Arm wrestling is perhaps the most universal sport in the world. Who has never had the opportunity to arm wrestle at least once in their life, whether at school or just with friends? And yet, few people know the real rules of arm wrestling, those used at the highest level. This is what I invite you to discover in this article.
Table of contents
The arm-wrestling table
When it comes to arm wrestling with a friend, a simple corner of the table usually does the trick. However, you should know that at a high level, arm wrestling is practiced on a very specific table which allows you to set limits.
As can be seen in the image opposite, each participant has an "elbow pad", a "pin pad" (also known as a "touch pad") and a "hand peg".
With a dimension of more or less 18cm by 18cm with a height of 5cm, the “elbow pad” is the place where you should put your elbow. During the match, you can move your elbow on the surface offered by the pad but it is forbidden to raise your elbow.
With a height of 10cm, the "pin pad" is the place where you must bring your opponent's hand to win the match.
The "hand peg" is a handle with which you must remain in contact with your free hand (here the left hand) throughout the duration of the match. This allows you to use the strength of your other arm.
The dotted lines represent the middle of the table. It is forbidden to extend your shoulder beyond this limit.
The dimensions of the various components of an armwrestling table may vary slightly from one armwrestling competition to another.
Here is an example of an arm wrestling table like we see during competitions.
Conditions for winning a match
A match can consist of 1 or more rounds (depending on the competition format). If there are several rounds, the one who wins the most wins the match.
To win a round, an armwrestler must “pin” his opponent. That is to say bring the imaginary line represented by the extension of the opponent's forearm (generally materialized by the hand if the wrist is straight and not flexed) to the "pin pad".
The grip phase
To start a round, the two armwrestlers make a grip at the center of the table (see the cross on the table diagram) with their elbow on the "elbow pad" and begin a fair grip.
Fair grip
A “fair grip” consists of letting the armwrestlers find a grip that suits them, without the intervention of the referee. If after a few seconds the two opponents cannot agree, we move on to the "set grip".
Set grip or referee's grip
The “Set Grip” also called “referee’s grip” consists of letting the referee place the hands of the armwrestlers as indicated in the regulations of the competition. Depending on the competition, a participant may receive a warning if he does not listen to the referee's instructions.
What is a valid grip?
A grip must normally respect certain rules to be valid. Essentially, the grip should be done in the center of the table,the palms of the hands should be at the same level, the wrists should be straight and the fingers should not cover the thumb knuckle of the opponentwhen you close your hand.
Ready GO
Once the grip is ok (whether it is a “fair grip” or a “set grip”), the shoulders of both participants are parallel to the table and their free hand touches the “peg”,the round is started by the referee with a “Ready GO” or a “don’t move GO”. If one of the opponents begins the match before the referee's signal, it is a "false start" and a "warning" is assigned to him. After which the referee initiates a new start.
The strap
If the hands slip during the round due to the pressure exerted by the participants, the round is restarted and the “strap” is used to bind the two hands . This prevents them from slipping again.
Why not apply the strap directly? Because, historically, arm wrestling is done without a strap, and some armwrestlers are stronger under these conditions. That's why the rules stipulate that each round of a match must start without strap unless both opponents agree to use strap directly.
The fouls
A fault is assigned to a participant either after 2 “warnings” or because of prohibited movements made during the round. After 2 or 3 faults (this depends on the rules of the competition), the round is conceded to the opponent. The warning and foul counter is reset to 0 at the start of each round.
There are two ways to handle fouls during a round. There is the normal system which consists of restarting the round after each foul committed and there is the "running foul" system which consists of letting the round continue even if a foul is committed. In this case, if the participant who commits the foul manages to “pin” his opponent, the round is restarted. If it is the opponent who "pins" the one who made the foul, the opponent simply wins the round.
A competition can use either or both systems (some fouls are subject to the "running foul" system and others to the normal system).
Let's take a look at the most common fouls made during a round.
Shoulder below the elbow pad
It is forbidden to have a negative inclination of your humerus when you are in a defensive position, that is to say when you are losing the round (close to the "pin pad" of the adversary). Most often, this foul is committed by armwrestlers using the “Kings move” technique.
On the other hand, it is perfectly permissible to have the shoulder below the elbow pad in an offensive situation.
That's why in the photo, the person on the left (Khaled) is at fault, while the person on the right (Schoolboy) is in the right.
Elbow foul
It is forbidden to remove the elbow from the elbow pad.
Cross the center
It is forbidden to pass the shoulder beyond the center of the table represented by the imaginary line separating the two hand pegs. This foul is most often committed by armwrestlers using the "Flop Press" or "Triceps Press" technique.
Loss of contact with the hand peg
If a participant removes his hand from the "hand peg", he receives a warning but the round continues.
Make your opponent commit a foul
It is forbidden to execute a movement whose aim is to make your opponent commit a foul. For example, it is forbidden to push your arm towards your opponent so that the latter commits an "elbow foul".
Intentional Slip
When the round is launched without the "strap", it is forbidden in some competitions to try to "slip" by loosening the hand, for example. In other competitions, intentional slip is permitted and does not result in a foul.
Intentional slip is committed by an armwrestler looking for the "strap".
See a real arm-wrestling match
The rules of arm wrestling now hold no secrets for you. All you have to do is watch a real professional arm wrestling match to see it all in action. You will notice that, contrary to what we think, it is not just the arm that moves during an arm wrestling match but the entire upper body. In fact, anything goes as long as the rules are respected. This allows armwrestlers to use several techniques.
I suggest you see a match between the most famous armwrestler in the world Devon Larratt and his friend Matt Mask. Good viewing! 😉
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