Arm wrestlers test their strength

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on March 23, 2022.

The Lethbridge Arm Wrestling Club held its first tournament since 2019 for arm wrestlers on Saturday at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club.
While three-year L.A.W.C member Mike Schaaf didn’t know how many arm wrestlers the tournament had, he says it was huge.
“For example, (in) the super heavy weights, there’s 29 members in that class — which is like on a national level, that’s what you’d see if you go to nationals — like this is a huge turnout for this club,” said Schaaf.
The key to success for participants is to stay tight, be safe and have fun, he added.
“You know, it’s always looking at your hand because it’s about the safety of the competitors first and then just grind,” said Schaaf.
“You train a lot and you make lots of friends and friends become enemies on the table, and then when you leave, you’re friends again.”
The classes included youth from age seven to 17, an open category for participants ages 18 to 40, amateur, professional, Grand Masters for those over 50, a Masters class for over 40 and three women’s classes.
“It is a family sport,” said Schaff.
“There’s enough for everybody to do something in there.”
Schaff says there were big strong men and women in the tournament.
“If you win a match, if you win medal — you’ve earned it,” he said.
Schaaf’s son, Corbin, has been arm wrestling for three years and was participating in the heavy weight 225 and super heavy weight class.
“So, I’m going to pull both left and right arm,” he said.
He trained for his class by going to the gym and working on his back and shoulders while his coach trained his wrist and hand workouts.
“I usually try and listen to music — like an earbud— just a hardcore like-a-rock and then take it out right before I get to the table and just get ready for the match,” said Corbin.
Corbin says lots of big boys and legends were pulling in the super heavy weight class.
“So it going to be awesome,” he said.
“It’s people that have arm wrestled for many years and can take world championships no problem.”
Colt Klassen, also of L.A.W.C, came into his first competition after only seven weeks of training.
“It’s been fun,” said Klassen.
What got him ready for the tournament was practicing his form.
“I don’t know, I just thought I’d try something new,” said Klassen.