A MATCH ACTUALLY BEGINS a few minutes before the referee shouts, "Go!" with a process akin to a very technical, very adversarial handshake. Both arm wrestlers, also called "pullers," stand with their elbows pressing into pads on a table as the referee arranges and rearranges their palms and fingers, barking reprimands when, say, one puller's shoulders are not squared or the other's elbow leaves the pad. The position of the hand is crucial: If one competitor's webbing (the space between the thumb and index finger) is positioned higher than the other's, it could confer an advantage.
At a match in front of about 100 spectators in Istanbul in November, two pullers' right hands are clasped in the middle of a table. As a referee kneads their fingers into place and forces their wrists straight, their nonfighting arms are tense. Their left hands grab at metal pegs on either side of the table. One of the wrestlers, his white hair cut squarely around his face, breathes heavily in and out. His left shoulder is tensed and raised to his ear, and the two prominent veins winding up his arms are already bulging like ranges on a topographic map. His name is John Brzenk, and he is a 59-year-old American-"universally known and recognized as the greatest arm wrestler of all time," one commentator says as he approaches the table-who has been pulling for more than four decades.
This supermatch, available on pay-per-view from Core Sports, is part of a series called East vs West, and Brzenk's opponent, 26-year-old Sasho Andreev, is from Bulgaria. Andreev is shorter than Brzenk-five-foot-six to his six-two-but he's densely built, his arms are comically long,
Bu hikaye Men's Health US dergisinin January - February 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Men's Health US dergisinin January - February 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
THE NEW CHANGE MUSCLE MAKERS
WITH SYSTEMIC ISSUES both inside and outside the health-and-wellness industry, fitness professionals from marginalized backgrounds have long been held back.
ROCK BERMUDA
Cliff-jumping! Lunker-landing! Wreck-diving! I've lived on and off the Isle of Devils for 30 years. These are my five favorite adventures.
AWESOME-IFY YOUR SALMON
Chef CHARLIE MITCHELL says the key to balanced food and fitness is a little bit of everything.
BEET THIS!
Supplement makers say beet powders and juices help your heart and your workouts. We got to the root of those promises.
THE THROAT
Soreness, dryness, coughing-throat stuff can be the worst. Here's how to tell when something's up in there and feel better fast.
ARE YOUNG PEOPLE AGING FASTER?
And is that why cancer is striking earlier and earlier?
THE BAD DOCTOR
When patients kept nearly dying at asurgical center in Dallas, nobody thought it might be an inside job. Here’s howateam of medical investigators uncovered the disturbing truth— and how you can protect yourself from quacks, hacks, and downright dangerous docs.
HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH HIM
Well, not literally. But in the \"gnawing rat\" theory of productivity, making peace with your metaphorical pests might be the quickest way to stop procrastinating and finally ditch dread.
PUT YOUR SAVINGS TO WORK
... with big returns, no hassle, and way less financial stress.
THE STRESS LESS GUIDE ΤΟ MANAGING MONEY
Don't worry: Creating a budget has nothing to do with it.
