Arm Wrestling Club seeks to boost popularity of the unconventional sport

Courtesy of Andrew Tran

Naveed Kasnavi holds binder clips to mark 2 inches above table as sophomores Samvrith Bandi (left) and Akash Gupta (right) arm wrestle during a club meeting on Oct. 19.

Seniors Arinjay Basak, Naveed Kasnavi, Andrew Tran and Aiden Ye marched into the student center on Oct. 4, wearing suits and ready to present their unconventional new club idea to ASB officers — the Arm Wrestling Club.

“We wanted to demonstrate that our club was professional, so we came to the ASB interview in suits,” club co-president Kasnavi said. “We challenged the club commissioners to arm wrestling, and we beat them to demonstrate our technique and strength.”

The Arm Wrestling Club aims to teach students how to do the sport in a safe manner. A common misconception about arm wrestling, according to Kasvani, is that arm wrestling is about simply using only one arm to push down the opponent’s forearm; however, the club officers assert that proper arm wrestling incorporates muscles from the entire body to apply force. During meetings, they introduce members to techniques that help direct stress from joints to bigger muscles.

The use of binder clips as a makeshift wrestling table also helps to ensure the safety of members. In a professional arm wrestling match, touching a box 2 inches away from the table signifies a win for the opponent, since moving past that point can cause strain to the joints. According to Ye, the club uses boxes of binder clips to mimic professional wrestling tables and protect members from injury. 

While most clubs focus on academics, Arm Wrestling stands out as one of the few that focus on a specified physical activity, along with the Bike Club, Martial Arts Club, or Indian Cultural Dance Club.

“In 10th grade, I would arm-wrestle my friends during lunch, and we found a professional arm wrestling website online,” Kasnavi said. “Their intricate techniques helped us improve and demolish anyone who challenged us.”

When the club was approved after Club Rush, the officers attracted members through Discord communities used by students. According to Basak, the club also has its own Discord server that members use to communicate with one another and arrange meetings. Meetings are now held every red Wednesday or Thursday in room 1013 under the guidance of club adviser biology teacher Jennifer Lee, and the club averages around 20 to 30 members per meeting.

During each meeting, officers teach specific techniques like how to overcome a hook with toproll, two hand-bending techniques commonly used in arm wrestling. After a basic demonstration of the concept, members are free to spar with others and practice what they have learned along with the past material.

“I think the novelty of our club attracts a lot of attention,” Basak said. “We have quite a few experienced members, and they’re all more than happy to help arbiter, teach techniques or arm wrestle newer members.”

In the future, the club hopes to host a schoolwide tournament once their new members have learned safe arm wrestling techniques. 

“Arm wrestling is a casual sport that can help people destress,” Basak said. “We’re pushing for diversity, and so any interested student is free to stop by.”