Ep. 62: Joe Malenko

Before MMA had a name, Joe Malenko was already living it! This week we are lucky enough to be joined by Joe Malenko — Karl Gotch’s student, catch wrestler, pro wrestler, trainer, and forgotten MMA pioneer whose influence helped bridge the gap between traditional grappling and modern mixed martial arts.

As a direct student of Karl Gotch, “Kami-sama aka god of wrestling” and a major influence on submission grappling worldwide, Joe Malenko represents a crucial missing link connecting catch wrestling, pro-wrestling, Japanese shoot-style realism, early hybrid fighting, and the technical grappling foundations used in MMA today.

This episode uncovers how Malenko’s commitment to legitimate submissions, conditioning, and cross-style training placed him decades ahead of his time — quietly shaping fighters, coaching philosophies, and the evolution of real combat sports long before the UFC era.

If you love catch wrestling history, Karl Gotch’s lineage, shoot-style wrestling, MMA origins, and hidden grappling pioneers — this is a must-watch.

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