Why do you armwrestle....HONESTLY!!!

[Chris Kaufman]

First off, I know this board is all but dead and this topic has been beat to death, but not truly.

I've been racking my brain as to why I armwrestle. I specifically don't ask myself this question for fear of an answer that doesn't line up with my obsession. I fear that the reason isn't good enough for all the time, money, and pain that this sport requires to be at a competitive level. Currently I'm up to my ears in debt and my relationship is suffering because of this "sport" (I know...very common among armwrestlers). I went all this year with all the promises of good things to come. I figured this was our/my one shot at making a living at this. Granted I realize that is a little bit short sighted and not realistic, but I was going off of what I/we were being told.

I know that most people say that it's the camaraderie or the people. I agree that those are positive (most of the time) aspects of our underground sport, but not the real reason.

I'm still trying to figure this out, as I know that something like this takes longer than a few days of thinking. The best that I can come up with is:

• I have a need to be looked up to
• I have a need to be seen as a "badass"
• I have a need to be talked about by people that I don't really know or the need to be relivant
• I have a need to be a super hero to my children, so that they will be able to brag about their father
• I have the need to be the best at something

Then the question is why. Maybe because I had an absentee father, and have a chip on my shoulder about proving my worth. I don't know, but that's what I've come up with so far.

You may ask why I'm digging into this. I need to figure out what makes me tick, so that I can use that to better myself in this "sport", assuming that the reason are worth the cost. I can't see myself quitting. The thought scares the crap out of me, because if I'm not an armwrestler, then who am i. I've given almost 10 years to this sport so far, so I can't imagine not getting something out of it.

So.....with that, why do YOU armwrestle? Is it worth it?

There are (hopefully) much wiser and more experienced armwrestlers on this board that might share their experiences, as I'm sure I'm not the first one who's asked this question.

[Mike Cocchi]

Chris great stuff and very kind of you to be so honest.

Here it is for me in a short version

Arm wrestling is to me a competitive hobbie , nothing more nothing less.

I'm competitive in my professional life and great leaders say it's good to be both in your personal and proffessinol life to have good balance.

So arm wrestling allows and does that for me

[Chris Kaufman]

It's a very serious question, for those that have given so much to be the "champ". Armwrestling, and going to tournaments for me has never been up for debate.....until now. Now I'm seeing what my obsession is doing to my family. It sucks, and my priorities have been way off.

You are definitely correct, there needs to be a balance, and I've obviously gotten off balance.

Thanks for sharing Mike!

[Gary Kessler]

It's a Hobby that helps me keep my weight at a healthy level.
Most of the people are great.
it is a reason to lift weights and that helps keep me healthy.
I like competition; love testing where I am power wise.
The money to travel and compete is not an issue for me.
I'm too old for boxing or UFC
I suck at Bowling and Golf
Life is short; do what makes you happy and keeps you healthy. Family always comes first for me.

[Jody Williams]

It's a hobby, but I pull for the competition. Anything else is a bonus ($$$)

[Tim Lewis]

I never played competitive sports in high school (football, wrestling, etc) I worked out but never really stood out athletically. I played little baseball sure but that doesn't count.

Outside of my professional life (teaching math) it gives me a sense of purpose something to strive for do better at.

I don't really have an interest in things normal adults do AT ALL: Buying a house, Settling down, relationships, getting married, having kids, etc. I'm 30 and I still feel like none of things will EVER happen nor do I feel I want them. So this keeps me busy and side tracked from the boredom I would have otherwise.

I want to be the best at something. That also explains why I like working out in the gym, benching. I was also pretty good at arm wrestling when I was younger (bar style) so I figured why not give it a shot.

I'm an adrenaline junkie. The 1-1 on competition there's nothing like it.

I enjoy travelling and meeting up with my armwrestling "family." I have very few friends in my local area. When the weekend comes, I crave to get out of town. Sure it costs a lot but note 2 paragraphs above.

I can measure my progress by how well I'm doing from year to year.

The sport helps me control my weight and live healthier. If I didn't make to make weight on a certain date I could be 260 or more by now. In 2010 I was up to 240 before I made a commitment to eventually getting to 198 classes. This never would have happened without armwrestling.

Those are the reasons.

[Mike Cocchi]

Nice post Tim

[Kyle Darby]

This is a pretty burly topic.

There is a really broad dynamic when you analyze the competitive make-up of armwrestlers. There are so many different ages, nationality, skill levels,gender, backgrounds, social status, and countries that participate it's nearly impossible to paint a "armwrestler" with one brush. Yet there is a certain stereotype that remains. Armwrestling is probably most recognized as a bar room/underground ego contest or pastime. It's peculiar most people don't acknowledge arm wrestling as a legitimate sport. I believe that ones participation is a fairly philosophical question if you truly inspect all the layers. For me personally some reasons are.

*Pride
*Recognition
*Community
*Accomplishment
*A sense of belonging
*Dedication
*Obsession
* An excuse to travel
* A desire to improve
*Fear to quit
* It's unique thus making it appealing
*I've invested this much so why stop now
*Longevity

[Matthew Craig]

It's a hobby. I have to delicately balance with family time because it takes my weekends. I'm fortunate to have a job that's conducive to arm wrestling, but even John Breznk didn't give up his job for it.

[John Wilson]

Great post, Chris.

If this was multiple choice, I'd get to the bottom of your original post and circle "a little bit of all of the above."

I have been doing this for a very long time. I've gotten away from the sport and came back... Twice.

There are many levels to this sport, but once you have have gotten to your level there are only two:

1. All-In. If you want National, World,or Elite titles then it's a full time job. Everything else in your life suffers for the sport.

2. Something else. The sport can be a lot of fun. It can be about social interaction and a little excitement, a reason to train, a way to compete hard... But if you're not in it to win it then it's just a big sliding scale of recreation


If a person is chasing #1, you can spend all of your time and most if your money in the process. But that's what it takes.

If a person is not chasing #1 then you really have to take a hard look at why you are spending time and money on something other than your family.

Speaking for myself, a person can chase #1 a few times in their career. But there is zero return on that investment other than pride. How guys do it year after year after year- I'll never know.

[Jeremy Chaudoin]

Asked myself this a few times since I started...

Personally, I armwrestle for several reasons. Those moments after a hard fought win, you turn from the table and walk back into the crowd, people look at you a little differently after a win. Some people are impressed, entertained, inspired, or even mad that you won... but they are looking at YOU either way. Its the look ya get when some kid wants a high five, like he is looking at superman or somethin. My favorite... is when the few times my family or friends can see me compete and I do well, like nothing else. For those few hours during a tournament, you can be somebody, something more badass and glorified. Its almost a natural primal need for power and glory. For the sole purpose of possessing it.

As a community, I think most armwresters pull because the discipline of the training, pain, humbling competition, and glory help mold our mind and body into something extraordinary, something we may never have done had we not found arm wrestling.

The training: committing to something and seeing it through. The puller can only be as good as his commitment. Many things in life you can't change no matter how much you try, but for armwrestling a puller can be as strong as his ambition, if he trains hard enough.

The pain: the pain is something I think we return to in armwrestling because its almost a way we keep a centered mindset, a steady and constant reminder of what we do and what we want. Arm pain keeps my thoughts on arm wrestling many times a day. Many days, all day.

Being humbled: no matter how strong you are, how good you have gotten, sooner or later you will take a loss. And unless you name is John Brzenk, you'll spend a good portion of your career taking losses. Keeps ya grounded, while giving you motivation. Makes puller more down to Earth than your traditional athlete. IMO

The glory: probably the biggest thing for most pullers. In life, no matter your skin color, culture, upbringing, or income. We all have demons and chains on our hearts and minds. Limits set on us by society and circumstance. But on the table we can break those chains through victory. We can achieve glory in the pullers world where we could no where else. So we fight for it. Sometimes we give everything for it. Making sacrifices we hadn't known we were making, all for the shot at being king, all for the chance at being seen as having the traits we would see in our heroes.

Sometimes we question it all but once a puller always a puller. Coulda probably worded some of that better but I hope you get the idea of what I'm trying to say

[Robin the manhandler Chandler]

I arm wrestle cuz I'm addicted to the rush of winning I can't ever get enough of it and I do love to be talked about ( in a good way lol and to be honest the drive to prove people wrong when they say I can't do something to prove I can

[Shawn Lattimer]

For me it's a fun hobby. I like strength sports, but not many other sports. I have a need to challenge myself at something, and I get bored easy, so armwrestling fits. $$, etc are not issues for me, and my wife is ok with my hobbies.

[Matthew Craig]

Honestly Chris, you have to decide if your relationship is more important than arm wrestling. If the choice were between my wife and kids or arm wrestling. Arm wrestling would have to go. It really is that simple. Granted not everyone is married with kids. Fortunately my wife is supporting me putting on a charity tournament here in Dallas, and she likes Adam Irrgang whom I mostly train with. So I'm good.

[Chris Kaufman]

Very cool and insightful posts from everyone!

My fiance would NEVER let me quit armwrestling, but it has been put somewhat above her in order of importance. She's essentially fed up with it, but still supports me because she knows I love this sport. I obviously need to rework my priorities, but I'm conflicted in slowing my progress (the little that I've gotten in the past year or so).

The thing that got me really thinking, or was an "ah hah" moment, was the realization that if it wasn't armwrestling, it would have been something else. I got into BJJ and MMA, and got completely consumed in that, and my armwrestling suffered. I chose armwrestling over that, since I was higher up on the totem pole, and have invested way more time, energy, and money. Nonetheless, I still got consumed in that world. So I asked myself why. Why do I let sports consume me? That's when I came up with the reasons I posted. Apparently I only have room for one obsession, but again, why?

I wanted to get my thoughts out there, and hear other pullers' experiences in hope that it might potentially spark something that I hadn't thought of. Thank you all for posting, I really appreciate it!