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Story: Boxing and wrestling

Lofty Blomfield and his famous octopus clamp, 1936

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Lofty Blomfield and his famous octopus clamp, 1936

Lofty Blomfield was a high-profile New Zealand wrestler in the 1930s. He cut an impressive figure in the ring due to his height, weight and aggressive style of wrestling, which garnered him many fans. This is Blomfield demonstrating his well-known 'octopus clamp', a hold which he used to great success during his wrestling career.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Crown Studios Collection

Reference: 1/1-0332279-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Joseph Romanos, Boxing and wrestling – Wrestling, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/37965/lofty-blomfield-and-his-famous-octopus-clamp-1936 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Joseph Romanos, published 27 April 2012, updated 1 January 2015.