VICE-LIKE GRIP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 166, 31 July 1937, Page 16

VICE-LIKE GRIP

"STRANGLER" LEWIS HOW WRESTLING HAS CHANGED.

If you ever shake hands with Ed. ("Strangler") Lewis, ex-world's heavyweight wrestling champion you will remember it. He has a grip like a vice. Lewis was one of the most colourful passengers who -arrived at Melbourne by the Monowai on Monday, July 26, from Vaucouver, and on the trip down was pleased to practise with an opponent on the upper deck— "just to keep his hand in,", as he put lt. Lewis is a veteran among wrestlers, although he says his correct aga is 46. He has the' liandy weight of 19st. or thereabouts, and in" his 30 years' wrestling he has had over 6000 bouts. Despite his name, the ex-champion is quite a mild sort of person. He modestly admits that he has had a good many victories arid he thinl^s that a wrestler could keep going to the age of 56 or so, if he took care to keep in proper condition. After a brief stay in" New Zealand Lewis will go on to Australia, and * thence to the East and India. In India he expects to meet Gariia, the Indian champion. The ex-champion commented upon upon the way that wrestling had changed since he first knew the sport. To-day people in every country wanted continuous action. The wrestlers realised that they had to give it, and so the short-arm jolt and flying tackle had become generally popular. The head'lock, he said,. was his best hold, and in his long career he had found it very useful. The best tactics were to keep an opponent in a position where he could not give punisliment, and get him off his balance. In fact, the whole secret of success was leverage and balance. The visitor said that tli'ere were now different wrestling styles for different countries. There was not a hold that there was not ja counter for, but everything depended on the fact whether a hold was properly applied or not. Even the Indian deathlock could be broken — if one knew what to do in time. When the Boston crab hold was mentioned Lewis surprised by saying that he had probably experienced it, but not under that particular name. Lewis said that the days when opponents could he scared by a reputation were gone, and one had to constantly endeavour to give his best if he wanted to stay near the top. Coming champions were many and generally a high standard was being reached. Seven years ago he met and defeated Earl McCready, but was quite prepared to believe that the Canadian had improved very much since then. Despite 30 years in the wrestling ring Lewis does not carry as many scars as some of the other leading wrestlers. Although a veteran, he is still hopeful of mdny matches ahead. The secret of athletic fitness, he said, was to live a normal life and always let moderation be the guiding prineiple.