Post by jghmesa on Oct 31, 2007 18:22:50 GMT -5
Name (First+Last): Jeff Hodgkinson
Age or Birthday: 52 / June, 1955
Profession: Program/Project Manager - Intel Corp
Height: 6'5"
Biceps size: 23.5"
Forearm size: 19" flexed
Location (City/Province/state): Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix)
Armwrestling Titles: Arizona State Games
Who do you train with/Team name: Phoenix Arms
Year you started pulling: 2005
Weight you compete at: 243+
Favorite Pulling style: Still Looking
Toughest Match you've pulled: Jeff Nadler - late 90's, Jeff was ranked 3rd in the 220lb class. Match lasted ~40 seconds
Favorite tournament you've attended: Las Vegas events
Supplements Used: Multi vitamins, protein
Favorite Puller/or somebody you look up to in the sport:
There are several as almost everyone I've met in Armwreslting are stellar people. Travis Bagent, Kevin Bongard, Bill Breznk, John Breznk, Eric Wolfe, Brain Bylbie, John Bergstrom, Jeff Nadler, and prince of a guy: Allen Fisher & Sammie Hattabaugh. Last but not least a fellow Canadian: Ryan Espey.
How often do you train: Pull 1x a week, Lift 3 to 5x a week
Training tips: I directly work the 3 types of grip, holding, crushing, and pinching using several devices and indirectly try to tax my forearms using special handles on other upper body exercises
Goal(s): 1) I'd like to be world ranked in the Grand Masters. 2) I'd like to still be healthy enough to compete at 70 3) Complete in over 100 tournaments
Sponsor(s): none
Anything you would like to add/statements/comments: Best armwrestling story (being as brief as I can be) About a year ago, Saturday morning, my wife and I went to the Mesa Swap Meet - I was proudly wearing a Phoenix Arms t-shirt as we strolled along the mile of covered booths. About a 1/3rd of the way along I felt a pull on my right elbow and it was an older man (87) who came out from his table to catch me. He was about 5'8" and stocky build (250lb range) with large forearms and hands. He was selling these bottles of muscle rub for aches, pains, etc. He'd seen my shirt with the armwrestling logo (5XLT) and wanted to talk to me. As he sprayed some of his stuff on my arm and rubbed it in, he told me that we grew up on a farm in western Canada and in the 30's and 40's he used to armwrestle for beers in bars and compete in local competitions. As it was post Depression and there was no 'equipment' like today, he and his friends used to practice in the barn over haybales or any table they could get to and would lift various farm tools to build strength. Their favorite core exercise was lifting an anvil from the coned end doing curls and holds. He told me at his best he could lift a 100lb anvil with one arm. Anyway we talked for about 40 minutes as I told him about our team, how we practice, tournaments, and forums like the Canadian board. He listened with earnest and seemed fascinated as he compared it to local competitions and drinking on Saturday night in his day. I ended up buying a bottle of this ointment and proceeded to catch up with my wife who'd politely excused herself after ~20 minutes of quietly listening to my diatribe. His granddaughter, mid 30ies, who he was living with, had her own booth next to him and in the course of conversation, she'd come up to join in our discussion for a minute and to introduce herself. About 3 months later, my wife wanted a new backyard yard ornament so we headed down to the swap meet again to look for something. As I passed down the 2nd aisle I spotted the granddaughter at her booth and stopped to say 'hi' thinking her grandfather was there also. She remembered me and proceeded to tell me the unfortunate news that her grandfather had passed away from a heart attack about 6 weeks ago and this was her 1st weekend back manning her weekend store business. She wanted to thank me so much for stopping and spending time chatting with her grandfather about armwrestling as he mentioned for weeks afterward how much he enjoyed meeting me and bringing him up to speed on the modern day armwrestling scene. It was one of his last 'happy' memories. She gave me a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek as I left. And to be honest I had to hold back a tear as I walked off - my wife's eyes were watery too as her father at 96 had passed away ~2 years ago. True story...only goes to prove you never know who's life you impact and everything happens for a reason. Thanks for reading JGH
Age or Birthday: 52 / June, 1955
Profession: Program/Project Manager - Intel Corp
Height: 6'5"
Biceps size: 23.5"
Forearm size: 19" flexed
Location (City/Province/state): Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix)
Armwrestling Titles: Arizona State Games
Who do you train with/Team name: Phoenix Arms
Year you started pulling: 2005
Weight you compete at: 243+
Favorite Pulling style: Still Looking
Toughest Match you've pulled: Jeff Nadler - late 90's, Jeff was ranked 3rd in the 220lb class. Match lasted ~40 seconds
Favorite tournament you've attended: Las Vegas events
Supplements Used: Multi vitamins, protein
Favorite Puller/or somebody you look up to in the sport:
There are several as almost everyone I've met in Armwreslting are stellar people. Travis Bagent, Kevin Bongard, Bill Breznk, John Breznk, Eric Wolfe, Brain Bylbie, John Bergstrom, Jeff Nadler, and prince of a guy: Allen Fisher & Sammie Hattabaugh. Last but not least a fellow Canadian: Ryan Espey.
How often do you train: Pull 1x a week, Lift 3 to 5x a week
Training tips: I directly work the 3 types of grip, holding, crushing, and pinching using several devices and indirectly try to tax my forearms using special handles on other upper body exercises
Goal(s): 1) I'd like to be world ranked in the Grand Masters. 2) I'd like to still be healthy enough to compete at 70 3) Complete in over 100 tournaments
Sponsor(s): none
Anything you would like to add/statements/comments: Best armwrestling story (being as brief as I can be) About a year ago, Saturday morning, my wife and I went to the Mesa Swap Meet - I was proudly wearing a Phoenix Arms t-shirt as we strolled along the mile of covered booths. About a 1/3rd of the way along I felt a pull on my right elbow and it was an older man (87) who came out from his table to catch me. He was about 5'8" and stocky build (250lb range) with large forearms and hands. He was selling these bottles of muscle rub for aches, pains, etc. He'd seen my shirt with the armwrestling logo (5XLT) and wanted to talk to me. As he sprayed some of his stuff on my arm and rubbed it in, he told me that we grew up on a farm in western Canada and in the 30's and 40's he used to armwrestle for beers in bars and compete in local competitions. As it was post Depression and there was no 'equipment' like today, he and his friends used to practice in the barn over haybales or any table they could get to and would lift various farm tools to build strength. Their favorite core exercise was lifting an anvil from the coned end doing curls and holds. He told me at his best he could lift a 100lb anvil with one arm. Anyway we talked for about 40 minutes as I told him about our team, how we practice, tournaments, and forums like the Canadian board. He listened with earnest and seemed fascinated as he compared it to local competitions and drinking on Saturday night in his day. I ended up buying a bottle of this ointment and proceeded to catch up with my wife who'd politely excused herself after ~20 minutes of quietly listening to my diatribe. His granddaughter, mid 30ies, who he was living with, had her own booth next to him and in the course of conversation, she'd come up to join in our discussion for a minute and to introduce herself. About 3 months later, my wife wanted a new backyard yard ornament so we headed down to the swap meet again to look for something. As I passed down the 2nd aisle I spotted the granddaughter at her booth and stopped to say 'hi' thinking her grandfather was there also. She remembered me and proceeded to tell me the unfortunate news that her grandfather had passed away from a heart attack about 6 weeks ago and this was her 1st weekend back manning her weekend store business. She wanted to thank me so much for stopping and spending time chatting with her grandfather about armwrestling as he mentioned for weeks afterward how much he enjoyed meeting me and bringing him up to speed on the modern day armwrestling scene. It was one of his last 'happy' memories. She gave me a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek as I left. And to be honest I had to hold back a tear as I walked off - my wife's eyes were watery too as her father at 96 had passed away ~2 years ago. True story...only goes to prove you never know who's life you impact and everything happens for a reason. Thanks for reading JGH