An Expert Armwrestling Move That Can Change Your Match’s Outcome
Captain Ahab, are you here at last? Strap in and put your elbows on the table because today we will go over the high hook. This move is an inside, closed-grip armwrestling technique with some serious pros and benefits…and a handful of unfortunate cons.
What Is The High Hook?
The high hook is an armwrestling technique that uses immense bicep supination, forearm strength, and wrist strength to lock the opponent into an offensive hook where time saps their strength.
What Does It Look Like?
- Wrist closed in around opponent’s fist tightly
- Your wrist is pulled in toward your bicep and chest
- Your forearm and elbow form an angle of less than 90 degrees
- You have your arm as perpendicular to the table as possible
If done correctly, it will almost look like the beginning of an armwrestling match regarding hand height, except your hand and wrist are clenched and flexed inwards toward your body.
How Do I ExeCute And Train The High Hook?
Execution:
- You will want to almost “snap” your wrist inwards as soon as the match starts.
- You will want to envision yourself as a hook locking into the other opponent’s arm.
- You will want to make the motion of flexing your bicep in a front bicep pose.
- You will want to have your arm as high up as possible.
- You will want to bring your hand and your opponent’s hand as close to your chest as possible.
Training:
- Static holds while gripping heavy weights (and dumbbells) in a tightly supinated position.
- You will want to practice your cupping strength and snap your wrist inwards with heavy weights, plates, and dumbbells.
- You will want to load resistance bands against your wrist and bicep and resist having them fold your wrist outward.
Why The Heck Would I Need To Use A High Hook?
Because you are Captain Hook…I mean Captain Ahab! Just kidding. You use the high hook to counter the infamous toproll armwrestling technique. The high hook technique works in direct and powerful opposition to the toproll, as the high hook is a closed, inside armwrestling technique. If someone fails their toproll against you while you implement the high hook, you have all but won the match!
Endurance Is A Huge Factor
Devon Larratt is a god of the hook and high hook. If you toproll against Devon Larratt and fail, you will spend the first 15-20 seconds of the match wondering how you got harpooned with the high hook and the next 5 seconds losing…badly.
The high hook is a bicep supination movement with endurance as a major component. Your hand and wrist are the hook, and your fishing pole is your arm. If executed successfully, your opponent’s strength dwindles while you reel them in for a final pressing movement. You have to train your endurance for this movement to outlast your opponent. If your opponent also “uno-reverses” you and utilizes the high hook against you, it becomes a match of endurance and willpower.
And That’s The Con: The Endurance Factor
If someone utilizes a high hook against you, you are in for a herculean fight of bicep strength. You need peak muscular endurance and a pressing technique to finish the match—quickly.
Lock In For The High Hook
The armwrestling strap is your best friend when implementing a high hook. It makes getting a better grip on your opponent a smidge more manageable. The toproll technique is no match for the high hook.
Get out there, train your biceps safely, reel in your opponent on your hook, and harpoon them into the table!