Training Begins

Training Begins

I awoke the morning after my humiliating arm wrestling defeat to The Griffin with a splitting headache.  Post defeat whiskey seemed like a good idea at the time, it ensured my mind didn't linger on the loss.

I spent the rest of that day considering what I could do to improve my strength.  My first conclusion was to cut alcohol out of my diet, at least for a while.  That aside, I had always thought I worked hard in the gym, convinced I was doing more than enough; but hours of procrastination can draw you towards more accurate conclusions.

The conclusion I reached in the end is that I have been slacking in the gym for the last few years!?!

I spend - on average - one hour a day training.  That is a total of five hours a week.  This five hours is split between weights (three hours) and cardio (two hours), I also work full time in a library; I know, not a particularly demanding occupation.

It occurred to me that during these weights sessions I had fallen into a routine, a routine which had become comfortable.  Instead of improving my physique and strength, I have just been maintaining it.

In order to be successful in my next arm wrestle, I need to make some drastic alterations, and create a brand new routine.

The internet seemed like a good place to start researching this subject.  After a few hours of searching, I found out that I am not in an exclusive club.  I read over and over about people who had been easily beaten in arm wrestles when it seemed they had a massive physical advantage.  What worried me even more was the fact I didn't find a single tale where the tables had turned, and defeat had given way to glory.  Maybe losing an arm wrestle is not a big deal to most people?

Instead, people talked about natural strength and how some people are just better at arm wrestling.  Well, I need some science, I don't buy ambiguous explanations such as: "It's just natural strength".

Just when I was starting to give up on the internet and try searching the library, I stumbled on the training regime of a man called Charles Atlas.  If you are familiar with Greek mythology you will know that the titan Atlas was condemned to stand at the edge of the earth and hold the sky on his shoulders as punishment for standing against Olympus.  This is exactly the type of training that Charles Atlas created, we now know it as Isometric Training.

Isometric training involves holding a weight in a static position for a set amount of time, placing constant strain on the fibres. 

Further research suggested this could yield the results I am looking for.  Finally, I had found something that may kick-start a new increase in strength.

As of now, I am adding the following techniques to my training regime:

• Isometric Pull-up
• Isometric Press-up
• Isometric Preacher Curl
• Isometric Lateral Deltoid Raise

I will keep you updated on how these techniques improve overall strength.

Maybe the first step to redemption is in place.

My Defeat (or Humiliation)

Defeated by the Griffin

Is there anyone else out there who works out, who destroys their body in the gym evening after evening, waiting to reap the strength and fitness rewards of these endeavours?  And then the opportunity arises.  An opportunity to express this hard earned physical superiority.  A colleague challenges you to an arm wrestle on a night out, a colleague who is thirty years your senior, with an unremarkable physique.

You throw down the gauntlet, predicting an easy victory.  You place your arm on the table, and lock horns with your opponent.  The arm wrestle begins.  And then...What you never thought possible after all that pain in the gym...you lose.  You don't just lose, you lose conclusively.

This is what happened to me.

Let me start by introducing myself.

I am 27, 5ft 8", I go to the gym five times a week, and can benchpress 240lb;  I consider myself to be in good shape with above average strength.

The moment before my defeat was captured by a friend, I am going to show it to you.  If you have ever suffered this kind of defeat, you will be familiar with the bitter taste that is left in your mouth.  It is a taste that lingers, that recalls the details, and one that inspires.

For the sake of anonymity, we shall call the man on the right, The Griffin.  That's me on the left.  I have analysed this picture over and over again.  That is the look of imminent defeat on my face, a look of timidity.  I was never going to win this match.

In fact, The Griffin had the edge before we had even started.  I had already been phsyched out before this arm wrestling contest had begun.  Quite simply, even with a grainy mobile phone image like this, you can tell who the winner of this match will be.

I can hear you saying "what happened?" Well, to put it simply, The Griffin was just a lot stronger; even with no training, and an ordinary physique.  However, scratch the surface and there is more to this mystery.  The Griffin has a lifetime of manual work behind him, the kind of work that builds up a lot of strength, the kind of strength that cannot be replicated by normal training.

But, it may just be overcome by some abnormal training...

I am writing this Blog under the pseudonym Arimaspi, a mythical race who used to steal The Griffin's gold; exactly what I intend to do.

All I have to do is overturn a disadvantage of 30 plus years of manual labour in a few months.  I will be keeping you up to date on training techniques to do exactly that, as well as diet.

This Blog is our Journey to Arm Wrestling Redemption...