Burnaby Catch Wrestling is a non-profit athletic club whose mission is to maintain and promote the heritage of American Catch-As-Catch-Can wrestling, popular in the late 1800's and early 1900's, through education and instruction of the techniques and culture of the sport.

Currently, very few wrestlers have knowledge of catch wrestling techniques and history. Without new participants, the legacy of such great wrestlers as Frank Gotch, Farmer Burns, Karl Gotch and others could potentially be lost forever. The Club intends to provide quality instruction of these wrestling techniques and culture to students in the Vancouver area, the only such club to do so in Western Canada.

Burnaby Catch Wrestling is primarily suited to wrestlers or grappling-based martial artists, but is open to anyone that would like to learn, participate and be enthusiastic about the art.

The Club is fortunate to have Jason Crawford as it’s primary instructor. Mr. Crawford, a scientific manager in the biopharmaceutical industry, volunteers his time to the club.

His martial arts background includes a brown belt (3rd Kyu) and 1st level instructor certification in Seiei Kan Jujutsu, as well as karate and judo experience. In terms of Catch Wrestling, Mr. Crawford has studied under Matt Furey while in San Jose, California. Mr. Furey is an NCAA national wrestling champion (1985) and a world Shuai Chiao champion (1997) who teaches freestyle, collegiate and catch wrestling. An authority on the history of wrestling, Mr. Furey is keenly aware of the need for the preservation of the catch wrestling heritage, and, along with Karl Gotch is enthusiastically maintaining the tradition of this wrestling style.

Jason Crawford is the first student to be certified by Matt Furey as a catch wrestling instructor, and to date, aside from Mr. Furey and Mr. Gotch, is likely one of a very few people who is sufficiently knowledgeable of these techniques to be an effective teacher.

To Whom It May Concern:

Jason Crawford has been a tremendous martial arts/wrestling student of mine for quite some time. Last December he received certification from me to teach Catch Wrestling in Canada. Jason is a conscientious teacher who gives students his concentrated attention. His character is above board and I wholeheartedly recommend him as an instructor for people of all ages.

Sincerely,
Matt Furey
Martial Arts USA
Tampa, Florida