John Brzenk
Encyclopedia
John Brzenk is a professional armwrestler from the United States
. He competes in the Professional Armwrestling League, and as of 2009 is the number-one armwrestler in the world. John was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "Greatest Armwrestler of All Time"
John Brzenk won his first world title on ABC's 1983 Wide World of Sports when he was 18 years old. His right forearm is 16 inches in circumference, and his left is 13.5 inches. The heaviest opponent he faced weighed 660 lbs and John beat him. John has lost a supermatch only once, and only a handful of people have beaten him (including his brother, Bill). The most noted of them are Devon Larratt and Alexey Voyevoda. Aside from arm wrestling, he works as a mechanic at Delta Air Lines
. He says the job is non-physical so his arms get plenty of rest. He makes $13,000 to $15,000 a year arm wrestling.
Brzenk won four world championships in the heavyweight division through 1994, and gained the nickname of "Superman" for defeating much larger opponents. In 1995, he won the middleweight world championship. He had a uncredited cameo in the 1987 Sylvester Stallone
film Over the Top. Brzenk was the subject of a documentary film, Pulling John.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He competes in the Professional Armwrestling League, and as of 2009 is the number-one armwrestler in the world. John was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "Greatest Armwrestler of All Time"
Biography
John Brzenk's father was an arm wrestler and John says he gained some of his forearm size through genetics. He arm wrestled across tables in school for about five years. When he was in eighth grade, he broke his arm while armwrestling a friend of his father. When he was 16 years old he participated in his first tournament.John Brzenk won his first world title on ABC's 1983 Wide World of Sports when he was 18 years old. His right forearm is 16 inches in circumference, and his left is 13.5 inches. The heaviest opponent he faced weighed 660 lbs and John beat him. John has lost a supermatch only once, and only a handful of people have beaten him (including his brother, Bill). The most noted of them are Devon Larratt and Alexey Voyevoda. Aside from arm wrestling, he works as a mechanic at Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
. He says the job is non-physical so his arms get plenty of rest. He makes $13,000 to $15,000 a year arm wrestling.
Brzenk won four world championships in the heavyweight division through 1994, and gained the nickname of "Superman" for defeating much larger opponents. In 1995, he won the middleweight world championship. He had a uncredited cameo in the 1987 Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
film Over the Top. Brzenk was the subject of a documentary film, Pulling John.
Profile
- Height: 6'1
- Weight: Varies between 200 and 225 lbs. depending on competition classes.
- Biceps: 18.25 in.
- Forearm: 16.5 in
Training and strength feats
- In 2005 he said that he could bench press 315 lbs for 5 reps with a close grip.
- He says that he trains biceps with 50 lbs dumbbells and does wrist curls with the same weight. When asked what his one-rep max was he replied that he never tries one rep max because he fears that he would drop the weight on his feet.
- A friend of his said that in his prime he was very close to closing the Captains of Crush GrippersCaptains of Crush GrippersCaptains of Crush Grippers are a brand of torsion-spring grippers designed, manufactured and sold by IronMind Enterprises, Inc., based in Nevada City, California...
#3 gripper. John says that now he is "nowhere near closing it". He trains with grippers and says that "I have a gripper in my car and when i am driving i try to make between 200 and 240 reps as fast as possible". - He advises that the best exercise for arm wrestling is pullups.
External links
- http://ifitandhealthy.com/john-brzenk-arm-wrestling/