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Post by Justin Mynatt on Nov 9, 2009 21:48:47 GMT -5
Mainly the pain has kept guys from coming back in my experience. The second most reason is the Traveling to Tournaments and time consumption.
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Post by John Wilson on Nov 9, 2009 22:06:59 GMT -5
Pain and humiliation.
Everyone knows about the pain. But the humiliation is just as real. Every one of us was 'a good armwrestler' in our little circles before we began competing. But it's a terrible feeling when you are used to being able to beat anyone you meet regardless of size and then one day you get on a real table with a real armwrestler and you know immediately- without a doubt in your mind- that you have NO CHANCE. That cut runs deep.
That's a hard thing to deal with. And just when you get competitive in this sport you move to the bottom of the next level and you grip up with someone who is on that level and once again you know it... NO CHANCE.
Everyone knows that armwrestlers are the nicest group of people on the planet. It's not a coincidence. To succeed in this sport you must have it in you to squash your ego and learn humility. That takes a special kind of person. A person who is willing to lose in order to learn. A person who does not judge a person's value based on their success on the table because one has nothing to do with the other.
What makes us different as a group is what makes us great as a group. I would love to see this sport as common as darts and pool. On a very low level it could be that. One hell of a fun pasttime. But it will always take an extraordinary personality to thrive in this sport.
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Post by Shawn Lattimer on Nov 9, 2009 23:11:58 GMT -5
I have to agree with John. I have recently been on the other side.....
Back in about 1999 I entered an armwrestling tourney at York Barbell. They used to have a strength festival in the summer. I had never armwrestled, no training, no nothing, just entered because I was big and strong and I figured I could whip everybody. I got totally owned by a guy who was at least 150 pounds lighter than me. Tore tissue in my bicep in the process, and based on the pain and the length of time to recover I probably frayed a tendon.
I swore up and down I would never do something so stupid as long as I lived. Went back to powerlifting and never even considered armwrestling until last fall.
Here I am doing something stupid again............but most would never return.
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Post by David Owens on Nov 9, 2009 23:37:11 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. agreed I too would love to see teams of local guys competing against each other for the right to pull at nationals or even one day a qualifier for state championships, just as is unifieds to worlds, yes some of the bigger tournaments would be longer but I would be glad for the amount of competetion, I love where Tim's head is at on this I hope many more share his views
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Post by Mike Giannelli on Nov 10, 2009 0:11:49 GMT -5
I can honestly say that if it wasn't for my dad pulling for as long as i've been around, I probably wouldn't be doing this. I'm 28 and he's been pulling for 30yrs. I used to have fun with it at school as a kid and whatnot. I only took serious interest after being at the gym for a year, watching myself go from couch potato to alright shape.
I went to a practice with dad because I was curious about the actual level of pro competition. That was this past January. Get a Grip in Jan. was my first tournament. I won a match in Novice 220s and that was all it really took. I'm now under 198 and feel im in the best shape I have ever been in. The biggest downfall for me is just the amount of time it takes to get decent. I spend the time in the gym, listen at practice, pull until my arms hurt. I believe I've been through the major newbie pains. Yeah, it really sucked.. i lived off asprin and Ibuprofen for several months, but i knew it was only going to make me stronger. Just the 2 matches I had this past weekend at the SEAC tweaked my right wrist, my elbows are killi.ng me. I didn't even bother going to the gym tonight and probably won't tomorrow. The pain.. doesn't bother me... Not working out is what KILLS me!!!
I'm privleged to train with a great group of guys cuz if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have the right drive to succeed. They'll tell you I complain a lot about getting better. Its hard for me to understand when week in and week out its not getting any easier.. specially against James Retarides and Mr Walthers @ practice but I keep training, hoping one day to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I also tell myself I've only competed in 3 other tournaments this year.. two of which were NAA events drawing the best around. I want to complete at a pro level. Competing in novice just doesn't do it for me. I know I'm far from my potential and that's my driving force.. I want to see myself 1yr... 3yrs.. 6yrs and so on from now.
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Post by Pete & Tim on Nov 10, 2009 7:27:27 GMT -5
I also tell myself I've only competed in 3 other tournaments this year.. two of which were NAA events drawing the best around. You've been to three tournaments total??? Thanks for making the majority of them NAA!!!!
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Post by Justin Kaufman on Nov 12, 2009 19:17:48 GMT -5
I have been pulling for 5 yrs. and I tried to do my part for quite awhile. I found that after calling guys for practice and trying to bring new guys in, it was like selling AMWAY after awhile!!!
I'm not going to beat your door down! if you want to practice fine, if I don't feel like going to practice don't hassle me. It would be great to have a huge pool of guys from every inch of the state but 1 in about 50 guys who try it stick with it.
And lets face it, there are people out there who are active pullers that don't want to teach new people and these are the guys that could lift the sport. JMO.
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Post by Rob Vigeant Jr. on Nov 12, 2009 19:32:42 GMT -5
I think the initial ego bruising is the biggest factor. also the fact that it seems like light years away to catch the guy who initially bruised the ego to begin with if you decide to train.
Simon said losing an armwrestling match kinda feels like getting your a$$ kicked, I think he said it perfect for most people..........you are beating them in a physical match with all their strength and opposition and they can't do a thing about getting pinned, it is humbling and for some also humiliating for newcomers to bring all their friends to an event at something they thought they were good at and get slammed in front of an audience. This is why I think most shy away, think about it alot start out very interested then fade ...why ? because in a very short time of practice and tournaments.....they have seen and had enough to figure where they stand. plus alot of "big" buys try it out or gym rats figuring they should be real good cause they can curl a lot..............again........it is humbling.
If you can check your ego you will be all good, but I think it is a huge factor.
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Post by Mat Helmer on Nov 12, 2009 19:53:51 GMT -5
For me... it's the constant aching and pain. It interferes with my lifting and my work. I really got hurt during my first practice. The second big thing is the humiliation of constantly losing to guys whom I could curl one-handed, for many reps. I move a lot of weight around in the gym (and NO, I don't mean my fat a$$) and you soon realize that Armwrestling takes time and specific training. I'm stubborn enough to have stuck around and I'm working my way up the weight classes... The pain eventually subsides and the skills get better.
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Post by "VENGEANCE" -David Rivera- on Nov 12, 2009 21:12:12 GMT -5
Pain hurts so good
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Post by Andrew Fournier on Nov 12, 2009 22:22:20 GMT -5
1.Pain 2. Losing
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Post by Logan Schuetzle on Nov 13, 2009 0:24:27 GMT -5
Ive had three friends be fired up and then quit in my short 9 months of armwrestling. 1. Is definetly pain. They think the pain happens after evey practice. I tell them i don't get sore anymore, but they think its a fluke, or that maybe they are just weak. 2. Is realizing they suck compared to even a lower/mid level open puller like myself. Even though i tell them im in a weight class or two above them, it doesn't matter. In there mind they will never "get there" and they suck, even if they have potential.
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Post by Goce Krsteski on Nov 13, 2009 9:56:22 GMT -5
The number one reason is because there is no concise precises way how to improve in armwrestling. If you look at bodybuilding for example or boxing, there are thousands of workouts, exercises, complete programs on how to train. Compared to armwrestling - in armwrestling there are exercises, workouts etc, but they are scattered, and incomplete. There is no complete guide for beginners on how to slowly but surely improve.
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Post by Janie Morse on Nov 13, 2009 11:29:38 GMT -5
I think every point made on this thread is a reality for someone who has tried to "get into" armwrestling....... I also think all of these points come down to one contributing factor- that you either have or you don't- and that's having your heart in the sport. If your heart is in it, it doesn't matter if you are in pain, if the tourney takes all day and all night, if you go to a tourney and get your as* handed to you....if you have heart, NONE of it is relevant. Your passion will pull you through all of the things that make others quit...and you will become one of the small numbers in the world that will always be a part of the sport, even if your name is never recognized among others- you will be there because you love it..........
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Post by Floyd Colley on Nov 13, 2009 11:31:04 GMT -5
I think the monotony of it has something to do with it. People who start practicing, pulling the same guys over and over again with the same results gets discouraging. When there aren't enough tournaments in your area and you cant afford to travel real far to go to tournaments it can be discouraging. Most new people dont want to wait a few months or longer to pull at a tournament and and wearing your arm out every week just to do it all over again is only for the truly dedicated.
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