Armwrestling question??

[Johnny Edwards]

Ok so I have been pondering this for awhile.

I know I train and shouldn't pick on novices, but my first goal when I even found out armwrestling was even a sport was to get good enough to beat almost any off the street guys and defeat all the "never been beat" champs and to beat Todd Hutchings lol Well the second goal is a very very very lofty goal to reach that is a long ways off, but the first one isn't that difficult.

My question is, do you guys think it's a good idea to seek these local champs out and beat them all and could it possibly help grow some interest in my area to just maybe get a lot of armwrestling talk going in my local areas while I am out of the tournament loop for awhile due to financial reasons??

[Jeff Janes]

You would be better off having a super match with two never been beat guys promoting it heavily. That will create growth and interest by their family and friends and will do more than slamming new guys left and right. Drawing them into a tournament to compete against the same skill level will promote growth. Slamming guys that have "never been beat" sends them away with their tail tucked likely to never compete again. Are you in teaching mode or slamming mode when you pull these guys?

[John Schnell]

No, horrible idea. Both of them (no offense).

Do you know the difference between "local never been beat guys" and amateur pullers is? Rules.

Every year guys who I train with will set up tables at a place called Yankee Lake, which is basically hillbilly heaven. Over the course of the night we draw more people than the party bus, mechanical bull and climbing wall. Of the hundreds of people who come to "armwrestle", only a handful understand the rules, technique and safety. Some of the things you hear are;

"You can't bend your wrist, it's cheating"
"You can't use your body, it's cheating"
"You went to fast, that's cheating"
"You moved your elbow, that's cheating"

Every time we go out there to teach, it ends up being a pissing contest with some hoss who's "never been beat". Then, because I am the calmest person in the group haha, I have to lose slowly and convincingly to prevent a throw down. Super fun armwrestling "never been beat guys".

Keeping that in mind, how do you come out ahead? In creating a "supermatch" with "never been beat guys" you cheapen the term and sport. If you just flat out smash "the locals" it will cause alienation. Unless of course, this is an ego trip for you. Smash away brother.

[Don Smith]

Smash the locals. Go to tournaments. Smash everyone at the tournament. Set up super-matches. Smash people in the super-matches. Never stop smashing. Never.

[Johnny Edwards]

lol Don. No I usually try to teach, but I don't EVER let them win unless they can actually beat me. I only seriously go against some of them if they bet money on it. I have gotten a couple people interested by just beating them. The problem always is they don't wanna travel to tournaments an stuff. I have always noticed though you will hear a lot of talk about these guys who haven't been beat or sometimes they just say.they are really strong. I've never ever had any guys wanna throw down though, but im also known as one of those guys u don't jump on in my area. Im morr into trying to get them competitive. Like man that dude just beat me I need to train

[Erick "Zap" Szczap]

Johnny, I haven't replied to your posts about this on Facebook but I will answer you here. I think it's a horrible idea. First off, it's a lawsuit waiting to happen. Second, what are you proving? If you win so what? And what if you lose?

If I were you I'd focus on the real deal. Start training consistently. Cut to your ideal weight. Pull some real tourneys. Let the 'undefeated' local legends think what they want. Only the real thing matters.

[Deleted]

John schnell is right. Just invite guys to practice and train. Get past the first painful tendon building months then you'll love the sport.

[Glenn Brooks]

I ran across one of those never been beat guys many years ago, when I slammed him he slammed his fist on the car hood and said: because a mf can armwrestle don't mean he can fight! So I slammed my fist on the car hood and said: that's right and I can't armwrestle worth a damn! He smartly walked away. The good ol days.

[Johnny Edwards]

I think it's a good idea. The more people hear about people doing it the more they tend to join in. I don't mean go just rip some arms off. Im very careful about not hurting anybody. Far as I know the only guys arm I have ever hurt was during a tournament.

I think seeking out those "never been beat" guys are usually the ones interested that tend to armwrestle people more than your average person, hence their known armwrestling status. I personally haven't ever had anyone want to fight me either. I don't try to come off as a D%ck towards them even when I armwrestle them.

Also you are right it doesn't prove anything for me personally, but at the same time I can't just go to tournaments for awhile because money is too tight so that's just not an option right now. So my plan is to just find people who are interested locally whether I run across them, have to look for them, etc. My ultimate goal is to draw in some new people. I already drew in two pretty good guys. Michael Bianchi and Todd Immel. Todd was one of those guys known for armwrestling everyone and beating almost everyone. I beat him really bad one time and got him into training. Mike he just hadn't ever really tried it. I have another guy named Drew who I believe has the tools and genetics to be one of the best guys at 76 after a couple yrs if I could get him to do it consistently. He was also one of those never been beat guys. He tends to jump from armwrestling to powerlifting to grip sport etc....

[Jeff Janes]

Then you should hold practices in a public place or host a small novice tournament where you are at.