How to Arm Wrestle

 In the movie “Over the Top,” Lincoln Hawk (played by Sylvester Stallone) fought for the love of his son by competing in spectacular competitive arm wrestling tournaments. While you don’t have to lay your life on the line for anything like Lincoln Hawk did, arm wrestling is still a contest of pride, skill, and strength. If you want to be on your way to becoming a champion arm wrestler, here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind.

Rules of Arm Wrestling

Arm wrestling is a test of upper body strength. The goal of the game is to knock or pin down the opponent’s arm on the table or playing surface. To get the win, an arm wrestler must bend the arm either at the elbow or at the shoulder with enough force for the arm to be knocked down.

Starting Position

• The players face each other and lay an arm on the table. Competitors with the same lead arm often face each other, although there have been arm wrestling matches contested between a right-armed player and a left-armed player.
• Both players lay their elbows on the table, with their forearms pointing forward and outstretched.
• The players clasp both hands and the referee or spotter locks them in tight to ensure fair play.
• When the bell sounds or the referee gives the signal, the competitors try to knock down the arm and hand of their opponent down.

Winning the Match

There are two ways to win an arm wrestling match:

• Knockdowns happen when the winner knocks down the forearm of the opponent to the surface. Some rules may state that the contestant should pin the opponent’s arm down the table for at least a count of three.
• Referee’s calls may stop the match if a contestant’s arm is bent or contorted in such a way that continuing the game may result in a serious arm injury, like a dislocation or a fracture.

Arm Wrestling Tips

Arm wrestling is all about strength, but you don’t need the most powerful arms in the world to win an arm wrestling contest. Here are some ways to win arm wrestling bouts without breaking a sweat.

• Use leverage to your advantage. You do need powerful arms to win an arm wrestling contest, but leverage is very important to add more stability and increase power. Keep a stable stance, keep your hand on the grip pole or the side of the table, and use your body to give your wrestling arm the torque and power needed to knock your opponent’s arm down.
• Mind games. An intimidating stare, a few pulses of your fist, and some gritty expressions can weaken the resolve of your opponent. Just remember to play fair, and don’t go so far as to insult your opponent.

Arm wrestling does not have to be as dramatic as in the movies. With these tips, you can go over the top with just about anybody who lays a hand on your table, and demands a fight to the finish… or just for 15 seconds, at least.