John Brzenk - GOAT of Armwrestling.

[Matt C]

I only heard of John about a month ago when I saw a video about Real Life Popeye Jeff Dabe on the Matt Rhodes Sports YouTube channel.  Does anyone know anything about this guy?  Seems like a true freak of nature to me.  Does anyone here arm-wrestle?  I always felt that having strong arms mattered [naturally], but that leverage [length of arm bones] made a difference too.


John is 57, which makes this all the more impressive:

[Matt C]

This is the video that I learned about John in...check out this genetic freak too - Jeff Dabe:

[Tennisballz]

Devon Larratt put a video up maybe a couple years ago it was right after he had just gotten beat by Cyplenkov.  He was back home in Canada and just walking through the snow talking to the camera.  He said that he has never in his life felt power like Cyplenkov and he said something to the effect of “I don’t know as if I would ever be able to beat Denis”.  Unfortunately Cyplenkov seems to have had some health issues and I’m not sure if he’s ever returned to arm wrestling.  Brzenk is truly The Godfather of arm wrestling though, would have been great to see him in his prime against Cyplenkov.  He was more of a 90’s early 2000’s guy, no?

[Matt]

Devon Larratt put a video up maybe a couple years ago it was right after he had just gotten beat by Cyplenkov.  He was back home in Canada and just walking through the snow talking to the camera.  He said that he has never in his life felt power like Cyplenkov and he said something to the effect of “I don’t know as if I would ever be able to beat Denis”.  Unfortunately Cyplenkov seems to have had some health issues and I’m not sure if he’s ever returned to arm wrestling.  Brzenk is truly The Godfather of arm wrestling though, would have been great to see him in his prime against Cyplenkov.  He was more of a 90’s early 2000’s guy, no?

Funny you mentioned Denis Cyplenkov, Tennisballz...I recalled the video below with Andy Haman [RIP].

Did Andy Haman actually think he stood a chance against Denis is armwrestling? 

Yeah...about as much chance as Denis would have against Andy in wrestling. Anyone who trained in a sport to a high level should know that...

[Gym-Rat]

look for the movie about brzenk, called 'pulling john' a fun watch

[Humble Narcissist]

look for the movie about brzenk, called 'pulling john' a fun watch

Yes, it is. I met him and his brother over 20 years ago and they seemed like really nice guys.

[Matt C]

look for the movie about brzenk, called 'pulling john' a fun watch

I haven't heard of that.  The movie below, I have heard about but have not watched.  Have you watched this one?:

[Humble Narcissist]

Good movie although ridiculous watching scrawny Stallone crushing 300 pound armwrestlers. "Meet me halfway......across the sky...."

[oldschoolfan]

Cyko will never arm wrestle again his heavy drug use caught up to him and had a stroke

[Humble Narcissist]

Cyko will never arm wrestle again his heavy drug use caught up to him and had a stroke

Doesn't a stroke only paralyze one side of the body?

[Spike]

I haven't heard of that.  The movie below, I have heard about but have not watched.  Have you watched this one?:

was the guy on the cover the same one who was living in his van behind golds Venice in bigger faster stronger

I stopped taking bb'ing seriously as an adult male in his 30s after I saw that - fck deadlifting more than anyone , Id rather have a bath tub when Im 50 than have to whip my ass with last weeks newspaper

[Gym-Rat]

I haven't heard of that.  The movie below, I have heard about but have not watched.  Have you watched this one?:

saw that when i was younger of course, gay movie
the brzenk one is a documentary
not a stallone fairy-tale

[Mothballs]

All of you muscle worshipping maricons have obviously never seen Schoolboy.

[MAXX]

Yes Brzenk is the greatest armwrestler ever lived.

At any time in the last... what... 40 years, he has been anything from top 1 to top 3, in the world. Can any person in any other sport say the same?

watching him destroy chemical experiment Cyplenkov twice in his prime was fucking funny to witness

[Humble Narcissist]

All of you muscle worshipping maricons have obviously never seen Schoolboy.

That kid must have steel cables for tendons.

[MAXX]

That kid must have steel cables for tendons.

Larry is still a pretty terrible armwrestler.

He still after what 2 years, hasn't even learned how to apply side pressure.

[Skeletor]

Devon Larratt put a video up maybe a couple years ago it was right after he had just gotten beat by Cyplenkov.  He was back home in Canada and just walking through the snow talking to the camera.  He said that he has never in his life felt power like Cyplenkov and he said something to the effect of “I don’t know as if I would ever be able to beat Denis”.  Unfortunately Cyplenkov seems to have had some health issues and I’m not sure if he’s ever returned to arm wrestling.  Brzenk is truly The Godfather of arm wrestling though, would have been great to see him in his prime against Cyplenkov.  He was more of a 90’s early 2000’s guy, no?

GOAT not just for arm wrestling but for almost any sport if you consider his career span (almost 40 years) and the caliber of his opponents. Also, no shitty "kings move".

He did go against Denis Cyplenkov several times:

[mac33]

[wes]

We had three World Champion arm wrestlers back ay my old gym years ago.

[Tennisballz]

GOAT not just for arm wrestling but for almost any sport if you consider his career span (almost 40 years) and the caliber of his opponents. Also, no shitty "kings move".

He did go against Denis Cyplenkov several times:

I didn’t know they actually ever competed against each other.  Thanks for posting that.  I hate that kings move garbage. 

[thebrink]

John is definitely the greatest of all time.
But Levan is the strongest armwrestler to ever live as well as being one of the strongest human beings on the planet.

[thebrink]

Epic.

The fact that the Canadian government and the CBC is calling the protest a fringe minority, while a former member of the special forces participates really says something...

[Matt]

GOAT not just for arm wrestling but for almost any sport if you consider his career span (almost 40 years) and the caliber of his opponents. Also, no shitty "kings move".

I had no idea what that was...so I just searched for it online...Brzenk doesn't do that move?

Wouldn't any champion have to use all the tools necessary? Or is this a move that you can avoid with enough experience?

Also, what is happening when the match ends almost immediately? Do their hands slip...or are they throwing the match on purpose?

[Gym-Rat]

many give todd crap for using the kings move, but its allowed in the rules
the same people think its ok when larrat climbs the table and wraps his legs around the table-legs for support
so they all use any tools they can to win

its more the fan-boy type who feel like they are out there 'doing battle" rather than their favorite hero. (the ones complaining)

[kreator]

was the guy on the cover the same one who was living in his van behind golds Venice in bigger faster stronger

I stopped taking bb'ing seriously as an adult male in his 30s after I saw that - fck deadlifting more than anyone , Id rather have a bath tub when Im 50 than have to whip my ass with last weeks newspaper

think that was another guy from the movie. The more permabulker BB type that stallone also ''beat''