BY BILL MCINTYRE
Imagine a very fit man in his 30s who is 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 275 solid pounds.
Hundreds of times, just for fun, he agreed to arm-wrestling challenges with friends or guys looking to prove their mettle. He regularly and handily won these casual matches.
Then, one day in 2021, he met a champion arm-wrestler who invited him to an organized group practice session. He went in with tremendous confidence but got shut down time after time by guys of all sizes and ages, many smaller and some older.
What a humbling experience this was for Brannon Williams!
Today, the status is very different for Williams, a 39-year-old DeLand native. He took these surprise defeats as one very big challenge. He began to research, learn, train, practice and absorb everything he could about this niche sport. Now, Williams is a champion arm-wrestler.
At the recent national Olympia competitions in Orlando, Williams took first place in the 242-plus weight class for right-handed wrestling. He now ranks at No. 14 in North America in this class, and is the No. 2 right-handed wrestler in Florida in his weight class and ranks No. 4 overall in the entire state.
The sport’s competitors number in the tens of thousands nationwide. At least 2,000 are in Florida, with 200 actively training right here in Volusia County.
Being mentored by Chance Shaw, Florida’s No. 1 arm-wrestler, has been an inspiration for Williams. Shaw and three others lead the Florida Armwrestling League.
Williams joined friend Matt King in Volusia County to participate in Team Alpha Whiskey, where enthusiasts gather weekly to learn and train. Most gatherings attract 20 or more arm-wrestlers. The atmosphere is all about helping, and egos are checked at the door.
Williams has learned that size does not equal strength in arm-wrestling, although his overall size and huge hands are secondary assets to his success. He has combined his physique with technical knowledge and skill to soar in the sport.
Large musculature is not as important in this sport as having well-trained ligaments and tendons, he said. Williams explained that there are two basic moves: the Inside Move, in which the competitor dives in with his shoulder to form a hook and pull the opponent down; and the Outside Move — which Williams favors — a top roll in which the competitor pulls back and high then leans back intending to pull the opponent with him.
Every move has a countermove, so there is always a big advantage to knowing the opponent’s style. Though it is certainly a combat sport, very rarely does anyone get hurt.
Arm-wrestlers, also known as pullers, range from the age of 10 or even younger up to the 70s. One competitor in Florida, Bob Sawick, is approaching his 70s and is a constant winner, beating those 50 years his junior. And, the No. 1-ranked arm-wrestler in North America is Devon Larratt, who is 48.
Competitions always include a master class for those over the age of 40, and often a sitdown class for those who use wheelchairs, but can successfully compete because the upper body is key.
The next big competition in this area is the Florida Armwrestling League tournament in Orlando Dec. 9. Winners across 12 classes, six left-handed and six right-handed, will compete to share $10,000 in prize money. However, many competitions are not for cash prizes. This is not a big-money professional sport — not yet, anyway. The fun, the spirited competition and so many amazing accomplishments bring out competitors and spectators alike.
Williams graduated from DeLand High School and has called this city his home for life, living in DeLand except for the four years he served in the United States Army.
After graduating from DHS, he had his own landscaping business but, at the age of 24, enlisted in the military. His occupational specialty was 25S1C, satellite controller.
Since leaving the military, Williams has worked in hospitality and specialty skilled work and is a certified HVAC technician. He has also taught technical courses at a local college. His hobbies outside of athletics include reading, kayaking and enjoying friends and coffee.
His parents, Dan and Jennifer Williams, are retired Volusia County educators. Dan Williams played for six years in minor-league baseball with the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox before becoming a teacher and athletic director.
This coming summer, Williams will join his parents at their summer home in Sitka, Alaska, where he will work managing The Blue-Eyed Bear, a high-end Alaskan jewelry and art business operated by a family friend. He looks forward to the plethora of outdoor activities in Alaska and possibly starting an arm-wrestling club in the wilderness town.
Williams’ goals include keeping his ranking in the Top 20 in North America and helping bring more people into the sport.
If you have questions, you can find Williams at Trilogy Coffee most mornings. He will be easy to spot. And, he might just arm-wrestle you for a large coffee!
— McIntyre, of DeLand, is a retired educator. He serves on The Beacon’s board of directors.
