John Brzenk is taken into account by many as the best arm wrestler of all time. He’s admired and revered by each followers and fellow arm wrestlers alike for his contributions to arm wrestling.
Here’s a spotlight of the profession of the best arm wrestler of all time in John Brzenk. Detailing John’s 40+ 12 months profession, 26 championships, and the way he helped arm wrestling change into a respectable sport.
John Brzenk’s Early Life
John Brzenk was born in McHenry, Illinois and grew up round arm wrestling. His father, John Brzenk Sr. was additionally a state champion arm wrestler, who was recognized for his highly effective forearms.
Identical to his father, John Jr. would additionally get into bodybuilding identical to his father. He wished to be identical to dad and began arm wrestling his classmates in class. Shortly changing into the most effective arm wrestler in his class.
When he was in eighth grade, John would undergo a damaged arm from an arm wrestling match together with his dad’s buddy. Brzenk would credit score the break, alongside together with his good genetics for strengthening his tendons considerably.
John Brzenk’s Entry Into Skilled Arm Wrestling
When John turned eighteen, he would take the leap and change into an expert arm wrestler. From the second Brzenk made his professional debut in 1982, he took over the game of arm wrestling.
In his first 12 months as a professional, John would win his first world title on the ABC Huge World of Sports activities program. Not solely changing into the youngest star of the game, but additionally the most effective arm wrestler on the earth.
Little did followers of arm wrestling notice that John’s reign as champion would final practically 3 a long time. All whereas by no means struggling a loss in all of these years.
A Listing of All John Brzenk’s Title Wins
There has by no means been an arm wrestler with a extra lengthy and storied profession than John Brzenk. Detailing all of his main titles would take a number of to articles.
As an alternative, we’ve compiled a listing of practically all of John’s main title wins within the sport of arm wrestling. Right here’s a virtually definitive checklist of John Brzenk’s title wins inside a number of weight courses.
AAA Stand Up Nationwide
1984: 200 lbs (Proper-Handed)
1985: 185 lbs (Proper-Handed)
1986: 220 lbs (Proper-Handed)
1990: 220 lbs (Proper-Handed)
Arnold Traditional
2006: 199+lbs (Proper-Handed)
2007: 199+lbs (Proper-Handed)
AWI World
1986: Professional Tremendous Heavyweight
1987: Professional Gentle Heavyweight
1988: Professional Gentle Heavyweight
1995: Professional Gentle Heavyweight
2001: Professional Tremendous Heavyweight
Carling O’Keefe Worldwide
1989: 200 lbs & 230 lbs (Each Proper-Handed)
Forsa Tropical Worldwide
1998: 198 lbs (Proper & Left-Handed)/243 lbs (Proper-Handed)
GNC Professional Efficiency
2002: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed)
Golden Bear
1990: 198 lbs (Proper & Left-Handed)
1994: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed)
1994: Supermatch Champion
1994: Absolute Champion (Proper-Handed)
1998: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed)
Harley Pull
2000: 220 lbs (Proper-Handed)
2001: 220 lbs (Proper-Handed)
2002: 198 lbs (Left & Proper-Handed)
2009: 225 LBs (Left & Proper-Handed)
Important Occasion
1998: 220 lbs (Proper-Handed)
Mike Gould Traditional
2006: 220 lbs (Left & Proper-Handed
2010: 220 lbs (Proper-Handed)
Mohegan Solar Pac World
2005: 198 lbs (Left & Proper-Handed)
2006: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
2007: 198 lbs (Left & Proper-Handed)
Over The Prime
1986: Winner of Truckers Division
Reno Reunion
1999: 200 lbs (Proper-Handed), 230 lbs (Proper-Handed), 231+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 200 lbs (Left-Handed)
2000: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed), 242 lbs (Proper-Handed, 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 198 lbs (Left-Handed), 242 lbs(Left-Handed)
2001: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed), 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 198 lbs (Left-Handed)
2002: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed, 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed, 198 lbs (Left-Handed), 242 lbs(Left-Handed)
2003: 233+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
2006: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
2006: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
ROTN
2007: 215 lbs (Left & Proper-Handed)
2008: 242 lbs (Left & Proper-Handed)
2009: 199+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
Sands Worldwide Wrist Wrestling/Armwrestling
1988: 190 lbs (Proper-Handed)
1989: 190 lbs (Proper-Handed), 215 lbs (Proper-Handed)
Sherkston Seashores Worldwide
1987: 200 lbs & 201+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
SuperStar Showdown
2004: 199+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
2005: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed)
Final Armwrestling(Las Vegas)
2004: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed)
2005: 198 lbs (Left & Proper-Handed)
2006: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
Final Armwrestling League
2011: 200 lbs (Proper-Handed)
USAA Nationwide Professional-Am
1996: 200 lbs (Proper-Handed), 201+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
1997: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed), 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 198 lbs (Left-Handed)
1998: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
1999: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed), 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 198 lbs (Left-Handed), 242 lbs (Left-Handed)
2000: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 242 lbs (Left-Handed), 243+ lbs (Left-Handed)
2001: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 242 lbs (Left-Handed), 243+ lbs (Left-Handed)
2002: 198 lbs (Proper-Handed), 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 198 lbs (Left-Handed), 242 lbs (Left-Handed)
2003: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
2004: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 242 lbs (Left-Handed)
2005: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed)
2006: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
2007: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
2009: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed), 242 lbs (Left-Handed), 243+ lbs (Left-Handed)
2010: 242 lbs (Proper-Handed), 243+ lbs (Proper-Handed)
USAF Unified Nationwide
2005: 220 lbs (Proper-Handed)
WAF World Armwrestling Championship
1999 Supermatch (Left-Handed)
WAL
2015: Heavyweight Championship (Proper-Handed)
World Wristwrestling Championship(Petaluma)
1984: Light-weight (Proper-Handed)
1988: Heavyweight, Middleweight (Proper-Handed)
1989: Heavyweight, Middleweight (Proper-Handed)
1990: Heavyweight, Middleweight (Proper-Handed)
1991: Heavyweight, Middleweight (Proper-Handed)
1996: Heavyweight(Proper-Handed), Middleweight (Left-Handed)
1998: Heavyweight, Gentle Heavyweight, Middleweight (Left & Proper-Handed)
2001: Heavyweight, Gentle Heavyweight, Middleweight (Left & Proper-Handed)
WPAA World
Yukon Jack Nationwide/World
1990: Heavyweight (Proper-Handed)
1991: Heavyweight (Proper-Handed)
1992: Heavyweight (Proper-Handed)
1993: Heavyweight (Proper-Handed)
1995: Middleweight (Proper-Handed)
1996: Middleweight Proper-Handed)
Zloty Tur/Nemiroff World Cup
2004: 220 lbs (Proper-Handed)
2006: 220 lbs, Open Weight (Proper-Handed)
2007: 220 lbs, Open Weight (Left & Proper-Handed)
2008: 220 lbs, Open Weight (Proper-Handed)
2009: 220 lbs, Open Weight (Left & Proper-Handed)
Over The Prime
The movie Over The Prime from 1987 starring Sylvester Stallone was truly impressed by John Brzenk. Within the earlier 12 months, Brzenk had gained the trucker division of the 1986 Over The Prime Arm Wrestling Championship.
Profitable the division and the grand prize mack truck. Brzenk would even have an uncredited cameo within the movie.
John Brzenk’s Technical Strategy
If you happen to ask any of the highest arm wrestlers, they are going to credit score John Brzenk for being an innovator. He helped what was perceived as a strongman competitors and helped evolve it right into a respectable sport.
After all John is robust, however what helped him change into the most effective ever was his technical method. He studied arm wrestling extensively and have become a technical grasp.
Most arm wrestlers have one method they’re good at, however John is nice in any respect features. Every little thing from hooking, hand management, and pushing. Mixing all of them collectively to beat the most effective athletes on the earth.
John Brzenk’s Coaching
Not solely is John an innovator on the technical facet of arm wrestling, but additionally the coaching. Consider it or not, John doesn’t do a weight lifting routine.
Each power coaching train he does is oriented for the game of arm wrestling. What he likes to do is use straps and hook them to a heavy pulley system.
Mimicking the moments of a match and fascinating all the muscle tissue he makes use of for competitors. By no means sporting down his physique, however all the time being in form to be the most effective on the earth.
Pulling John
John was the main focus of the documentary “Pulling John” that was launched in 2009. A digital camera crew adopted Brzenk round for over 4 years documenting his life and profession.
In the course of the filming, John would speak in regards to the sport he loves and ponder about when he would retire.
John Brzenk’s Private Life
When John was profitable world titles in arm wrestling, he labored as an airplane mechanic for Delta Airways for a few years. A job that John says he beloved and gave his arms a relaxation in between tournaments.
John can also be a household man, who has been married for over thirty years, has two daughters, and is a grandfather.
The Retirement and Return of John Brzenk
In 2016, John Brzenk would make his first retirement from the game of arm wrestling at 52 years previous. This retirement would final for six years as he would make a comeback.
In his fifties, Brzenk would return to the game he dominated for many years and nonetheless top-of-the-line. He would shut out high ranked athlete Khadzimurat Zoloev and regain the world’s high rating as soon as once more.
Brzenk would proceed the place he left off in 2022, the place he competed on the 4th East vs West. Beating Kydyrgali Ongarbaev in a right-handed tremendous match.
Then later that 12 months, John would additionally beat Oleg Petrenko 3-0. Displaying that Brzenk remains to be very a lot top-of-the-line arm wrestlers on the earth right this moment at practically 60.
The Legacy of John Brzenk
John Brzenk is taken into account the best arm wrestler of all time and an innovator of the game. He’s gained probably the most titles of any arm wrestler in historical past, however this wasn’t his most essential work.
His work ethic and method to arm wrestling turned it from a powerful man competitors and right into a respectable sport.
Unbelievably at practically 60 years previous, Brzenk remains to be one of many world’s greatest arm wrestlers. Nobody shall be shocked if he wins extra titles earlier than calling it a profession.
