1986 Over the top video

[guy]

I know there was 78-82 in my class , my memorie may not be 100% I believe the Heavy weights had 40 other classes 50 to 80.
Im not sure the total classes maybe Bill might remember.

I know they had light weight like 150 minimum and I believe 170 something and then the 195 class Walker (young Ron Bath) and others were in. then a 242 maybe ? then heavy

[enginterzi]

John Heynoski won his world title in 1991 israel,i believe in 187pound class.year before that tournament he took 3.place in AAA nationals where Givens was 1. and Whitfield was 2. place finishers.they all were great armwrestlers.Guy,you ever pulled any of these 3 guys that i mentioned?

86 over the top,its the symbol of armwrestling.you can find big posters of that tournament anywhere in the world.its the tournament that was in the movie which inspired today's armwrestlers.i remember seing Cobra as the side ref in the final match of the movie.was Cleve Dean there?did he win?was Richard Lupkas armwrestling on those days?i know he was dominating tournaments between 1988-1990,but then got injured i guess.was Gary Goodrich there?foreigners,were they there?i mean the strong foreigners.

light weight must have been between Patton and Fischer,it must be their prime times.

Brzenk is the best of all times,there is no doubt,but Walker is my favorite.the way that he armwrestled was so great.a great side pressure straight to the pad.i have seen some of his videos from 94 s.fransisco Yukon Jack,where he beat Bill Brzenk in the final.if im not mistaking Walker and Bath were training partners,both from Georgia.i remember of reading on armbender magazine that once they had the same tshirt from their sponsors "lawn boy"or something like that.they weared at AAA nationals,i guess in 1987.the way that Ron armwrestles is similar to Walker's style.but i believe Walker was faster and his shoulder was closer to his hand when he does his pressure.to me its the best way to armwrestle,just curl in and side pressure.the truth is that i learned how to armwrestle from Walker by watching his match against Bill Brzenk.i little bit changed my style in last a few years because of my elbow but soon i will start using my side hit again as Walker was doing:)

[Jim Wagner]

thanks for the insight Engin! I know Heynoski in his day was tough. He was only 185, but had 20 inch arms and used a post, sitting all the way back on his tri-cep. His move was hard to beat.

[Karen Brisson]

I remember that I was in awe most of the time. Having 10 or so tables running at once was incredible. Karen Bean was there, she might have some tape and also Gil Tremblay was a referee and actually had dinner with Sly so he might have some too, but I know I only have a few photographs.

[guy]

Johnnie Walker is my all-time favorite armwrestler too and quite the gentleman. We pulled 3 times and Im 0-3 against him. He had a a 1/2 hook side pressure move to the pad straight across. He was awesome.
We had some good talks including one in 1980 WPAA championships. We talked about Clay rosencrans who wanted to pull 3 classes that day. And Johnnie said what is "he some Kind of Macho man" we laughed I never forgot that one.

That weekend I finished second to Alturner and Third was Richard Lupcas in the 210 LB division ( I lost to AL sitting in 1979 worlds in Canada too but beat him a year later 1981 and 1982)
Richard Lupcus emerged back on the scene around 1987 after seeing a good Nutritionist ( read between the lines) then was a sloid 300 pounds.

I always thought it would have been fun to see the 330 LB scott Norton from 1986 pull Richard but never happened as Scott went to regualr wrestling and probably probably toned down his 1986 nutrition program some ..

George Givens Im 2-0 against Over the top 86 and then in Vegas 1989 Pro football players he finished 4th I finished 3rd behind who else Brzenk and Walker. That was my last tournament until my recent comeback. I let the decade of the 90's slip away
George still sores over this as he brought it up a few times a few years back when we seen each other. I told him I actually never told anyone in Connecticut because that is where he was from and I didnt want to degrade him in any way he was a great champion. Won more titles then I did I know that.

[Karen Brisson]

engin, yes Cleve Dean was there

[guy]

Yes Cleve lost to Scott Norton in 2 seconds in the Final
You can see this short clip on Arm TV 6 min. Las vegas Steve Phipps sent in.

I would also have liked to seen this Scott Norton and the Voevoda of Zlotty go . I think This scott Norton would have won.

What do you think John B. if you read this?

Scott was the only armwrestler back then that John didnt get the chance to avenge a loss to, only because Scott moved to wwf wrestling.

I wish Aaron Lengyle (spelling ) would get together with Gary from Arm TV. Aaron has some film on over the top

[enginterzi]

thx Karen.

John Brzenk in his prime time,Alexy Voevoda,Richard Lupkas in 1988-89,Gary Goodrich 1994-95-96,Scott Norton and Cleve Dean in their prime times would be a great competetion:)

Guy,once again thx a lot for sharing with us!!also having 2-0 record against George Givens just means that you are one of the best of all times.im sure i have so much to learn from you.

[enginterzi]

by looking at his pictures,Heynoski looked more like a body builder to me than an armwrestler.i have read one of his article on the ArmBender,he was saying about that he wants to stay at the top for many years after he got a world title.but i never heard of his name again.was he injured or something?

[enginterzi]

Guy,how did Clay do in those 3 classes on that day?i saw him pulling against Bill Brzenk and Ron Bath in 97 tahoe.no disrespect,but he kind of was weird while trying to get a grip.i have a video tape of that tourney,Bill Brzenk was hardly holding himself to not to laugh,and was trying to not to look at Clay while getting grip.im sure that Clay was one of the top armwrestlers back in 80s.was he always like that when he was getting grip??

[guy]

I remember like a 3rd 4th and 5th. and we thought he could have maybe challenged for first in one class.

He use to set up getting low then coming up with body and arm for back pressure.
He had a huge hand and was a phenominal wrist wrestler and a great armwrestler. Im 1 win 1 loss to him. I beat him fast but when he stopped me he has great leverage and endurance. Bill has thaT breznk blood in him

Clay at 200 Lbs was one of the best back then he had wins over walker , Danny stone and I believe one over a very young John B.

[guy]

Thanks again Engin for the compliments. But I have to say I think your accomplishments in this sport are matched only by a very few and that today I could probably learn more from you. Thanks again hope we meet again soon

I think my best attributes for armwrestling was from being an underdog. Like at over the top and some other tournaments. You have to believe you will succeed or you wont.

My goal now is to become the first Modern day armwrestler to win an Open Nationals at 50 years old..
Trying is where all the glory is, thinking long term toward this. Success is a journey, not something that happens that day!! The original rocky was great 1976 it came out at the right time and I liked being an underdog and told you cant do it..

[brzenk]

You know your history well Engin.
Those are the most feared Super heavyweights during my life time.
And it would be great fun to see how each would react and adapt to each others strengths at their best.
It’s to bad we all can’t go back in time to make it happen.

Guy…for the Over The Top Final. Scotty was a very committed man.
He could, and probably still does bench-press an incredible amount of weight.
I would say Norton may have won ….only if he got the jump, and was able to use any of his tricep strength.
This would not be an easy task with the current ability of Alexey.
I would have to favor the current Alexey to win.

Alexey looks and feels similar to the experience that I have felt with Richard Lupkus for those few years after Over The Top.

Gary Goodridge also got scary strong for those years that you mention Engin.
Really impossible to say who would have won when each was at their best…I know one thing is for sure it wouldn’t have been me.
Each one of those guys you mention had their unbelievable moments that greatly exceeded any strength level that I have ever been able to obtain…

[guy]

John your just super modest and you never played the S. card . Just another reason you will always be the best in most of our eyes.

[Jim Wagner]

John,
That is why so many people respect you, you are a humble and good man.
Engin, John Heynsoki ended up becoming a boxer for awhile, as well as some other things. He tried making a comeback, but the sport had passed him by. He went to Ohio States one year and only won one match. He is an incredible athlete, but not very well liked. He is a hard person. He also has a temper that has caused him trouble. He has been in lots of street fights, and I hear he has done some Mixed Martial Arts.