O.K. you guys. Here is a little info on armwrestling. I was second in the nation in 2000. I, like tzan, got drunk one night and armwrestled someone 3 times my size and hurt myself. My injury was a little more perminate though. The point is don't get loaded and think you are "king" of armwrestling if you don't know what you are doing. Armwrestling competitions are getting very popular now. New York is having one televised on ESPN in October. Now, to try to answer the strength vs. technique question. Armwrestling is both strength and technique. It is hard to measure the importance of either one. If you are stronger than me and completely learned how to armwrestle the wrong way I will beat you. If you are stronger than me and half ass got the right idea (which is common sense about leverage) then you might beat me. Their are a few tricks that might help but pure strength will prevail. The majority of the technique learned is to keep you from getting injured. ALWAYS keep your body square to the table. If you turn your body you risk tendon injury and I have seen people break their arms. That is very important. Also you MUST warm up your arm. If you are cold you are not going to go to the gym and try to max on bench your first rep. That is stupid. You will hurt yourself. Sanctioned events are well watched and if the ref feels you are out of form and may hurt yourself they will foul you. Now that safety is out of the way here are a few tips on technique:
1) When you lock up hands bend your wrist towards your face as much as possible. At competition they will not allow you to pull your arm towards your face, but if you want to cheat at a party pull your arm as close to your face as possible.
2) When you say "go" try to punch your self in the face. Literaly make the motion by turning your knuckles to you.
3)Drag your elbow to the opposite side of your body while forcing down with your knuckles leading. The amount you can drag your elbow is limited in competition.
4)Your body is to pivot with your arm as if they are "one". If you are losing you have a better chance of coming back if your body goes with your arm. You will also keep from getting injured. If you are winning it is harder for the other person to pull your whole body over than just your arm.
5) In comp. there are pads so you never have to go all the way down to the table to win. I believe this saves some injury also.
6) I am not a total expert but I know a lot. I also know safety is first. I hope you practice the safety techniques I have said or you may lose more than a few weeks of lifting.
7)One more thing. Pros train their arms weekly. My friend is 2nd in the world. He weighs 140lbs and can hammer curl 180lb dumbbells on the preacher curl bench. This is not a lie. They had to special order them for him, and he got beat by somebody in world competition. ISN'T THAT CRAZY!!
These guys train so much their tendons are lock rocks. But it is their life. Hope I cleared some things up for you guys.
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