Your technique?

I fight over the top, I’m the best in this technique, but I also get a lot of satisfaction from hook.

What are your three favorite exercises?

Besides sparring, I like pronation with belts and weights, or the pulley machine. My second favorite is wrist variations using a fat grip; third would be seated dumbbell bicep curls and bicep rows.

How do you regenerate?

Rest, of course, eating the right food and keeping fit – running helps a lot, though I have to force myself to run, especially before a tournament.

And how do you regenerate after an injury?

I get pains all the time, arm fastenings, wrist pains, shoulder pains… I do have some rules that apply here. First of all, I try not to allow an injury to even happen, by means of preparation – systematic training and sparring. That makes my arms prepared for large strains during a fight, with a little help from adrenaline. The last few days before a tournament are key. I’ve found out that a day or two of rest before a competition lessens the risk of injury and failure. Also important is to warm up before a start. Armwrestling engages almost all body parts, so I try to wind up my whole body before a fight, not only my arms.

Does that work?

If it doesn’t, I give myself a couple days’ rest before I get back to training; I look for positions that don’t strain the painful part. I’ve had good results from glutamine and chondroitine supplements, especially for the wrist. I never use elastic bandages, I think that they condition the hand, “teaching” it some bad habits.

And if that doesn’t help?

Then I just get back to normal training, hoping that my body finds a way to regenerate on its own – it usually does.

Iza Małkowska