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Juan Fourneau talks training with Skandar Akbar and his fond memories

Posted: Aug 24th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Jim Ross described it well on his blog that this is a melancholy moment. But one also cannot help but agree with John Layfield who said on his Facebook page that Skandar Akbar lived a long life. He also spent it in a business he absolutely loved with every fiber of his being.
I was a student of Skandar Akbar at his wrestling school in 1994 thru 1995. I got the address to his school from Percy Pringle and Dennis Brent's mail order book thru the Apter mags. Alex Porteau was the head trainer at the time and the Global Light Heavyweight champion. Texas wrestling was on its ass as all the wrestling business was at the time. Global closed down soon after I arrived and Jim Crockett opened up an office at the Sportatorium that winter.

Mr. Akbar was the best trainer a young student could ask for. At that time there were not many schools available to train at. Many of the ones around were expensive, around $3000, and run by people with no credentials or contacts. Also many of the schools took liberties with student's bodies, they either beat the crap out of you or made you do exercises until you puked, took your money and then sent you on your way. I figured if Dusty Rhodes sent his son Dustin to get trained by Skandar Akbar it had to be a good school... and it was.

Mr. Akbar made you respect the business, as Alex was tough on us but never injured or purposely hurt us. He tested us to see how bad we wanted into this secretive and closed business but always respected our bodies. Doug's Gym was owned by Mr. Akbar's cousin and it was as old school as Ak, no air conditioning with lots of free weights and few machines in downtown Dallas on Commerce St. They would train us but never smartened you up. I never found out for sure the business was a work until 2 hours before my first match. Mr. Akbar charged me $1000, an incredible value. He was known by practically everyone in the business and well respected. Now many are finding out how much he was also loved. You never knew who was going to show up at camp as Paul Bearer stopped by for a visit just before I began camp.

After a few months of training a big 6 foot 6 ex football player came in to work out with us with his best friend James Beard, the head ref. He was absolutely broke, he mentioned he barely had enough gas money to drive back home. We had a great workout that was physically tough but again no liberties were taken. Afterwards this guy who supposedly developed a reputation later on for being a bully patiently answered all the questions we had for him.

Ak loved great workers, even if they weren't superstars. I think that's why he helped Alex Porteau so much, getting him booked in Puerto Rico and in Texas. I heard him say many times Gorgeous George had one of the best arm drags ever. Another student at class told me "Ak loves old school wrestling, if you want to impress him wrestle." The next week at camp I did an Indian death lock move I saw Muta do at Starrcade 92 and sure enough Ak clapped his hands together and yelled "good, good", all while chomping on his cigar.

He was a gym rat to the end, always pumping iron in the mornings at his home in Garland Texas. I would find out later through Bill Watts' book and others how accomplished he was in the weight room in his prime. When I met him he was in his late fifties and I was surprised by his brawn. When I went to the fabled Sportatorium for the first time to watch a card live after I began training I was amazed at the heat Ak had, the crowd reacted to him at a level that was so much higher than the rest of the card.

After 3 months of training Mr. Akbar told me to come to the Sportatorium early before a card so he could introduce me to Jim Crockett. Walking into the office of that legendary arena and shaking hands with the man who once employed Ric Flair was a thrill I will never forget. As i walked in Robert Gibson was standing talking to Jim Crockett while Dick Murdoch was sitting next to a young JBL. Later that afternoon I was working out with a fellow student in the ring while Robert Gibson and Sam Houston gave us pointers. I owe all these priceless memories to my wrestling mentor Skandar Akbar.

After I had my first match in Texas a year later for the CWA I went back home to Iowa and began to work the Midwest Indies. Wrestling never had that magic or mystique again for me like those formative years in Texas with Mr. Akbar. Locker rooms in Texas were filled with veterans like Johnny Mantell, Black Bart, Hector Guerrero and so many others. On the indie scene I was lucky to see one veteran every 5 cards.

After every death of a legend the wrestling industry says it's an end of an era. But I do truly feel for that time of Mid South and World Class, of Texas wrestling, that era really did die this past Thursday night. Ak was that last link of the era of Fritz Von Erich, to the historical run WCCW and Mid South had in the 80's, to the incredible young talent that the state of Texas just kept pumping out such as Booker T, JBL, Shawn Micheals and The Undertaker.

I got to have lunch with Mr. Akbar the last time I passed through Texas in Oct of 08. I got to hug him and finally thank him for all he did for me. He opened the doors of my dreams for me and treated me well. He always had time for me and I feel terrible I will not be able to attend his memorial due to work, and the distance. But I am at peace after that lunch in Oct of 08 and so thank full I had the opportunity to tell him how much he meant to me. RIP Skandar Akbar, my mentor and old friend.

Juan Fourneau

"Latin Thunder"

IPW Indy Wrestler

Tags: Jim Ross, Skandar Akbar, Percy Pringle, Dusty Rhodes, Paul Bearer, Gorgeous George, Bill Watts, Ric Flair, Robert Gibson, Dick Murdoch, Johnny Mantell, Black Bart, Hector Guerrero, MSW, WCCW, Fritz Von Erich