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Post by Ed "Bam" Moehle on Apr 26, 2010 22:30:57 GMT -5
You need to lose before you win, it's just like riding a bike u fall off u get right back on, The more you do it the better you get. and pulling better and stronger people then you will make you a better arm wrestler. and if you think arm wrestling has a age limit well you better ask a john woosley or a allen fisher they will tell you and show you different.
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Post by John Wilson on Apr 26, 2010 22:35:52 GMT -5
Great post, Jesse.
That's a really good point about realizing that the other guys at the event might be from all over the country. When I started that was the part that really motivated me. I used to stand there in awe and listen to the seasoned pullers point out who's who around the room. I was star struck for a long time. I knew I wouldn't win but I also knew that I was a part of it. That was a very cool feeling to be in the same competition as my heroes.
I remember my first big event when I decided to do this sport for real, the Southeast Open in Jacksonville, FL. It was probably about 98 (?). The place was jammed with dudes who just oozed intensity.
I stood there gawking while he pointed guys out and named them before the event even started.
"That's Ron Bath from Georgia. It will be between him and David Randall."
"That's David Randall. Yeah, the enormous guy who looks like Mr. Clean. He's also a bench press champion."
"That's Cleve Dean. He's won more World Titles than anyone. You remember him from Over The Top." (Cleve came to spectate, but ended up pulling Ron at the end of the Overall.)
"There goes Chad Silvers who has won a National title in every weight class he's ever been in. It will be him and Greg Helm for first in your weight class."
It was like being a kid on Christmas day. I'll never forget it. And then to find out that all these guys would talk to you?! That's the part that got me to look past the soreness and keep coming back. I wanted to be a part of all that I had seen.
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Post by Jesse Mize on Apr 26, 2010 22:49:02 GMT -5
I didn't want to admit it John, but I was a little star struck this year. Last year I didn't even know who John Brzenk was, this year I could name about every pro arm wrestler there and about how many titles they hold. Trying to explain who they were and what a big deal it was that they were here in Bakersfield to my non arm wrestling buddies was a little tough. Arm wrestlers are usually only "famous" to other arm wrestlers.
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Jared Cook
Silver Member
Central Illinois
Posts: 271
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Post by Jared Cook on Apr 27, 2010 13:00:14 GMT -5
For me, money is the number one hurdle. I've been told that I have the potential to hang with some really good pullers, but I don't have the monetary resources to travel and reach my full potential. On a teacher's salary, with other bills to pay, a weekend out of state is just too expensive. Without a sponsor, hotel rooms, gas, food, and entry fees can add up to hundreds of dollars in a hurry...for just a trophy...or $50...if I'm lucky. Don't get me wrong, I love the sport, but I just can't afford to enjoy it like I really want to.
With the ego thing, I agree that can be a big problem for some. The local bad boys who have "never lost" don't like getting embarrassed in front of their home crowd. I think it really helps when the event's announcer tells a little about the competitors, especially the pros. When my dad used to put on tournaments, he would announce the competitors for the next match, and while they were setting up, he would be telling the crowd about them. "Mr. Smith, on your left, has been pulling for 20 years, and he just returned from the World Armwrestling Competition in Italy a few months ago, where he placed 6th in his weight class. Mr. Jones, on your right, flew in from California, where he holds the state bench press record" Then, when "Billy Bada$$" takes his first loss to some stranger, he can say "Well, the guy who beat me is ranked 6th in the world" and he doesn't feel so bad. I learned many years ago...check your ego at the door. No matter how good you think you are...there is always someone better.
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Post by Bill Arnold on Apr 27, 2010 14:08:40 GMT -5
Money has been mentioned a bunch of times here, and is a reality for most people. We all have full time, 60 hour a week jobs. How do we find the time to train, and how do we find the money to travel and compete?
I would love to hear from some of the countries that support their armwrestlers financially. What is it like to have armwrestling as your job - to get paid to do something you love? Would you be as good as you are if you didn't receive money from your government?
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Post by Christopher Thomas on Apr 27, 2010 14:15:40 GMT -5
My lowly opinion is PAIN PAIN PAIN. When I was introduced to the sport by Alex Jigalko, I remember him saying "no you do not have to go to the emergency room its just tendon pain". WoW did that ever hurt. I have had broken ankles, broken arms, broken nose, knee surgery, and many other painful things from football over the years but I would take all that pain over before taking 2 hours of tendon pain. Just this weekend (after pulling now for 3 years) I hurt so bad I thought I was going to throw up just from swatting my three year old on the bottom after having practiced the night before. Shocking the tendons, shocks the soul. But what I am really saying is if the one who gets you started sticks with you like Alex stuck with me answering my questions and explaining to me the ins and outs I feel you have a better chance to stick it out.
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Post by TK on Apr 27, 2010 15:18:51 GMT -5
My lowly opinion is PAIN PAIN PAIN. When I was introduced to the sport by Alex Jigalko, I remember him saying "no you do not have to go to the emergency room its just tendon pain". WoW did that ever hurt. I have had broken ankles, broken arms, broken nose, knee surgery, and many other painful things from football over the years but I would take all that pain over before taking 2 hours of tendon pain. Just this weekend (after pulling now for 3 years) I hurt so bad I thought I was going to throw up just from swatting my three year old on the bottom after having practiced the night before. Shocking the tendons, shocks the soul. But what I am really saying is if the one who gets you started sticks with you like Alex stuck with me answering my questions and explaining to me the ins and outs I feel you have a better chance to stick it out. AGREED...I TELL ALL NEWBIES WHAT THEY'RE IN FOR. PAIN PAIN PAIN. AND i get what you're saying on the swatting, you have to be careful the next 2 days after practice or a tourney. TK
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Post by Bill Sinks on Apr 28, 2010 20:56:24 GMT -5
I remenber when I first started , 1991 I was hitting a tournement amonth ,the pain was so intense i couls barely drive home . Had a stick shift truck at the time . was in pain for three to four days . The first tournement I went to Bill Ballenger smoked me , didn't even know I had lost !Still came back though and glad i did .
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Post by John Parton on Apr 29, 2010 0:28:53 GMT -5
The first thing I tell any new person is you have to be willing to tae the pain! I think another thing is that sometime new people will come in and try and keep up with an experienced puller at a practice or workout. It is just not practical and for those foolish enough to not listen very painful to both the arms and the pride. When I started there was no novice or amatuer, and I think that it was just as popular as it is now. You either loved it and you didn't and were willing to take the whippings until you got better. As far as the pain goes I was cutting timber back then and I remember every time I hit a wedge it felt like my arms were going to fall off. I actually think you start to like the pain after a while at least if your Bill Sinks
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Post by simon on Apr 29, 2010 9:01:40 GMT -5
This is funny because that has got to be the top question I get, "when does the pain stop" when you tell them never, they about pee themselves.
Also as with any sport being introduced to a kid or someone for the first time you need to find a way to help them find success, find something they can improve upon all of the time, give them something they can latch on to and want to pursue, if you can keep them coming back you have a shot.
Candidly you have to be a special kind of stupid to pay significant amounts of your own money and time to train and travel around in constant pain getting smoked everywhere you go. If you can get past the "just don't lose state" get some small personal achievements and get to where you are managing the pain you might make it long term.
It is the one good shot out of 100 that a golfer wants to make 2 out of 100 that gets them to come back to the course again and again.
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Post by Robbie Weast on Apr 29, 2010 11:01:41 GMT -5
Are there any genetic freaks in the sport that never had too much pain when they started? Seems like some people are more naturally hinged/strong tendons for pulling.
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Post by jamesretarides on Apr 29, 2010 14:24:47 GMT -5
My lowly opinion is PAIN PAIN PAIN. When I was introduced to the sport by Alex Jigalko, I remember him saying "no you do not have to go to the emergency room its just tendon pain". WoW did that ever hurt. I have had broken ankles, broken arms, broken nose, knee surgery, and many other painful things from football over the years but I would take all that pain over before taking 2 hours of tendon pain. Just this weekend (after pulling now for 3 years) I hurt so bad I thought I was going to throw up just from swatting my three year old on the bottom after having practiced the night before. Shocking the tendons, shocks the soul. But what I am really saying is if the one who gets you started sticks with you like Alex stuck with me answering my questions and explaining to me the ins and outs I feel you have a better chance to stick it out. On the money. I remember about 8 years ago or so going to a fair the day after practice and letting one of my friends talk me into doing the "speed pitch" competition they had. He figured that since I could throw flames in high school I wouldn't have any problem winning. I threw one pitch and caught the WORST tendon pain ever!!! The nausea was unreal and the throbbing was horrible and seemed like it would never end. Ten minutes later I threw another pitch (<---like a big stupid head) and tried to numb my arm by hanging it out the car window and letting it flop around in cold air on the interstate. I didn't work. And I am still prone to this sort of stupidity. I was so sore on the Monday after the OBX tournament two weeks ago but decided I should go work through the pain at the gym. I guess to answer Robbie's question is you either become a masochist or you get used to it.
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Post by Michael Phaup on Apr 29, 2010 18:35:26 GMT -5
Are there any genetic freaks in the sport that never had too much pain when they started? Seems like some people are more naturally hinged/strong tendons for pulling. I never had any pain when i started. But i sure couldnt pull hard for two days in a row ;D. I think part of the reason i don't feel the pain much is because i have been playing tennis for 15 years so my arm is probably used to it.
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Post by Damian Knight on Apr 30, 2010 8:47:31 GMT -5
I have only been pulling for a couple of months. Like anything that is not a mainstream sport it is difficult to explain the appeal to people. We all know that lots of people people think that AWing is not exactly a sport and cant really understand that there is actually technique involved in it. I get questions from people but find that they are usually unconvinced that this is something that is a genuine sport, and one of the hardest ones there is for that matter. For me personally, I LOVE pulling on a table until my arm wants to fall off. Pain and distance aren't the things that keep me away from practice. It's finding people to pull with. So what can we do to help explain what this sport is about to the average Joe?
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