BackYard Wrestling Good or Bad ?????

[Genocide]

Ok I know for someo of you that have been here awhile we have done this topic before. I just thought for all the new people we could revisit it.

I just watched on CNN lastnight a thing on Back Yard Wrestling. Once again it got me all pumped watching these kids wrestling. NOW some of the stuff I seen scared the crap out of me. However some of the stuff was awesome. With the right training and yes these kids need training they good be some of the great indy wrestlers we know today. They seem to have a passion for the business on some other level.

Well that is all i have to say for now. Please toss us your thoughts.

Genocide

[JasonKrowe]

Note: Its great to see this place back up!

Anyway, speaking from experience since I did backyard from 1995 to 2002 and have done reunion shows once a year since then, I can tell you that not all feds are the same.

Yea, there is a HUGE benefit from getting trained, but then here is where I argue a point. Before the training schools, what was there? I would imagine alot of guys just 'wrassled' around, emulating what they had seen. I would imagine these people were not criticized by the wrestling world back then, it was more than likely encouraged. Today, there are alot of breakout performers who admit that yes, they started out in their backyards before getting trained. And then, just so they don't get murdered by their peers, they say "but Im against it and ya'll should get trained." Pot.Kettle.Black.

Face it, some have the talent, some don't. Some don't require instruction from a professional to know what to do, and of course some can't do things without a professional showing them what to do.

The backyard stuff I did was so insanely tame, no one EVER got hurt, aside from a muscle ache every now and then. We wrestled on 4 on 4 mattresses with tarp bungied over it to give it a "ring look". We used 1 ladder which was our only "turnbuckle" or jumping post. There were no ropes. The most extreme spot was a crossbody from the 3rd rung of a 4ft ladder. Yea...WOW!!!!~! Hardcore moment? Pat on the back with a chair, and literaly, it was a pat on the back.

We made front page news in the local newspaper twice in 2 years, not because we did something wrong, it was because we were trying to build an image that not all backyard wrestling is BAD. We all admitted that yes, we are untrained, we are not professionals, and someday we just might go get trained, but in the meantime we are happy with what we are able to do and thats that.

In 2002 we had decided it was time for all of us to move on. We met a promoter who was more than willing to help us to get trained, and for $50 a month, 4 of us were signed up. After 3 sessions in 3 weeks, the trainer was so impressed that he let 2 of us get into a full length match. Believe this or not but Our two versus him and his tag partner lasted 45 minutes, and they had gotten so tired that they stopped the match for 15 minutes, then went back at it for another 10. 55 MINUTE TAG MATCH between two amatures and two professionals.

Sadly, however, money became an issue and we all had to back out. Eventually, we would create and give out (not sell) DVDs based on our wrestling over the years. We even got responses back from other indy wrestlers who were impressed and couldn't find anything bad to say.

Very soon, a 3rd DVD will be released as me and my friend are currently working on the project.

So yea, don't judge a book by its cover in this case. There are people who actually have common sense, then there are those that don't, and they need the training much more.

Good day.

[Hammer]

I think its good and bad in the wrong hands. I think that if you think you know a lot about it go right ahead and try,like me and my fed, or you can go get some traning. The cheapest traning I have found so far is $99 a month and it's in North Carolina. I prefer backyard to all other styles,maby except ECW.

[Jacob Frost]

If a kid throws a football in his backyard does that make him a football player?

The same can be said for backyard wrestling. If a person emulates something that they see on RAW does that make them a wrestler?

Since the early days of wrestling there has always been wrestling schools and I'm talking as early as the 1930's. Veterens who were in the "business" back then still didn't just let anyone into thier circle. You had to earn the respect of the workers in any promotion before you were even considered accepted. Today, respect is still earned but it is easier to become trained with the influx of schools across the world.

In a sense the reason that trained workers protect thier business and defend it against backyard wrestling is the fact that by kids performing moves in thier backyard they are basically saying, "Anyone can do this."

A majority of the populus would probably assume that going to a wrestling schools you learn how to "fall" safely and how to perform moves and that's it. But, there is much more than that. Sure you learn how to take bumps but you also learn psychology and psychology is not something you can learn by watching TV. It is something you learn with experianced workers who have knowledge about a business that has been around since any of us were born and will be around once we have all turned to dust.

In retrospect sure it is good that there is a flow young people who want to become professional wrestlers. But, before trying something in a backyard think to yourself on why there are schools.

Oh, yes I have done backyard wrestling. While I don't regret it I do look back at it and think, "How dumb was I."

[whytbredkilla187]

In my opinion, backyarding is fine when you're still a kid just looking for something to do on the weekends, BUT when you are getting in the 18 or older range, that's where it gets a little bad. When I say "fine", I mean just messing around, holding little matches, doing your basic wrestling, but when kids start hurting each other with fire, thumbtacks, whatever, that's where a line is drawn. Just like what the one guy said about football, playing football in your yard is fun, but does that make you a pro? NO, and how much news coverage or whatever is your little football games gonna get? Unless it's for charity or something, little to none. On top of that, professional wrestling requires careful movements, protection, training, and all that good stuff. If you wanna play football, yet you know nothing about plays, yard lines, whatever, most people have the general idea of what it is:get the ball and get it in the end zone. Anyone can do something that simple, you don't need proper training, just common sense for the goal:Score touchdowns, and keep the other team from scoring them. Like the guy above me said, it's much more then learning how to fall, and mic skills, it's psychology. In backyarding, how many matches do you see where a kid does like 10 arm drags to the other kid, then puts him in an arm bar on the same arm from the arm drags, then stomp on the arm, ect. NONE! On top of that, for that guy that said about doing 3 sessions and having a full 55 minute match......two things could be possible at the same time with this. 1.You guys are indeed very advanced and good, and 2.You have bad trainers. Training isn't just learning how to do stuff, it's to pay dues. The school I go/went to runs it like a boot camp, no matter how good you are at doing whatever, they run you, they make you work out. No matter how great you are, you at least don't even do a practice match for AT LEAST 6 months. Doing 3 sessions and doing a 55 minute match is just not right. I went to a school before the one I'm at now, where I was on suplexes and hip toss's by my second session.....where I last left off last year at my new school, I was barely doing arm drags yet! If you move along real quick, you'll get really cocky, whereas if you get the shit beat outa you for 6 months to a year, you are respected by the locker rooms you work in, and in turn you learn to respect all the others who went through the same thing. All in all, I think backyarding is cool till you're like 17 or 18, and definitely violent backyarding is out. ANYONE could cut each other, or use fire, but being smart enough to put on a good techinical match....that's where it takes skill.

[razz1]

My thoughts are this if you aint trained get trained couse it does help orevent serious injurys .

THen again if youre doing back yard wrestling untrained its youre boddy you will end up distroying much fater than a trained person would.

Also some untrained wrestlers had been on a event with a bunch of trained ones in i belive new york and the un trained guys toughed it out and got there knocks and also gave as good as they received .

[ajchris]

Kids hurting themselves because most of them dont know what they are doing. BAD just my opinion.

Aj

[snake]

In my opinion, which may or may not be important to all, Backyard wrestling is great, except for when fire and other dangerous "weapons" are used. Im only 16, but ithink that kidse these days should have something to keep them away from the video games and food. Wrestling will keep them, hopefully, off the streets, keep them active, and give them something that they all could have fun with without hurting someone or breaking the law. I used to backyard wrestle (trying to get back at it) and when my friend got in trouble with the law, it broke up our "federation". I think that if kids are going tho "Backyard" wrestle, then they should have fun, keep it clean, and stick with it. Other than that I've got nothing to say

[clone205]

I have been paying attention to backyard wrestling for a while now, I believe that if it, like many say, keep it clean, are trained right then it is a great thing. Iam from small town and woudl love to see more backyard wrestling performed around my area, I love it

[clone205]

For those of you that are very involved in backyard wrestling..Legally, where there documents you had to get before considering setting up a ring in a backyard. I know a friend of my is currently starting his own backyard wrestling and does not want to start it until he knows what he has to do legally, if anything. Does anyone know anything?- thanks

[Hammer]

Well I've never heard of having permits for backyard wrestling. So no there is no documents for being involved in backyarding. Just have everyone read and sign a written or typed document that you typed up saying that there is a chance that they might get hurt and they know it, so you don't get sued. Other than that there is nothing that I know about.

[stu99]

my opinion on backyard wrestling is it's great i personnally have a backyard wrestling and it's growing a great fan base but we didn't just jump in and beat the hell out of each other we trained and we discussed and learned what makes a great match without getting seriously hurt we even have hardcore matches alot of the time but we also learned to do stuff like u have to trust the other person and they need to know they can trust u too but i think kids to young should take it slow and practice but not do anything to crazy take a couple years to build up to the big matches and learn on the way it is good to go to a wrestling school and train but i think u can train yourself if u really try and put your mind into it but thats just my opinion

[scarr22]

BAD!

Backyard wrestling is NOT wrestling. Also, having a rep as being a backyard wrestler usually will kill your indy/WWE career(see Josh Mathews).

Now, if backyarding is something you did as a pre-teen/teenager and then you come across a reprable training facility(dont call them schools) that's a different story.

I've trained side by side with a bunch of former backyarders and they have wound up becoming some of the best workers in my area.

But, if you are a backyarder who desires a legit indy career, remember to show respect and don't, and I mean DO NOT, give advice.

You'll get black balled with the quickness. Well, at least when your payments run out, but you don't want to be with a trainer like that anyways.

I've come across a ton of backyarders who tried to give me advice on manuevers that they have zero business commenting on.

Remember, just because you watched it on TV and did it with your friends in the backyard with your buddies doesnt mean it was done legit.

You wouldnt believe how many times I was in wrestling training and was like "oh" when the proper mechanics of a manuever were explained to me. More then once, I'll tell you that.

BTW, working a match isnt easy. And, I have yet seen a backyard match that had proper mechanics or ring psychology.

Working a match isn't an exhibition of moves. But, this is a conversation for another post....

[bigjoe818]

i think that it is alright, only if you are a teenager, and you are acutally trying to wrestle. Some people cannot afford getting instruction from profesionals and sometimes have to resort to doing backyard to try to get noticed. As long as everyone knows that they have good chances of getting injured, and plan the match well I do not see anything bad with this. The backyarders should also know what the consequenses are if they were to ever persue a career in wrestling and how they would need to act after they make it to indy wrestling.

[kennymccormick18]

This is a very tough subject many people think it is bad because all they have seen is the BYW videos. Although it is fun to watch and some of the people in there actully have talent that is not what Backyard wrestling is about. First thing is saftey I have not been professionaly trained and do not claim to know the proper way to do move I could learn lots of stuff and am in the process after healing up from a wreak of getting into APW the owner lives in my town the only prob. is going and training and the cost. But for the younger kids around where I live I will show them the best ways I have found not to get hurt when taking a bump or falling off stuff. I have taking and giving many piledrivers never has anyone I have wrestled with been hurt. I had a move that I called Headace that was 2 holding fallback piledrivers then a jumping piledriver. It is a dangerous move but never once was anyone hurt by it. There is 2 types of byw the one that take the time to learn how to do moves and learn the best way to land them. Then the ones that just go out and fight and mock what they have seen or what they thing would look good without plaining how the move sould land. The second type has hurt the first type in many ways. So no not all BYW is bad.

[bigjoe818]

That is exactly how i see it. I plan on getting trained with a friend and spending months going over what we know. Not just jump in and start mocking television. Our roster agreed that we want to be good technical wrestlers and that we want to put a good show, without getting hurt, cuz most of these guys have things going on in their lives and we would hate to get seriously injured.

[The SteelDragon]

There's nothing wrong with backyarding if its done within reason. When kids think they're real wrestlers because they wrestle in a back yard it gets to be a problem. They try moves they don't know how to do. They use 'weapons' (garbage wrestling) and do stupid dangerous stuff. Often times badly injuring themselves.

If you're safe and careful backyard wrestling, there are a lot worse hobbies a kid could have. Just don't decieve yourself into thinking it makes you a real wrestlers.
I hate training with people that think they know everything, because they wrestlered in a backyard. If you're a backyarder and you go in for real wrestling training, check you ego at the door or you'll have a real painful reality check coming.

[chriss]

As long as backyarding is done without resorting to new and inventive ways to really hurt each other there is nothing wrong with backyard wrestling. I don't see much of a problem as long as safety is preached first (ie. don't do anything you aren't comfortable with) and moves such as DDTs and Piledrivers aren't done because we've even seen pro's get hurt seriously by those moves much less untrained backyarders. But as far as basic striking, suplexes, grappling, etc. I think it's good for kids that aren't involved in a whole lot of other things in their high school years to do it just to stay out of in front of the TV all day.

[adamfsh6]

This is how I see it,

If your just doing basic wrestling, taking small bumps and such with maybe(key word MAYBE) a chair shot here and there thats perfectly fine.

HOWEVER, if your throwing people on to thumbtacks and seriousley effecting someones well being thats not good and thats where the line needs to be drawn.

[vicctorasmadi]

A few of my friends and I have been having small Back Yard matches for a few months now. Admittedly we do some stupid stuff (such as one friend jumping from a deck to frog splash another that was on the hood of a car) but we try to keep it within our own limits. The main reason we started actually is because the jumper is trying to get into a wrestling school, and we don't mind helping him practice, granted everything he learns while wrestling with us will be pretty much void if he gets into the wrestling school.

The main good part about the wrestling for us though, is we get to blow off steam while entertaining others.

So is it good or bad? Both in some ways, but none of us have gotten seriously hurt, no more than if we played football.

[chasinglamely]

To be honest, while I have no problem - in principal - with backyarding, it would be a lot less prolific if wrestling schools on that side of the atlantic weren't so expensive.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the theory; if it costs $4000 to train then only those who really want it will sign up. But there are kids who really want it who would have to save for most of their lives to scrape that kind of money together, so I don't understand the logic.

I always though it would be good if a top promotion - perhaps TNA if Vince won't - rather than saying 'Don't try this at home, kids' (Because that doesn't work, it just encourages it) actually did somethign constructive. They aren't going to stop because you say so. But how about every tme you stop off in a town you actually send a road agent or two out to find the backyarders and teach them how to bump properly? Or how to work some basic holds so they can do it safely? Surely that's better (And cheaper from Vince's POV) than having some kid seriously hurt themselves doing it and the parents suing him?

Hell, if that's not logistically possible, make a DVD or something where top superstars (Cena, Trips, etc) demonstrate basic bumping techniques and holds step-by-step with diagrams and stuff. Then tag on Foley, The Hardys, Helms, Lita, Shannon Moore to the DVD talking about their experiences as backyarders. Most Yarders look up to those guys as coming out of the backyard and into the WWE and want to emulate it, so why not have them give the message out as part of an instructional/safety DVD?

[The SteelDragon]

$4,000 is a price for some top rated wrestling schools. Most charge about $1,500 to $2,500. It sounds like a lot, but they usually work out a payment plan where wrestlers pay about $150 a month.

As for backyarders, training is part of the equation, but they'd also need a proper ring. As you probably already know from experience that's at least $2,000 and most backyarders can't afford that.

In the WWE almost every wrestler that's really made it has had a major injury at some point. And that's with well trained wrestlers, in a very good ring, with peek physical conditioning.

Also there is a DVD like the one you were talking about "Ultimate Pro-Wrestling Training". You can find it on Amazone.com. Aside from the warning at the beginning it doesn't go into backyarding, but it does teach lots of the basics like taking bumps, arm drags, basic striking, three quarter rolls, and telling the story as far as a match goes. (It doesn't have an WWE input, but it shows John Cena and Somoa Joe when in the earlier stages of their training/career)

As I've said before backyarding is okay as long as the kids realize its not going to get them into the WWE. If its just for fun, they don't try any major moves, and they're careful there are a lot worse hobbies a kid could have.

[chasinglamely]

I actually have a copy of the UPW DVD on it's way that I bought off eBay. That is if the woman actually managed to send the thing.

[The SteelDragon]

I think you'll really like it. It doesn't cover DDTs, Piledrivers, and jumping off the ropes, but I really don't think an untrained or novice wrestler should try those anyhow.

The video does cover a lot of low risk moves and the right way to do them. While I prefer getting real training, I think a backyarder could put together a pretty safe/good looking match with what the video teaches.

[chasinglamely]

I only got it because it was cheap, but it might be a good thing for the ol' library.

[dirtydanhanson]

While I understand why kids want to do backyard wrestling, I scares the hell out of my to see what some of them are doing with no training. In my little town, I train 7 kids ranging from 15 to 25. Now I know not many guys with the knowledge and experience do this but I saw that these "backyarders" really wanted to wrestle because they love pro wrestling and there wasn't a training facility around here. I offered to train these guys for free as long as they stopped backyarding and and 7 out of 12 agreed. So far they are doing pretty good. Since I know this doesn't happen all that much, I think some of you guys should look at training cost in perspective. If you really want to get trained, think how fast $1,200 dollars or so can be raised. I'll tell you a little story about what one of my students is doing. He's extremely dedicated and definitely wants to wrestle on the indy circuit so I worked out a plan for him to raise the money to go to Jesse Hernandez' School of Hard Knocks in Southern California.

Jesse is one of the most reputable trainers in the US and has trained several wrestlers that have gone on to fame in the the big leagues... Frankie Kazarian(TNA), Melina(WWE), Rocky Romero(Black Tiger in Japan), Tom Howard (UPW Head Trainer in California), Cincinnati Red (Head Trainer for S.O.Hard Knocks and trainer of Samoa Joe). Others that have been to train at Jesse's facility are Louie Spicolli (WWF, WCW, ECW), Godfather(WWE), Chris Jericho(WWE), Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels (TNA), and many wrestlers appearing in Squash matches for WWF/E.

Jesse's School costs $500 in advance for 20 consecutive or non-consecutive lessons. After the 20 lessons are completed, it is $200 in advance for ever 12 workouts after that.

I worked with my student on getting money to get his training. I asked him how many video games he bought in a year. He said 5. So I asked him.. What's more important to you wrestling or video games. He says wrestling. I tell him that every time you see a video game you want to buy, take that money and put it in the bank. 5 games at $50 a pop is $250.00 Then I asked him to tell his entire family to not give Christmas or birthday presents but to give him money. Well on his birthday, he got another $300.00 That's $550 so far.. Then this summer he mowed 50 yards at $10 a yard and cleared $500.00 minus supplies like gas for the mower and grass bags. That $950 so far. This fall he raked 20 yards at $15.00 a pop. Another another $300.00 Add his allowance of $10 a week from his parents another $520 for the year. And his part time job at a grocery store @ 6.00 an hour ($90.00 a week) another $1,500 saved up there. So far he's got a total of $3,270 saved up and he's still got until July of 2007 before he goes out there to start training. Once he gets there, he'll get a job to pay for living expenses. With a little dedication and fore sight anyone can raise the money to get proper training if that's what they really want to do.

Dirty Dan Hanson
www.myspace.com/dirtydanhanson

[The SteelDragon]

My opinion of backyard wrestlers has taken a turn for the worst lately.

If you're a backyarder:
1-Don't think it makes you a real wrestler, because it doesn't. You haven't trained, learned the craft, or paid your dues.
2-Don't try to give advice to real wrestlers. It really frustrating when someone that doesn't even know what a three quarter roll, or a Collar & Elbow tie up is tries to teach others how to wrestle.
3-Don't tell other backyarders how to build wrestling rings, when you have no idea how to and have never even stood in a real wrestling ring yourself. When I hear most of these crazy suggestions it makes me laugh, but some people are dumb enough to actually try some of these things they could get seriously hurt.
4-Don't do any of that stupid dangerous crap. Kids jumping off roofs, setting each other on fire, hitting each other with weed whackers, falling on broken glass. While I appreciate the proof that natural selection is still intact, it doesn't do much else. Why maim or kill yourself just to prove your not a wrestler?
5-Since what you're doing isn't going to lead to a real wrestling career, just be safe and have fun. If you do decide you want to be a real wrestler, get in shape and get trained.

[therealazmyth]

I think it goes 2 ways...

I did some backyard wrestling.. but we didn't "hurt" one another like you see on "best of backyard wrestling" and we didn't hit each other in the head with foreign objects nonstop.

get trained.. is the bottom line. You'll feel better about it and won't take any lip.

[pcwpro]

You're not gonna stop kids from doing it.

But plain and simple try to be safe. And if you ever want to be a REAL wrestler, then go through the training from a legit worker or school.

And if you don't get trained PLEASE do NOT try to get work on legit shows. For OUR safety (you don't know what you're doing), and for YOUR safety (a LOT of guys WILL hurt you for being yarders)!

[indywrestlingeast]

I have to agree with scarr, there are some backyarders with some real potential, just, they waste their time doing the whole backyard thing. The thing I love is when these backyard promotions think they can run against a real promotion, lol, that is always hilarious. I remember, it was like my first, second or third year in the game, two friends of mine were in a backyard promotion, and, this promotion had soundtracks, a website, the whole nine, but, they wrestled in a backyard behind an apartment building, and in the cold months, in a basement. They were beefin' with the promoter who I was learning from, and he, for whatever reason, called them out...On television, LMAO.

What made things even funnier is, that one of my friends from the backyard group came to the gym where I trained, and started to learn the right way of doing things, only to go back to the backyard group, and use it on their shows. So, one night, the promoter asks the kid for the number of the leader of the backyard group. He got the number, and started to harrass the guy, which didn't help the situation, because, when I hungout with my friends, who were with the group, I had to watch my ass, because I thought I would've gotten jumped, and how messed up would that have been? lol

I didn't, but, still, it made things uneasy between my friends and me, kinda made it hard to hangout, because they thought I was setting them up to get beatdown. But, getting back to them point, they tried to run against the promotion, and, it was funny, because they'd call out the promoter on my old promotion's website. From time to time, they'd post, eventually, it just got to a point where it just died out. Oh, and after awhile, I got away from that promoter, lol, he was a knucklehead..