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.
