Orlando Cobián/EL VIGÍA
ocobian@elvigia.net | Ensenada, B. C.
Due to his extensive knowledge of the sport called Catch as Catch Can (CACC) or Catch Wrestling, as well as its dissemination at the local level, Horacio López from Ensenada was officially certified as a coach by the International Catch Catch Wrestling Union (ICWU), as well as president representative of said association in Mexico.
With this, the expert explains, a broader panorama opens up to promote the discipline at a local and national level, and gives it powers to impart its knowledge through seminars and exams, medals and belts, as well as being a manager of related events, on behalf of the ICWU.
He mentioned and thanked Ian Jones, CACC Snake Pit World Champion; and Babel Sambueza, ICWU world champion, who are international founding presidents of the organization.
He explained that the CACC is not as recognized compared to other sports combat systems, so he pointed out the importance of the appointment and certification to make it shine and attract new followers, since he mentions that unlike oriental martial arts, this is born in the West and must be seen as a space of identity of this culture.
WHAT IS THE CACC?
This specialty experienced great popularity in the golden years of wrestling, when it still focused more on the sporting aspect than on entertainment. Although wrestling later evolved into a spectacle, in its early years it included events with legitimate competitors.
At the 1904 Olympic Games, the CACC was part of the program, introducing new rules and weight classes similar to other amateur wrestling styles. However, dangerous moves were prohibited, including all submission holds. Over time, new rules and regulations were established, and “Catch” became freestyle wrestling.
Various martial arts have been influenced by catch wrestling, such as folk style wrestling, sambo, shoot wrestling, shoot style and mixed martial arts.
ABOUT THE COACH
Horacio López has 29 years of experience in the practice and instruction of martial arts and combat sports, as a pioneer of jiu jitsu. He is the first Ensenadense to obtain the first degree black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) by master Fabio Santos; He is a brown belt in Submission Arts Wrestling (SAW) for Israel Ávila and Mike Martelle.
He manages and teaches classes at the Ensenada Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (ENSBJJ) school and its Old Man Catch Wrestling Submission Arts branch.
He is also a black belt in lima lama kickboxing by the founding grand master José Olivero Romero Sr; black belt in hapkido by Professor Iram Almazán; yellow belt in judo by Alipio Ambriz; and level 1 coach in kali eskrima from the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) by Demetrio Ruiz.
His training in first-generation mixed martial arts (MMA) stands out, in Power GYM and ODO Fight Club; submission wrestling, also at Power GYM; boxing at the Ramón Marchena Gym; judo with Sensei Alipio Ambriz and Sensei Jose Guadalupe Salgado.
He has instructed local, national and foreign medalists for the State Jiu Jitsu (2014), Tijuana Summer Challenge (2016), Grappling , Cristian Pérez, Angel Hernández, Daniel Rincón, Rogelio Melgoza, Alex Alvarado, among others.
He has also served as a referee in amateur MMA and jiu jitsu, a judge in kickboxing, wrestling and MMA, lic. professional fighter manager (MMA) (2016-2018), founder of the first jiu jitsu school in the city of Ensenada, assistant instructor at the Oliveros Club (1996-2000); He teaches workshops and talks on female self-defense against physical and sexual assault, among other related things.