Can the start of armwrestling be defined? Everybody knows that, ancient sculptures perfectly document athletics and wrestling (it is well known that, they have always had a handicap as Olympic disciplines). What about armwrestling? Apparently there are excavations in Georgia representing a man during an armwrestling duel... There are also many records in the old sailor's song about lot and misery. Here there is even a piece of methodology of training. Service on the great sailing ships required tremendous force of arms, useful while climbing the masts, taking in sails and other work. Attentive readers of Armpower magazine and practitioners know that climbing on a rope is one of the exercises of today’s armwrestlers. Convergence is not accidental.

Armwrestling is a combat sport. The fight, from the dawn, was used to prove which opponent is the strongest. But in armwrestling there is also an aspect of  fun, professionally speaking - playful. "Duel" at the hands usually took place in a social situation, and was part of it, and not a goal itself. Today, it is manifested in a unique (even for purely sports relationship) attitude of players towards each other. Although they fought sharply and fiercely at the table, although, they go all out - before the fight after it they are friends, members of the Great Armwrestling Family.

This is a truly unique feature of our sport.

The second, equally important one, is "loneliness of a player" at the table. Just as in tennis – there is no contact of a competitor (at least formally) with a coach during a match. That's why it's leading armwrestlers are  mature athletes, able take tactical and technical decisions during a very short fight.

One may ask - what tactics, what technique is in this simple case? I also thought so. Until 1999. Exactly on 27th November 1999 - I saw the first armwrestling player with my own eyes. I came just before the "Duel of Giants", bodybuilding competitions, which included armwrestling competitions. Anton Sobko, Andrei Switłyk and Grygory Bondaruk - they were not giants. The heaviest of them, Bondaruk weighed 73 kg. When the next day, literally, they "dispersed" our athletes - I thought there is something in it...
But I did not realize then, that I participate in the official beginning of a new sports discipline in Poland!

The new sport - armwrestling was born here in Poland - as a whole. Players “were born”, referees learned, photographers tried to, organizers worked (at first only one - Igor), audience pulled into.
Since 1999, action which effect is the state of Polish armwrestling at present, took place, so regular games on the level of debuts, championships and Polish cups, participation of our representation in European and world championships. Let's add the fact of organization in Poland a number of prestigious professional and amateur competitions, number of clubs, competing players and media broadcasts.

Attaining the present status took place on many levels. As I said - we all learn.

There was a shortage of everything.

Methodology for training arose "onboard". At first they were improvised training sessions, on the terrace of Złoty Tur club in Gdynia, at [...].

What’s important, every action taken by Igor was intended to popularize our sport. Therefore, once there was an attempt to issue and distribute ARMPOWER monthly. It was a real newspaper entirely devoted to armwrestling. Terminology arose, we quarrelled about the vocabulary used in descriptions of techniques and rules, the history was created.

ARMPOWER did not survive alone. Poland is not the U.S.A, where you can sell thousands of copies by subscription and not be passing on the distribution. So it was a good idea to "incorporate" the magazine to one of the leading monthlies, which subject matter largely corresponded to our discipline. This way, thanks to the SdW, and then KiF - knowledge about armwrestling has reached (and will reach) all concerned.

From the very beginning ARMPOWER magazine not only documented current events, but also promoted the knowledge of tactics, techniques, basic and auxiliary exercises, nutrition, supplementation, anatomy, injuries.

A substantial package of knowledge has already gathered and those who have the complete set of ARMPOWER magazines in the houses may onboard use the contained knowledge. But - so far - only those who know the Polish language and live in Poland.
However, the new generation of armwrestlers in Poland and in the world are slowly "growing up to the table". They need the knowledge from scratch!

I can gladly announce that the time put into practice the idea of ​​Igor Mazurenko - a powerful book about armwrestling. I know that Igor nursed this idea for a long time, but other responsibilities were still in the foreground. But working on the publication has started at full blast for several months. The book promises to be a hit in the category of textbooks, reference books, sports guide, and it is graphically beautifully designed and diligently published. Parallel publication of Polish, Russian and English versions is planned.
I do not know if I can already reveal the title, but I’ll take a chance, "It's my Live!" - this is how this publication is called. "My life!" and implicitly "Armwrestling is my life" - the words of Igor Mazurenko, who - really - devoted, dedicated and will continue to give up the whole life to his passion - armwrestling.

Twelve years have passed since the name "armwrestling" appeared in Poland as the printed word. It’s time to boast knowledge and accomplishments. The author - Igor Mazurenko and editorial team invite you to read it.

Coming soon on the market - each player must read!
A compendium for every fan.
It’s my Live! – this is a treasure trove of techniques and training presented by Champions.
In addition, you will find here:
Profiles of the largest armwrestling Stars!
The history of Złoty Tur and Professionals’ World Cup tournaments
Subsequent reports in the Vendetta series
Armwrestling provisions
Examples of supplementation
Topics of anatomy and injuries in armwrestling.

Piotr Szymanowski