Strength = genetics?

[Quiksilver]

I got coaxed into an armwrestle last night with a skinny guy. He's about my height(actually, we're exactly the same height), the only difference is that he doesn't do any exercise whatsoever...That is, unless you consider typing on a keyboard all day exercise. In short, he's a geek.

Yet, he beat me in an armwrestle. I know I'm thinking about it too much, but it's still ridiculous.

It's times like those that I find myself questioning the usefulness of working out at all.

Like, if I say that I don't lift for aesthetics, and that instead I focus only on strength, then how is it that a guy who hasn't done any exercise in the past 4 years is stronger than me?

 

[stronglifts]

I got coaxed into an armwrestle last night with a skinny guy. He's about my height(actually, we're exactly the same height), the only difference is that he doesn't do any exercise whatsoever...That is, unless you consider typing on a keyboard all day exercise. In short, he's a geek.

Yet, he beat me in an armwrestle. I know I'm thinking about it too much, but it's still ridiculous.

It's times like those that I find myself questioning the usefulness of working out at all.

Like, if I say that I don't lift for aesthetics, and that instead I focus only on strength, then how is it that a guy who hasn't done any exercise in the past 4 years is stronger than me?

Maximum Strength = strength + speed + power + muscle mass + genetics

Lot of things you can work on to become stronger. If you don't have the genetics, you can focus on the rest to become stronger. If don't want muscle mass, same thing: focus on the rest.

About the armwrestling:
* there's technique involved
* have you done it before?

I have friends who work in a garage, they have very strong arms & grips, they'd probably beat me to arm wrestling. I'd beat them to squats & deadlifts. It's called specificity.

 

[Quiksilver]

I basically do everything. And I play tennis, so my forearm, wrists, and grip is half decent.

Whatever, I don't care anymore. It's just silly to have spent 6 months in the gym 3 days a week, and lose to a guy who hasn't done anything physical in years.

don't sweat it... thanks

 

[LoneSilver]

Quiksilver, if you want to be a good arm wrester then look into info that is aimed at that sport and stop beating yourself up.

http://www.armwrestling.com/000BORDERINDEX.htm

http://www.armwrestling.com/jbrzenk.html

If you want to be a bodybuilder or powerlifter hang around here and read the post by Stronglifts and Warboss and others and you'll be on your way.

It's simple if your into tennis you visit a tennis site if your into bowling you visit a bowling site if your into golf you visit a golf site and learn what it takes to be the best at that sport and see if it's for you. You really got to ask yourself what sport is really right for you and go for it.

LoneSilver

I got coaxed into an armwrestle last night with a skinny guy. He's about my height(actually, we're exactly the same height), the only difference is that he doesn't do any exercise whatsoever...That is, unless you consider typing on a keyboard all day exercise. In short, he's a geek.

Yet, he beat me in an armwrestle. I know I'm thinking about it too much, but it's still ridiculous.

It's times like those that I find myself questioning the usefulness of working out at all.

Like, if I say that I don't lift for aesthetics, and that instead I focus only on strength, then how is it that a guy who hasn't done any exercise in the past 4 years is stronger than me?

 

[insidious]

QS, there will always be many who are better than you at any particular activity.

One of the toughest but most necessary lessons for us to learn and accept

 

[Warboss Alex]

There's always going to be a 160lb runt in every gym who can bench 500lbs. Strength genetics are very individual. Whether you have the God-given ability and joint integrity to lift huge weights or not, you must make the best of what you have.

 

[Monkey]

I think mind over matter has much to do with it. About 7 years ago I beat a 300lb+ (ok most of that was fat but he still slaughtered the 5/6 guys before him who were stonger than me) guy at armwrestling and I was a scrawny 150 pounds or so. People watching were laughing their bollocks off!

It was simply down to the pure rage I let out - I WAS going to win and I did.

 

[insidious]

I think mind over matter has much to do with it. About 7 years ago I beat a 300lb+ (ok most of that was fat but he still slaughtered the 5/6 guys before him who were stonger than me) guy at armwrestling and I was a scrawny 150 pounds or so. People watching were laughing their bollocks off!

It was simply down to the pure rage I let out - I WAS going to win and I did.

No doubt. There is a mental element to arm-wrestling (and all other physical competitions) that can lead you to either exceed or fall short of your physical attributes like no other. It's the raw simplicity of arm wrestling that makes you vulnerable if you don't have your mental game on.

 

[blinkwatt]

Dude don't sweat it. I know this fat guy at my job that doesn't work out,is slightly retarded and watches wrestling all day long and he has never once lost an arm wrestling match to anyone at work. How does he do it? I have no clue but more power to him.