Arm Wrestling Rules: How To Play, Winning, Technique, Strategy

Growing up, arm wrestling was the one sport every kid was interested in and somehow knew how to play. However, arm wrestling rules have always been a major concern for people. But no more! This is because we have simplified the concept for you. While strength has always fascinated people—people from all walks of life—arm wrestling, as widespread and diverse as it is today, was previously a test of strength.

The type of arm wrestling we grew up practicing is a casual and stripped-down version of the actual sport. However, real arm wrestling, as straightforward as it sounds, involves a lot of complex arm wrestling techniques and moves. The game’s mechanics are simple, but the way to win is more challenging. Today, we shall unravel the mighty world of arm wrestling – the rules, the techniques, and more. Without further ado, let’s begin! 

How To Play Arm Wrestling?

Very few people know how to arm wrestle—at least the basic version of the game. Two players face each other from across a flat surface (mostly tables with padding), their arms palms interlocked. On signal, both players must use their strength to overpower the other and pin their hand against the pad or the flat surface. 

But for those thinking that brute strength is all you need to win an arm wrestling match – you couldn’t be more wrong. That’s because Arm Wrestling requires players to be masters of reflexes, positioning, leveraging, strength channeling, and much more. The sport has evolved from a casual, informal strength test to a widely popular sport with guidelines and bodies. And today, we will learn everything about this game of force and how to arm wrestle with rules.

Objective

Arm Wrestling aims to win the match by overpowering and besting your opponents using a combination of qualities like physical strength, endurance, reflexes, positioning, psychological impact, and more. The first player to pin their opponent’s hand against the pad on the table or flat surface is the winner. 

Arm Wrestling Rules

With Arm Wrestling evolving into a full-fledged, ultra-competitive sport, governing bodies were established to regulate and elevate the game. Today, there are legitimate arm wrestling rules that govern professional arm wrestling competitions. What are these rules, you ask? Read on to find out the rules of arm wrestling: 

• Every arm wrestling match is overseen by two referees (one referee on each side observing the grip, positioning, the players, and if any player’s hands touch the pads).
• Arm wrestling has no time limit. The match goes on until one player loses or has to give up. However, the referee can halt the match if he considers a player unfair for competing. 
• Before competing, the players should approach the table and position themselves comfortably. Then, they must grip their opponent’s palm tightly.
• The correct grip for arm wrestling is palm-to-palm, with the thumb knuckle clearly visible.
• The shoulders of both players must be in a square position with each other before the match begins. 
• The other hand, or the idle hand, should firmly grip the hand pegs on either side of the table. 
• The competitors must ensure that their competing hands’ wrists are straight. They must also present an open hand before firmly gripping their opponent’s palm. 
• The match can be started with either the referee’s grip or bound in a strip. Both players need to agree upon the method of starting. 
• After the competitors are happy with their grips, the referee inspects them. If the referee is satisfied with the grip, he signals for the match to start.
• Competitors are to use force sidewards to pin their opponent’s hand against the touchpad. They cannot drag or pull their opponents toward the center of the table. 
• If the head referee is happy with a pin, they will shout “Stop” and declare the winner. 
• A valid pin is one where a part of a player’s natural wrist (or the entire wrist) touches the touchpad. 

Warnings, Fouls, And Disqualifications

To ensure fair competition, specific arm wrestling rules are in place to prevent players from taking advantage of weight or resorting to illegal techniques. Here are the arm wrestling rules and regulations regarding fouls, penalties, and disqualifications:

Fouls

The different types of fouls as per the arm wrestling rules are as follows:

• Lifting your elbow or dragging your elbow across the table for an advantage during a match.
• Changing the positioning of your fingers during a match or intentionally slipping out your opponent’s grip to avoid getting pinned.
• Pushing your shoulders across the table’s center line or dropping your shoulders below the table level while competing.
• Sledging, talking, or inciting an opponent during a match. Talking to the referee is also declared a foul. 
• Using the resting or idle hand to grip the opponent, the table or even one’s own body during a match is also a foul.
• Flexing the wrist differently than is allowed to gain an advantage.
• Not having at least one foot touching the ground during a match.
• Poor sportsmanship and conduct.
• Using back pressure and intentionally moving the opponent from the center.
• Intentionally delaying the start or re-start of a match.

Warnings Disqualification 

While there is no official rule of warnings in arm wrestling, minor infractions during a match can lead to a player being warned. Two or more warnings can lead to more severe fouls and maybe even a DQ (disqualification). If a competitor receives three fouls in a game, he will be disqualified from the match. More severe infractions or fouls can lead to disqualification from the tournament.

Arm Wrestling Equipment

There is no fancy equipment needed to arm wrestle. Although it is a really popular sport, the fun part of this arm wrestling is the ease of it. There is barely any equipment involved, and they are as follows:

• Table – Most flat surfaces usually suffice, but the standard goes for a table. In standing competitions, the prerequisite is that the table has to be at least 40 inches above the ground level (to the top of the table), and for sit-down matches, it should be 28 inches.
• Elbow Pads – These are cushions for the elbow of each player.
• Touch Pads – These pads are kept on either end of the table. The objective of each player is to pin their opponent’s wrist against this pad. 
• Hand Grips/Hand Pegs—These are the cylindrical pegs on the table that competitors grip using only their spare or idle hands.
• Hand Strap—This piece of equipment is not very common in competitions. It is a strap tied around the wrestling hands of both players to prevent slipping.

Arm Wrestling Techniques

As mentioned earlier, contrary to popular belief, arm wrestling is so much more than just sheer strength. Yes, it plays a significant role, but to win, strength must work in tandem with strategy and technique. In this section of the article, we shall highlight and explain the different permissible arm-wrestling techniques that you can employ to win more: 

• Pressure—This is a prevalent technique in arm wrestling, where one player uses force and pressure on the arms and/or wrist of their opponent. This technique gives the player an advantageous position (either slightly pulling the arm of the opponent towards their own body or bending the wrist). 
• Top Roll – In this technique, the palms of both competitors face down, forming a fist that points toward the opponent. This technique engages the strength of a player’s forearm and wrist. 
• Pressing—Pressing is a technique in which a player’s shoulder is placed directly behind their hand to the extent that it seems like they are pushing their opponent’s hand down to a pin. This technique relies on the player’s body weight and tricep strength.
• Hooking—This technique engages each player’s biceps. When arm wrestling uses this technique, both players’ palms are facing towards their own bodies, emulating two hooks. 

Scoring

In most individual matches, no scoring format is involved. Matches are conducted on a win/lose basis. However, there are points in the team matches in tournaments such as the World Armwrestling Championships. Each individual participant is scored based on their performance. Their net score is then added to their countries. The scoring system is as follows:

• 1st – 10 points
• 2nd – 7 points
• 3rd – 5 points
• 4th – 4 points
• 5th – 3 points
• 6th – 2 points
• 7th – 1 point

Winning: How to Win Arm Wrestling?

Depending on the federation or the tournament that you are participating in, you can either win by winning just one match, or you might need to win two out of three. Simply put, some competitions feature individual wins as a victory, while in other competitions, it is decided on a best-of-three or a best-of-five basis. This can also vary depending on the promotion.

Tips & Strategies

Let’s face it – arm wrestling is a lot of fun. We have all engaged in arm wrestling matches in our lives at some point. However, no one liked losing, and that is a fact. That is why, we have listed down some incredible tips that will help you secure your next win effortlessly. Read on to find out: 

• Switch techniques—If facing a stronger or bigger opponent, the key is switching between techniques to gain an advantage. Switching techniques, in general, is a great way to assert dominance. It also keeps the opponent on their toes, prevents you from tiring out one body part, and allows you to compete for longer. 
• Elbow close to body – The closer your elbow is to your body, the more force you can put behind it. Make sure that your body isn’t too far away from your elbow. This will give the opponent more leverage to pin you. You can put your body behind your hand without compromising your technique if your elbow is close to your chest.
• Intimidation—This is an ancient trick that most fighters use. Intimidation and getting into your opponent’s head are great ways to win the fight before it ever happens. Maintaining eye contact and keeping a neutral or content face will throw off your opponent. Competitions involving strength rely greatly on mental durability, and a fighter or an arm wrestler who knows how to capitalize on this will indeed have an advantage. 
• Firm Wrist – Avoid making this common mistake. Whenever you compete in arm wrestling matches, make it a point to keep your wrists firm. Do not let your wrists bent. In fact, if your wrists are slightly cupped before the match starts, you might have a bit of an advantage. 

Did You Know?

• Research suggests that arm wrestling was practiced in ancient civilizations such as Egypt.
• The World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) organizes annual formal arm wrestling competitions, which draw participants from over 80 countries.
• Sylvester Stallone’s famous movie “Over The Top” (released in 1987) significantly popularized arm wrestling.
• John Brzenk is referred to as the ‘greatest arm wrestler’ of all time. 

FAQs

Conclusion

Arm wrestling is no longer a mere test of strength. It blends raw power with immaculate strategy, technique, and will. By following arm wrestling rules, you can easily overpower your opponent in any match. But do you know it is a popular sport that can be played informally without any equipment? So, nearly everyone in the world has played arm wrestling at some point. But what fun is a game if it is outside the rules? Now that you know how to Play With Rules in the game of arm wrestling, it’s time to learn the rules of another game! 

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