Battleground Valhalla Rising part II

After writing the previous text I still want to take a closer look at some of the details of what took place in the Valhalla Nordic Championship match between "The Rebel" StarBuck and myself at Power Expo 2018.

Photo by Marko Simonen

As people are often eager to say things concerning pro wrestling matches or techniques, I would first like them to understand what the holds are about. The one we see here in the photo for example you can utilize as a joint lock but the primary use is gaining control over the opponent and moving him or making him move himself as an attempt to get out. If you want to make it tight instead and really put on loads of pressure there's a fair chance he might be able to bend the arm just a little bit and, by doing so, dig the tip of his elbow into your muscles even hitting some pressure points. Of course there are ways to attack the joint in an explosive manner thus fracturing parts of it, but as sportsmen we are not there to cause severe damage to one another. To hurt and to injure are two different matters.

Photo by Marko Simonen

I am not the easiest person to move around even for somebody larger than myself, but I just mentioned explosivity so I thought I must say a few words about this photo. StarBuck lands a devastating clothesline on me and you can clearly see that he takes my feet off the mat. In several occasions I have seen wrestlers who do not fully comprehend the nature of this move when they should if not master the art then at least handle the basics. Any blow is similar to a hold or a lock in the sense that everything is about creating pressure: in a case like the one above, superkick or whatever this is only done more rapidly than while grappling. Be quick, hit the target in the right place and know how to direct your bodyweight through an this is what the results will look like. Do not settle for less.

Photo by Marko Simonen

This particular throw reminds me of British wrestling and matches like the ones between The Dynamite Kid and Mark "Rollerball" Rocco. If you're there to pin the opponent, then you must first bring him to the mat. Use all the force and speed you want but take him down instead of lifting him upwards - see what I mean? One strength that I have is knowing there is a time and place for everything, the other is a variety of techniques that may surprise the opponent. Old school, hybrid style or conventional martial arts - any tool is useful as long as one knows how to make it work. Too many people rely on what they see happening around them on a daily basis, so in the long run the outcome will look like a brick wall. Why not build a structure of natural stones for a change, give the world a little bit more to study.

Photo by Marko Simonen

Sometimes going directly towards the mat is not enough, and we must increase the power of the impacts. Throwing the opponent literally across the ring is a tempting idea, but he or she might have plans diverse from the ones in your mind after which you suddenly find yourself in a very unfavorable situation. This happens a lot of times when somebody tries to position the other person on top of the turnbuckle, but in the match at Power Expo StarBuck was clever enough to let me climb up there in order to make my move - I could have used a missile dropkick or even a clothesline-type of maneuver - before executing his counter-strike. Successful strategy comes with experience and The Rebel has not only one of the longest careers but also an exquisite set of know-how plus the means of accomplishment.

Photo by Marko Simonen

Sleeper hold is still one of the most powerful and straight-forward techniques in wrestling today and you don't even have to take my word for it. One part of the perception is that you know how to fight back when been put in it, although the main goal of course it simply to make it to the ropes. However, not that I'm not merely blocking the movement of StarBuck's hand - I'm trying to place it to the side which would allow me to move my body more and escape the hold by pulling my head down at the same time. If we lived in a perfect world (from my point of view) the result might also be that I'd twist his forearm into an upper wrist lock, but let us keep that rope break and the referee in mind for a start. There's nothing wrong in recognizing an opportunity, just remember that there's no time for fantasizing in the ring.

Photo by Marko Simonen

The whole body is a weapon, the whole body is a target - this is how I was taught. In the photo I've been able to push my head backwards and into StarBuck's face so that he's lost his balance without letting go of my neck though. Therefore I've simply rolled across and turned his hold into a pin attempt, or made his weapon mine so to speak, the game plan being that the referee starts the count as he sees StarBuck's shoulders on the mat which would force The Rebel to let go immediately. With such moves that come unexpectedly there is a danger that you might actually tighten the opponent's hold by twisting your body in a peculiar manner, but then again we are supposed to be athletes to begin with and agility does come with the territory. Over the years people may even have noticed that my neck muscles possess strength that's exceptional to say the least.

Photo by Marko Simonen

What makes professional wrestling an art that is similar to the Wudang styles of fighting or Bushido is the fact that everything cannot always be measured by success, or the superficial meaning of the term. Learning is important even to veterans like The Rebel and myself, vision is one of the most significant things considering one's career and having the right kind of attitude is essential as the very basis of it all. I've only shared a few thoughts about a single match but hopefully that may help some individuals understand the depth that is everyday life to StarBuck and his true disciples. The question I once asked was "are you wrestlers or people you pretend to be wrestlers?" I have chosen my side, and the battle rages on.

Photo by Marko Simonen