Carl Abs

Carl Johann Theodor Abs ( born September 12, 1851 in United Godems in Mecklenburg, † February 18, 1895 in Hamburg), also known as " the Low German oak " or " German oak", was the largest German wrestler of the 19th century and is as the founder of modern wrestling in Germany. His fighting weight was about 103 kg at a height of 1.84 m. His life and work caught the end of the 19th century, at least in Germany very great public interest. 1891, the book Carl Abs, the championship wrestler in the world appeared, for example: His life and work.

• 5.1 One-arm
• 5.2 both arms

Life

Great Godems

Carl Abs grew up with his father Carl Abs and his mother Sophie Abs ( née Juergens ) on in the United Godems. As the son of a carpenter Carl Junior shall learn his father's trade and continue. For the school, he had little interest. In the afternoon, after school, he devoted himself to prefer working as a groom. Over the years he developed a keen interest in discovering his environment, and left a few years later his family moved to Hamburg.

Hamburg

Abs enjoyed his new life and explored the possibilities open to him. In the factory of long stone he found his first employment. In 1873, he began his military service that he performed until 1874 in the 76th Infantry Regiment. Through his zeal and punctuality, his service shortened by two years. Then he began to work in a wine shop. When he got an offer to work as mansion coachman, he decided to change his employer. After the business of his employer ran so bad that this para had discharged, he returned to Great Godems. His father was ill and died a childhood friend. Finally Abs returned to Hamburg and found in the wood act of " hunting man & Koschinsky " new employment. In 1877, he met Maria Augusta Katharina Warncke, the daughter of the citizen Warncke know. In the same year he married her.

First occurrence and success in Germany

Mid-70s, there was the first battle in the life of Carl para He fought against the "Iron Wilhelm ", where it was tied at the end of this struggle. The second battle was won by Abs. This was awakened in para ambition to win more fights. In Hamburg in 1881, he opened his own restaurant athletes cellar, which was also used as an artist's school. In 1882 he won the horseshoe medal at a sports exhibition in Berlin. Through his many achievements various circuses from Germany were aware of him. Under instruction from the ringmaster Renz moved Abs throughout Germany. After the successful battles he returned to Hamburg. As worthy opponents Mathias Sobien and Willy Henry proved. In 1885 he scored in the circus Blumenthal by more fights new achievements in Karlsruhe.

America / New York

Since the Ringer scene at that time in Germany was only mild and only para was considered a " Artist" and attraction, he went to America, where I already own competition culture had developed around the rings. However, the representation of the Germans was quite sparse and looked the other wrestlers as inferior. That is why Abs had to prove only within its own ranks. So defeated Abs the best wrestler of German gymnastics club in just three minutes and then threw Professor Höffler in a private match, which then his coach and supporter was. Abs was informed from now on in the American Ringkampfart in order to achieve success against the Americans can. In the land of opportunity Abs also won for the first time against a Japanese Sorakichi Masuda, who applied different techniques while fighting. The fights against Edwin Bibby and William Muldoon could also decide for Abs. Then the title of " the strongest wrestler in the world" and a Champion Medal him were worth at that time 1,200 marks awarded. As Abs finally returned to Hamburg, he had thrown a total of 10 wrestlers in America and defeated 27 opponents in weightlifting.

Leipzig and Lubeck

Back in Germany, it led him to the Circus Corty -Althoff to Leipzig. Among some of the lesser known opponents was among other things, Gustav Bachmann, a member of the Stötteritzer gymnastics club. This was passed over for the usual circus - wrestling his own words and asked about a price - wrestling match. Abs, who was already engaged at this time in Berlin, made ​​a special trip back to Leipzig to take up this challenge. After less than half a minute Abs defeated Bachmann. After his involvement in Berlin, Abs came with the Circus Leonhard to Lübeck. There he defeated the Frenchman Pierre Rigal. After losing the first fight Rigal demanded a rematch, which he also lost.

France and England

The Circus d' hiver committed Abs, claiming he was a Dane to prevent conflict that existed between France and Germany in general. But the deception could not be sustained for long. The whole of France was shocked by the wrestler from Germany. Abs broke off his stay in France and took the chance to be in England to look for fights. In Drury Lane Theatre, he called on the people to volunteer for a fight. No one spoke about his offer, prompting Abs soon took the journey home.

Brothers Brumbach and Tom Cannon

In November 1890, arrived in Hamburg to a tournament in power lifting, since the Bavarian brothers Brumbach Abs challenged. As Abs but they invited the feats that he would perform to amuse with the weights, imitate, they refused. The brothers refused and the crowd was more enthusiastic of para On July 25, 1891 Carl Abs won in Berlin perhaps his most important battle against the Anglo-American championship wrestler Tom Cannon. Cannon proved to be one of the worst enemies Abs ', but the greater was his fame when he finally defeated him. Ultimately, he was hailed by the Berlin masses as "Strongest Man in the World " and "champion wrestler of the world". After the fighting in Germany, he traveled to Vienna to compete there in the circus Schumann against the Champion Cheri Robinet. In the first fight it was a draw, so it was a rematch. These Abs decided for themselves. There were other battles against the French wrestler Masson, in which case the victory was not recognized by the judges, the audience celebrated Abs but as a clear winner. After further successful fighting against Wiener athletes Abs returned to Hamburg.

Carl Abs against Antonio Pierri

In January 1893 challenged Antonio Pierri Abs in Hamburg Altona to fight. The victory Abs ' caused a protest by Pierri, because he claimed to be merely slipped. The referee reported from this objection and declared the winner Abs. Only through the haunting requests Pierris to be able to restore his reputation, Abs agreed to a further struggle. This took place at the same venue on February 4, 1893. By a surprising union, Pierri looked ahead as the winner and ended the fight. All referees were consistent in their protocol and declared that Pierri would have ended the fight wrong. So it was on 9 February for the third fight between Pierri and para This, however, had to be canceled because Abs Pierrie dislocated shoulder. The fight was postponed to March 9, 1893. On this day threw Pierri Abs in just 16 minutes.

Last years of life

After beating Pierri Abs withdrew gradually from the rings back and focused more on weight lifting. On December 26, 1894 Abs joined one last time in Rendsburg. In January 1895 he was diagnosed with a liver and kidney disease, and dropsy. Carl Abs died after a one-month battle on February 18, 1895 in Hamburg. He left behind his wife, a 17 -year-old daughter and a 13 - year-old son. On February 22 1895 Abs was buried in the cemetery Ohlsdorf.

Title

In Germany and among his followers he is considered by his victory on 18 May 1885 William Muldoon was the first German world champion in Greco-Roman style, which is not recognized him in the U.S..

Most famous defeated opponents

Best force measured performance

The performance shown here were in those times of public interest and were published in the, published in Vienna General Sports Newspaper on 17 March 1895.

One-armed

• Tearing up a long ball rod from Earth: 72.5 and 80 kg of
• Mortising a short dumbbell from Earth: 92 kg
• Slow chiselling long, vertical asked Towball, brought by trick at shoulder height horizontally, from Earth: 100 kg
• In military basic position 3 times Mortising from shoulder: 50 kg
• Using both hands, lift the shoulder and slowly chiselling with right hand, short dumbbell: 100, 107.5 and 110 kg
• Horizontally forward Hold, right: 40 kg with reverse tilting of the body: 50 kg

Both arms

• 30 kg in each hand slowly upward vertical lifting, horizontal lateral settling down and slow horizontal forward run
• In each hand 50 kg slow, even chiselling in military base position to the high- yield holding
• With jerk to shrug and three times Mortising: 130 kg once Mortising: 150 kg

Reminiscence

In memory of Carl Abs the town of Gross Godems named on 11 April 2002 a street after him. From freight route goes from a small road into a development area, which now bears the name of the famous wrestling athlete.

Since the spring of 2008, there is in Parchim the project "Diversity - ABSolute fair", which was initiated by Kreisjugendring. Employees of various institutions such as honorary coaches, youth workers, youth migration services and prevention commissioner of the police offer a wide range of children and young people, regardless of their origin. The aim of the project is the possibility to regular sports activities open to all children and young people. So the children can, inter alia, about this project with clubs and coaches make contacts, without having to pay the usual charges of membership.

As part of this project, the Carl Abs Cup was first awarded in 2008.