This is the last piece of the series on the great American warrior – Travis Bagent. We’ll focus here on the weapon that has no match in the world of armwrestling – psychological pressure.

It’s no secret that many fights begin long before the fighters even approach the table. For years of armwrestling, Travis built himself a reputation of brave and cocky fighter, who will miss no opportunity to verbally assault his opponent. Because of this reputation he strikes fear in many an opponents’ heart. Not everyone can handle the pressure and force their style on Travis.

Why is psychological pressure so dangerous? Why is it so hard to handle? The answer to that question is a matter of many studies by psychologists. Most agree that pressure is based on the division of personalities between the weak and the strong. It’s enough for the “attacker” to be mentally stronger. What is mental strength? It mostly depends on your internal arrangements, your level of self-assuredness, self-belief. That’s where our actions come from, too. But enough theory. Let’s get back to Travis, who surely believes in himself, his strength and talent. Maybe his inside arrangements allow him that. The outside signs of self-assuredness allow him to beat his opponents.

Let’s recall the sensational Bagent – Semerenko armfight. This fight is a great example of Bagent’s influence on his opponents. In every bout Travis made Alexey react. Semerenko was distracted, he couldn’t focus. Emotions took over, and we all know how important focus is in armwrestling.

One cannot also forget the Bagent – Usmanli armfight for the PAL world champion title in left arm. During the whole fight Travis played a game, and he made the rules. After the fight Farid said “Travis is a cunning fox! Of the six bouts, he let me fight one. Hi cunning annoyed me and the refs, and it all led to him winning on my fouls.”

There are many more examples of Travis’s mental influence on his rivals. Especially those who have no titles yet, and wind up at the table with him. These guys start to fight when they see the opponent. The fight takes place in the mind, when Travis is being nasty, when the crowd reacts. Not many people can take that.

But what is Travis acts at the table as he doses in life? There is another guy who utilizes the power of mental fights. It’s Jeffrey Hale, the hero of another article.

Artur Grigoria