New York Arm Wrestling Association is the organization for arm wrestling in New York with events since 1977 when founder Gene Camp decided to hold our first arm wrestling tournament at the Sunnyside Garden Arena in Sunnyside, New York, since then we’ve crowned over 500 champions in 46 consecutive years!

Professional Arm Wrestling involves prize money and championships. 

If you have been looking for arm wrestling near you in the New York area, we have multiple locations for training, contact us and we will direct you to the appropriate group of professional arm wrestlers based on your location.

New York Arm Wrestling Association hosts tournaments such as The International Big Apple Grapple, The Empire State Tournament, the King and Queen of Arms Tournament, and more.

NYAWA 

New York Arm Wrestling Association is an arm-wrestling organization dedicated to providing sport and entertainment to millions of people in the New York region.

Founded by Gene Camp in 1977 and currently led by President Jack Arias, New York Arm Wrestling Association has paved the way for thousands if not millions of arm wrestlers around the world, as well as multiple organizations.

The New York Arm Wrestling Association celebrates 45 years of tradition and championship bouts as we continue to provide championship events such as the Big Apple Grapple and the Empire State Arm Wrestling Championships.

As always, we are open to sponsorships and venue ideas, if you would like to contact President Jack Arias regarding events, please click here.

Professional Arm Wrestling

The NYAWA is a registered sports organization, dedicated to the regional promotion of arm wrestling in New York for 45 years. The NYAWA features an experienced in-house staff and consultants which include: Borough captains, state and regional directors, public relations, marketing, advertising, clipping services, media broadcast faxing, event coordinators, stage directors, mailing list and membership control, DJs, arm wrestling instructors, referees, emcees, registration personnel, writers, website editor, and data processor, scorekeepers, photographers, videographers, stagehands, medics, T-shirt/logo artist, special award designers and on-line magazine and newsletter editorial staff.

The NYAWA works closely with the publicity staff at each venue to gain full advantage from the site’s in-built public appeal and to achieve maximum media exposure. The City of New York Parks and Recreation, chambers of commerce, venue coordinators, community leaders, and many local and major sponsors have helped the NYAWA stage these exciting public participation sporting events.

Welcome to the World of Arm Wrestling

The ultimate test of strength, technique, endurance, speed tenacity, and willpower. Arm Wrestling was once perceived by many as more of a barroom grudge match between macho drunks than a legitimate sport. But now, thanks to the endeavors of The New York Arm Wrestling® Association, Inc. {NYAWA} and organized arm wrestling associations around the world, that image has changed forever.

Arm Wrestling is the spectator / public participation “sport for everyone”. A cross-section of the young adult community and some top media outlets in the New York market are catapulting the sport of Arm Wrestling into the spotlight as the sports entertainment, where the spectators sometimes become the Show. Arm Wrestling is a sport where anyone can compete regardless of age, sex, weight, dexterity or experience.

Entertainment, promotion, organization, safety and corporate partnership are the hallmarks of New York Arm Wrestling® events. Today’s arm wrestling devotees — male and female, amateur and professional, blue and white-collar, spectator and competitor — are serious about this emerging age-old sport. They are health and fitness conscious, and bring dedication, discipline and enthusiasm to their chosen endeavor.

The appeal of Arm Wrestling spans a broad spectrum. Almost anyone can compete for the sheer fun of it. For example, arm wrestling beginners can compete with no prior experience, specialized training or expensive equipment. However, advanced or pro arm wrestling is different. 

Professional Arm Wrestling is ultimately a test of a competitor’s endurance, tenacity, fitness, dedicated practice, technique and the development of overall arm, hand and tendon strength.

The unpredictability of the sport helps give arm-wrestling an edge when it comes to attracting new participants, spectators and the media. You never know who might emerge on tournament day as the “Cinderella” story.

The New York
‘Golden Arm’ Series

The New York Arm Wrestling Association, Inc. (NYAWA) organizes the New York ‘Golden Arm’ Series. This multi-event series, held at New York’s largest festivals, fairs, beaches, amusement parks, racetracks, and major tourist attractions, has received unprecedented media coverage and public support. Preliminary amateur championships are held throughout the summer in each of the five New York City Boroughs, Long Island, and NYS. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place preliminary award winners are featured at the Empire State Golden Arm Tournament of Champions held at the Port Authority Bus Terminal’s North Wing/Main Concourse in Times Square.