After the article on active living among armwrestlers, I got a letter from one of our readers. It turned out that indeed European wrestlers are lazy. Especially the middle-level sportsmen are very passive, to the point where they don’t even try out other people’s ideas. We have spoken on the subject with Ivan Dobrorezov, main coach of the Rostov armwrestling team, tournament organizer.

- I have bad experience with organizing events for contestants and fans of armwrestling – says Ivan. – For example, a free seminar with Khadzimurat Zoloyev in Rostov. I booked a prestigious hotel, a catered coffee break, ecerything for free. Khadzi came from far away to this event, I was already thinking on how to organize such events on a regular basis. But I had to give that up. Very few people arrived to the event, I was disgusted with the laziness of armwrestlers! In bodybuilding you have to pay a few thousand rubles for a seminar, here everything was for free, but as it turned out – nobody was interested anyway.

Many people assume that the higher the price, the better the event. This was the case with the event. Maybe people couldn’t believe that a star would appear for free? Or maybe there was not enough advertisement?

- Everything was in place – advertisement in “Zelzany Mir”, on the PAA website, in social networks – says Dobrorezov. – There were posters and billboards around the city, in every armwrestling club. It seems like people don’t need this kind of event. It makes me really lose faith.

The situation is much better in the USA. Armwrestling practicioners are active, there are lots of open trainings, seminars, practices, armfights.

- I regularly organize armfights with the Pole Dance Studio girls – says Dobrorezov. – The entrance is free, the ambience is beautiful – dancing girls, music. Come, fight, or just watch, what else do you need? But attendance is usually small. I tried organizing arm-picnics, my own idea. But to no avail, almost no one comes. If Moscow has some activity in the area – Rostov has none.

It’s a shame that sportsmen can’t appreciate a good thing. Armwrestling is not very popular in Belarus, but it has its audience. Many people come to tournaments and other events. There are no centralized armfights, but some people organize them locally and post photos and videos on the internet. It’s not exactly what we’d like, but… There are much more viewers than contestants.

- What would you expect me to think, when almost nobody came to my “Azov Castle” tournament that took place in the summer of 2013? – says Dobrorezov. - The prize pool was 130000 rubles. No admittance fee. Stars in attendance, such as Sergey Tokarev, Arsen Liliev, Khadzimurat Zoloyev, Spartak Zoloyev, Chermen Khadayev, Murat Krayev and many others. Advertisement all around the internet, posters, videos… An armwrestling fan’s dream come true! But alas, no! The hall was nearly empty. I remember, when I started to fight back in 2000, we travelled very far to see armwrestling stars. In 2013, the Czajf team made an appearance. Many people came to see them, but only 30 out of some 150 wanted to fight. I know how many people wrestle in this area. So my question is – what else do you sportspeople want? Why do you call yourselves armwrestlers, if you don’t wrestle at all?

Indeed, what else is missing? When they have nothing – they go out of their way to get something. But when they get something for free, they don’t know what to do about it. They should take and enjoy, but no… Why is that?

Аrtur Grigorian © Gra