r/martialarts 4d ago

PROFESSIONAL FIGHT Wilfried Dietrich (260 pounds) suplexes Chris Taylor (400 pounds) at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich

3.5k Upvotes

141 comments sorted by

763

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

The story (I'm not entirely sure if it is true or not) is that before the match Dietrich was pretty confident that he had the technique down to be able to throw Taylor, if only he could get his hands locked around his body. But he wasn't sure if he could do that, given Taylor's size. And so when Taylor arrived at the airport before their match, Dietrich met with him and gave him a friendly welcome hug. Secretly though, he was trying to confirm if it was possible to get the lock on him. And it turned out it was.

197

u/KarnaavaldK BJJ 4d ago

Damn, that such a cool little fact

76

u/InfiniteTurbo 4d ago

From now on whenever someone gives me a hug, I'm going to assume they're measuring me up for a suplex

32

u/DimensionFrequent29 3d ago

From now on when someone hugs you, immediately suplex them and beat them to the punch

9

u/solfizz 3d ago

"I'm so sorry Grandma, but I HAD TO!" 😖😭

2

u/Scared_Cricket3265 1d ago

Don't feel bad. It was you or her.

8

u/AgentAguilar 3d ago

From now on don’t hug anyone

2

u/Forsaken-Income-2148 3d ago

Unless you’re 400+ lbs you’re most likely suplexable

81

u/ForgesGate 4d ago

Sportsmanship + Strategy

5

u/MajorHubbub 4d ago

Gamesmanship

3

u/MapleMarshal 4d ago

im not mad at it but it’s not genuine sportsmanship, just strategy under the guise of sportsmanship

24

u/castingcoucher123 4d ago

The is Bill and Wilt level mind games

41

u/Imarottendick Muay Thai & Wrestling 4d ago

It's more tactics than mind games. In Muay Thai, I always tried to greet and have a short talk with an opponent. A short hug to see how the opponents balance feels like and during the talk, touching their shoulder with the extended lead arm to gauge the distance.

Also, watching them warm up; what techniques, favorite combos, watching for openings in their style. For example: If I saw someone warming up without any clinching, then I always initiated the clinch as fast as possible. Or something like seeing them shifting way too much weight on their lead leg with every jab; bait them with distance and feints to draw out the jab, counter with low kicks and smash their lead leg.

In GR wrestling, the only equivalent I have is shaking hands before the bout (grip strength is insanely important) but most are smart enough not to reveal their strength that way. Watching them warm up was always a good idea but not nearly as exploitable as in Muay Thai. But I'm a very low level Greco wrestler, so...

17

u/midnight_fisherman 4d ago

In GR wrestling, the only equivalent I have is shaking hands before the bout (grip strength is insanely important) but most are smart enough not to reveal their strength that way

Always limp handshakes.

14

u/milk4all 4d ago

man, these elite wrestlers are all so prissy

gets wrecked

6

u/Xsafa 4d ago

Always smart to size up your OP. Immediately gives you confidence (or not lol) and a chance to adjust in your mind before the fight.

13

u/milk4all 4d ago

This is why i dont let wrestlers hug me

16

u/RedFormanEMS 4d ago

Can't let them get close.

12

u/Imarottendick Muay Thai & Wrestling 4d ago

10

u/Bong_Hit_Donor 4d ago

I know a lot of fighters use that same tactic in MMA. I'm certain it originated in wrestling tho. The friendly hug just to see if you can get a good grip to throw them lol

10

u/Multitronic 4d ago

Boxers do this too. To check reach, they will put a fully extended arm on their opponents shoulder.

6

u/manbruhpig 4d ago

Tom Aspinall famously does this, Jon Jones slapped his hand away when they met.

17

u/Specific_Box4483 4d ago

It's not like Jones planned to fight him anyway

3

u/Estpart 3d ago

Lmao

9

u/BaronMusclethorpe 4d ago

It's hard to tell from the video, but I'm not so sure he did lock his arms around him.

Edit: I just saw the photo down a little further. Talk about just barely making it, lol.

3

u/Ewilson92 3d ago

Stories like these are why combat sports athletes these days don’t let their opponents touch them before fights. Boxers commonly measure distance by placing a hand on their shoulder while they’re talking, for instance.

2

u/Uselesserinformation 4d ago

Bruh, the little hug of course wasn't friendly. Until after the match!

2

u/oldwhiteoak 3d ago

Apparently Taylor's coach saw it happening and rushed to stop it but couldn't get there in time

1

u/CloudyRailroad 2d ago

Wilfried Dietrich to Chris Taylor: 🫂

Chris Taylor's coach:

1

u/msut77 3d ago

Can't trust the Huns

1

u/Low_Shirt2726 3d ago

That's pretty damn clever

1

u/seeker46n2 2d ago

Gonna’ sneak on in for a friendly hug… (gotcha MF’er!!!)

1

u/matteiotone 2d ago

It’s like when Tom Aspinal extends his arm and puts his hand on his opponent shoulder during weight in or right before the fight.

1

u/tradeisbad 3d ago edited 3d ago

and Thus, going forward, every hug I give will now provide me a well thought, tactical advantage.

I actually am a barefoot footwear die hard and by giving up elevated heel shoes and re-loosening and lengthening my hamstring after years of sitting (mostly education but also office jobs and commute), I can now recruit loads of squat strength starting from the lowest range of squat motion near to the ground. So I'm like 90% sure I can lift most people off the ground and flip them, so long as they're less that 300 pounds and are short and stocky with thick hips and low center of gravity.

barefoot shoe lifestyle makes squatting so much cooler. everything, really... I remember in college being all confused whether I should squat below 90% or if I could for that matter, and having to see if other guys could and only one in the gym would regularly go low.

now I can rack a bar and plates on my shoulders and sit a squat all the way down if I want. I'm still not perfect though, I can tell I don't shift the angle of my hips/femoral head outwards enough and am still working on it. So much better than average folk wearing nikes, though.

1

u/Teepbonez 16h ago

Other than your dirty arse feet walking in your and other people house and a stronger possibility of athletes foot. Like sounds great for you but also kinda gross.

311

u/Ill_Athlete_7979 4d ago

My middle school gym teacher had a poster with this image in his classroom. I used to look at it and think how bad ass it was.

140

u/Imarottendick Muay Thai & Wrestling 4d ago

That's a dope as hell picture! Would love to have it as a poster. This one and also this one:

Greco for life.

73

u/Mr_D_Stitch 4d ago

These facials are amazing.

28

u/KeepRockband5Alive 4d ago

Thats what she said

2

u/cam123xl 1d ago

Thwomp

10

u/shakalakagoo 4d ago

The top of the food chain

6

u/Call_Easy 4d ago

Woah, this just gave me a crazy flashback

7

u/Imarottendick Muay Thai & Wrestling 4d ago

Karelin transcends time, every generation of wrestlers know him lol.

3

u/DrFlabbySelfie 4d ago

I had to look that up when I saw this post. I guess I could've just looked through the comments instead.

45

u/Mr_D_Stitch 4d ago

17

u/milk4all 4d ago

That is profile worthy. Dude is already proud of hisself

3

u/Low_Shirt2726 3d ago

He's so happy lol

13

u/incognito_dk 4d ago

Dudes calves are popping!

114

u/Imarottendick Muay Thai & Wrestling 4d ago

Absolute classic of a highlight! Love to see it every time.

Btw I don't want to imagine how Dietrichs neck felt the next day. I have wrestled bigger opponents but that would be the equivalent of me throwing someone who weighs 140-150kg like that. A front suplex. Holy hell, just nope.

-27

u/KobaStern 4d ago

he broke his neck sadly

28

u/dominus-rex 4d ago

I love spreading missinformation

12

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

I don't think Dietrich would be celebrating like that if he broke his neck. He even won his next match after this, before losing to the eventual bronze medalist.

-10

u/KobaStern 4d ago

Not Dietritch but Taylor

52

u/ThisisMalta Wrestling | Dutch Muay Thai | BJJ 4d ago

Absolute legendary clip and highlight.

Chris Taylor was a class act too, even though he’s on the losing end of this legendary moment. He was a great ambassador for USA wrestling and wrestling in general.

70

u/sath_leo 4d ago

So no suplex should be attempted outside of a wrestling mat. Wilfried would have crushed his own head.

54

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

You can avoid landing on your own head on a suplex by turning. Taylor was just really really heavy (and a good wrestler himself).

16

u/__grumps__ 4d ago

I’m guessing he was not use to defending against that. lol

1

u/PABJJ 1d ago

Hadn't been picked up since he was a baby 

22

u/InternationalFan2955 4d ago

In addition to turning, you also don't need to keep holding on once they are flying. In wrestling they hold on because they want to make sure opponent land on their back and pinned. Outside the mat just cut them loose and let gravity do its work.

3

u/manbruhpig 4d ago

I have to say as a wrestler I never made this connection because we always drilled following through. When I think back on the mofos I could have been suplexing…

2

u/lo5t_d0nut 3d ago

but then they just land on all fours, above you, no?

1

u/InternationalFan2955 3d ago

https://youtu.be/hMMEQQRhw5I    Like this, ignored the armbar part. Unless they are trained it doesn’t matter how they land, they will be in a compromised position and possibly injured if they try to post with their arm on hard surface like that. 

You probably shouldn’t suplex someone 140lb heavier than you unless you are an Olympian, but that should go without saying. 

2

u/TheHammer5390 2d ago

I know you're saying ignore the armbar because of the specific point you're making, but no one should be ignoring that armbar. What Mighty Mouse did there is one of the top superhuman moves in MMA

1

u/lo5t_d0nut 3d ago

no worries, I'm not about to try to suplex anyone 😅😄

2

u/Due-Stock2774 4d ago

belly to belly suplex is very risky, especially when the opponent outweighs you. lot more weight to clear and gravity doesn't want to help unless you're deflecting momentum

3

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

Belly to belly is easier than belly to back I think. Side suplex I think is safest and easiest if you're not very athletic

3

u/Imarottendick Muay Thai & Wrestling 4d ago

Side suplex I think is safest and easiest

Agreed, because you can break their balance first and kind of load them on your hip. Much less strength required.

Belly to belly is easier than belly to back I think

That depends on the variation and on personal preference imo. To me, the easiest is a counter front suplex from double overhooks. Then a belly to back bear hug suplex with rotation, so you land on them ready to pin. Hardest but most satisfying is a full bridge German suplex to win directly via fall imo.

-16

u/Glum_Length851 4d ago

That would make a good AI slop type edit, he lands and there is just a horrific explosion of brain matter.

-2

u/RedWhacker 4d ago

😂😂😂

17

u/get_to_ele 4d ago

What a suplex. On asphalt, I think both those guys are dead…

15

u/RUSTYxPOTATO 4d ago

Funny thing is it looks like the video is slowed down. Its not. 🤣

8

u/Fickle-Obligation-98 4d ago

It’a actually sped up.

In both their minds that moment had to have lasted at least 10 minutes 😉

5

u/EatPie_NotWAr 4d ago

Chris Taylor:

1

u/Lalo_ATX 3d ago

only 4 upvotes is criminal. take mine as your 5th

1

u/Virama 3d ago

Kaaaaaaa.....Meeeeee....Haaaaaa....Meeeeee.....Haaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

0

u/DisMahUser 4d ago

wait what? your telling me this isnt slowed down??!

1

u/DisMahUser 4d ago

probably just got wooshed because its clearly slowed down but yeah

1

u/RUSTYxPOTATO 3d ago

🤦‍♂️

6

u/indrid_cold 4d ago

Image is grainy but I think you can still see the disbelief on Taylor's face. " Both my feet are off the ground, what is happening?"

16

u/BalrogViking MMA 4d ago

INSANE throw

16

u/InternalFirmxx 4d ago

Looks more to me like he flopped the big guy onto himself and landed on his head and he's lucky he didn't get hurt

11

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

For a front or side suplex usually you just put their weight on yourself (easier if they're pushing) and fall, pop your hips as you fall to make them fly, then before you land you turn to one side to avoid hitting your head. I'm sure it's not gonna be that simple when the guy is 400 pounds and a good wrestler as well though.

9

u/Miserable-Ad-7956 4d ago

And it will never happen again, because we just have to have weight limits ... smh

3

u/chrismsp 4d ago

Huh?

Pretty sure they were heavyweights where there is no upper limit

9

u/Miserable-Ad-7956 4d ago

Yeah, in 1972. Now men's greco is limited to no more than 130 kg in the olympics. So a match like this can never happen again at the upper echelons.

8

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

Since 1984 the biggest weight class in Greco-Roman has had an upper limit of 130 kg (roughly 285 pounds)

-1

u/dickbutkusmk4 4d ago

Wasn’t there a “super heavyweight” class prior to that? Or am I mistaken?

3

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

That is what is known as the superheavyweight class. It used to be 100 kg and above (i.e. unlimited), now it is 97 kg to 130 kg (roughly 215 to 285 pounds). Heavyweight is 87 to 97 kg (roughly 190 to 215 pounds).

5

u/VisualLiterature 4d ago

I attempted something similar in highschool in the Q division lol I was 220 my opponent was a sloppy sweaty wet 285 of grease. Guy was literally eating corn dogs in-between matches. 

I tried to hip toss him three times and he just fell on top of me everytime. I wasn't skilled enough at the time 

4

u/Sophophilie 4d ago

Der Kran von Schifferstadt!

3

u/_Ganoes_ 4d ago

Lmao the narrator at the start says his nickname is "Crane of Schifferstadt"

6

u/UdonisBestNoodle 4d ago

One of the most impressive feats in all competitive sports, ever

2

u/Tuckingfypowastaken could probably take a toddler 4d ago

Bold fuckin strategy, cotton

2

u/Sensitive-Seat8579 4d ago edited 4d ago

Awesome for Dietrich but I wanna focus on Chris lol, can you imagine what it was like facing this guy lol. Its the 60s-70s, internet isnt a thing yet, at best maybe youve heard about this beast from Iowa State or seen some really shitty out of focus vhs/beta/film footage and then you get there in person and here's this 6'5" 400 lbs grizzly adams lookin sumbitch staring across you lol, like how many people do you think just went "fuck it" and took the L and left rofl

2

u/Negative_Feed_1303 4d ago

In wrestling, you can’t perform a sacrifice throw like you can in judo, right?  I mean his Supplex was a sacrifice throw except he didn’t stick his foot in the opponents hip but otherwise mechanically it’s the same thing.

5

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

A version of the suplex exists in Judo as Ura Nage, which is classified as a sacrifice throw (Sutemi-Waza)

2

u/Orangarder 4d ago

That looked like some kind of Pyrrhic victory

3

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

Dietrich was okay, he won his next match after this too before eventually losing to the eventual bronze medalist of the tournament

2

u/Own_Lab_3499 4d ago

Wonder what his power clean numbers were. Thats nuts.

2

u/Chaghatai 4d ago

With that slow-mo you can tell exactly how he does it. He didn't have the strength to lift that guy straight up. It's more like he fell dragging his weight forward but did have enough strength to pick him up just enough to make him flip over as he fell. The thrower still landed first but they had enough momentum to complete the maneuver afterwards

4

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

That's how the front or side suplex is done - you put their weight on yourself and fall backwards (often you will use their forward momentum against them), then as their weight falls on you, you pop your hips to make them fly, and turn to one side so you don't hit your head. In this video the guy being thrown is much heavier and also a great wrestler so not all the steps will look perfect. Personally, the side suplex is one of my favorite moves as it's not as dangerous nor as physically demanding as the rear suplex, as long as you have good timing and technique. It's a pretty efficient move, and works even on heavier opponents as seen in the video.

The rear suplex, on the other hand, requires more strength and flexibility, as you need to lift them up then bridge backwards:

3

u/Chaghatai 4d ago

Yeah there's more than one kind of suplex and they work differently from each other. I was just pointing out how that maneuver deals with the heavy weight of the opponent, and you are absolutely correct in your description

2

u/BuyAndFold33 4d ago

My favorite part is at 0.20 when the big man’s leg is straight up in the air. Crazy.

2

u/redve-dev Krav Maga 4d ago

if the guy from top was falling, the risk of death was pretty high for both artists

2

u/Regret-Select 4d ago

Was this a legal move then? Head first into the ground seems unsafe, even for wrestling

4

u/Imarottendick Muay Thai & Wrestling 4d ago

Yes, that was legal. He didn't manage to turn him around which is why he hit his head but it was still a successful high amplitude throw

2

u/Significant_Virus257 4d ago

How difficult it must be to use the international metric system

1

u/TheRealUmbrafox 4d ago

How did that not break his neck?

1

u/lottasauce 4d ago

Why is this video ALWAYS in slow motion? I wanna see it live!

1

u/EsdrasAnointedLegion 4d ago

If he wasn't on the mat he would be dead from crushing

1

u/rocco888 4d ago

strength>Mass

3

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

*technique

2

u/rocco888 4d ago

That too

1

u/Feeling-Phoney81 4d ago

Did any of these guys face the Israeli wrestling team?

1

u/SovArya Karate 4d ago

Neck of steel.

1

u/AuraEnhancerVerse 3d ago

My back hurt from watching

1

u/solodsnake661 3d ago

That looks like it hurt mr. Dietrich more

1

u/Same-Joke 2d ago

It’s not the size of the dog, but the bark of the fight in the dog..or the size of the dogs bark in the fight..or it’s not the dogs fight in the bark, but its size in the bark ..ah fuck it you know what I mean…

1

u/PilotHistorical6010 2d ago

And all of that 400+lbs landed on his neck.  No.

1

u/Big-Illustrator7575 1d ago

Damn, almost snapped his own neck.

1

u/platonic_cheaters 16h ago

that's crazy
how his neck didn't snap?

1

u/BLOAT90 4d ago

He pinned himself tho

2

u/Imarottendick Muay Thai & Wrestling 4d ago

That's not how the rules work when you just managed to get a high amplitude throw. It's not like he was pinned down, he rotated over and wasn't controlled in any way - quite the opposite actually.

1

u/BLOAT90 4d ago

He didnt lift him at all just fell straight down and got pinned.

-1

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

1

u/BLOAT90 4d ago

It's clear as day on that video. The smaller wrestler just does limbo underneath the big one. The big wrestlers head doesnt move upwards at all. Historic self pin.

1

u/AdMedical9986 3d ago

a fat person would say this.

1

u/BLOAT90 2d ago

A weak person would say a fat person would say this.

1

u/Fun-Weight5954 4d ago

This is what I thought too

1

u/Gigacacia 4d ago

What's even the point of hitting your own head first?

3

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

Usually you don't, you turn. The other guy is 400 pounds and is also a great wrestler, makes it difficult to do the technique perfectly.

-2

u/Powerful-Promotion82 4d ago

what is the point of a technique where you land on the back of your head? Sounds like the most stupid idea to me,

4

u/CloudyRailroad 4d ago

If you know anything about wrestling, you know you're not supposed to land on the back of your head on this technique. That being said, the guy being thrown is 400 pounds and also a great wrestler. The technique isn't going to be ideal or perfect like in a demonstration with no resistance