Arm Wrestling
Most people see arm wrestling as a battle of strength, but champion arm wrestlers know that technique is critical.
The following steps won't help you win against someone who's twice as strong (nothing will!) but they might help you beat someone who's a little bit stronger, or who's a lot stronger but has no technique and is unprepared for the tricks up your sleeve.
Put your right foot forward if you're wrestling with your right arm, and vice versa. Your weight is going to shift from your forward foot to your back foot.
Wrap your thumb. After bringing your hands together, put your thumb underneath your other fingers. Doing this helps with executing the top roll, a technique described later in these steps.
Put your body close to the table. If you have your right foot forward, your right hip will lean up against the table.
Keep your upper arm close to your body. That way, you use your arm and body strength simultaneously, rather than using your arm strength independently.
Get a high grip on the opponent's hand. Get your fingers over your thumb.
Raise your wrist. This will bend the other person's wrist forward, weakening their grip. If you can't do this, at least keep your wrist straight.
Draw your opponent to the corner (pull their hands towards you as you push it down) to open their arm. When their arm is at that angle and you push it down, they'll have to work harder to bring it back up.
Use one of the following techniques, depending on your situation.
The hook - This technique is useful if you're as strong or stronger than your opponent in terms of forearm and bicep strength.
Curl your wrist inwards. This will extend your opponent's arm, but will require a lot of bicep power on your part.
Maintain wrist contact throughout the match so that force is delivered through the wrists, rather than the hands.
Get your body (especially the shoulder) over your arm and keep your body and arm close together.
Drag your opponent towards you as you push it down.
The top roll - This move is more about leverage than brute strength. You put pressure on your opponent's hand, forcing it open and making it more difficult for him to use his muscles.
Get your elbows close together. The resulting height gives you more leverage. Achieve as high a grip as possible on their hand.
As soon as you hear the word "go" pull your hand towards you, pulling your opponent’s hand away from their body. This can help you get a higher grip.Unlike the hook, where you put your body over your arm, in this technique you pull your body back.
As you push their hand down, pry the opponent's wrist back. Their palm should rotate towards the ceiling.
To finish your opponent, rotate your body and position your shoulder in line with the direction you want your arm to go in.
That way, you'll be able to use your shoulder strength and body weight to help finish the job.
Intimidation. Look your opponent straight in the eyes and smile.
Act swiftly to follow the above steps and get an edge.
Alternatively, you can concentrate on holding them upright and tiring them out. When you think that the opponent is tired, swiftly push their arm to the surface.
The following steps won't help you win against someone who's twice as strong (nothing will!) but they might help you beat someone who's a little bit stronger, or who's a lot stronger but has no technique and is unprepared for the tricks up your sleeve.
Put your right foot forward if you're wrestling with your right arm, and vice versa. Your weight is going to shift from your forward foot to your back foot.
Wrap your thumb. After bringing your hands together, put your thumb underneath your other fingers. Doing this helps with executing the top roll, a technique described later in these steps.
Put your body close to the table. If you have your right foot forward, your right hip will lean up against the table.
Keep your upper arm close to your body. That way, you use your arm and body strength simultaneously, rather than using your arm strength independently.
Get a high grip on the opponent's hand. Get your fingers over your thumb.
Raise your wrist. This will bend the other person's wrist forward, weakening their grip. If you can't do this, at least keep your wrist straight.
Draw your opponent to the corner (pull their hands towards you as you push it down) to open their arm. When their arm is at that angle and you push it down, they'll have to work harder to bring it back up.
Use one of the following techniques, depending on your situation.
The hook - This technique is useful if you're as strong or stronger than your opponent in terms of forearm and bicep strength.
Curl your wrist inwards. This will extend your opponent's arm, but will require a lot of bicep power on your part.
Maintain wrist contact throughout the match so that force is delivered through the wrists, rather than the hands.
Get your body (especially the shoulder) over your arm and keep your body and arm close together.
Drag your opponent towards you as you push it down.
The top roll - This move is more about leverage than brute strength. You put pressure on your opponent's hand, forcing it open and making it more difficult for him to use his muscles.
Get your elbows close together. The resulting height gives you more leverage. Achieve as high a grip as possible on their hand.
As soon as you hear the word "go" pull your hand towards you, pulling your opponent’s hand away from their body. This can help you get a higher grip.Unlike the hook, where you put your body over your arm, in this technique you pull your body back.
As you push their hand down, pry the opponent's wrist back. Their palm should rotate towards the ceiling.
To finish your opponent, rotate your body and position your shoulder in line with the direction you want your arm to go in.
That way, you'll be able to use your shoulder strength and body weight to help finish the job.
Intimidation. Look your opponent straight in the eyes and smile.
Act swiftly to follow the above steps and get an edge.
Alternatively, you can concentrate on holding them upright and tiring them out. When you think that the opponent is tired, swiftly push their arm to the surface.