Arm wrestlers go bicep to bicep
They are big blokes with bigger biceps, but arm wrestlers Ryan Scott and Rik Kamana say anyone can come out on top once the elbows hit the table.
Getting ready for this week’s WA Arm Wrestling Championships, they are hoping to see plenty of new faces competing at the Italian Club this Saturday.
“That’s the amazing thing about arm wrestling, anyone can win on the day,” Kamana says.
“We had a guy last year, Ben “Concrete” Carroll, who took out the title in his first competition.
“He’s this 110kg concreter with massive, massive forearms who’d never trained, but wanted to come and have a crack.”
Competitors are split into three weight categories and separate brackets for right and left handers.
Scott, himself a former national champion, says leverage is the key.
“Smaller guys can overcome big guys with the right mindset,” he says.
“A guy like Rik with big biceps for instance, you can manipulate his wrist so he has to use other muscles in his arm.
“It’s a hand and wrist sport, so if you lose that it’s an uphill battle.”
One of a growing number of professional arm wrestlers, Kamana runs the West Coast Arm Wrestling club and regularly competes overseas.
He recently received a $50,000 sponsorship deal thanks to his appearances on US and European TV.
“But this is an amateur event; there are a lot of new competitors entering,” he says.
“They’re always on the look-out for new talent, but you have to come down and have a go.”
Doors open for the weigh-in at 3pm tomorrow, with competition starting at 4.
Head to Arm Wrestling WA's website for more information.
