it
looks nothing like a sporting contest.
Greg Hall - You have worked on the doors. Have you
ever had to use your All In Wrestling skills when it
has gone live ?
Mick Fage - i still work the doors at the moment,I
have used wrestling/grappling in the past to defend
myself a few times.Some moves i have learnt on the
door ,i have used in the ring aswell.
Greg Hall - While I was at yours you told me that you
were building your own ring with a view to travelling
round with your own all in wrestling show. When is
this likely to come to fruition ?
Mick Fage - i am hopeing to make a start on my own
show next year.2008.it will be in the old British
style of wrestling.I will be looking for wrestlers.
Greg Hall - Thank You Mick for taking the time to
conduct this interview with me and I hope to train
with you again soon.
Anyone wishing to train in Old School Catch or All in
Wrestling can get in touch with Mick Through his
website below.
http://www.schoolofwrestling.com
Or alternatively Greg Hall
panantukanuk@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone 0779 225 5004
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