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Vegan Arm-Wrestler
Pete Ryan ISSA CFT SPN Dip
Pete: Hi Rob, thanks for taking the Eventually, I began to gain energy and Pete: You recently came second (both
time to answer a few questions for all consistently lost weight. I have never left- and right-handed) at the 2009
the interested readers out there. I felt better in my entire life and it was “Big Apple Grapple”. This probably
thought we’d start with some basic one of the smartest decisions I ever makes you the top vegan arm-wrestler
questions. What made you go vegan made. in the world at this time. How did you
in the first place? prepare for the contest, and is there
Pete: Most people will have tried anything special about being a vegan
Rob: I first considered a vegetarian arm-wrestling at some point, but most athlete that a meat-eater wouldn’t
diet after an arm-wrestling tournament of us think of it as something to do in need to concern themselves with when
back in 2002. After competing, some a bar after a few pints, not really an prepping for a competition?
friends and I walked around the athletic pursuit. How did you get
Pennsylvania State Fair and a group of involved in the sport of arm-wrestling? Rob: I am probably the only vegan
piglets caught my attention. It was arm-wrestler in the world!
cute watching them play around and Rob: I was always strong at arm-
feed from their mom, it reminded me wrestling, getting the genetics from Prior to the Big Apple Grapple, I had
of little puppies. I got sick to my my mom. She could beat most men, been inactive for over two years and
stomach knowing that I had a bacon including my dad, and even competed needed some motivation to start
and egg sandwich for breakfast that in a tournament before I was born. pulling again. Even though placing
same morning. I never thought of In High School, I met a guy that second in both arms, I was pretty rusty
meat in the same way again. competed professionally and he talked considering I trained for only three
me into giving it a shot. My first months. As far as preparation, I made
Pete: Being a strength athlete, was tournament was in North Carolina sure to eat right, train hard, and get
there any concerns that you might lose back in 2000. I ended up taking fifth enough rest. I don’t think that is any
strength when you first changed your place and have been addicted ever different than what the meat-eaters do.
diet, and what did you find when you since.
did make the change? Pete: How were you received as a
Pete: What sort of training do you vegan at an arm-wrestling contest:
Rob: I was concerned at first but need to do to enter your sport? were the other athletes interested,
didn’t care. I made a conscious and dismissive, curious? Also, the fans:
ethical decision to give up meat, and Rob: The best way to train for this how did they react to a vegan whipping
was willing to face the consequences. sport is to get on a table and arm so many of the meat-eating competitors;
It is more important to practise what I wrestle. It’s hard to simulate and hit did it make an impression?
believe in than to worry about being a the right angles at the gym, almost
strength athlete. impossible. Try to find some pullers in Rob: Most of the arm-wrestlers were
your area and see if you can practise shocked to see how strong I was after
My body did not feel right with them. Some useful websites are being out of the scene for two years.
at the beginning, and armwrestlingtv.com and Most have known me prior to going
it took a couple of armwrestlersnearyou.com. vegan and respect my decision. I had
weeks to one spectator tell me that her son was
adjust my new biggest fan. She had
without the unsuccessfully tried to get him to go
meat. vegetarian and after watching me
compete he now wants to try.