The Science of Arm Wrestling: Up Your Game

by | Sep 17, 2015 | Fitness

What would the chances be of you beating Europe’s Strongest Man in an arm wrestling competition?

That would be Hafthor Bjornsson, who plays the ‘’The Mountain’’, in the hit series Game of Thrones.

So what happens when you pin two-time World Arm Wrestling League Champion, Devon Larratt ; against ‘’The Mountain’’.

Bjornsson weighing a sturdy 181 kg and two metres tall faced Larratt who weighs a 102kg and is 1.9 metres tall; it turns out “The Mountain’’, loses.

How is this possible?

It’s simple actually; it’s all about technique. Something that is vital in nearly every sport out there. Here are a few tips as to how you can face-off with any one of your buddies (especially the one with the big muscles and equally big mouth).

The key to arm wrestling an opponent is to enhance your positioning to activate the strongest muscles in your upper body and arm; but you also want to gain the advantage from the word go.

There are two simple ways you can do this:

Hook’em with the Hook technique

This technique utilizes your main muscles involved in wrist flexion, flexing the arm at the elbow, and medial rotation. As a substitute of your biceps as the focal point, which could have you locking your arm at the elbow; the hook will create “side pressure” that can easily pin your partner down.

In order to activate the biggest and strongest muscles in your upper body; which are the medial rotation muscles. Try and place your shoulder slightly in front of your body and lift it upward towards your ear.

Crunch your arm forward to get your chest muscles into gear. Once, you start the round, force your opponent’s hand back as this will make it easier for you to twist your wrist toward you and finally, pin him down.

Top Roll ‘em

This technique is Larratt’s own, it might use the same muscles as the Hook technique but with the addition of the Extensor Carpi radialis( one of the five main muscles that control movements at the wrist)and the Pronator Teres( located mainly in the forearm, serves to pronate the forearm; to help extend your wrist.)

To do this, you need to pull your arm toward your chin using your biceps. Then, unlock your opponent’s fingers so that you can move your hand upward into your opponent’s palm.

Once your hand is at the top of theirs, then pull your hand towards you to gain leverage, and boom, guess who’s the winner?

That is how “The Mountain” was defeated,and now you can go out and face the toughest dude.

Sources: Medical Daily

Alice Paulse

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