|
|
Post by Hungry Hippo on Apr 25, 2011 12:15:53 GMT -5
Just would like some insight from "veteran pullers" on what to do..I've been competing 5 yrs now and progressed fast in the amateurs but ever since Ive been pulling pros I havent progressed..some people have became world champ in 5 yrs..I think of myself as a pretty good amateur puller but cant seem to permeate into the Pro level. I love armwrestling but it has become frustrating more than it is fun here lately. training hard and seeing no results is disheartening and has aroused pessimistic views about competing ever again. Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by CHRISTIAN BINNIE on Apr 25, 2011 12:32:37 GMT -5
Well you sound like every other puller......And it sound like you need to change things around, IF what you say is true about, training hard.Training "hard" to some are different to others, and especially what and how you train...
|
|
|
|
Post by James Worke on Apr 25, 2011 12:57:03 GMT -5
Im interested in the comments you get on this jonathan. I started pulling heavier novice classes to giv me more experience before i moved to opens. We'll see if it helps or not....
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete & Tim on Apr 25, 2011 13:15:04 GMT -5
Going from novice to open can be a huge let down at first and it will continue to be one if you set your goals beyond your capabilities. Set small goals and work towards achieving those goals by switching up workouts and training partners. Take any and all advice and use what only works best for you. Not everything is going to come easy but quitting is the easiest way to achieve nothing.
First figure out which is your more dominant and agile arm and focus mostly on building strength in that arm. Then work on agility and technique on your weaker arm so that you can utilize both for optimum use. Whether we want to or not we all must use both arms to pull.
Once you have set some small goals and have figured out which arm you plan to use the most and have altered your workouts and training, now its time to go and test it out.
NOT A CHALLENGE OR SUPERMATCH!!!!
Go to a tournament and see how you do. Then go home and evaluate what worked and didn't work and start over from there.
Remember this, not everyone can be John Brzenk, but everyone can be the best they can be as long as they work hard and are willing to accept defeat as well as victory.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete & Tim on Apr 25, 2011 13:15:59 GMT -5
Man what a pansyass I am. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Anthony Edens on Apr 25, 2011 13:17:15 GMT -5
Jonathan,
I'm not a veteran pro, but I'm in a similar situation to you. What I've found is that I have to travel to new tournaments so I can pull different pullers. You live in a tough area to gauge your progress. Mike West and company are really strong. I've found that pulling some small tournaments that don't attract the big names is a good way to gain/maintain confidence while still pulling in the "open" class. Another thing I have come to find is the importance of talking to the "technical" pullers after tournaments. Guys like Corey Miller, Bill Logsdon, and Alper Cosar have helped me learn a few things that have really made a difference. They have helped me to cut across the learning curve.
Hope you can come to our practice in Lexington.
Armwrestling is for life, you can't quit. Just need to change things up.
|
|
|
|
Post by Anthony Edens on Apr 25, 2011 13:19:20 GMT -5
Going from novice to open can be a huge let down at first and it will continue to be one if you set your goals beyond your capabilities. Set small goals and work towards achieving those goals by switching up workouts and training partners. Take any and all advice and use what only works best for you. Not everything is going to come easy but quitting is the easiest way to achieve nothing. First figure out which is your more dominant and agile arm and focus mostly on building strength in that arm. Then work on agility and technique on your weaker arm so that you can utilize both for optimum use. Whether we want to or not we all must use both arms to pull. Once you have set some small goals and have figured out which arm you plan to use the most and have altered your workouts and training, now its time to go and test it out. NOT A CHALLENGE OR SUPERMATCH!!!! Go to a tournament and see how you do. Then go home and evaluate what worked and didn't work and start over from there. Remember this, not everyone can be John Brzenk, but everyone can be the best they can be as long as they work hard and are willing to accept defeat as well as victory. Is someone using your account Pete?  I agree completely. |
|
|
|
Post by Karen Bean on Apr 25, 2011 13:20:31 GMT -5
Just would like some insight from "veteran pullers" on what to do..I've been competing 5 yrs now and progressed fast in the amateurs but ever since Ive been pulling pros I havent progressed..some people have became world champ in 5 yrs..I think of myself as a pretty good amateur puller but cant seem to permeate into the Pro level. I love armwrestling but it has become frustrating more than it is fun here lately. training hard and seeing no results is disheartening and has aroused pessimistic views about competing ever again. Thanks Jonathan, what are you considering "training hard"? What exactly are you doing? How often? etc? Training for armwrestling is no different than anything else really. In anything you will always hit plateaus where you seem to stall out and remain stagnant. That's the time to change things up. Even if it's only doing whatever workout routine you are doing now in reverse. Your muscles will become used to whatever you're doing and won't be tested or stressed. Also if you're pulling with the same people change it up. Travel to another area, if you can, and grip up with other pullers. Armwrestling is just like anything else, it comes faster for some. Some babies learn to walk at 6 months, some not till after a year old. Some teens pass their driving test on the first try, some have to try multiple times. Some guys get lucky on their first try and others get their faces slapped ;D Never, never, never give up on anything that you enjoy! Never! Life's too short to not have some fun along the way. And above everything else in this sport - enjoy it and have fun! That's what it's really all about. |
|
|
|
Post by Chris Kaufman on Apr 25, 2011 13:29:33 GMT -5
I know how you feel. I actually felt the exact same way after I did the CO Police and Fire Megamatch. After putting in all that work and cutting all that weight, I was absolutely crushed when I pulled like crap. My issue was that I lost it mentally. Like what Pete said, the challenge/mega match was a terrible idea for me to "prove" myself and I wasn't prepared mentally.
What I did was basically identify why I lost, and work on my weaknesses. I also, like Anthony said, started training with Corey to help identify what I was doing wrong and where I'm weak. By identifying my weaknesses, it gave me something to work on. Plus by working on something that you're weak, you see results fairly easily and quickly. I'm still working on my weaknesses, but it has helped me to keep my drive going. I don't know how close you are to James in North Carolina, but it would be worth the trip to get his take on your pulling.
|
|
|
|
Post by Karen Bean on Apr 25, 2011 14:00:47 GMT -5
Going from novice to open can be a huge let down at first and it will continue to be one if you set your goals beyond your capabilities. Set small goals and work towards achieving those goals by switching up workouts and training partners. Take any and all advice and use what only works best for you. Not everything is going to come easy but quitting is the easiest way to achieve nothing. First figure out which is your more dominant and agile arm and focus mostly on building strength in that arm. Then work on agility and technique on your weaker arm so that you can utilize both for optimum use. Whether we want to or not we all must use both arms to pull. Once you have set some small goals and have figured out which arm you plan to use the most and have altered your workouts and training, now its time to go and test it out. NOT A CHALLENGE OR SUPERMATCH!!!! Go to a tournament and see how you do. Then go home and evaluate what worked and didn't work and start over from there. Remember this, not everyone can be John Brzenk, but everyone can be the best they can be as long as they work hard and are willing to accept defeat as well as victory. Is someone using your account Pete? I agree completely. Have to agree Anthony...............Pete who's logged in as you?  |
|
|
|
Post by Pete & Tim on Apr 25, 2011 14:08:50 GMT -5
I'm logged in as me. We know it ain't Bresnan. LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by Karen Bean on Apr 25, 2011 14:23:15 GMT -5
I'm logged in as me. We know it ain't Bresnan. LOL Boy that's for damn sure! ;D ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Rick "Lummox" North on Apr 25, 2011 14:37:31 GMT -5
Good stuff Pete! I also have been discouraged in the past. I just came to realize that you have to pull against different people, learn from your mistakes and find someone who can teach you!! Just because someone is a good puller doesn't make them a good teacher!
|
|
|
|
Post by Mark Zalepa on Apr 25, 2011 15:54:29 GMT -5
This is one topic I have great experience in. I have been involved in arm wrestling for 26 years. I started pulling exclusively pro classes in 1990. I won 2 Amateur Nationals titles and 2 Amateur Provincial titles. Since I have turned pro so to speak - O National titles and 0 Provincial titles.
This sport is not about the wins and losses. This sport is about the life long friends you make and the experiences you have along the way. I would never give this sport up for any reason. I am closer with my arm wrestling family then I am my own family. When I talk to people about this sport it is never about the wins and losses. It is about the amazing things that have happened during and after the tournaments.
There are very few elite status arm wrestlers in the sport where they win 99% of the time. If that was all this sport was about we would all be in trouble.
I am sure that if you left the sport you wouldn't miss winning first place. You would miss the people. At least I know I would. Even though it would be nice to get first place once in awhile. lol.
|
|
|
|
Post by John Wilson on Apr 25, 2011 16:25:14 GMT -5
Great, great responses from Pete (?!?!) and Mark.
I would ask you one question though. What have you changed about your approach since you transitioned from Novice to being an Open puller? If the answer is nothing, or that you are doing a lot more of the same just harder- that's probably your stumbling block.
If you don't know why you are losing, my first suggestion is that it's probably a lack of hand and table control. Open pulling is all about control. If you don't know why you are losing then I say you probably are being taken out of the match during the setup or on the Go.
Very small things matter, but usually they aren't the key. Look at your mechanics. This is not Novice- you aren't just going to steamroll people without being in control first.
Revisit your fundamentals. Get back to basics. Pull as many pros as you can and ask them to break down what you are doing / not doing.
Mark makes a great point. This sport is all about tiers. You get good on the Novice level and then you move up to Opens and suck again. You fix your holes and get good. Then you pull Nationally and suck. It goes on like that. Lather, Rinse, and Repeat.
|
|
