What did your typical fight look like in the beginnings?

When I started training armwrestling, in 1990, a typical fight was all about strength. Now it’s changed, force is not enough, you need technique. A fight is faster, small details matter a lot. We can only imagine what we’ll be like in 10 – 15 years. If one could only know that for certain, one could easily become number one in the sport.

Where did the first fight in your country take place?

In restaurants and pubs. Now they take place in sports venues. Armwrestling’s gone through three phases in our country – first it was laughed at, then accepted as a sport, and now it’s become almost national. I hope to see the day when it will become our national sport.

So what stage are you on now?

I think stage two – acceptance.

Is armwrestling very popular in Norway?

No, but we are a part of the sports family, along with classic Greco - roman wrestling, sumo and beach wrestling.

What’s the situation of armwrestlers in Norway?

The number of clubs is growing, and the number of fighters. People get really serious about it and train more.

Do you cooperate with neighboring countries?

We cooperate more with Swedes than with Finland, but all three countries have cooperated for many years. We have all-Nordic competitions, they’ve been going on once a year for as long as I can remember.

Compared to USA, is there one particular European school of armwrestling?

There probably is, but we don’t have it in Norway. The best school of armwrestling is armwrestling itself, going to tournaments and training hard.

And what do you think of rules? Do you think armwrestling might be too young a sport to have particular, detailed rules?

I think rules could be made better. It’s been going on in recent years. When I started wrestling, we fought seated. Now only disabled sit, regular fighters stand while fighting. This was a huge leap forward. We still have too many fouls, we should fight cleaner. The issue of fouls should be concentrated on.

gk, im