I first saw WT during a demonstration by Prof. Keith R. Kernspecht at the State University of Plovdiv, where I teach wrestling. As an experienced and enthusiastic martial artist, my curiosity about this ingenious fighting system was of course aroused immediately.
Accordingly I was delighted to accept an invitation from Prof. Margaritov to accompany him on a visit to the WT Trainer Academy at Langenzell Castle, where I was able to spend a week comparing wrestling and EWTO-WT techniques and their practical application with Prof. Kernspecht. I wrestled with Dr. Kernspecht for several hours, during which he refrained from using any WT striking, thrusting or kicking techniques and restricted himself purely to control techniques.
I found WT to be a simple but highly effective system which makes it possible to control any attacker as if by itself, without having to use excessive strength as e.g. in wrestling. Grandmaster seemed to anticipate every one of my moves before I started them. Unlike e.g. Karate and Taekwondo, WT dispenses with showy techniques and mainly relies on contact with the opponent. The opponent’s strength is used for the defence. The WT movements are absolutely supple, soft and flexible, and can be learned for self-defence in record time, though mastery requires many years of study.
Many aspects of ChiSao could be applied in wrestling. As a wrestler and world champion, I am sure that wrestling techniques could be decisively improved with ChiSao. What I have experienced so far is simply wonderful, and has given me many new ideas. Together with Prof. Margaritov and Dr. Kernspecht we are working on a study designed to show common factors between WT and wrestling. We are also making efforts to spread WT in Bulgarian schools and universities. This is where ChiSaoaspects can already be incorporated into conventional lessons in wrestling, which is very widespread in Bulgaria. On a broad basis, i.e. in the Martial Arts faculty of the State University of Plovdiv, in sports management and in wrestling, my colleagues and I will spread the structure of the EWTO and its WT throughout Bulgaria, as I think that WT is the best martial art bar none. It develops the body and mind in equal measure.
Jivko Vangelov
Three-times world wrestling champion and Olympic champion
I have been a freestyle wrestler since 1972, and have lived in Germany since 1980. My titles include the following:
1974 Turkish champion
1976 Military champion
I still practice freestyle wrestling. 18 months ago I was introduced to the WT system for the first time. Up to then I had a low opinion of so-called self-defence methods. Whenever I went for somebody in a serious street-fight, they had never stood a chance. But I had real problems with the WT system! Its fast, successive elbow and knee techniques are very dangerous. In wrestling one needs a great deal of strength in addition to the techniques, but the same cannot be said of WT.
I can only advise those who are looking for a real self-defence system to watch the WT system being taught by a good instructor, and perhaps to have a try. I have made many realistic comparisons with representatives of other martial arts, and they didn’t stand a chance against me.
Mesuf Cengiz
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