full time or part time puller

[Mike Moeller]

new poll.

[chrislydman]

Great choice of subject for a poll! I started armwrestling back in 1979, in HS. I moved to Alaska to commercial dive and fish, and continued up there, but only the State fair, and locally. Then joining the Navy, with my job description being what it was, I didn't have a lot of time to devote to the sport, although I did pull often in Hawaii, FL, IL,etc, when I was stationed near tournaments. I had the opportunity to pull with some great people, like Greg Helm, James Battles, Tom Faas, Craig Tullier, Ray Hennerichs, RJ, Greg Wilson, Blaine Middleton, Tony Villa, Mike West, Willie Reagan (the list could go on forever!)etc. Meeting Karen and Frank also kept me in the sport. Mary M and her Pull for the Hungry event was fantastic, and for charity, really impressed me. I love the sport, but of recent, meaning the last 8 yrs, health has been an issue for me. I'll keep popping up at some events, probably both Nationals this yr, at a higher wt. When I do pull, I'm very serious, and like to think I'm competitive, at least left handed

[John Milne]

Hmm, tough to answer that poll.

I do train on a table (at least) once a week.

I do consider myself a full time competitor as I train that way.

I do not travel that much as there are alot of quality events within 3 hours of my home that occur once a month or so. I would be hard pressed to find an event with better competition for me than the one I'm going to next.. which is only about 3 hours away and still in Ontario.

I guess I could pick 3 choices in that poll Mike. I cant justify picking one over the other. I don't really like people who just sit on the fence but this time I will have to.

[Steve Pettis]

I try to pull once a week more now days for my training partners and my little brother than myself.

[Chris Kaufman]

This is hard to answer. I consider myself a full time competitor even though I don't get as much table time as I would like. I try to get on a table at least once every two weeks or so, but I train specifically for armwrestling at the gym at least three times a week. It's hard to say.

[Robert Bishop]

i try hard for 1 day table and 1 for weights as far as arms

[James Battles]

Good conversation here.
I work to get 1 day table time each week but according to where I am at in preparation before a tournament and before the healing process I have been known to push in 2 days a week on the table but that depends on the X factor Robert mentioned. Training physically at one thing or another is a very big part of the equation in todays armwrestling. For instance I have not been able to get in the gym because it is spring and many responsibilities are at hand. Yesterday I went fishing for stump. They are fairly rare so when I find one that becomes a priority. I had been watching a nice one hanging out behind my back fence for a while but it was going to be a major fight so I had been waiting for the right time to go after it. Yesterday was that day. It had grown around one of those barbed wire fence posts you pound in the ground so it was a trophy stump. I have it out by the road now showing it off but I plan on cutting it up soon and disposing of it before it starts to smell bad.
I only used conventional tackle so I guess it would be considered a light tackle angling . I did break a set of hand trucks moving it to my front yard. That is a helpful training device I use sometimes cause I am too tired after the fight to pick up whatever I am after.
I doubt that it was any kind of a record because I have caught bigger ones in the past. My guess is around 600 lbs.

[Luke Eldridge]

Yea I heard gas was going up to around $4 a gallon by the either the end of this month or next..

[Jeramie Towle]

I try to get table time once a week and lift 2 nights a week. Sometimes I put 2 days into table time if a few of my buddys show up on a sunday afternoon to pull for awhile. I also consider myself a serious competitor when my life allows me to be. Family always comes first but armwrestling pulls a close second.

[Greg Sharon]

Lately it occurs to me,

what a long, strange trip it's been.

[Jake Smith]

full times multiple times a week pulling or strength training related to Armwrestling

[Todd Miller]

Thats what I love about Armwrestling, you get what you give, plain and simple...

[Mike Moeller]

Thanks for the responses guys. I sat here thinking that some of the recent posts on here were really getting so contraversial (roids) and it makes me wonder with all the "part" time armwrestlers around just how many champions we will never get to see due to schedules, family (my #1) and just life in general. pullers that are just right there on the edge of being great but never quite get ,by no fault of their ,but just have other obligations in this ever shortening 24 hour period we call a day. I love armwrestling but I would have to say if asked I am thinking about pullin FULL time just havent had the time to do it!!!

[Guy Windover]

Pulled for two years, 15 years ago. Made some great headway, then my son 7-8 years old at the time decided to play hockey. 15 years later at 22 he wanted to get into armwrestling. I couldn't believe how much I had missed this incredible sport.
I have dove back in with both feet, starting a club and learning from some incredible local clubs in Ontario, and we now train table 2 times a week. My job is very physical, Plumber, so weight workouts are not desired. I am 42 so as an old guy I don't have the stamina at the end of the day.
So far I have been back for about 5 months and am happy with the progress I have been making. I am competing decently with guys who have been active in the sport for up to 5 years, not winning all but at least letting them know I am there.
Might travel in a year or so when I am improved enough not to make it a wasted trip.
Good thread by the way. Opinions sometimes are sickening.

[Josh Dale]

I go pull the events if they're reasonably close. As for table time, I do band work 1-2 times per week on my table and have recently replaced the gym AW exercises with band exercises performed on the table. For example, instead of partial range db curls for fighting out of the hole, lock, etc.. I do partial range curls with a band on my table. I like specificity of doing them on the table and the way the band gets harder toward the top vs. the weights getting easier.