Over the top?

August 13, 2009 6:46 PM

How do I get better at arm wrestling?
posted by bob bisquick to health & fitness (13 comments total)

More specifics would help, but the obvious answer is to work on your arm strength. There are many exercises, with or without workout machines, that will help you achieve this.
posted by chrisamiller at 6:57 PM on August 13

Arm wrestle a lot?
posted by Salvor Hardin at 6:59 PM on August 13

I don't know the specific answer to this question, but I do know that arm strength is way less important than technique. Certainly two competitors who have identical technique, the stronger arm will have the advantage, but being able to get your wrist "over the top" of your opponents is a better predictor of victory. Also, it seems like from arm wrestling matches I've seen, they are either over immediately or they drag out, and for the matches that drag out without question mental fortitude will play a huge role. I'd say to work on this, when you work on your arms, train yourself to quit sets when your mind gives out, not when your muscles give out. Your mind is way, way, WAY stronger than your bicep.
posted by vito90 at 7:06 PM on August 13

Practice would clearly help, as would giving us an idea of your current ability. With the assumption that you don't do this much, and aren't competing, except against your friends:

Learn proper technique. Assuming you're in the same league as your friends strength-wise, technique will likely get you further with less effort expended than time spent in the gym. Specifically, learn the hook and top roll. I've nabbed a few collegiate defensive linemen with a properly executed top roll, and I am ... well ... not a college football player.

If you're more advanced than I assumed, someone else should be able to supply a better answer, provided you give some clarifying information.
posted by oostevo at 7:22 PM on August 13 [1 favorite]

I think the previous posters mostly have it. Build your strength (you might pay special attention to grip strength--maybe get some handgrippers), develop your technique and arm-wrestle a lot.
posted by box at 8:10 PM on August 13

Caveat: I enjoy arm-wrestling but have never done a ton of research on it for fear of becoming "That guy" among my friends (I'm already mostly there).

Anyway, as other posters said, arm-wrestling is technique, not just strength. But strength is important. It's not just grip/forearm strength and the broceps, either. Now, strong biceps and pecs will help you maintain your arm angle, so you can keep a tight angle between the forearm and bicep and pull the other guy's arm over and down, but proper usage of the core and lat muscles is going to provide a huge amount of support and power. Think about tightening up your core and lats while you're pushing through.
posted by schroedinger at 8:20 PM on August 13

In my younger days as a sportswriter, I covered the WAF Arm-Wrestling Championships, where, I kid you the fuck not, I saw guys with custom-made shoes for arm-wrestling.

It's all about shoulder movement, full-body leverage and intimidation. You're pulling just as hard with your off hand as you are with with the wrestling arm, for example. Technique, technique, technique.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:27 PM on August 13

In high school, I had a mid 40-something year old physics teacher. He was the kind of physics teacher you would make up in your mind. Yup...thats him.

One day he brought in 10 kids from varsity football and baseball. They were the type that focused on athletics as a post-high school option.

One by one, he armwrestled them. He beat them all. He told us that he doesn't work out...and he only does ONE exercise. Its some kind of wrist-jangly thing like you're trying to use a key in a lock that won't allow it to fit. He was fast at it.

It was fucking amazing. Not ONE person in the room would have expected that.

He said the key to kicking ass at armwrestling for a guy like him is to be fast. That exercise helped him do it.

He was also the first guy that taught us that throwing a punch is way more hurty if you reduce the amount of time that your fist is making contact with the target....so he knew what he was talking about.

Good luck.
posted by hal_c_on at 12:49 AM on August 14

hal_c_on: I wonder if we had the same physics teacher... or if all physics teachers learn to arm wrestle as part of their graduate studies. The wrist wriggling thing was definitely key.
posted by odinsdream at 5:52 AM on August 14

What is this wrist wiggly thing... and how do I get some?
posted by bob bisquick at 8:59 AM on August 14

oostevo - exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.
posted by bob bisquick at 9:01 AM on August 14

Dang, I forgot how make a link. Anyway thanks.
posted by bob bisquick at 9:02 AM on August 14

Between practicing the key jangling thing try sawing wood. I guarantee you will build up your strength if you cut up a few trees this way.
posted by sugarbx19 at 2:22 PM on August 14