Armwrestling (WAF) Rules Explained

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Armwrestling (WAF) Rules Explained | OpenSourceSports

Full Rulebook(10 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

How to win

1 point per round won (within match); Match = best of 3 rounds; first to 2 wins; Championships: single-elimination brac…
1 point per round won (within match)
Match = best of 3 rounds; first to 2 wins
Single-Elimination + Repechage — Brackets use single-elimination; WAF formats often add repechage to allow double-loss survivors to continue.
Medal per weight class — Gold, Silver, and Bronze awarded per weight class for each arm.

The game

Two competitors per match (1-on-1); Weight classes: Men 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110, +110 kg; Women 50…
Two competitors per match (1-on-1)
Weight classes: Men 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110, +110 kg; Women 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, +80 kg
Age categories: Sub-Junior (15-16), Junior (17-18), Senior (open), Masters (40-50), Grand Masters (50+), Para

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.

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

Embrace or shake hands immediately after every pull
— Regardless of outcome, competitors embrace or shake free hands the moment the match ends. Skipping the post-match gesture is considered deeply disrespectful and is noticed by everyone at the table. This is one of the most universally observed customs at WAF events worldwide.[1]

Section 1: Introduction

The World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) is the international governing body for amateur armwrestling, recognized by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF/Sport Accord). WAF organizes the annual World Armwrestling Championships and continental qualifiers across Europe, Asia, Americas, Africa, and Oceania. Armwrestling under WAF is contested at a standardized table with weight-class divisions for both right and left arms, and across age categories from Sub-Junior through Grand Masters.

Section 2: Equipment

Table: WAF-spec armwrestling table — 104 cm tall, 91-93 cm long; padded elbow pads (20 cm × 20 cm); padded pegs/handles for non-pulling hand
Touch pads: 10 cm × 5 cm padded pads on each side, level with the table surface; competitor wins by pinning opponent's hand to this pad
Center grip line marked on table
Apparel: short-sleeve shirt (mid-bicep maximum); no jewelry on hands/wrists; nails trimmed
Footwear: indoor sport shoes (anti-slip preferred)

Section 3: Playing Area

Multiple tables arranged in parallel at major events (separate Right-Arm + Left-Arm tables)
Designated warm-up area with practice tables
Athlete weighing station + medical station + protest table on-site

Section 4: Players & Officials

Two competitors per match (1-on-1)
Weight classes: Men 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110, +110 kg; Women 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, +80 kg
Age categories: Sub-Junior (15-16), Junior (17-18), Senior (open), Masters (40-50), Grand Masters (50+), Para
Officials: 1 main referee + 1 side referee (2-up refereeing system); 1 chief referee per table; 1 head referee per championship

Section 5: Rules of Play

Starting Position

Both elbows on elbow pads; non-pulling hand grips peg
Grip set by competitors with referee assist (referee may center the grip if needed)
Wrists straight, thumb knuckles visible, shoulders square to table
One foot must remain in contact with the floor
Referee calls "Ready... Go!"

The Match

First competitor to pin opponent's hand to the touch pad wins the round
Match = best of 3 rounds at major championship (single round at preliminary)
5-minute rest between rounds
Time limit: 90 seconds per round; if no pin, judges score

Fouls (categorized 1-3)

1st warning: positional foul (elbow off pad, shoulder off-line, foot off floor)
2nd warning: loss of round
Intentional fouls (slipping grip deliberately, false starts repeatedly): loss of round or DQ

Section 6: Scoring

1 point per round won (within match)
Match = best of 3 rounds; first to 2 wins
Championships: single-elimination bracket with double-loss elimination ("repechage") in many WAF formats
Gold/Silver/Bronze per weight class per arm

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Elbow off pad: warning (1st), loss of round (2nd within match)
Shoulder off-line / non-pulling hand off peg: warning
Slip out / forearm crossing center line: dependent on cause — if defender's fault, no foul; if attacker, warning
False start / breaking grip intentionally: warning, then loss of round
Anti-doping: WAF is WADA Code signatory; in-competition + out-of-competition testing
Unsportsmanlike conduct / equipment abuse: disqualification

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Armwrestling injuries are most commonly spiral fractures of the humerus (caused by sudden rotational force, often when competitor "breaks" their arm posture under high torque), shoulder strain, and elbow ligament damage. WAF mandates proper warm-up protocols + competitor education on safe arm posture. Match referee may halt the match if a "break in arm position" is detected — competitor is given the opportunity to safely return to position before resuming. On-site athletic trainer + EMT required at WAF-sanctioned events; ambulance on standby at championship-level. AED on-site. Pre-competition medical clearance + age-appropriate medical screening (cardiac screening for Masters+). All competitors must reach age threshold and weigh-in pre-competition.

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