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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