CAWF

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.
• Weight classes — Inherit from WAF, with optional CAWF adjustments for junior development categories.
• Age categories — Sub-Junior, Junior, Senior, Masters, Grand Masters; plus Para and Open divisions
• Officials — One main referee plus one side referee (2-up); CAWF-certified referees only at sanctioned events.

Playing the ball

• Starting position: elbows on pads, non-pulling hand grips peg, foot on floor; referee centers grip; Referee starts matc…
• Starting position — Elbows on pads, free hand grips peg, foot on floor; referee centers grip.
• Referee start — Referee starts the match with "Ready... Go!"
• Win by pin — Pin opponent's hand to the touch pad to win.
• Match format — Best of 3 rounds at championship; single round at preliminary.

Fouls & penalties

• Standard WAF fouls — Elbow off pad, shoulder off-line, foot off floor, false start, grip break all foul.
• Standard WAF fouls — Elbow off pad, shoulder off-line, foot off floor, false start, grip break.
• Anti-doping — CCES testing program applies; aligned with the WADA Code.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct — Disqualification.
• Equipment violation — Illegal sleeve or jewelry gets a warning plus correction; refusal to correct means disqualification.

Equipment

• WAF-spec table — Use WAF-spec table; short-sleeve shirt, no jewelry, trimmed nails, indoor shoes; chalk at championships.
• WAF-spec table — 104 cm tall, 91-93 cm long; padded elbow pads, pegs, and touch pads.
• Attire & grooming — Wear short-sleeve shirt to mid-bicep max; no jewelry; keep nails trimmed.

🚨 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]