I shot this story almost a year ago and its been a long wait to see it in print. But well worth it.
Doglegs Superhandicapped Pro-Wrestling are a group of Tokyo disabled and able-bodied wrestlers. I first learnt about them through a great article in the Japan Times and shot one of their tournaments in Shinjuku Kabuki-cho last December.
The tear sheets are from Able Magazine in the UK, a disablity lifestyle magazine. They used three of my photos and my article and added a short story about the UK’s only disabled wrestler. It says he was inspired to start wrestling after seeing a documentary on Doglegs.
If the article goes onto the Able Magazine website I’ll add a link. The full set of Doglegs photos are on my archive and there’s a slideshow at the bottom of this post.
I’m really pleased at the way they used my photos. I’m told the top photo was considered for the cover but they decided it was too scary. I wonder what Able Magazine readers think of Doglegs? Frankly, I expected the event to be a freak show and I’m no fan of fighting sports. But from what the wrestlers with disablities told me, they do it for exercise, for empowerment, and just for the fun of beating the shit out of each other. Good for them.
Doglegs disabled wrestling, Dec 2008 – Images by Tony McNicol
Interesting story and great pics, would love to see more. like the new look to the site also by the way!
Damon
Very interesting, if a little bizarre.
An interesting read, I saw the article in the Japan Times a few years back as well, but your spread for Able was a heck of a lot nicer. Good for the wrestlers to do their thing because they want to.
Sumo wrestling is my all time favorite. i always watch it a lot in Japanese channels.~;.