2023 Author: Katelyn Chandter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:08
Since ancient times, it was considered more noble to measure the strength of the hands than to swing swords or clubs. Armwrestling is the most democratic and “peaceful” type of martial arts, which does not require special premises, equipment and equipment. Despite this, unlike other sports, a person of any age can get a chance to win an arm wrestling competition.
The history of armwrestling
Since ancient times, it was considered a more noble deed to measure the strength of hands than swinging swords or clubs. However, arm wrestling as a sport has emerged quite recently, only since 1952. In the Gilardi saloon in Petaluma, California, the strongest men gathered in the evenings to measure the strength of their hands. Among them were their champions, who have the right to an interest-free loan from the owner of the bar. The founder of armwrestling as a sport is Bill Soberanes, an American journalist who was the first to be inspired by the idea of holding a competition for him. The first championship was organized in the largest hall of Petaluma. The tournament was a great success and gave impetus to the development of this sport. To this day, annually, every second Saturday in October in the California city of Petaluma, the world armwrestling championships are held.
As a result, he became the inspiration and organizer of the Petaluma championships, then Northern California, and then California.
Bill Soberanswas the first to register WWC (World Ristrestling Corporation - this is another name for armwrestling), which currently unites sports federations of 15 countries. It happened in 1961. WWC is now led by an American Dave Devoto.
In 1962 Bill and Dave Devotodecided to organize the first world championship in wrestling and held it in Petaluma. Today in this city there is a bronze monument to Bill Soberanes, and on the site of a tavern there is a huge sports hall - a refuge for armwrestling masters.
Now the world is cultivating wrestling at the hands of three large international organizations - WWC, WAF (World Amateur Arm Sports Federation) and WAWC (World Arm Sports Council) … Competition rules, governance structure, and funding sources are almost the same in all organizations.
Armwrestling began to gain a new level of popularity, while television began to broadcast the sport. In 1969 Dave Devotosigned a contract with ABC TV company, and for 16 years the World Armwrestling Championships were broadcast on TV as part of the "Wide World of Sports" program.
In August 1989, arm wrestling came to Russia. Then a delegation of American and Canadian armwrestlers flew to Moscow, the purpose of their visit was to acquaint Russian athletes with the peculiarities of hand wrestling competitions.
On January 6, 1991, the Russian Armwrestling Association was organized, which has done a great job of developing and popularizing armwrestling in the country. Now it is cultivated in more than 70 regions of Russia.
The essence of armwrestling
Photo: fabbio
The word "arm wrestling" comes from the fusion of two English words "arm" and "wrestling"; arm is a hand, and wrestle, wrestling is a hard fight. Arm wrestling is a kind of sports wrestling - a hand fight, held according to certain rules on special tables.
Since 1997, armwrestling began to be called armwrestling, and armwrestlers arm fighters.
Armwrestling is a tabletop wrestling with one hand, where competitors put their elbows on the table, clasp their hands and try to overpower each other and thereby put the opponent's hand on the table surface. Armwrestling is a widely popular sport that hosts world championships, competitions from different countries and regions.
Armwrestling is the most democratic and “peaceful” type of martial arts, which does not require special premises, equipment and equipment. Despite this, unlike other sports, a person of any age can get a chance to win an arm wrestling competition. It can be mentioned that the current world champion is Cynthia Yerby, 54 years old.
Now the world is cultivating wrestling at the hands of three large international organizations: WWinc, WAF and WAWC.
The most famous armwrestler in the West is a 33-year-old American John Richard Brzenk … Following in the footsteps of his father, who was a multiple world champion in this sport, he became interested in arm wrestling at the age of 17, began to take part in almost all competitions that were held then. After becoming famous, Richard Brzenk began to appear only in commercial tournaments.
Arm wrestling is an attractive sport not only for a large audience, but also for Hollywood directors. At the 1987 World Cup, during the competition, the Warner Brothers film company filmed a feature film called "Over The Top" with Sylvester Stallone in the title role. The main prize in those competitions was 100 thousand dollars and a Mercedes truck for 250 thousand dollars, which went to none other than the repeated world armwrestling champion John Richard Brzenk.
The famous Hollywood actress is also the world champion in arm wrestling. Dorothy Jones, which is remembered by the audience for its colorful appearance and its impressive weight.
Among the Russian armwrestlers, the most famous is Vladimir Turchinskyhe is Dynamite … He became famous for his participation in advertising campaigns and various shows in which he performs incredible stunts, for example, propels a passenger liner alone or holds six gas-powered racing bikes with his hands.
Armwrestling rules
Photo: fabbio
Wrestlers stand at a special table (earlier armwrestlers fought while sitting). At the command of the referee, resting their feet on the floor, put their elbows on special soft armrests and set a grip, another name for a lock, then connect open palms, interlock their thumbs, try to take the most advantageous position for themselves. However, the referee must see the first phalanges of the thumbs, he makes sure that none of the opponents has an advantage, gives the commands: "Straighten your wrists!", "Straighten your shoulders!" etc. With his free hand, each athlete holds on to a special pin.
Make sure your shoulders are parallel to the edge of the table and not cross the reference line. It so happens that the wrestlers' hands break from excessive efforts. In this case, the judge ties their hands with a special belt.
Setting up a tackle is usually the longest and usually the most important part of a professional match. After the grip is established, the referee gives the command: - "Don't move! Redi … Gow !!!" After that, you can fight.
Each participant in a duel or competition tries to tilt the opponent's hand until the table touches the "lock" (the outer part of the opponent's hand). Some win with an instant, sharp dash. But the most exciting fights, as a rule, are long, that is, those in which the initiative shifts from one to another.
A violation of the rules is considered to be the elbow separation from the armrest (or its sliding), the intersection of the center line of the table with the head, shoulders, as well as touching the head or shoulder with the forearm or grabbing the hands. It is also forbidden to release the pin from the free hand during the fight and to come off the floor with both feet.
Armwrestling tables
If you consider yourself to be armwrestling lovers, then an ordinary dinner table will be enough for you to make peace with someone. If you want to feel all the charm of this sport, then you cannot do without special tables with armrests, rollers (here you need to press the opponent's hand) and pins. Today there are many companies that manufacture tables.
Currently, the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) has adopted a unified wrestling table standard for men, women, youth, veterans and the disabled for both the "standing" and "sitting" positions. Its dimensions: The height of the armrest should be five centimeters, and the height of the cushion should be ten. The diameter of the pin should be equal to three centimeters, and its height - fifteen. The overall dimensions of the table should be as follows: 90 centimeters long and 66 centimeters wide.
The cost of ordinary tables, where it is impossible to rearrange the armrests to other positions, is about 200-250 USD. Tables for a more professional level, where such a permutation is provided, cost from $ 300.
To purchase a professional folding table, you will have to spend $ 380. If you need the same table, but with an anti-tipping device, then the price for this item varies from 400–450 USD. An armcomplex consisting of a table, anti-tipping devices and footrests will cost you $ 750. and higher.
When buying a table, do not forget that its height should be 104 cm from the floor to the upper edge of the armrests. It is recommended to use padded armrests and side bolsters to avoid injury.
Women's arm wrestling
Photo: soggydan
It is the most peaceful and truly democratic type of martial arts.
The rules are quite simple: the contestants sit opposite each other, put their elbows on the table and clasp their hands. One of the participants must definitely put her opponent's hand on the table.
There are several types of armwrestling. You can fight while sitting, standing and even lying down. The most popular and widespread form is wrestling, standing at a special table. During the fight, the free hand holds on to a special pin, for the stability of the wrestler, because the ground fight is not used in this sport.
Without thinking about the power solution, women's arm wrestling impresses with its femininity and grace …
Arm wrestling competition ranks
The purpose of holding various arm wrestling competitions is to show the highest results, or commercial tasks. These tasks mean reducing the cost of television, creating a visual effect.
To date, the following ranks of the types of competitions are distinguished:
Photo: fabbio
Regional (city, region, republic, country, Europe, World). It is worth noting that international tournaments have their own specific tasks - this, for example, is not only a way to identify the strongest athletes, but also a reflection of the country's social development, its attitude to sports and the development of new directions for training an athlete.
Amateur and professional.
Industry competitions (state cashing, the sports committee of the Armed Forces), the main purpose of these competitions is to develop a more diligent attitude towards the profession.
Age: children, students, disabled; forms of holding: official championships, championships, olympiads; demonstrative: folk sports games, city holidays.
Competition rank structure:
preparatory work or competition project. At this stage, an action program is drawn up, responsible performers (founders, advertisers and sponsors) and performers, for example, the organizing committee, athletes and their representatives of their organizations, are determined.
the actual competition, their holding:
the final part.