View source for Karl Gotch

{{short description|Belgian professional wrestler (1924–2007)}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name        = Karl Gotch
|image       = Karl Istaz.jpg
|image_size  =
|caption     =
|alt         =
|birthname   = Karel Alfons Ceclie Istaz<ref name=":6"/><ref name=":0" />
|names       = Karel Istaz<br />Karl Gotch<ref name="PWHoF"/><br />Karl Krauser<ref name="PWHoF"/><br />Pierre LeMarin
|height      = 6 ft 1 in<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/168 168]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/168}}</ref>
|weight      = 245 lb<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
|birth_date  = {{Birth date|1924|08|03}}<ref name="OWW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/k/karl-gotch/|title=Karl Gotch|access-date=January 14, 2013|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>
|birth_place = [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]]<ref name="PWHoF"/>
|death_date  = {{Death date and age|2007|07|28|1924|08|03}}<ref name="ObitPWT"/>
|death_place = [[Tampa, Florida]], U.S.<ref name="PWT"/>
|children    = 1
|billed      = [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]]
|trainer     = [[The Snake Pit (Wigan)|The Snake Pit]] (Billy Joyce, [[Billy Riley]])<ref name="PWHoF"/>
|debut       = Before 1951
|retired     = January 1, 1982<ref name="Schramm"/>
}}

'''Karl Istaz''' (born '''Karel Alfons Ceclie Istaz'''; August 3, 1924 – July 28, 2007)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=『カール・ゴッチ（1924年8月3日生～2007年7月28日没、プロレスラー、トレーナー）』 |url=https://ameblo.jp/babahdkmr/entry-12395240577.html |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=hideakimのブログ |language=ja}}</ref>''', best known by the [[ring name]] {{Nihongo|'''Karl Gotch'''|カール・ゴッチ|Kāru Gotchi}}, was a competitor and trainer in [[Professional wrestling|professional]], [[Amateur wrestling|amateur]], and [[catch wrestling]], born in [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]].'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Olympedia – Karel Istaz |url=http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/57298 |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=www.olympedia.org}}</ref>'''<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Karel ISTAZ |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/karel-istaz |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Olympics.com}}</ref> Considered one of the most influential wrestlers of his time period, he is best known for training several acclaimed and influential professional wrestlers in Japan, and for becoming a catalyst in the faculty development of [[Puroresu#Strong style|''Strong style'']], alongside [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] founder [[Antonio Inoki]] and fellow trainer [[Billy Robinson]].

Born in 1924, he was raised into a [[Hungarians|Hungarian]]-[[Dutch people|Dutch]] family in [[Flanders]], and was a victim of Holocaust persecutions due to dissent and [[Discrimination against atheists#Nazi Germany|his father's atheism]]. After 1945, he became involved in Olympic-level wrestling training, culminating in him representing Belgium at the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] in both [[Wrestling at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle light heavyweight|freestyle]] and [[Wrestling at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's Greco-Roman light heavyweight|Greco-Roman]] wrestling. He learned [[catch wrestling]], and later professional wrestling, at the [[Wigan]] [[The Snake Pit (Wigan)|Snake Pit]] by [[Billy Riley]] and Billy Joyce.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":0" /> He was given the ring name "Gotch" by Ohio promoter [[Al Haft]] in honor of American wrestler [[Frank Gotch]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Snowden |first=Jonathan |url=https://archive.org/details/shooterstoughest0000snow/page/132/mode/2up?view=theater&q=joyce |title=Shooters: The Toughest Men in Professional Wrestling |date=June 2012 |publisher=[[ECW Press]] |isbn=9781770410404 |location=Toronto, Canada |pages=133 |language=en}}</ref> In Japan, he became known as a "God of Wrestling" (プロレスの神様, ''Puroresu no kami-sama'') alongside Billy Robinson and [[Lou Thesz]], due to their collective influence on [[Puroresu|Japanese professional wrestling]] and ''Strong style''.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Schramm |first=Chris |date=2007-06-29 |title=Legacy of 'God of Wrestling' Gotch may be forever |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2007/06/29/legacy-of-god-of-wrestling-gotch-may-be-forever/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Slam Wrestling |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Schramm" />

Gotch had significantly influenced the development of modern [[mixed martial arts]] (MMA), especially in Japan. Several of Gotch's students, which included [[Satoru Sayama]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-24 |title=Karl Gotch Week: Satoru Sayama, Shooto And The Style Of Japanese Catch Wrestling |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/07/24/karl-gotch-week-satoru-sayama-shooto-japanese-catch-wrestling-erik-paulson-brock-lesnar/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=bloodyelbow.com |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Masakatsu Funaki]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Snowden |first=Jonathan |date=2023-09-21 |title=Pancrase: Ken Shamrock and Masakatsu Funaki Launch a Wrestling Revolution 30 Years Ago Today |url=https://hybridshoot.substack.com/p/pancrase-ken-shamrock-and-masakatsu |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Hybrid Shoot}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Djeljosevic |first=Danny |date=2022-02-20 |title=10 Things Wrestling Fans Should Know About Karl Gotch |url=https://www.thesportster.com/facts-wrestling-fans-should-know-about-karl-gotch/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=TheSportster |language=en}}</ref> [[Minoru Suzuki]],<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=The Snake Pit: Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, Catch Wrestling and Puroresu |url=https://monthlypuroresu.com/features/the-snake-pit-karl-gotch-billy-robinson-catch-wrestling-and-puroresu/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Monthly Puroresu |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Akira Maeda]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dilbert |first=Ryan |title=Andre the Giant vs. Akira Maeda; History of Pro Wrestling Shoots, Part 2 |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1376713-andre-the-giant-vs-akira-maeda-history-of-pro-wrestling-shoots-part-2 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref> and [[Nobuhiko Takada]], established pioneering MMA promotions and training schools to transmit Gotch's training. These include Sayama's [[Shooto]], regarded as the first modern MMA promotion, and Funaki and Suzuki's [[Pancrase]], which both predate the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]], along with Maeda's [[Fighting Network Rings|Fighting Network RINGS]], and Takada's [[Pride Fighting Championships]] (PRIDE), one of the most popular MMA promotions of all time.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Stephen |date=Sep 4, 2007 |title=Kitaoka Headlines Pancrase's Karl Gotch Memorial |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Kitaoka-Headlines-Pancrases-Karl-Gotch-Memorial-8852 |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=2012-02-12 |title=MMA Origins: Catch Wrestling Travels to Japan |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/02/12/mma-origins-catch-wrestling-travels-to-japan-karl-gotch-istaz-satoru-sayama-antonio-inoki-shooto/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=2012-07-23 |title=MMA Origins: Birth of Japanese MMA |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/02/20/ufc-144-japan-mma-history/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=KJ |date=2012-07-24 |title=Karl Gotch Week: Satoru Sayama, Shooto And The Style Of Japanese Catch Wrestling |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/07/24/karl-gotch-week-satoru-sayama-shooto-japanese-catch-wrestling-erik-paulson-brock-lesnar/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref><ref name=":52">{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=KJ |date=2012-07-28 |title=Karl Gotch Week: Rest In Peace Kamisama, 'God Of Wrestling' 1924 – 2007 |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/07/28/karl-gotch-week-rest-in-piece-kamisama-god-of-catch-wrestling-1924-2007/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref>

== Early life ==
{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}Karl Gotch was born '''Karel Alfons Ceclie Istaz''' in [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]] on August 3, 1924. His father, Edward, a member of the [[Belgian Navy|Belgian merchant navy]] (''Marinecomponent'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]), was of [[Hungarians|Hungarian]] ancestry; his mother, Johanna ([[Birth name|''née'']] van Heisteren), was a [[German Empire|German]] citizen who had majority [[Dutch people|Dutch]] ancestry. As he was born in [[Flanders|Flemish]] territory, he spoke the [[Dutch language]]. When he was 8, he started learning a form of wrestling by the request of his father. Around this time in his youth, his left pinky finger got torn off at a Navy dockyard; in spite of the amputation of the finger, he still excelled in wrestling before 1943. He cited his favorite wrestler as Finnish wrestler Waino Ketonen, referring to him as "the greatest [[Amateur wrestling|amateur wrestler]] that [[Europe]] ever produced".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wrestler |first=Catch Wrestling King of Sports Scientific |date=2017-04-12 |title=Karl Gotch & Jake Shannon Chat (11/14/04) Part One |url=https://www.scientificwrestling.com/public/Karl-Gotch-Interview-111404-Part-One.cfm |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=www.scientificwrestling.com |language=en}}</ref> His father was a fan of boxing, and requester that Istaz take up boxing, which he later retired from. According to [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]], his father became associates with several [[Royal Navy]] personnel, who gave Gotch the inspiration to take up the [[English language]].

Sometime in 1943, during the [[German occupation of Belgium during World War II|German occupation of Belgium]] in the [[World War II|Second World War]], Istaz, along with his family, were placed in a [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] [[concentration camp]] in [[Walpersberg]] during [[the Holocaust]]. Istaz's father had been suspected of being a member of an openly-[[Atheism|atheist]] societal order, which defied and opposed Nazi rule in Belgium.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shannon |first=Jake |date=2025-04-13 |title=How Karl Gotch’s Missing Finger and Holocaust Survival Shaped Combat Sports Forever |url=https://medium.com/@jake.shannon/how-karl-gotchs-missing-finger-and-holocaust-survival-shaped-combat-sports-forever-9fcae8c44197 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Medium |language=en |quote=During World War II, Gotch and his family were imprisoned by the Nazis at REIMAHG (Lager E Camp) in Kala, Germany. Not because they were Jewish, but because his father was an atheist belonging to "The Order of the Buffalo," identified by a three-dot tattoo that caught the attention of Nazi officers.}}</ref> Between the [[Axis powers]] surrendering and the [[Liberation of Belgium|liberation]] of Belgium, the family were let go. It is speculated that Istaz was one of the workers in the REIMAHG-A aircraft plant in [[Kahla]], which occurred at the exact same time as when he as imprisoned.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airplane factory REIMAHG - Lachs |url=https://www.battlefieldsww2.com/flugzeugfabrik-reimahg-lachs.html |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.battlefieldsww2.com}}</ref> Other parts of Gotch's life prior to the Olympics remain unclear, and were initially subject to [[Kayfabe|embellishment]] by [[List of professional wrestling magazines|pro wrestling magazines]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hatton |first=Nathan |date=Jan 12, 2015 |title=New Billy Riley book informs on both the man and Wigan's Snake Pit |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2015/01/12/new-billy-riley-book-informs-on-both-the-man-and-wigans-snake-pit/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Slam Wrestling |language=en-US}}</ref>

When he and his family were freed from the camp, he went back into training in wrestling, and later represented Belgium at the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] in London in both [[Freestyle wrestling|freestyle]] and [[Greco-Roman wrestling]] in the under-87 kilogram category, although he did not make it onto any podium.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="SportsRef">{{cite Sports-Reference|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/is/karel-istaz-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417225721/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/is/karel-istaz-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|title=Karl Gotch Olympic Results|access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref> Notable people who attended those Olympics included [[Verne Gagne]], [[Dick Hutton]], and [[Maurice Vachon|Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon]].

== Professional wrestling career ==

=== Europe and the United States ===
{{Quote box
| quote = Wrestling is like a language: it lives. I always look to put improvement on it. I'm never satisfied with just one thing. ... Be a perfectionist. If you're never satisfied, you will become better. If you think you know, you're dead. That's it, that's the end of the line, [but] nobody knows [when]. That's what you gotta strive for.
| source = —Gotch, ''Karl Gotch: Kamisama''
| align = left
| width = 30%
}}Istaz's professional wrestling career began after training at renowned [[catch wrestling|catch wrestler]] [[Billy Riley]]'s gym, which was later dubbed by Gotch as "[[The Snake Pit (Wigan)|The Snake Pit]]".<ref name="PWHoF"/> According to legend, it was [[Bert Assirati]], who had defeated Gotch in a match, that told him that he could contact Riley and the Snake Pit in [[Wigan]], although he did not take up the offer initially. Gotch met Alf Robinson, [[Billy Robinson]]'s uncle and a fellow wrestler, around this time, and told Gotch to come to Wigan. From 1951 to 1959, Karl lived in Wigan near the gym. He debuted before 1951, wrestling throughout Europe under his real name and under the [[ring name]] '''Karl Krauser''', and winning titles including the [[German Heavyweight Championship]] and the European Championship.<ref name="PWHoF"/> It is said that a young Billy Robinson and Karl Gotch wrestled in a spot in the Wigan gym, which resulted in Gotch dominating him on the mat. Robinson was 14, and Gotch was 29. They had a brotherly relationship in the gym, especially considering both were tainted as greater prodigies of Riley and Joyce. In 1959, Istaz moved to [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]], in order to migrate over to the [[United States]]. He had expressed admiration to move to the United States after the Second World War, after the Allied Forces defeated the Nazi regime.

When Istaz arrived in the United States, he began wrestling as '''Karl Gotch''', named for [[Frank Gotch]], by premier [[Ohio]] promoter-wrestler [[Al Haft]].<ref name="PWHoF"/> A friend of Frank Gotch, Haft was given the ring-name Young Gotch in some of his days as a wrestler, and Haft thought that Karl had intense similarities with Frank; thus, Karl was given the ring-name as tribute. In the United States, Gotch's wrestling style and lack of showmanship held him back, and he did not experience any great popularity at the time.<ref name="Schramm"/> In 1961, he won the American Wrestling Alliance (Ohio) World Heavyweight Championship.<ref name="PWHoF"/> Gotch held the belt for two years before dropping the title in a title unification match to [[NWA World's Heavyweight Championship|NWA World's Heavyweight Champion]] [[Lou Thesz]], one of the few American wrestlers he respected because of the similarities of their styles (the two also share a Hungarian heritage). In 1962, Gotch was involved in a backstage altercation with the then-NWA World Champion [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers]], in which Rogers was injured.<ref name="Schramm"/> The incident alienated Gotch from American promoters, and he began looking for work in Japan.<ref name="Schramm"/> Afterwards, he had continued to travel. He wrestled in [[Australia]] under the Karl Krauser persona, and in 1965 he defeated [[Spiros Arion]] to win the [[World Championship Wrestling (Australia)|International Wrestling Alliance]]'s [[IWA World Heavyweight Championship (Australia)|Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name="PWHoF" />

He returned to the United States for a stint in the 1970s, with a brief run in the [[WWE|World Wide Wrestling Federation]] from August 1971 to February 1972. On December 6, 1971, he teamed with [[Rene Goulet]] to win the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWWF World Tag Team Championship]] from the inaugural champions, [[Grady Johnson|Luke Graham]] and [[Tarzan Tyler]], in two straight falls of a best-two-out-of-three-falls match in [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref name="Schramm"/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/71.htm | title = WWF Show Results 1971 | access-date = September 8, 2009| author = Graham Cawthon | quote = (December 6, 1971) Karl Gotch & Rene Goulet defeated WWWF Tag Team Champions Luke Graham & Tarzan Tyler to win the titles in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2–0, at 17:20}}</ref> They lost the championship on February 1, 1972, to [[Mikel Scicluna|Baron Mikel Scicluna]] and [[King Curtis Iaukea]].<ref name="Schramm"/>
=== Japan ===
He had begun working in [[Japan]] by 1961, travelling with [[Don Leo Jonathan]], where he became very popular due to his sport wrestling style.<ref name="PWHoF"/> He represented Germany in the 1961 JWA World Big League; although he did speak German, he still retained his Belgian citizenship. While [[Rikidōzan|Rikidozan]] was still alive, [[Antonio Inoki]] had met Gotch, and took an interest to his methods. Gotch gave Inoki a specialized maneuver that he'd be able to use in his matches, which would later cataclyze into what became known as the [[Professional wrestling holds#Octopus hold|''Cobra twist'']] or Manji-gatame (卍固め, ''[[Swastika|Suastika]] hold''). Inoki began to use the move in 1968; the next year, Inoki took Gotch's {{Nihongo|''[[German suplex]] hold''|ジャーマン スープレックス ホールド|Jāman sūpurekkusu hōrudo}}, the bridging version of the traditional ''German suplex''. He moved to Japan temporarily in two stints between 1967 and 1969, and headed the JWA Dojo, which had been given the name the "Gotch Clinic". He specialized in training active professionals. Many of the people Gotch worked with in the "clinic" included [[Seiji Sakaguchi]], [[Kim Duk]], [[Mr. Hito|Katsuji Adachi]], and Hishakaku Otsubo.

Gotch had begun to be exhausted and frustrated with wrestling industry politicking and had a disdain for promoters' salary rates and rejection of talent opportunities. He had begun to teach more about the style and philosophy of his version of professional wrestling, without the use of politicking in the workers. He became politically neutral in all matters. Inoki had tried to clean up specific economic situations in JWA, which was said to be a contribution to its collapse. Yoshino Sato and Kokichi Endo, the heads of JWA, fired Inoki for alleging that he'd "betray" JWA and claim JWA for himself. In January 1972, Inoki went to [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], whilst Karl Gotch was travelling with the WWWF. Inoki went to Gotch for help, to assist him in starting a wrestling promotion. Gotch accepted to assist him on the condition he be a trainer and coach to the wrestlers, and left the tour and WWWF afterward. The negotiations in January 1972 resulted in the creation of [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW). He wrestled in the main event of the very first show held by NJPW on March 6, 1972, defeating Inoki.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_652.shtml|title=5 Yrs Ago: Zavisa on the 25th Anniversary of New Japan Pro Wrestling|date=September 15, 2002|last=Zavisa|first=Chris|access-date=January 14, 2013|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Karl was able to bring in stars like [[Lou Thesz]], [[André the Giant|André The Giant]], and Billy Robinson for the promotion of the new brand. By 1973, JWA at shut down entirely.

Karl temporarily lived near the NJPW dojo, akin to his time in the JWA dojo. His first students included [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]] and [[Tatsumi Fujinami]]. Fujiwara wanted to become a pro wrestler after a failed career in restauranteering and assistance; by that period, Fujinami had been accepted as a main understudy of Antonio Inoki. [[Satoru Sayama]], the original [[Tiger Mask (professional wrestling)|Tiger Mask]], ''{{ill|Masanobu Kurisu|jp|栗栖正伸 |preserve=1}}'', ''{{ill|Don Arakawa|jp|ドン荒川 |preserve=1}}'', [[Kuniaki Kobayashi]], and [[Osamu Kido]] were later brought in as disciples of Gotch's methods as ''Young Lions'', and the class became his primary focus while in NJPW. Others that also took to Gotch's methods included [[Gran Hamada]] and [[Mr. Pogo]], despite their eventual influence on separate wrestling styles (Hamada for ''[[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#lucharesu|lucharesu]]'', Pogo for [[hardcore wrestling]]).

Yoshiaki Fujiwara eventually became close friends with Gotch, as seen and depicted in the ''Karl Gotch: Kamisama'' film by Fumi Saito; Fujiwara would become the producer of the Karl Gotch Training Book, which detailed the training methods used by Gotch on him and his dojo-mates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Karl Gotch's Training Book by Yoshiaki Fujiwara |url=https://budovideos.com/en-ca/products/karl-gotchs-training-book |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Budovideos Inc |language=en}}</ref> He also developed a close relationship with [[Joe Malenko]], who was touted as being a junior to Gotch in generational senses. Malenko paid tribute to Gotch after his death by appearing at numerous ceremonies honoring him over the years since 2007.<ref name="Schramm" />

=== Retirement ===
His final match occurred on January 1, 1982, when he pinned [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]] with the German suplex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/82.htm |title=1982 |publisher=Thehistoryofwwe.com |date= |accessdate=2022-03-21}}</ref> Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Gotch kept his role as both the head [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Booker|booker]] and sole trainer for NJPW.<ref name="Schramm" /> Whilst he still maintained a great relationship with NJPW, he also had major collaborative efforts with some of his students projects. He was present for numerous of [[Nobuhiko Takada]]'s matches whilst he wrestled in the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] and [[UWF International|UWF-I]], including numerous [[UWF International#Pro-Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship|Pro-Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship]] matches (many of which also were spearheaded by Lou Thesz). He became a driving spiritual force for the creation of Newborn UWF, [[Akira Maeda]]'s [[Fighting Network Rings|Fighting Network RINGS]], Fujiwara's [[Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi]], and Satoru Sayama's [[Shooto]]; the latter of which has been called the first [[mixed martial arts]] organization ever created.<ref name="Schramm" /><ref name="PWHoF" />

[[Minoru Suzuki]] and [[Masakatsu Funaki]], two students of Gotch, approached Gotch in his [[Odessa, Florida|Odessa]] home about them starting a new hybrid wrestling-martial arts promotion; and whilst Gotch liked the idea, he could not travel to Japan on a likeable basis. However, he did coin them the name [[Pancrase]]. As a tribute, Minoru Suzuki started to use the [[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Variations|cradle piledriver]], which he coined as the {{Nihongo|''Gotch-style Piledriver''|ゴッチ式パイルドライバー|Gotchi-shiki pairudoraibā}} as it was a move that Gotch himself created, when he returned to pro wrestling in 2003.

== Personal life & death ==
Besides his native German, Istaz spoke fluent [[English language|English]], and understood [[Japanese language|Japanese]]. He bought a home in the mid-1980s in [[Odessa, Florida]], nearing [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], and lived there until 1998. Many wrestlers stayed with Karl in the house, including Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Tatsumi Fujinami.

Istaz was married to Ella, and had a daughter, Janine Gustave Istaz.<ref name="Schramm" /> They each resided in [[Florida]] until his death.<ref name="Schramm" /> Janine married ''{{ill|Masami Soranaka|jp|ミスター空中|preserve=1}}'' (空中 正三, ''Soranaka Masami''), also known as Mr. Soranaka or Sammy, a protégé of her father's, pro wrestler and referee.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Vale |first1=Bart |last2=Jacobs |first2=Mark |date=Apr 2002 |title=The Favorite Fighting Philosophies and Techniques of an American Pioneer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WtsDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Masami+Soranaka+karl+gotch&pg=PP62 |access-date=2024-03-21 |magazine=[[Black Belt (magazine)|Black Belt]] |page=62 |volume=40 |issue=4 |issn=0277-3066}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |date=2013-11-16 |title=Many pitfalls nearly finished UFC long ago |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2013/11/16/5105738/the-pitfalls-that-faced-ufc-before-its-television-success |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref> Janine gave birth to four children with Soranaka: Eddy (September 28, 1971 – September 29, 2019), who was a 13-year [[United States Army|Army]] veteran,<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Alexandria |title=Reports: Woman accused in fatal shooting of Army veteran in Corpus Christi home |url=https://www.caller.com/story/news/crime/2019/12/18/reports-woman-accused-death-army-veteran-corpus-christi-home/2669743001/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=Corpus Christi Caller-Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Michele (born 1972), Joseph Yoshiaki (born September 7, 1986) who was named after [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]], and Maria Theresia Koharu (born 1989). Masami Soranaka died in 1992 of a [[brain tumor]] aged 48, whilst Eddy Soranaka was murdered in [[Corpus Christi, Texas]] a day after his 48th birthday.<ref name=":13" />

Istaz was a [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]]; he abstained from eating meat for a large part of his life, citing that it was too fattening, and only ditched his no-meat diet in Japan, when he could eat [[Fish as food|fish]]. He enjoyed the writings of [[Miyamoto Musashi|Musashi Miyamoto]], and was an avid lover of [[Pit bull|pit bulls]], which were introduced to him via [[Billy Robinson]]. In his will, it was made that with whatever spare money he had left that it'd be used to go to pit bull charities in Florida. A rescue fund was set up by the 501c3 non-profit organization Paw'd Squad Animal Rescue in Karl's name and likeness.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KARL GOTCH PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY {{!}} WrestlingFigs |url=https://wrestlingfigs.com/wrestlingnews/karl-gotch-passed-away-yesterday/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Living in semi-seclusion in stints with his wife and alone, Istaz died on July 28, 2007, in his home in [[Tampa, Florida]], six days before his 83rd birthday.<ref name="ObitPWT">{{cite web |last=Gallipoli |first=Thomas M. |date=August 22, 2007 |title=SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2007 with Details (Updated as needed) |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Annual_Obituaries_39/article_21409.shtml |access-date=January 14, 2013 |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref name="PWT">{{cite web |last=Caldwell |first=James |date=July 29, 2007 |title=Etc. News: Wrestling legend Karl Gotch dies at age 82 in Florida |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_21128.shtml |access-date=January 14, 2013 |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Two-and-a-half years before he died, he gave an interview with Jake Shannon of Scientific Wrestling, which was his last time featured on tape. It was released after his death.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shannon |first=Jake |date=2017-07-27 |title=My Conversations with Karl |url=https://www.scientificwrestling.com/public/The-Karl-Gotch-and-Jake-Shannon-Chats.cfm |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Scientific Wrestling |language=en}}</ref> His ashes were mostly spread in [[Keystone, Florida]]; however, in 2017, ten years after his death, some of his ashes were interred at a grave in the [[Ekō-in|Honjo Ekō-in]] [[Buddhism in Japan|Buddhist]] temple in [[Ryōgoku]], [[Tokyo]].

== Legacy ==

=== Strength conditioning ===
{{Quote box
| quote = People are like drops of water in the rain: everybody is different. You look for the general rule to explain it, and then you'll look at each individual you have, and you work accordingly to what he has. His agility and his strength in every part of his body. If you can not do that, you're not a coach. You're just ... like a preacher, try to follow the road, but then it's up to you. No, you have to tell him which road to follow and how to travel that road: that's a coach. That's the hard part of it.
| source = —Gotch, ''Karl Gotch: Kamisama''
| align = right
| width = 30%
}}

Whilst he was known for his professional and catch wrestling skills, Gotch also trained in [[pehlwani]], an Indian style of wrestling. This training led to Istaz's regime of [[Calisthenics|calisthenic]] bodyweight exercise, which were used by wrestlers to build leg endurance and strength, such as the [[Bridge (exercise)|bridge]], [[Air squat|Hindu squat]]s, and [[Push-up#Hindu push-ups|Hindu press ups]].<ref>[http://www.puroresu.com/wrestlers/gotch_karl/article.html "Karl Gotch, The Quiet Man, Speaks His Piece" – December, 1968<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Many of these practices became more widespread as Gotch continued to exercise his legacy, and the Hindu squats and bridge later became routine for several catch and professional wrestling schools. His ''Gotch Bible'', which was used for calisthenic and strength conditioning training in the form of [[Playing card|playing cards]], is still used today.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-25 |title=Gotch Bible {{!}} Karl Gotch's FAMOUS Card-Deck Workout |url=https://andreian.com/gotch-bible/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> According to [[Gene LeBell]], it was suggested that Gotch also travelled to China in his early wrestling years for further conditioning and martial arts training.

=== Professional wrestling ===
Karl Gotch became known as a "God" (神様, ''Kami-sama'') in Japan.<ref name="Schramm" /> Gotch's wrestling style, alongside fellow hooker [[Lou Thesz]], had a big impact on Inoki, who adopted and popularized his submission-based style. Some of Istaz's trainees founded the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] in Japan in 1984, which showcased the [[Shoot wrestling|shoot-style]] of professional wrestling. The success of UWF and similar promotions influenced Japanese wrestling in subsequent decades, and changed the style of matches in NJPW and [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]].<ref name="Schramm" /> Several other professional wrestlers who had been, at some point, taught by Gotch include [[El Canek]], [[Riki Choshu]],<ref name=":8" /> [[Masanobu Fuchi]], [[Bob Backlund]], and brothers [[Joe Malenko|Joe]] and [[Dean Malenko]].

Several wrestling maneuvers are attributed to Gotch, with him either innovating them or popularizing them, including:

* The ''[[German suplex]]''. Named after Gotch, the ''[[Bridge (exercise)|bridging]]'' variant (which was named the {{Nihongo|''German suplex hold''|ジャーマン スープレックス ホールド|Jāman sūpurekkusu hōrudo}} in Japan), was attributed to Gotch for its innovation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Five very European maneuvers for Antonio Cesaro |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/five-very-european-maneuvers-for-antonio-cesaro |access-date=January 14, 2013 |publisher=[[WWE]] |page=3}}</ref> The actual ''German suplex'' itself was not innovated by Gotch, but by unspecified [[Finns|Finnish]] wrestlers (according to Gotch).
* The [[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Variations|cradle piledriver]], which also shares the name the {{Nihongo|''Gotch-style Piledriver''|ゴッチ式パイルドライバー|Gotchi-shiki pairudoraibā}}. It is the tributed signature maneuver of Gotch student [[Minoru Suzuki]].
* The kneeling reverse piledriver, which is mostly known as the ''[[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Kneeling reverse piledriver|Tombstone Piledriver]]'' after the popularization of the move by [[The Undertaker]]. It was also used by the likes of [[Kazuchika Okada]], [[André the Giant|André The Giant]], and [[Drew McIntyre]].
* The [[Professional wrestling holds#Dragon sleeper|''Dragon Sleeper'']] (ドラゴン スリーパー, ''Doragon surīpā''): a inverted north-south neck crank. It became the signature submission maneuver of [[Tatsumi Fujinami]], and later the likes of The Undertaker (as the "Taking Care of Business") and [[Sanada (wrestler)|Sanada]] (as the "Skull End").
* The {{Nihongo|''[[Dragon screw legwhip]]''|ドラゴン スクリュー|Doragon sukuryū}}. It was also a signature move attributed to Fujinami, as well as [[Keiji Muto|Keiji Mutoh]] and [[Hiroshi Tanahashi]].
* The [[Sharpshooter (professional wrestling)|''Sasori-gatame'']] (蠍固め): a [[Figure-four (grappling hold)|figure-four]] variant of the traditional [[Boston crab|single-leg Boston crab]] (''Medio Cangrejo''), it was passed down to [[Riki Choshu]], a student of Gotch. It became anglicized as the ''Scorpion deathlock'' in the case of [[Ron Garvin]] and [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]], or the ''Sharpshooter'' in the case of [[Bret Hart]].

Gotch was inducted into the [[Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame]] as part of the inaugural class in 1996.<ref name="Schramm" /> In 2007, he was inducted into the [[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]].<ref name="PWHoF" /> He became a 2009 posthumous inductee into the [[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]],<ref name=":10" /> and was included as a member of the [[International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]] in 2022'''.<ref name=":11" />'''

=== Mixed martial arts ===
Gotch also influenced the development of [[mixed martial arts]] (MMA) through his students including Antonio Inoki, [[Satoru Sayama]], [[Minoru Suzuki]], [[Masakatsu Funaki]], [[Akira Maeda]], and [[Nobuhiko Takada]]. Inoki wrestled in a series of matches called [[wiktionary:ishu_kakutōgi_sen|''ishu kakutōgi sen'']], where he faced martial artists representing different styles and a [[Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki|legitimate fight against Muhammad Ali]] in 1976. Inoki hired legitimate martial artists such as Gotch to train his roster and later promoted MMA. Sayama founded [[Shooto]], a hybrid martial art system and promotion. Shooto held its first amateur events in 1985 and its first professional event in 1989, several years prior to the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] in 1993. Suzuki and Funaki founded [[Pancrase]], which held [[Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 1|its first event]] a month before [[UFC 1]]. Maeda founded [[Fighting Network Rings|RINGS]], a shoot-style wrestling promotion that became an MMA promotion. And Takada co-founded [[Pride Fighting Championships|PRIDE]], one of the most popular MMA promotions in history. These students and promotions shaped MMA by producing and featuring many of the top fighters of their time.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Stephen |date=Sep 4, 2007 |title=Kitaoka Headlines Pancrase's Karl Gotch Memorial |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Kitaoka-Headlines-Pancrases-Karl-Gotch-Memorial-8852 |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=2012-02-12 |title=MMA Origins: Catch Wrestling Travels to Japan |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/02/12/mma-origins-catch-wrestling-travels-to-japan-karl-gotch-istaz-satoru-sayama-antonio-inoki-shooto/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=T.P. |date=2012-07-23 |title=MMA Origins: Birth of Japanese MMA |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/02/20/ufc-144-japan-mma-history/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=KJ |date=2012-07-24 |title=Karl Gotch Week: Satoru Sayama, Shooto And The Style Of Japanese Catch Wrestling |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/07/24/karl-gotch-week-satoru-sayama-shooto-japanese-catch-wrestling-erik-paulson-brock-lesnar/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=KJ |date=2012-07-28 |title=Karl Gotch Week: Rest In Peace Kamisama, 'God Of Wrestling' 1924 – 2007 |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2012/07/28/karl-gotch-week-rest-in-piece-kamisama-god-of-catch-wrestling-1924-2007/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Bloody Elbow}}</ref>

Gotch was friends and training partners with [[judo]] exponents [[Masahiko Kimura]] and Kiyotaka Otsubo, who also had tenures as professional wrestlers. He also had some skills in [[Sambo (martial art)|sambo]] and shin-kicking, the latter of which he took up thanks to [[Billy Riley]].<ref name=KG>{{cite book|last=Yamaguchi|first=Noboru|author-link=|title=紙のプロレス・ラジカル3号 カール・ゴッチ神様降臨!!|date=1997|publisher=Kamipro|isbn=}}</ref> Gotch was vocal in his opposition to the growing [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]], decrying its practitioners as "old whores waiting for a consumer" due to their usage of the [[Guard (grappling)|guard]] position.<ref name=KG/> He also referred to BJJ gyms as "whorehouses".

== Championships and accomplishments ==
*'''American Wrestling Alliance (Ohio)'''
**AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="ObitPWT"/>
*'''[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
** Class of 2009<ref name=":10">{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=39743&p=1|title=Ricky Steamboat, Nick Bockinkel Among 2009 Class Honored By Wrestling Museum & Institute|last=Johnson|first=Mike|publisher=[[PWInsider]]|date=June 30, 2009|access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref>
* '''[[International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
** [[International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame#Members|Class of 2022]]<ref name=":11">{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=156794|title=Steve Austin & More: International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Announced|work=PWInsider.com|first=Mike|last=Johnson|date=March 13, 2022|accessdate=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202233038/https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=156794|archive-date=February 2, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance]]'''
**NWA Eastern Heavyweight Championship (2 times)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=3905|title=NWA Eastern Heavyweight Championship|work=Cagematch|accessdate=October 7, 2023}}</ref>
*'''[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'''
**[[Real World Championship]] (2 times)<ref name="ObitPWT"/>
**[[Greatest 18 Club]] inductee
*'''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]'''
**[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame#2007|Class of 2007]]<ref name="PWHoF">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/karl_gotch.asp|title=Karl Gotch|last=Oates|first=Robert K.|access-date=January 14, 2013|publisher=[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529174611/http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/karl_gotch.asp|archive-date=May 29, 2009}}</ref>
*'''''[[Tokyo Sports]]'''''
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Service Award|Service Award]] (2007)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/wrestling/wrestling_past4/|script-title=ja:東京スポーツ プロレス大賞|access-date=2014-01-20|work=[[Tokyo Sports]]|language=ja}}</ref>
*'''[[World Championship Wrestling (Australia)]]'''
**[[IWA World Heavyweight Championship (WCW Australia)|IWA World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[IWA World Heavyweight Championship (WCW Australia)#Title history|1 time]])<ref name="OWW"/>
*'''[[WWE|World Wide Wrestling Federation]]'''
**[[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWWF World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)|1 time]]) – with [[Rene Goulet]]<ref name="Schramm"/>
*'''[[Worldwide Wrestling Associates]]'''
**[[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship|WWA World Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship#title history|2 times]]) – with [[Michael DiBiase|Mike DiBiase]]<ref name="OWW"/>
*'''''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] ([[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame#Inductees|Class of 1996]])<ref name="Schramm">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/29/4377879.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219183224/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/29/4377879.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 19, 2013|title="God of Wrestling" legacy on wrestling may be forever Karl Gotch dead at age 82|date=July 29, 2007|last=Schramm|first=Chris|author2=Oliver, Greg|access-date=January 14, 2013|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>
*'''Other titles'''
** [[German Heavyweight Championship]] ([[German_Heavyweight_Championship#Original_version|1 time]])<ref name="wrestlingtitlesGE">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/europe/germany/ger-h.html|title=German Heavyweight Championship Title History|publisher=Wrestling-titles|accessdate=2018-01-06}}</ref>
** European Championship (1 time)<ref name="PWHoF"/>

== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
*{{cite video|title=Catch: The Hold Not Taken|date=2005|medium=DVD}}

== External links ==
* {{Olympics.com|karel-istaz|name=Karel Istaz}}
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}

{{World Tag Team Championship (WWE)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gotch, Karl}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Antwerp]]
[[Category:Olympic wrestlers for Belgium]]
[[Category:Wrestlers at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Belgian catch wrestlers]]
[[Category:Belgian professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:German male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling trainers]]
[[Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni]]
[[Category:Expatriate professional wrestlers in Japan]]
[[Category:Belgian people of Hungarian descent]]
[[Category:Belgian emigrants to Germany]]
[[Category:German emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Entertainers from Hamburg]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Japan]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:NWA Americas Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:IWA World Heavyweight Champions (Australia)]]
[[Category:World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)]]