Okay, so, I wanted to figure out this whole Japanese wrestling thing, also known as “puroresu”. I started digging around, trying to trace it back to its roots and figure out how it all began.
I realized it’s way easier to start with what I already knew in English and then piece together the Japanese meanings from there. So, I did just that. I started looking at articles on Japanese promotions, using the patterns I was picking up. The more I read, the more familiar I got with the whole scene.
Now, one thing I noticed is that there are a bunch of common elements in the main styles of Japanese wrestling. It kinda blurs the lines between them. The biggest thing I saw was this emphasis on making you believe what you’re seeing is real. They really try to enforce that suspension of disbelief. It’s not just about the moves; it’s about the story they’re telling.
It turns out that Japanese wrestling is a bit different from the American style, even though there are some similarities. I dove into this article about New Japan Pro Wrestling, which is this big, long-standing organization over there. The article not only talked about the history but also showed me how to actually watch a match.
- It’s a whole different style: Japanese pro wrestling has its own vibe, separate from the traditional US style.
- Less showy: There are fewer theatrics compared to what we see in the US.
- Focus on spirit: The stories in Japanese matches are more about a fighter’s spirit and how they persevere.
- Wrist control: They really emphasize wrist control techniques, which have even been adapted into Greco-Roman wrestling.
Here are some things I picked up:
I also found out about these three different wrestling styles: folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman. It turns out that many of the best wrestlers in the US actually compete in all three! Folkstyle just means “native style,” which makes sense.
Back in the early 1990s, there were these four wrestlers in AJPW (All Japan Pro Wrestling) called the “Four Pillars of Heaven.” Their matches were legendary and really helped define what they call “ōdō,” which is like the “king’s road” style of wrestling.
So yeah, that’s my journey into the world of Japanese wrestling so far. It’s been a wild ride, but I’m definitely learning a lot. It’s a whole different world compared to American wrestling, but it’s super fascinating once you start to understand it.
That’s the story, folks! I learned a lot, found a lot, and now know a bit more about Japanese wrestling.