The New York Arm Wrestling Association announced today that the Village Pourhouse (Award winning NYC Sports Bar located at 64 3rd Ave. and 11th Street NY, NY 10003) will host the 34th Annual NYC Big Apple Grapple International Arm Wrestling Championships on Saturday, April 30, 2011 beginning at 1 p.m. - Entry fees: $20 for amateurs, $30 pros - Admission is $5 and age restrictions are 21 years-old and over... Contestants are asked to register/weigh-in early. (Weigh-in, Registration begins 9:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.)
The event will feature over 100 of the world's best amateur and pro arm wrestlers, male and female, as they compete for the chance to be crowned NYC King and Queen of Arms. The day begins at 1 p.m. with a $2,000 showcase charity benefit match between 50+ years-old master's 2010 World Arm Wrestling Champion Bobby Buttafuoco (Yes, Joey's brother) from Rockville Centre, NY and Amazing Feats of Strength Performer, Frank ‘Iron Hands' Malis from West Islip, NY who could bend steel bolts in seconds and rip two decks of cards in half. The winner will donate their cash prize to charity -i.e. Buttafuoco: Paralized Vets of America - Malis: Japan Relief Fund. The proud sponsors are Captain's of Crush® Grippers and GBG Vitality, which is a liquid or chewable vitamin that promotes health and well-being from its vitamins and mineral enzymes.
There are seven weight classes for men including a master's 45+ years-old, three left-handed classes, and three classes for women. Competition is open to the public and divided into amateur and pro categories. First, second and third place finishers will receive custom engraved half-pound Gold, Silver, Bronze 4" Olympic-size medallions. $100 cash prizes will be given to first place winners of the pro categories, and the day's overall strongest male and female will receive a bonus $200 cash prize and crowned the prestigious title of NYC King and Queen of Arms. The top cash prize is $800 and could be won if any man could win both the right and left hand overalls. Teams will also compete, grouped by borough, state, and country with a point tally to determine the winning team.
"This unique and diverse strong-arm competition will draw both ‘hard nosed pros' and curious first time beginners who will compete in their respective weight class categories said, Gene Camp, founder and president of the NYAWA. Camp continued, "The NYC Big Apple Grapple International is the premiere Gotham City arm wrestling event that displays awesome feats of brute strength, exhausting endurance and explosive raw energy with many rivalries, hard-fought matches and a captive-cheering audience."
Athletes will participate both locally from the NY tri-state area and from far away as Russia, Poland, Hungary and Brazil. Among those expected to take part are Brooklyn stars Joyce Boone from Carroll Gardens who broke her right arm in 1997 and came back from then; to win many events including the Empire State Arm Wrestling Championship only four months ago. Another Brooklynite expected to participate is the current NYC King of Arms Giorgi Gelashvili from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn who is considered the best arm-wrestler in New York State. Also invited are the 2010 Empire State Champions who won last November at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC. For more information fans should visit the NYAWA website at
www.nycarms.com or call 718-544-4592.
