Arm Melter 13 is huge success

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Gail Paquette

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Two-time world champion Sylvie Dufresne took on challenger Laura Cook for the woman's right and left arm championship belts. Dufresne took the right and Cooke won the left. Photo: Gail Paquette

Two-time world champion Sylvie Dufresne took on challenger Laura Cook for the woman's right and left arm championship belts. Dufresne took the right and Cooke won the left. Photo: Gail Paquette

EMC Sports -Belleville - World champions were among those who squeezed into The Wahoo 2 Saturday afternoon for Arm Melter 13.

What started in a back street bar 60 years ago and grew to fame on the Wide World of Sports in the late 1960s continues to enjoy immense popularity. The more than 100 arm wrestling competitors in attendance proved that.

"The bodybuilder doesn't guarantee success in this sport, if you don't have the technique, you're not going to do well. Just the placement of one or two fingers can significantly control the leverage and your ability to control your opponent's hand," said Joe Gould, organizer of the Arm Melter Series.

Gould, a competitor himself, has been arm wrestling since 1994 and has impressively won the Ontario Provincial Championships twice and a Canadian Arm Wrestling Federation National title. He is a certified referee and has officiated and promoted several tournaments. First hooked at age 13 by his bother Mikel a 15-time Canadian Champ, he competed in his first tournament at 18.

Since 2007 Gould has hosted the Arm Melter tournaments. They are triple elimination tournaments qualifying for the Canadian Professional Championship Belts.

Many of the competitors who came to pull hold provincial, national and world titles .

"The triple elimination makes Arm Melter what it is," said Gould. "It's tough to pull that many matches in a tournament. Hence the name. Wrestlers who love the competition and love to pull, love the Arm Melter tournaments.

For Greg Boyes, 2002 World Champion, the tournament was a place for him to see where he was at and what his competition was like out there.

"I haven't been pulling competitively for a few years and I'm coming back," he said. "The Arm Melter is always a great tournament and the triple eliminations means lots of pulls."

Arm Wrestling is a sport where anyone can compete regardless of age, sex, weight, dexterity or experience. It is a test of strength, technique, endurance, speed, tenacity and willpower.

"You have to be in all round good shape," says Boyes. "Most people think it is all about upper body strength but it's really not. I blew a calf muscle at a tournament."

The Arm Melter Series will hold four tournaments this year. The next scheduled event will take place in July.