🏛️Official — CAWF
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Combat Sports
1–2 players
indoor
table, armrests
7 essential rules
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,...
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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