Let’s compile all the muscular stats about gorrillas and see if any elite armwrestler has what it takes to best one of the strongest primates in the animal kingdom
Devon Larratt, standing at 6’5″ and 313lbs, is a world-renowned armwrestler and champion of the table. But, at his peak behemoth weight and form, does he have the refined technique to beat untamed primal power? Forget 100 men vs. 1 gorrilla, let’s find out if man has the ability to armwrestle just 1 gorilla.
The Muscular Profile Of An Elite Armwrestler
Devon Larratt is currently sporting legs for arms — the development on his biceps is inhuman. And, competing at heavyweight, he is an astounding 313lbs of pure armwrestling power. He’s been armwrestling for decades and is arguably one of the best to ever win at the table.
| Attribute | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Weight | 225–300+ lbs (102–136+ kg) |
| Biceps | 18 in (46 cm) |
| Forearms | 16.5 in (42 cm) |
| Hand Size | 8.25 in (26 cm) wrist to fingertip |
| Wrist Circumference | 8.7 in (22 cm) |
| Elbow to Fingertip (EFT) | 21.1 in (53.6 cm) |
| Crushing Strength | Not precisely recorded; known for elite-level grip strength training |
Now The Opponents Stats: How A Full Grown Gorilla Measures Up
Lets do a super quick run through of the types of gorillas out there:
Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
Western Lowland Gorilla
- Height: 4.7–5.5 ft (1.4–1.7 m)
- Weight: 150–400 lbs (68–181 kg)
- Location: Central Africa – Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea
Cross River Gorilla
- Height: ~5.0 ft (1.5 m)
- Weight: 200–350 lbs (90–159 kg)
- Location: Border of Nigeria and Cameroon (Cross River region)
Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei)
Mountain Gorilla
- Height: ~5.5 ft (1.7 m)
- Weight: 300–485 lbs (135–220 kg)
- Location: Rwanda, Uganda, DR Congo (Virunga Mountains, Bwindi Forest)
Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Grauer’s Gorilla) (and our contender)
- Height: ~5.5 ft (1.7 m)
- Weight: Up to 500 lbs (227 kg)
- Location: Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Muscular Profile Of a Massive Eastern Lowland Silverback Gorilla
We’re gonna choose the biggest and strongest for this matchup: The Eastern Lowland Gorilla found in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This knuckle-walking primate can weigh 500-600lbs and can be as strong as 10 men.
| Attribute | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Height | Up to 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) standing |
| Weight | Up to 500 lbs (227 kg) |
| Biceps | Estimated 20–22 in (51–56 cm) |
| Forearms | Estimated 18–20 in (46–51 cm) |
| Hand Size | Estimated 11–12 in (28–30 cm) wrist to fingertip |
| Wrist Circumference | Estimated 9–10 in (23–25 cm) |
| Elbow to Fingertip (EFT) | Estimated 22–24 in (56–61 cm) |
| Crushing Strength | Estimated 1,300–2,700 psi bite force; arm strength capable of lifting 1,800–2,000 lbs |
Armwrestler vs. Gorilla: Comparing The Two
For starters, let’s say Devon Larratt has Olympic-level grip strength — 200lbs of crushing force. A gorrilla? 1,200lbs of crushing strength. From what we do know, Devon can easily bench 225lbs. A full grown Eastern Lowland Silverback Gorilla is estimated to bench 2,000lbs. The stats hold true — for an elite armwrestler, a Gorilla is still 10x stronger. And I’m not talking about Levan Saginashvili.
As for hand size, a gorilla has fingers about 3 inches longer than each of Devon’s fingers. Devon’s hands are massive. You should Google, “Gorilla hand size,” and see their insanely big hands for yourself.
Would Armwrestling Technique From An Elite Stand A Chance Against a Gorilla?
No. There is no conceivable way Devon Larratt could top roll or hook a silverback gorilla and stop the gorilla from detaching his entire arm from Devon’s body.
He would have to team up with 5 of the other top armwrestling champions to have a chance and still, it’s only a chance.
And why Are Gorillas so strong? they only eat Leaves?
Gorillas started to branch into distinct species 2 million years ago. That was plenty of time for these docile and massive primates to develop mechanisms that keep them strong enough to defend their families, AKA a “Troop” of Gorillas.
- Gorillas have extreme muscle density and an over-abundance of type II muscle fibers — the same fibers you find in elite power athletes.
- Gorillas have adapted for knuckle walking and climbing, strengthing their bodies to immense proportions, including their arms.
- Gorillas consume around 40-70lbs of vegatation per day to stay swole, as their bodies are built to digest massive amounts of plant fiber and protein.
Would This Matchup ever Happen?
Of course not! But, it’s fun to speculate. Gorillas are magnificent creatures and even while their habitats continue to shrink, they are a notoriously docile and peaceful primate.
The Reason Behind Gorillas Peaceful Behavior In The Wild
The gorillas beahvior is due to a combination of intelligence, social structure, diet, and evolutionary pressures. Their strong emotional intelligence allows them to use body language and vocalizations to resolve conflict rather than violence. Fascinatingly enough, when gorillas fight, you often see other troop members trying to break up the squabble.
Gorillas also live in stable family groups led by a dominant silverback (the contender for today’s hypothetical matchup), which fosters cooperation between troop members and cohesive leadership. As herbivores, gorillas don’t need to compete over prey or territory like carnivores as they can freely graze almost anywhere in their natural habitat. Plus, their immense strength makes aggressive displays sufficient to deter threats without physical conflict.
For gorillas, evolution has favored calm, energy-efficient behavior over impulsive aggression, as serious fights pose risks in a species with long lifespans and slow reproduction.
1 Man Vs. 1 Gorilla Or 100 Men vs. 1 Gorilla
These matchups are fun to think about but what’s even more fun is learning about these magnificent creatures who live in the very world we explore. An armwrestler would certainly lose a 1-on-1 matchup.
And even more difficult, it would be next to impossible to find a gorilla aggressive enough to ever want to armwrestle anyone.