Physical Chess: My Life in Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling

[Powerlift66]

Looks  like this could be a good read!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1770410627/ref=pe_143810_23953520_snp_dp




Book Description
Publication Date: June 1, 2012

In this fascinating autobiography, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) guru Billy Robinson recounts his upbringing amid a family of champion fighters, his worldwide travels, and his time as a pro-wrestling television star. The memoir fills a crucial gap in the history of catch-as-catch-can wrestling while simultaneously chronicling the subject’s life in his own inimitable voice. Starting with Robinson’s upbringing in a working-class family in post–World War II England, the record journeys through his career as a professional wrestler, concluding with his current profession as a highly sought-after MMA coach, training legends such as Kazushi Sakuraba and Josh Barnett. For the first time, this narrative sets the record straight on the author’s infamous street fight with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and the accomplishments of some of the world’s greatest competitive grapplers. Both eye-opening and inspiring, Robinson’s story spans wrestling from before its first appearances on television to its presence in today's social media, demanding a unique place on the bookshelves of pro-wrestling and MMA fans alike.

[Montague]

...this narrative sets the record straight on the author’s infamous street fight with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson...

Ha! Somebody messed up this description.
The fight was suppposed to have been with Rock's grandfather, Peter Maivia.

[Powerlift66]

LOL

Good catch   

[Montague]

I don't know a whole lot about Billy, other than he trained for a time at Riley's "Snake Pit" in Lancashire near Wigan. As a legitimate shooter, he was supposedly a bastard in the ring - often going just beyond working, stretching guys and taking liberties; a bit of a bully.

Anyone who's seen his matches can probably understand why he never caught on and became big in North America. Like Karl Gotch, Billy used a different "style" that usually wasn't as exciting to fans who were more accustomed to the New York-style brand. Billy spent a lot of time working for Verne Gagne's AWA, which had some excellent mat technicians, but I think his greatest success came in Japan, and I'd love to read about his trips there.

I congratulate Billy Robinson on his current success. I have to; even at his age, he'd probably cripple my ass!
Like Karl Gotch, I think that a lot of Billy's best work/notoriety came later in life. I posted a few semi-recent clips of Robinson training some MMA guys in this thread: http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=403477.0

I'd also love to see what Billy has to say about the legendary Bill Riley and Karl Gotch!