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Post by Tim Lewis on Nov 9, 2009 0:28:11 GMT -5
There have been a lot of threads about promoting the sport in the US. But I've noticed something else. A lot of new guys have tried the sport and not very many of those seem to get hooked like us. I mean some do and then they become one of us, but do you ever wonder what keeps that percentage so low.
I've decided to give my perspective on why the average "strong dude" in the US doesn't stick around.
The average person (who is not yet passionate about pulling like we are) that gives it a try once usually discourages by one or more of the following if they go "try" a sanctioned event:
1) Losing
2) Realizing that "it's all technique"
3) Entry Fees
4) Lack of/No prize money for winning (the What's the Point response)
5) Poor turnout (either overall or in their specific weight class)
6) Lack of a Local Presence and realizing that at least some travel is somewhat required to get know in the sport.
7) Feeling like they could get injured (I have found this to be very true amongst some very powerful pullers).
8) They hurt too bad for a few days after the event and feel it interferes with their manual labor job or their workout schedule at the gym.
9) Their friends (or boys) think it's stupid and/or they can't talk them into it.
10) Mass Media draws them towards MMA or other strength sport.
11) Poor bracketing and/or reffing
12) Seeing that the average match takes only 3-4 seconds and yet events can go on for 4-7 hours
13) Seeing that the sport is too small and often "family oriented" almost many kids are born into the sport if their dad pulls.
Do you guys agree? And if so, do you think there is anything we can do to change this things and should we and/or is it our responsbility too? It's very frustrating to see someone with potential not care or give up on the sport after 1 or 2 tournaments and/or practice.
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Post by philbauer on Nov 9, 2009 9:50:47 GMT -5
You forgot that laziness is bigger than ever these days.
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Post by Steven Green on Nov 9, 2009 10:39:39 GMT -5
You better move pain to number 1! I have had over a dozen buddies go to a tournament and after they cant workout or even hold thier pecker up to pee!
The pain in unreal for the first few years but i am at a year and it still hurts like hell.
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Aric Wolf
Silver Member
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Posts: 279
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Post by Aric Wolf on Nov 9, 2009 10:43:54 GMT -5
The risk of injury and the pain of pulling seem to be the two biggest factors in my mind. Losing is motivation for me. I remember my first tournament... I knew nothing about the sport (literally nothing), and I thought I was going to go win that thing for sure. I saw my first opponent and thought... "Good luck, buddy." Then about .3 seconds later, the match was over and I was obliterated. I still don't know what happened, but I am guessing that he toprolled me. My next match lasted over a minute in a hook and I eventually won. Then I was torched on my next and final match.
Losing is what motivated me and hooked me into armwrestling. Had I went and won, I doubt that armwrestling would have been that big of a deal to me, as I would have dismissed it as not serious. That is when I saw the need to train, and realized the level of competition.
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Post by John Buxton on Nov 9, 2009 11:17:01 GMT -5
pain,injury. and i think when training or pulling in a tourny and get'n thier butts whipped. ive seen it run tons of guys off. alot of people are sore loosers. Ive always had a huge intrest in A/W
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Post by TK on Nov 9, 2009 11:44:31 GMT -5
You better move pain to number 1! I have had over a dozen buddies go to a tournament and after they cant workout or even hold thier pecker up to pee! The pain in unreal for the first few years but i am at a year and it still hurts like hell. i agree .... I'VE LOST TOO MANY TEAM MATES DUE TO "PAIN"...BEGINNERS TENDON PAIN IS A B!TCH , THEN LAZINESS, THEN LACK OF FUNDS.... TK |
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Post by Dwayne Hanel on Nov 9, 2009 12:16:27 GMT -5
My brother Steve ocassional (maybe once or twice a year) comes to a practice and toys with me. He has entered only a few local tournaments over the years that Mary MacConnaughey puts on in the novice class and won. Been trying for years to get him to get serious and train with me to compete. He was always a hell of an athlete. In 1982 The University of Nebraska wanted him to walk on to play football but didn't offer him a scholarship because he was only 200lbs. Instead he played ball on a scolarship at Midland College in Fremont Nebraska. He was a 4 year All American NAIA Division one Center. He also wrestled and was nasty on the mat. He dosen't compete in armwrestling because he saw me break my arm 11 years ago and he has a family who is depending on him and he dosent' want to get hurt.
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Post by kyledarby on Nov 9, 2009 15:14:00 GMT -5
Over jealous novice/amateur pullers  |
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Post by David Owens on Nov 9, 2009 17:49:58 GMT -5
Do you guys agree? And if so, do you think there is anything we can do to change this things and should we and/or is it our responsbility too? It's very frustrating to see someone with potential not care or give up on the sport after 1 or 2 tournaments and/or practice. is it our responsibility? that depends on personal aspirations for the sport. its a lot of work to host tourneys and find new talent. more so in an area that is practically armwrestling dry. I have heard great ideas on this board of things that could be done to help build. in my opinion it always comes down to numbers. how many people do you talk to in a week about armwrestling. and out of those how many take interest ? I think we NEED to up the amount of people we talk to in whatever way possible, I am currently in the process of doing several things to up the volume of potental talent that I come across. to be honest most of the pullers I am training now I know personaly in one way or another a few things that can be done are business cards, I am getting them made by the hundreds and will soon be passing them out to anyone I see as a potental puller and its also a great way to start the "professional armwrestling" conversation web sites, I'm talking about on a local level. by next week there will be a .com site for the Tennessee Armwrestling Association complete with videos, event calenders, pictures,message board,instant messaging and even bio's with info on any of the armwrestlers that pull at these local tournaments and as time goes on I will get bio's for the "big guns" as well radio spots, believe it or not alot of local radio stations will push your events for you for next to nothing local tournament schedual, the biggest issue I've seen with alot of new pullers in the travel and cash that is put into it because there is no local circut of events with competition on that local level not everyone can host tournaments every month or even every 3 months but I think it will definatly raise interest for whoever can. |
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Post by Gary Roberts on Nov 9, 2009 18:50:05 GMT -5
I like this post Tim, haven't seen it quite broken down like that before. I think I have an interesting perspective as 'an armwrestler' I pulled two tournaments back in 2004 and had no shot, no chance, no skill, just did it for goofing off. I always felt that I was ARM TV only and would never armwrestle because I just didn't have what it took. (where I feel now that armwrestling at any level is fun even if I never advance further) being matched up with someone on a similar skill level and knowing it could go either way is an adrenalin rush like no other I have experienced. BUT IT HAS TAKEN YEARS to get to this mindset in 2005 I was goofing around on the table after Plaza Vegas I had my elbow popped and it hurt for months. I didn't even attempt to armwrestle for months For over a year if I ever got on the table again I asked anyone I was pulling 'don't hit' because I was scared of getting injured again. Finally when I really did start to pull and enjoy it...I went through pain that hurt so bad and I would still get back on the table...and it would hurt and hurt again. I would still do it. Why am I getting on the table when I know what it is going to hurt like in a few minutes? Am I a dummy? but I still got back on it. and now, it is weird but my arm hurts less and less now after pulling. Moral of the story. It took a long time for me to get attached to the sport 'as a puller' attached fast as a fan but as competitor a very long time, 1. fear of injury seemed to be what held me back. the love of pulling seemed to be to great and was able to over come the pain factor. thats my story  |
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Post by Rick "Lummox" North on Nov 9, 2009 19:01:24 GMT -5
I like what David said about the sport. I probably have 4 or 5 conversations a week about armwrestling. As far as getting coverage goes, it seems very hard, I have talked to newspapers, radio stations and they all talk a good game and then no show at the tourney.
I have contacted two papers and two radio stations to cover the RI states in two weeks we'll see what happens.
As far as the original post I think it's the pain and time it takes to recover that scares most people away. My first 6 months my fingers were asleep all the time and my elbow was like a toothache!!
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Post by Tim Lewis on Nov 9, 2009 19:41:46 GMT -5
Interesting feedback. As far as coverage and media, sure it's nice but that doesn't drive everyone. I will credit one of my team members who told me "What is so great about the sport is that everyone can find competition at their own level" (end quote)
I couldn't agree more.
I wish the local numbers could increase everywhere. As much as I'd love to see Arm Wrestling on TV or in the Olympics or have lot of $$$$ in it, my actual dream would be to have as many local guys interested in the sport recreationally as there are in pool or darts even if it never got the "coverage" that we always talk about. I wish one major metro area such as Denver could have 10 different teams and there could be such as thing as "local competition." But lack of numbers has not made this a reality yet.
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Post by Hungry Hippo on Nov 9, 2009 19:57:32 GMT -5
From a personal aspect, PAIN almost drove me away. I was so sore from AW when I first started I had to literally hang my arms off the bed at night to alleviate the agonizing torture. I couldn't function at work as I lifted and moved pianos for a living. I also was a work out nut and had to wait long periods to get back in the gym.........Just like Brzenk said, If you want to be a good ball player, then play ball- If you want to be a good weightlifter, lift weights- If you want to be good AWer, then AW.
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Post by philbauer on Nov 9, 2009 21:08:25 GMT -5
Be careful what you wish for...more people means longer tournaments.
Right now the average is 5-7 hours long? Add more people and you will have to have "weekend tournaments" just to get it done. The usual "one day" event, won't be enough time.
I wouldn't mind that but the new people in the sport wouldn't do it.
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Post by Jeremy Durfee on Nov 9, 2009 21:17:07 GMT -5
I think pain is #1, and the lack of available training partners. I have several friends that have all tried it but couldn't handle the aches and pains. But they still follow my to some events and support the sport.
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