Arm wrestling

Arm Wrestling

Two people with their arms in a starting position
Players	2
Skills required	strength, endurance, technique, resistance

Arm wrestling is a contest between two opponents facing each other with their bent elbows placed on a table and hands firmly gripped then attempt to force the opponent's hand down to the table top. In the early years different names were interchangeably used to describe the same sport: "arm turning", "arm twisting", "arm wrestling", "Indian arm wrestling", "twisting wrists", "wrist turning", "wrist wrestling".

Description[]

Profissional arm wrestling competition between (left) vs Devon Larratt (right)

Arm wrestling match in action

Types[]

Various factors can play a part in one's success in arm wrestling, technique and overall arm strength being the two greatest contributing factors. Other considerations such as the length of an arm wrestler's arm, muscle and arm mass/density, hand grip size, wrist endurance and flexibility, reaction time, and other traits can lend advantages of one arm wrestler over another.^{[citation needed]} The sport sometimes is used to demonstrate the stronger person between two or more people.

In competitive arm wrestling, as sanctioned by the United States Armwrestling Federation (USAF), a match is conducted with both competitors standing up with arms placed on a tournament arm wrestling table.^{[citation needed]} Arm wrestling tournaments may also be divided along weight classes as well as left and right-handed divisions. There are also rules governing fouls and imposition of penalties, such as when a competitor's elbow leaves a mat where the elbow is meant to remain at all times, when a false start occurs, and attempting to escape arm pinning by breaking the grip with the opponent which may result in a loss.^{[citation needed]} Paraphrasing USAF rules, arm wrestlers must straighten their wrists with less than a one-minute time lapse during competition.^[1]

• armwrestling
  • stand-up armwrestling
  • sit-down armwrestling
• wristwrestling
  • stand-up wristwrestling
  • sit-down wristwrestling

Tournaments[]

Organized arm wrestling tournaments arose in the 1950s, while the (WWC) was the first armwrestling organization, organized the first World’s Wrist-wrestling Championship - held in Hermann Sons Hall, the second largest auditorium in Petaluma, California in 1962; later those (WWC's) World championships were known as Petaluma World’s Wrist-wrestling Championships.^[2]

The World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) has been the universally recognized global governing body for professional arm wrestling and comprises 80 member countries.^[3] However, due to the labeling of referees and competitors that were associated with PAL/URPA with the status of "Not in good standing" thus being suspended from WAF,^[4] many countries are jumping ship.

The (IFA) is a democratic non-profit sport organization registered in Zurich, Switzerland^[5] and is recognized by TAFISA, the Association for International Sport for All.^{[citation needed]}

Competitive styles[]

Toproll (left) against press (right)

Hook match

There are many styles moves in arm wrestling. The three most commonly used are: hook, toproll and press.

"The hook" or "hooking" is any move derived from the inside system of arm wrestling. The second generic system or style of arm wrestling is known as outside arm wrestling "the top roll" or "top rolling", while the "triceps press", "shoulder pressing", or "shoulder rolling" is often described as the third generic system or style of arm wrestling.^[6]

The contestant on the right is in an injury-prone or "break arm" position. His shoulder must be in line with or behind the arm, as seen with the contestant on the left. This is cause for a referee to stop the match.

Common rules[]

The rules and regulations for arm wrestling are designed to create an even playing field and to prevent broken bones. Different leagues have their own variations, but most use the same table specifications.^[7] Below are some of the general arm wrestling regulations:

• The shoulder of both players must be in a square position before the match starts.
• All starts will be a “Ready…Go.” The cadence will vary.
• Competitors must start with at least one foot on the ground. After the “go” players may have both feet off the ground.
• One's opposite hand must remain on the peg at all times.
• A pin cannot be made if the elbow is out of the pocket.
• To make a winning pin, a player must take any part of the opponent's wrist or hand (including fingers) below the plane of a touch pad.
• A false start is a warning. Two warnings equals a foul.
• Competitors will forfeit the match with a second foul.
• If opponents lose grip with one another, a strap is applied and the match is restarted.
• Intentional slip-outs are fouls, which occur when both player’s palm completely loses contact with competitor’s palm.
• Competitors may not touch their body to their hand at any time.
• Shoulders may not cross the center of the table at any time.
• Competitors will always conduct themselves in a sportsperson-like manner while at the tournament.
• The most important arm wrestling rule: the referee’s decision is final.

Training[]

One way to become involved in the sport is to find a local club and join their team. Often a club will have experienced competitors to teach safe and strategic play on the table. Local tournaments take place throughout the US, offering novice and/or amateur divisions for those setting out in the sport.

Associated injury[]

Typical fracture

Arm wrestling puts substantial torque/torsion stress on the upper arm's humerus bone, to a degree seen in few other physical activities.^[8] Generally speaking, the bones involved in arm wrestling are not designed to accommodate the stresses imposed by the sport, and severe injuries can occur. An arm bone may fail in a diagonal break at or below the shoulder and elbow midpoint, which is known as the 'break arm' position. Common injuries include humeral shaft fractures, shoulder trauma, muscle strain, golfers' elbow, and less commonly pectoralis major rupture.

Top pullers[]

The armwrestling historian Eric Roussin, founder of The Armwrestling Archives website, has detailed a chronology of the top pullers along the history for right hand^[9] and left hand^[10] pullers.

The work is based on the results of the major professional events, including sit-down/stand-up wrist wrestling and sit-down/stand-up armwrestling.

Men (right hand)[]

In 1966 another organization began to hold World Championships: the International Federation of Arm Wrestlers. Few competitors competed in both, so a parallel ranking was provided. On 1971 both rankings were unified.

Start Date	#1 Puller	Defeated / (Ahead Of)	Event	Top Spot
February 11, 1961	Duane “Tiny” Benedix		California Wristwrestling Championship	364 days
February 10, 1962	Earl Hagerman	Duane “Tiny” Benedix	World Wristwrestling Championship	364 days
February 09, 1963	Duane “Tiny” Benedix	Earl Hagerman	World Wristwrestling Championship	364 days
February 08, 1964	Joe Schuler [a]	Larry Cory	World Wristwrestling Championship	1 year, 5 days
February 12, 1965	Arnie Klein	Joe Schuler	World Wristwrestling Championship	1 years, 3 days
February, 1966	Mike Rowe [b]	Arnie Klein	World Wristwrestling Championship	1 year, 87 days
May 13, 1967	Larry Finley [a] [b]	Randy Petrini	World Wristwrestling Championship	278 days
February, 1968	Duane “Tiny” Benedix [b]	(Larry Finley)	World Wristwrestling Championship	2 years, 90 days
May, 1970	Jim Dolcini [a] [b]	George Witteman	World Wristwrestling Championship	364 days
August 06, 1966	Lloyd Lampton [c]	Arnie Klein	IFAW World Championship	2 years, 41 days
September, 1968	Maurice “Moe” Baker [a] [c]	John Torch	IFAW World Championship	2 years, 241 days
May 14, 1971	Jim Dolcini	Maurice “Moe” Baker	World Wristwrestling Championship	1 year, 7 days
May 20, 1972	Maurice “Moe” Baker	Jim Dolcini	World Wristwrestling Championship	364 days
May 19, 1973	Bill Harrison	(Maurice “Moe” Baker)	World Wristwrestling Championship	364 days
May 18, 1974	Jim Dolcini [a]	George Ludwigsen	WWC National Championship	2 years, 194 days
November 27, 1976	Virgil Arciero	Jim Dolcini	WPAA World Championships	1 years, 353 days
November 15, 1978	Cleve Dean	Virgil Arciero	Supermatch (Las Vegas, US)	1 years, 359 days
November 08, 1980	Virgil Arciero	Cleve Dean	Supermatch (Las Vegas, US)	336 days
October 10, 1981	Jeremiah Christian	Virgil Arciero	World Wristwrestling Championship	1 year
October 10, 1982	Virgil Arciero [a]	Cleve Dean	AWI Pro Super Heavyweight World Championship	111 days
January 29, 1983	Cleve Dean	Virgil Arciero	AWI Pro Super Heavyweight World Championship	3 years, 179 days
July 26, 1986	Scott Norton	Cleve Dean	Over the Top World Championship	1 year
July 26, 1987	John Brzenk [a]	Ed Arnold / (Richard Lupkes)	Over the Top World Championship	174 days
January 16, 1988	Richard Lupkes	John Brzenk	Sands International	266 days
October 08, 1988	John Brzenk	Richard Lupkes	World Wristwrestling Championship	189 days
April 15, 1989	Richard Lupkes	John Brzenk	Can-Am Invitational (Barrie, Ontario, Canada)	1 year, 12 days
April 27, 1990	John Brzenk	Richard Lupkes	Yukon Jack National Championship	253 days
January 05, 1991	Gary Goodridge	John Brzenk	Super Bras de Fer (Paris, France)	204 days
July 28, 1991	John Brzenk	Gary Goodridge	Yukon Jack National Championship	3 years, 30 days
August 26, 1994	Cleve Dean	Gary Goodridge / (John Brzenk)	Yukon Jack National Championship	16 days
September 11, 1994	Zaur Tskadadze	Cleve Dean	WAF World Championships	348 days
August 25, 1995	Gary Goodridge	Cleve Dean / (Zaur Tskadadze)	Yukon Jack World Championship	2 years, 21 days
September 14, 1997	John Brzenk [a]	Ron Bath	USAA National Pro-Am Championship	7 years, 6 days
September 18, 2004	Ron Bath	John Brzenk	Strong Arm Calling	49 days
November 06, 2004	Alexey Voevoda	John Brzenk / (Ron Bath)	Nemiroff World Cup	357 days
October 29, 2005	Andrey Pushkar [a]	Andrey Antonov	Nemiroff World Cup	35 days
December 03, 2005	Farid Usmanov	(Andrey Pushkar)	WAF World Armwrestling Championships	140 days
April 22, 2006	John Brzenk	Farid Usmanov	Ultimate Armwrestling III (Las Vegas, USA)	2 years, 145 days
September 13, 2008	Devon Larratt	John Brzenk	Arm Wars “Deep Water”	4 years, 262 days
June 01, 2013	Denis Cyplenkov [a]	Andrey Pushkar	A1 Russian Open World Armwrestling Grand Prix	1 year, 55 days
July 26, 2014	Andrey Pushkar	Denis Cyplenkov	A1 Russian Open World Armwrestling Grand Prix	4 years, 112 days
November 14, 2018	Levan Saginashvili [a]	Tsvetkov, Georgi	WAF World Championship	1 year, 196 days

Notes:

• ^a Due to inactivity (12 months), injury or accident of previous dominant puller, the #1 spot is assumed by other one.
• ^b Ranking based on Petaluma Results (1966-1971).
• ^c Ranking based on IFAW Results (1966-1971).

Men (left hand)[]

Start Date	#1 Puller	Defeated / (Ahead Of)	Event	Top Spot
September, 1977	John Woolsey	Dean Christensen	NAWA National Championships	2 years, 7 days
September 22, 1979	Cleve Dean [a]		World Wristwrestling Championship	7 years, 22 days
October 12, 1986	Gary Goodridge [a]		(Canada)	1 year, 131 days
February 20, 1988	Garvin Lewis	Gary Goodridge	Ontario Provincial Championships	2 years, 243 days
October 20, 1990	Gary Goodridge	Garvin Lewis	Canadian Stand-Up National Championships	1 year, 237 days
June 13, 1992	Steve Morneau	(Gary Goodridge), (Garvin Lewis)	Gloucester Fair International Armwrestling Championship	364 days
June 12, 1993	Gary Goodridge	Steve Morneau	Gloucester Fair International Armwrestling Championship	364 days
June 11, 1994	Steve Morneau	Gary Goodridge	Gloucester Fair International Armwrestling Championship	364 days
June 10, 1995	Garvin Lewis	(Steve Morneau), (Gary Goodridge)	Gloucester Fair International Armwrestling Championship	1 year, 364 days
June 08, 1997	Eric Woelfel [a]	Mairbek Gioev	Golden Bear International Tournament (Russia)	180 days
December 05, 1997	Alan Karaev	Eric Woelfel	WAF World Championship (India)	337 days
November 07, 1998	Vakhtang Javakhadze	Alan Karaev	WAF World Championship (Egypt)	264 days
July 29, 1999	Erekle Gurchiani	Vakhtang Javakhadze	European Armwrestling Championships	1 year, 1 day
July 29, 2000	Alan Karaev [a]	Vakhtang Javakhadze	World Armsport Championship	65 days
October 02, 2000	Len Houghton	Earl Wilson	Canadian Nationals	336 days
September 03, 2001	Dan Victor [a]	(Earl Wilson)	Harley Pull	230 days
April 21, 2002	Alan Karaev [a]	Cleve Dean	World Armsport Federation World Championship	165 days
October 03, 2002	Christian Binnie [a]	Eric Woelfel	Harley Pull	65 days
December 07, 2002	Travis Bagent	Christian Binnie	All-Niagara Armwrestling Championship	35 days
January 11, 2003	Christian Binnie	Travis Bagent	Reno Reunion Armwrestling Championship	140 days
May 31, 2003	Travis Bagent	Christian Binnie	AAA Nationals	1 year, 300 days
March 26, 2005	Earl Wilson	Sylvain Perron / (Devon Larrat)	Mike Gould Classic	364 days
March 25, 2006	Travis Bagent	Earl Wilson	Mike Gould Classic	4 years, 264 days
December 13, 2010	Devon Larratt	Travis Bagent	Supermatch - Arm Wars “Sin City” (Las Vegas, US)	64 days
February 15, 2011	Travis Bagent	Devon Larratt	Supermatch - UAL Backyard Brawl	241 days
October 14, 2011	Andrey Pushkar	Travis Bagent	Nemiroff World Cup	258 days
June 28, 2012	Devon Larratt	Andrey Pushkar	Supermatch - PAL Armfight 42 (Las Vegas, US)	2 years, 119 days
October 25, 2014	Travis Bagent	Devon Larratt	World Armwrestling League Atlantic City Qualifier	3 years, 240 days
June 21, 2018	Oleg Zhokh [a]	Andrey Pushkar	Lviv Open Cup	146 days
November 14, 2018	Levan Saginashvili [a]	Osmanli, Ferit	WAF World Championship	1 year, 196 days

Statistics[]

The following table summarizes the accumulated time on the #1 spot. John Brzenk and Cleve Dean have been the most dominant pullers with the right hand. Travis Bagent and Cleve Dean have been ruling more time with the left hand. Very few pullers have succeeded to get the #1 spot with both hands for several years: Cleve Dean, Devon Larratt and Gary Goodridge.

(Minimum 4 years with any hand)

Puller	Height	Weight	Right Hand	Left Hand	Total
	6'4" / 1.92 m	260 lb / 118 kg	4 years, 88 days		4 years, 88 days
	6’0” / 1.83 m	200 lb / 91 kg	4 years, 20 days		4 years, 20 days
	6’7” / 2.01 m	460 lb / 209 kg	5 years, 189 days	7 years, 22 days	12 years, 211 days
Gary Goodridge	6'3" / 1.91 m	240 lb / 109 kg	2 years, 225 days	4 years, 2 days	6 years, 227 days
		242 lb / 110 kg		4 years, 242 days	4 years, 242 days
John Brzenk	6'1" / 1.85 m	198 lb / 90 kg	13 years, 243 days		13 years, 243 days
	6'3" / 1.91 m	265 lb / 120 kg		10 years, 350 days	10 years, 350 days
Andrey Pushkar	6'4" / 1.92 m	276 lb / 125 kg	4 years, 147 days	258 days	5 years, 40 days
Devon Larratt	6’5” / 1.96 m	278 lb / 126 kg	4 years, 262 days	2 years, 183 days	7 years, 80 days

In popular culture[]

• In The Old Man and the Sea (1952), the character Santiago recalls winning an arm wrestling match that lasted for a whole day.
• In the episode "Dead Lift" of the series The Streets of San Francisco (first broadcast May 5, 1977), where Arnold Schwarzenegger plays an important role, one sees his friend Franco Colombu, himself a high-level bodybuilder, and also a competitor of athletic strength and "strong men" contests, make a showdown in a bar.
• At the beginning of the film Predator (1987), the characters played by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers improvise a showdown after a vigorous handshake.^[11]
• The film Vendetta dal futuro (1986) features arm wrestling.
• The film Over the Top (1987) features a wrestling champion, played by Sylvester Stallone.
• The film Addams Family Values (1993) opens with a showdown between Gomez and Thing.
• The Fly (1986 film) features an arm wrestling scene in which one competitor's arm suffers a compound fracture.
• In the episode of The Simpsons "Marge's Son Poisoning" (2005), Homer enters an armwrestling tournament.
• The documentary Pulling John (2009), focuses on the battle for pre-eminence between heavyweights John Brzenk, and Alexey Voevoda.^[12]
• The reality TV show Game of Arms (2014) showed teams of American competitors sacrificing to become the nation's best armwrestler.^[13]
• In Italy, the term used for arm wrestling is braccio di ferro, and the cartoon character Popeye is also called Braccio di Ferro.

See also[]

• Hand strength
• Grip strength
• Handshake
• Grappling
• Thumb war

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arm wrestling.

• World Armwrestling Federation
• International Federation of Armwrestling (IFA)
• Professional Armwrestling League (PAL)
• Official page of The Ultimate Arm Wrestling League