Training: To hit or not to hit.. that is the q...

[Tyrrell Wojcichowsky]

It all depends who your pulling. I would say everyone has hit me wide open, but certainly not all the time. I wouldn't 100% hit someone who is 150 lbs unless they begged me. Last tourny I was in at 212 lbs.
The stronger puller has to respect his teammate.
Someone catching my hits with two hands has been good. It's helped with recovery and not gettin stretched out. Everyone has had a match where you run into a brick wall it seems.

[Curtis "Smash" Klashinsky]

trigger said:

...... Everyone has had a match where you run into a brick wall it seems.

All too often my friend.

[terryackers]

hello guys, i have been arm wrestling just over 2 years and never really pulled novice just pro i did ok the first year but there was something missing and i had to pull out a new move that would help me out at pro level i started hitting top roll thats all i would train hitting fast it as worked for me last year 2007 i started of the year with a super match with a guy called STEPHEN KIRLEW from england and won 3-2 got to the final of arm wars then pull the BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2007 and i also won that left and right , im going to train hard and pull worlds this year at 75kg or 80kg left arm only.

never understimate the power of the Silver Bullet move,The ability to totally commit your body as one solid piece, in one explosive move. Not as easy as it sounds, im getting there with my left arm but my right arm does not seem to be able to pull off the same move,so i think hitting training helps.

[shawnross]

Hi guys, any of you that know me will agree that I am about as quick as a farm tractor! I have had some luck with what I call hitting for control, some people call it catching, I don't like that term. If you can control the match with your hand and wrist there is a good chance it may go your way, after all our sport is all about control!

[alejandro]

Im agree is all about control

[braddeveau]

Going ON , " go " didn't work so well for me at a world level.

I made the mistake in 4 matches of attempting to hit on GO, instead of starting my hit directly in the center of ready and go.
If I had've trained to catch more hits than I did to dish them out I would've been better off.

When I finally listened to Terry that hitting on GO itself just wouldn't cut it, I did fine.

I was told too many times when I was new to the sport someone is always faster. Now, I know & stress this advice.

Iam more focused on control than wild attacks in training, now.
As I've seen control is equally or more effective.

Also, Shawn may be as quick as a tractor... but snores on pace with a chainsaw..

[Windover]

I used to have a crazy fast hit back in 92. Just got back into it and am working on my hitting again. I have utilized several different forms of hitting, sometimes with success and sometimes not.
1. The quick short hit. As Shawn stated this is more for hand control but also a good tool against a hard hitter to take some of the power off their hit. It is a short 6" or so hit that is very effective.
2. Hard back pressure hit. Use this against guys who want to chop or pull in tight to pull them on my side of table and away from their comfort zone.
3. Back and Side Hit. If done hard and fast this ends alot of matches quickly and allows energy to be saved for later in tournament. Tamblyn is an animal with it.
I know their are many more variations and to list them all won't cover them all. We practice twice a week mid practice with one hitting and the other catching to what degree they feel. Only one hits!!!!
Some people like to load major backpressure during grip up, I am working on no load strength. My feeling is that I am giving away to my opponent what kind of energy they will need to block/stop me. I am trying to practice loading within my own body like a spring and release on the G. of Go. The one advantage of a short hard hit is to allow you to keep tight and allow you to move into a defensive position quickly if your hit doesn't produce the desired position you needed.
JMO on the above but so far it all seems to be helping.
Talking with a buddy who was at the Worlds, he said guys with major explosive hits were the ones dominating the podium. Don't know for sure but he was a ref there.

So in reply John I would suggest you not practice hitting, take lots of time off from training, give your arm a rest and I'll see you at a tourney in six months. Heheheh.
Your back pressure is insane pal, you put a hit with that, and I'll have to beef up my training schedule to 8 days a week.

[John Milne]

Guy I have very rarely used hitting as a tool in practice. Training with Devon is more about the control and technique than speed and I find it has helped me out well.
I will on a very rare occasion practice hitting but it would be like once or twice a year probably. I dont like the way my arm feels afterwards if I was hitting or catching. I'd rather use practice for technique and conditioning myself.
Hitting is kind of a mindset. Either you are going to hit or you aren't. I tend not to hit so I dont practice that way. There are times I like to mix it up just to keep you guessing ;D

p.s. We do have a guy in our club (Nicola) who is an insane hitter and he does practice hits so I dont mean to say that it is not beneficial.. depends on the style of puller. I will let him hit into me if he is practicing his backpressure hit but not his sidepressure one... its just easier on the arms

[Windover]

He has a crazy hit. I managed to stop him before the pin, but he felt so solid down there. Wasn't ready at all. I agree that it takes a certain style. But a good hit is great for popping open a hand or taking a wrist. Strength is good, but a quick snap can make a weaker opponent dangerous. JMO

[John Milne]

You are right "a quick snap can make a weaker opponent dangerous"

Sometimes when I pull I use this hitters momentum to crack their wrist open. If someone hits into something that wont move (or is moving in the right direction with the right type of pressure) its usually the wrist that gives... then you have hand control.

John likes hand control ;D

If I use that type of move I'll either get flashed (if I cant stop them) or end up with a full hand control type of match.