Bob Anderson (wrestler)

American wrestler and coach

Bob Anderson

Medal record

Representing  the  United States
Men's freestyle wrestling
Pan American Games
| 1971 Cali | 82 kg
Men's Sambo
Pan American Championships
| 1977 Mexico City | 90 kg
| 1979 San Diego | 100 kg

Bob Anderson (born 1943) is an American wrestler and coach. Anderson was born in 1943[1] in Oakland, California and is from Redondo Beach, California.[2] He attended South High School (Torrance, California), where he placed 3rd his junior year, and finished as a state champion his senior year. He won the 1968 Western Regional Olympic Trials and went on to win the 1968 Olympic trials.[3] Anderson attended El Camino College, where he won states as a sophomore had a record-breaking 1 loss the whole season. Anderson ended up transferring to Adams State College; he then became a 2-time NAIA champion, and was Rocky Mountain Champion.[3]Anderson was an NCAA All-American.[4] Anderson competed and won in the 1968 Olympic Trials in Greco-Roman style and was alternate on the 1968 Olympic team. He also wrestled freestyle. He wrestled Greco-Roman in the 1971 Pan American Games, and in Sambo style in August 1979 at the 1979 Pan American Team Championships in San Diego.[2] He coached and competed in the Pan American Games in 1978, earning an individual and a coaching championship. Anderson coached 2 national teams in Sambo, placing 2nd and 3rd. In 1996 [3] Anderson had trained Rolls Gracie, whom he would teach techniques like the Americana Arm Bar.[5][6] He was a 1996 US Olympic Team wrestling coach.[3] In 2003, he became the World Masters Wrestling Champion at 211 lbs.[3] Anderson has also trained Rulon Gardner, Dan Henderson, Heath Sims, and Randy Couture.[4]

## Early life[edit]

In high school, Anderson attended South High School in Torrance, California, where he placed 3rd his junior year and went on to become a state champion his senior year of high school.

## College[edit]

In college, Anderson attended El Camino College, where he won state his sophomore year and had a record-breaking 1 loss all season. After winning state Anderson transferred to Adam St. College. He was a 2-time NAIA champion and also was chosen as a division 1 All-American.

## Freestyle wrestling[edit]

In 1968, Anderson began his freestyle wrestling career when he won the western regional Olympic trials in Greco-Roman. In 1971 he went on to place 2nd at the Greco-Roman world team trials. Anderson last competed in the 1979 Pan American games, once again placing 2nd. Although Anderson never became a world champion at the senior level, he said that he had no regrets, and his accomplishments were well worth it.

## Coaching career[edit]

Shortly after his fall in the world championships, he became a coach. He coached his first competition in Mexico City leading his Olympic team to a world championship. 1978, Anderson traveled to Brazil, also leading 2 national teams to victory in the Sambo tournament. 1984 Anderson was not as successful but was an assistant coach for a 3rd-placing national wrestling team in the Olympics held in Rome; this would be his last coaching event. In 2003, Anderson was a master world champion at 211 lbs. He is a longtime champion, coach, and mentor. Every other year Anderson hosts a camp for wrestlers.

Birth name Bob Anderson Born 1943 Occupation(s) Coach Years active 1966–present Website ironman.org/anderson Spouse: Darlene Anderson Resides: Redondo beach, CA

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times.
2. ^ a b "Anderson, Townsend to coach U.S. Grappling World Team".
3. ^ a b c d e "Bob Anderson - Some Wrestling History". Ironman Hall of Fame.
4. ^ a b "Coaches". Southbay Wrestling Academy. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
5. ^ BJJ Heroes. "Rolls Gracie". BJJ Heroes: the jiu jitsu encyclopedia.
6. ^ Snowden, Jonathan; Shields, Kendall (November 2010). The MMA Encyclopedia. ISBN 9781554908448.