Armwrestling (CAWF) Rules Explained

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Armwrestling (CAWF) Rules Explained | OpenSourceSports

Full Rulebook(7 sections)

Plain-English summary drawn from the official rulebook — great for getting started. For competitive or formal play, see the Complete Rulebook. Hover any rule to see its source sentence.

Overview

Two armwrestlers compete one against one, each gripping the other's hand across a table with the goal of pinning their opponent's arm to the pad to win the match. CAWF follows WAF-aligned rules with a Canadian event structure, featuring weight-class age-grade divisions and a developmental pathway for under-18 athletes.

How to win

Best of 3 — Win 1 point per round; best of 3 takes match. Single-elimination with repechage; medals per weight, arm, age.
1 point per round won; best of 3 wins match
Single-elimination bracket — Single-elimination with double-loss elimination via repechage.
Medals per class — Gold, silver, and bronze awarded per weight class, per arm, per age category.
Provincial points qualify — Provincial points feed into national qualification

The game

The matchup — 1-on-1 matches; WAF weight classes; Sub-Junior to Grand Masters ages; Para and Open divisions
1-on-1 match — Two competitors per match.
Inherit from WAF, with optional CAWF adjustments for junior development categories.

Cultural norms — not in the rulebook. These are widely understood traditions and expectations among experienced Armwrestling players. Not enforced by referees; enforced by the game’s community.

🚨 Cardinal Rule— Serious violation — may trigger retaliation or social exclusion

Show immediate concern if you hear your opponent's arm snap
— Spiral fractures of the humerus are a known risk in arm wrestling. The cultural expectation is that if a competitor hears or feels the opponent's arm break, they stop immediately and show concern — never celebrate or gloat. Continuing to pull through an obvious fracture is widely condemned.(Arm wrestling has a higher rate of this specific injury than most sports; the community addresses it explicitly.)[1]

⚠️ Strong Expectation— Most experienced players will take notice and be upset

Acknowledge your opponent before and after every pull
— Arm wrestling has a well-documented 'brotherhood' culture. Competitors are expected to greet opponents warmly, make eye contact, and offer a genuine handshake or embrace after the match regardless of outcome. This norm is remarked upon by outsiders as unusually collegial for a combat sport.(Observed at all levels from local tournaments to WAF/CAWF nationals.)[1]

Section 1: Introduction

The Canadian Armwrestling Federation (CAWF) is the national governing body for amateur armwrestling in Canada and the recognized WAF national affiliate. CAWF organizes the annual Canadian National Armwrestling Championships and a network of provincial qualifiers (Ontario Armwrestling Association, Alberta Armwrestling Association, etc.). CAWF rules are WAF-aligned with Canadian-specific event structure, weight-class age-grade divisions, and a developmental pathway for under-18 athletes. See the sibling WAF Armwrestling Rules entry for the international ruleset.

Section 2: Equipment

CAWF endorses WAF-spec table (104 cm tall × 91-93 cm long; padded elbow pads + pegs + touch pads)
Mandated short-sleeve shirt (mid-bicep maximum); no jewelry; trimmed nails
Indoor sport shoes; chalk permitted at championship level
Provincial-event tables must meet WAF specifications + CAWF table-inspection certification

Section 3: Playing Area

Indoor competition floor with multiple parallel tables (Right-Arm + Left-Arm)
Provincial qualifiers + Canadian Nationals + East/West Championships rotate venues
Athlete weigh-in + medical station + judge protest table on-site

Section 4: Players & Officials

Two competitors per match (1-on-1)
Weight classes inherit from WAF (with optional CAWF-specific adjustments for junior development categories)
Age categories: Sub-Junior, Junior, Senior, Masters, Grand Masters; Para and Open divisions
Officials: 1 main referee + 1 side referee (2-up system); CAWF-certified referees only at sanctioned events
Provincial referee certification with national renewal cycle

Section 5: Rules of Play

Starting position: elbows on pads, non-pulling hand grips peg, foot on floor; referee centers grip
Referee starts match with "Ready... Go!"
Win condition: pin opponent's hand to touch pad
Match = best of 3 rounds at championship; single round at preliminary
90-second per-round time limit; judges score if no pin
Foul system: 1st = warning, 2nd = round loss
Common technique categories: top-roll, hook, press — all permitted within positional rules

Section 6: Scoring

1 point per round won; best of 3 wins match
Single-elimination bracket with double-loss elimination (repechage)
Gold/Silver/Bronze per weight class per arm per age category
Provincial points feed into national qualification

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Standard WAF foul taxonomy: elbow off pad, shoulder off-line, foot off floor, false start, grip break
Anti-doping: Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) testing program; WADA Code aligned
Unsportsmanlike conduct: disqualification
Equipment violation (illegal sleeve, jewelry): warning + correction; refusal = DQ

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Same primary injury risk as WAF: spiral humerus fractures, shoulder strain, elbow ligament damage. CAWF mandates competitor education on safe arm posture; referees authorized to halt for breaks in arm position. On-site athletic trainer required at provincial qualifiers; full medical team + ambulance at Canadian Nationals. Concussion protocol unnecessary in this sport (no head contact). Pre-competition medical clearance for Masters+ and Para divisions. AED on-site at championship-level events. Mandatory junior-development warm-up protocol.

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