Physical Chess

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.