Arm Wrestlers To Test Their Brawn At Hominy's 'Patriot Pull'

Dozens of professional arm wrestlers are gathering in Hominy for this weekend's "Patriot Pull."

It seems simple enough.

Grab a competitor's hand and pull it to the table.

But in arm wrestling, looks can be deceiving.

"There's a difference between a top roll and a hook," pro arm wrestler and two-time champion Dan Whittle said.

He's also one of a hundred pullers, that's what they call arm wrestlers, expected to compete in the Patriot Pull Arm Wrestling Tournament this weekend.

"People just don't realize that arm wrestling is an organized sport," Whittle said.

"Ah man, it's one of those deals that makes your adrenaline rush," tournament organizer Jim Coyle said.

Coyle has been arm wrestling since the ‘60s and won the world championship in 2010.

He's also the man behind this weekend's tournament and says pullers, men and women, from all over the nation will be there.

He says there's nothing like settling in and going one-on-one with your opponent.

"You come up to the table, these other guys they're biting nails and will bite your head off, and you just want to jump in there with them," Coyle said.

The rules aren't complicated: Keep your elbow on one pad and pull your opponents wrist to another pad.

But getting from point A to point B takes planning and tactics.

"Arm wrestling is primarily technique, speed, and strength," Whittle said.

But Whittle admits there's one more important factor.

"It helps to have a big forearm. That's definitely a trademark of an arm wrestler," he said.

Whittle has been arm wrestling for a decade.

It started out as a hobby but he quickly rose to the pro circuit.

He said it's a fun and challenging sport and he calls his fellow pullers family.

"We go to tournaments together, we hang out, we barbecue together," he said. "It's just great. It's a great friendship. It's really nice."

The Hominy arm wrestling tournament is Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Hominy City Lake. Anyone can participate. If you want to register just show up sometime between noon and 1.