The urban legends of Ray Brinzer

[JasonBryant]

Had Ray on the show to talk about all those stories attributed to him as well as his time at Iowa.

http://www.mattalkonline.com/267

 

[pablow]

Thanks for posting this. Ray tells some great stories. Man somebody has to get Randy Lewis, Royce Alger, and Brinzer together and write a book on the "real" story of Iowa wrestling.

 

[madmustang4]

Brinzer was the only wrestler I knew of who sat on his rear when he went in the down position. Have never seen anyone do it since him.

 

[Sandor45]

I was just saying how Iowa wrestling is never short on characters and personalities....
Maybe it's the Iowa River...

 

[artradley]

Brinzer was the only wrestler I knew of who sat on his rear when he went in the down position. Have never seen anyone do it since him.

Are you talking about sitting with your legs crossed, sort of "Indian style?"

 

[el dub]

Pretty sure it's "Indian" style with the leg on side of opponent tucked under opposite thigh.

 

[artradley]

Pretty sure it's "Indian" style with the leg on side of opponent tucked under opposite thigh.

Friend of my son used that technique; his father taught it to him and he used it from when he was a little kid. Always used it for a sit, and he usually got out quickly.

Brandon Slay has a video where he teaches a whole series from there. It is a good technique, it's odd we don't see it more.

 

[Ray Brinzer]

A few notes and replies:

There's really nothing urban about these legends. Particularly the Iowa ones. Things may have changed, but at the time the only urban thing about Iowa City was the word "City" in the name.... which I assume was there because "Iowa Town" sounds silly.

As I realized just after I hung up, 267 regrettably is not prime. You can tell if a number is divisible by 3 by adding up the digits and seeing if the sum is divisible by 3 (in decimal; using a different number system voids the warranty). 2 + 6 + 7 = 15, and if that's not obvious enough, 1 + 5 = 6. What the heck, Bryant? I deserve a prime spot on your show.

When I said I was wrestling for myself, and not Iowa... geez, maybe that sounded bad. I really enjoyed my time at Iowa, I liked the fans, and appreciated their interest in me. But honestly, it's ultimately a selfish sport. I wasn't trying to win for anyone else; I just wanted to win.

I didn't pick up Danny from school, because she wasn't in school yet. Another thing I realized a little bit after I said it.

I was just saying how Iowa wrestling is never short on characters and personalities....
Maybe it's the Iowa River...

 

[Ray Brinzer]

Pretty sure it's "Indian" style with the leg on side of opponent tucked under opposite thigh.

Close, and looks like it, but not quite. I actually sit on my left foot, with my left knee pointed outward. Then I pointed my right knee at the same angle to the other side, and laid my calf on the mat in front of me so that my right toe just touched my left knee. There's no sense trying to guess which side the top man will set up on, and there wouldn't be much advantage if you could.

Friend of my son used that technique; his father taught it to him and he used it from when he was a little kid. Always used it for a sit, and he usually got out quickly.

Likewise; the sit was my primary position on bottom. This start leads to the sit easily, and also allows you to begin with your torso more upright; your knees are still behind the line, but because they're splayed outward, putting your hands on the far side of the other line is less of a reach. The position is surprisingly versatile, though, and works very well for a (modified) stand-up.

Sitting out is a great tactic for little kids; the sit is a very stable position, and kids have trouble stabilizing themselves. It also leads to a lot of important problems and positions... sort of a "tour of the matwork". Even if you decide you're a stand-up person later on, the experience will serve you well.

 

[Azchief32]

Thanks for stopping by Ray. It would be cool if other former wrestlers did the same. Normally, sports message boards are just white noise full of annoying fans of sports like football, baseball, and basketball with too much time on their hands. With wrestling, it's a small die-hard community full of annoying fans with too much time on their hands. Present company included. So it's a treat to have an ambassador of the sport jump in here from time to time. It's a bonus that you are eloquent and straight forward. Wish more would do the same.