23 Facts About Martin Burns

Martin Burns, nicknamed Farmer Burns, was an American catch wrestler, wrestling coach, and teacher.

Martin Burns was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2002.

Martin Burns was born on February 15,1861, in a log cabin on a farm in Cedar County, Iowa.

Martin Burns wrestled impromptu matches as a child; and at age 8, he tossed an older rival to claim a fifteen cent prize.

Martin Burns's father died when he was 11, leaving him to support his mother, brother, and five sisters.

Martin Burns spent time working in grading camps, where he competed in regular competitions against rugged strongmen.

However, while these men focused on brute strength, Martin Burns spent much time meticulously perfecting the strategies and techniques of catch wrestling, which is a grappling style where various holds and tactics are used with the intent to either submit or pin both opponent's shoulders to the ground at once.

Martin Burns then honed his skills against the top pro wrestlers of the day, losing decisions to Henry Clayton and Tom Connors in 1886 and 1887 respectively.

Martin Burns accepted the challenge and showed up at the Olympic Theater dressed in his regular farmer's overalls.

However, Martin Burns became known as the master of the pinfall, as he perfected the art of trapping his opponents' shoulders to the mat while contriving such dangerous maneuvers as the full and half-nelson, hammerlock, double-wrist lock, chicken wing, and a variety of submission toe holds.

Farmer Martin Burns soon encountered the renowned Sorakichi Matsuda, who is regarded as Japan's first-ever pro wrestler, and who had been a top challenger to World Wrestling Champions William Muldoon and Ernest Roeber during the previous decade.

Martin Burns would go on to reign as wrestling's American Champion for two years until he was finally beaten by Dan McLeod and Tom Jenkins in 1897.

Martin Burns competed in many mixed style wrestling challenge matches, including Cornish wrestling during the 1890s and 1900s.

Martin Burns beat famous Cornish wrestlers such as Rowett, twice in 1899 and M J Dwyer in 1905,1907 and 1908.

Martin Burns opened a gymnasium in Rock Island, Illinois in 1893, and helped to establish schools that enlightened young grapplers to the world of catch wrestling.

In 1899, Martin Burns defeated a 21-year-old Iowan named Frank Gotch, but he recognized his raw talent and recruited him as his prized student.

Martin Burns was so respected as a trainer that he was even recruited to serve as the conditioning coach for boxer Jim Jeffries' 1910 title bout against Jack Johnson.

In 1914, Martin Burns published a 96-page mail-order course entitled The Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture, which incorporated breathing techniques, calisthenics, stamina exercises, and Eastern martial arts principles, thus becoming the bible for all aspiring wrestlers during the early 1900s.

On March 31,2017, Martin Burns was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a part of the Legacy wing.

Martin Burns had two sons, Raymond and Charlie, who became musicians in Chicago, and a daughter, Celia Martin Burns Beem.

Martin Burns suffered the loss of his wife Amelia in 1930, which led to the deterioration of his own condition.

Martin Burns died on January 8,1937, in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of 75, and was buried at the St James Cemetery in Toronto, Iowa.

Martin Burns was well known in the early twentieth century for his neck.