| Gallery 675 Guide to Stretching |
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This Gallery is based on an
article called "Danger! This Hold Can Cripple You For Life!!!" from
one of those hot old Wrestling Magazines. Check out how the language
in the article is written to excite and arouse the reader... |
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The cover of the magazine featured
this handsome Japanese hottie, Antonio Inokio, almost in tears as big, hairy
Bruno Sammartino twists his body in the Abdominal Stretch. |
| The article begins with a dire warning,
complete with three exclamation points, begging the fans to be careful with
this crippling hold. (Later the article will explain exactly how to
apply the hold for maximum crippling effects.) |
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| Poor Nick Bockwinkle is shown bent
over in an un-natural position as the frightening caption for this photo states:
"Red Bastien almost ended Nick Bockwinkle's career
with this abdominal stretch (opposite page)." |
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Even though the hold is very dangerous
based on the banner headline, this caption explains very clearly how to obtain
maximum leverage by hooking your arm up near the shoulder and your leg around
the thigh. |
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Tim Woods was a soft-bellied
jobber who the fans loved to watch taking a beating in the ring. His
opponent digs his fingers into the soft flesh just above the waistband of
his bright white trunks. |
| The next caption explains possible
errors to prevent the reader from failing to cripple his opponent: "Bobby Kay does not have a solid grip on Bobby Shane's shoulder. His left leg, instead of being wrapped around Shane's thigh, is hanging in the air, not anchored to the mat." |
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| Here is the entire article, which you can click on to enlarge
in order to see the words. Also, the text of the article is copied
later in this Gallery so you can read it. |
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Although the earlier caption recommended
you anchor your foot to the mat, this photo shows Inoki with both feet off
the ground in his Ab Stretch variation. This is considered "one of the most effective and crippling in professional wrestling." |
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The vicious Sheik, his face bloodied
from Bobo Brazil's relentless attack, bites his fist so he can endure the
pain of the dreaded Abdominal Stretch. |
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I re-typed the text
from the article below, explaining the crippling effects of this hold in
detail, and illustrated it with images of Justin Pierce stretching
out some jobber... |
| "It's quick. It's
painful. It can cripple a man for life. It's the abdominal stretch,
and it's quickly becoming the most popular submission hold in the sport." From BG East, Justin Pierce vs. Lance Jeffers, Mathunks 6 |
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| "The wrestler is whipped into the ropes. The ropes sag
as his back plummets into them. At the end of their strain they reverse
direction and propel the wrestler back towards the center of the ring." |
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| "The opponent, waiting, ducks around behind his man, wrapping
one arm underneath the wrestler's arm while at the same time snaking his leg
around the opposite leg of his opponent." |
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| "Then
he begins to lean back, pulling back the right shoulder and left leg. The
victim begins to scream in anguish. He knows he must concede." |
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"He has just
been trapped in one of the most crippling holds in wrestling -- the abdominal
stretch!!" From BG East, Justin Pierce vs. Lance Jeffers, Mathunks 6 |
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"Yes. Occasionally
a wrestler will, somehow, work his way out of the abdominal stretch. But
not often." |
| "In fact, the abdominal stretch as a submission
hold has an outstanding success rate, more than 97 percent." |
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| " 'The
abdominal stretch is a crippler, no doubt about it,' says Pat O'Conner, former
NWA heavyweight champion and a man who's considered one of the world's foremost
experts in applying the abdominal stretch." From BG East, Justin Pierce vs. Lance Jeffers, Mathunks 6 |
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" 'Properly applied,
it is one of the few holds that cannot be either reversed or escaped from.'
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" 'What makes it so
successful -- and so dangerous -- is that it actually stretches the muscles
in the abdomen as well as the rib cartilege.' " |
| " 'That's extremely
painful -- a pain few people can tolerate. If
the victim doesn't concede almost immediately,
he'll black out.' " From BG East, Justin Pierce vs. Lance Jeffers, Mathunks 6 |
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