ELITE LEVEL - a story for perspective

[@ChimpFlipperJr]

RVJ saw his arms looking extra jacked today and said "I must make a video about something"

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

lol…. Heeeeeyyy… can’t blame a guy

[@jeffmacarthur9722]

That gear ain’t cheap! Show off the guns!

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

lol… if only. I fantasize about it often lately

[@dqreps]

The basketball analogy is a great one. I played a guy back in the 90s that tried out for the Boston Celtics and didn't make it. But he absolutely destroyed everyone in all the men's leagues I played in with fantastic college players. He just slaughtered everyone. And I had just made all tourney, 2nd team all state etc. but none of us started a chance. Just goes to show the great disparity between a very good amateur and a pro at the very bottom of the heap. Because this guy was not an NBA pro ..but that's saying even more how ridiculous guys in the NBA are. This guy also went on to play in europe.

[@Imaginebeingfree1722]

I can place top 3 (usually) in a nearby tournament in the "pro" division; so, while I'm definitely not anywhere near the top, even locally, I can hold my own in the pro, of my weight class, locally. I had the honor of meeting Cobra Rhodes last year at a meet and greet deal, and while taking a picture with him I thought I'd be funny and was applying pronation pressure in the arm wrestler handshake as we got a picture taken. Cobra was cool, smiled for the shot etc., but after the picture was over, dude looked at me and flicked his wrist so fast and hard in a cup motion that it rotated my entire arm. Then he smiled to let me know what's up. I just looked at him and said, "yep, you still the man." All that to depict that a dude thats been out of the game for years, doesn't train, fully natty, and outweight by 20 pounds made me feel like a dandelion in the wind. The levels are INSANE.

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

Excellent

[@staygold902]

I wish more people could see it this way.

[@CepheusFromTheMoon]

at the end of the day when you're a true professional its a way different level

[@ericmcatee1231]

Great perspective. That's also why I refrain from using terms like "destroyed" or "killed" when talking about armwrestling. What looks lop side is often only a couple percent difference or even as simple as bad timing, etc.

[@BlakeGibbons]

People can and do still get destroyed lol

[@H_whit99]

Same with fighting sports. Guy gets caught 30 seconds in, they rematch he out points dude the whole fight.

[@richardjennex6583]

Good morning my friend and I hope you and your family are doing well and you all have a wonderful weekend and thank you for sharing your videos

[@bowen5956]

Mate your a legend for explaining this to all the new pullers out there they just don't understand the difference in levels between these elite armwrestlers and everyone else

[@JohnGaitanis]

Great analogy! Thank you for all the knowledge!

[@carpenterjim7906]

Very well said. It was ridiculou how trolls were saying that Matt should retire after losing to Sandris, Prudnyk, Tsonoev… The very top elite pullers.. Now that he’s winning people started to worship him again..

[@DrewBahr]

A lot of guys have absolutely no idea what a world level puller feels like they think “I won a pro class I can pull with that guy” oh how wrong they are, I pulled Austin jaggers in an after pull once and it made me rethink my entire approach to the sport

[@mconcepcion752]

There is nothing quite like gripping up with an elite armwrestler. Especially an elite Super heavy. I used to train with Tim Bresenan when he lived in Connecticut and I still pull Ron Klemba occasionally. Even though Ron isn't the biggest guy and is up there in age, he is still fast, and his hand feels like iron. He can still enter tournaments and do well. Same with Ron Ermini.

[@seanlennon5986]

Good point, always bares repeating too.

[@444chroma]

Great story about keeping perspective. Another aspect that I think separates a "pro" and someone who is very very good is how they perform under pressure and with everyone watching. Some guys can make shot after shot in an empty gym but it doesn't translate to the game. There's always a mental component and it's hard to measure where guys rank

[@trigtrigger9794]

Not watched your video, no time tonight. Will do tomorrow. Quick comment of support!! Keep the faith my man.. looking forward to more story time . Gnight from the Highlands

[@EvanRo]

Perspective is everything

[@springhillfitness6837]

There are levels to everything. Today, a top tier pro strongman with a 900 deadlift PR is considered a weak deadlifter. In reality, the strongest guys in many serious gyms pull maybe 600 which is a world away from 700 which is a galaxy away from 800, and 900 is a whole other universe.

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

Excellent example

[@5wisher5weet]

Brian Scallabrine did a video about "I'm closer to Jordan than you are to me"

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

Exactly

[@troytueller9992]

Truer words have never been spoken. The armwrestling community is a hype train that’s speeds up to Mach 10, then crashes in 10 seconds. Some of the strongest armwrestlers on the planet are so easily forgotten because they lost one supermatch.

[@michaelhanlon6826]

Absolutely. People who aren’t into sports and perhaps some who are, fail to appreciate just how good the elite pros are. Every pro was a star somewhere before the big leagues. Which make the stars within the pro ranks truly the .001% of talent. A handful in a generation type stuff.

[@bradhackett4078]

Heard close to 50,000 PPVs were sold last EvW.. Anyone else hear?

[@613trapman5]

Brian Scalabrini got challenged to a 1v1 and he said “I’m closer to lebron than you are to me”

[@AntiPlatitude]

I have often found myself cringing in the comment sections of KZbin arm wrestling channels / videos. I’ll read something like “so and so is total trash…” Really, guy? He’s “trash?” Cmon man, getting to that level takes extreme dedication and talent. Levels of talent and dedication that 99% of people who participate in the same sport will never even sniff, let alone achieve.

[@SpringBudEyes]

I'll be the first to admit that I can't see how close some of those 3-0s actually are. That being said, I keep my mouth shut and trust pullers like you to make the real assessments.

[@Amoroso-Arm-Wrestling]

I had this EXACT conversation about how Matt handled Jerome Loud and it put it in a whole different perspective because Jerome is still a BAD dude!

[@SirBagelsFGR]

Bryan Scalabrini tore some college hoopers up when he was challenged. He said the gap between you and i is bigger than LeBron and I

[@rboycuts]

Can a RVJ vs Matt Mask be a thing ever ? That would be crazy

[@SirBagelsFGR]

Terrible match up for RVJ but he might be able to do it

[@rboycuts]

@@SirBagelsFGR I'd really like to hear his opinion on this one 🤔

[@TheChosenOne2023]

Matt Mask vs RVJ Or Matt Mask vs Michael Todd?

[@rboycuts]

@@TheChosenOne2023 or RVJ vs Michael Todd or Italian vs American Italian RVJ vs Frank

[@TheChosenOne2023]

@@rboycuts 💀

[@ldarm]

I've told people to **** off when they say "so and so is weak blah blah blah" - talking out their arse.

[@MuscleBandit]

RVJ saying it as it is.

[@ArmwrestlingShowcase]

Facts

[@1stcwp]

That cruise paying dividends 💪

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

Dirty bulk 😬

[@tallpaulhutchensjr.]

Those arms looking more yuuuuge than normal today man 💪 but yea even like the pro NFL teams. There's just small tiny differences in levels from team to team, but at that level those small tiny differences mean so much. I'm not a lose a match and start hollering for them to retire. I don't know what those kinda people are thinking lol

[@deanbanaian3643]

Love the Mask analogy because it completely rings true. Dumb asses will think he suddenly leveled up the next time he trucks everyone because they just can't grasp and do the math. The NBA context reminds me of a real life story I have of a MLB 4A guy I knew who was eeking out a career on the fringe making $40K+- until he goes to Japan and becomes a Homerun king in their smaller parks and starts pulling down $1M a year contracts. At any other level than MLB he's a one of a kind talent that people would pay to see.

[@ermeriodsassperini]

Travis is Back! Travis may complain and talk shit, but the boy isn't running, not like someone we know. 🤔

[@shanewilliams4532]

How many points you score in basketball depends mostly on how many minutes you play and how much you hog the ball. So in a different league, that player obviously got to play a lot more.

[@leo_lopes_augusti]

RVJ vs John will be nice

[@ronniemillsap]

yes but i fear for john if his shoulder isnt healthy there. rvj can apply side pressure now....would like to see the match hope john doesnt get snapped

[@karuonline3294]

i think John's probably done..

[@itsoledan]

Pros are the pros for a reason… you know those hours your at work? They’re doing something to better their game mental or physical… it’s just a completely different level of athletic performance

[@rushgush]

how about mlb, most players sit on the bench all year long and get paid stupid money… i would sit there and do it for half the salary lol

[@Fox8ball.]

Vero interesato 💪❤️🦊🎱 AHOO AHOO AHOO 🔥

[@ChocolateJesii]

Not only this, but let's just say, for the sake of argument, that these guys really were the trash that the internet thinks they are. Even then, why is it always, "Oh, that guy just needs to retire"? I mean, do people really think that no one should do anything if they aren't number 1 in the world? I just wonder how many of these people are elite at anything. It just baffles me. I womder if they go down to the local bowling alley and tell the guy in the Wednesday night league that it's time to give it up because they are never going to be a world champion?

[@jrock2460]

Only thing I’d add here is that AW is largely untapped while the NBA has been around forever offering MILLIONS of dollars to its athletes. The lowest scrub in the NBA makes $700k annually, which DUSTS the best arm wrestler alive of any era. So the comparison is a bit flawed. AW would need a far larger sample size of athletes and they would have to get PAID like professionals. As of right now, the Eastern countries devote more time and energy due to govt sponsorships and other perks, but it’s still drastically untapped.

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

I agree, and even with the guys we do have speaking from personal experience you can’t invest as much as you’d like to because it’s not in a position to be a priority for the majority… I always said we never know who the best in the world is until everyone can make a full-time living at it

[@jrock2460]

@@RobVigeantRVJexactly right! Very tough to say what “elite” even actually is without guys who are drawn to compete in large numbers from an early age. Changed the entire landscape of the sport when real $$ is involved.

[@marshall1671]

Hey i want to appologize to you man i have given you a hard time about your views on steroids. I think you are right man i think this sport woould be alot better if there wasnt juice. Ive always agreed that blasting steroids are bad and puts a negative outlook on all sports. I still see nothing wrong with trt and keeping your body at an optimal level that will give you a better quality of life but using gear to over compinsate for short comings is bad. Im gonna continue on trt but you have helped me see that going hard with something that is a good thing is wrong. Your ideas of a brighter future of this sport is spot on and ive been in denial because no one wants to see bad in themselves. Im about to be 48 and its time to use wisdom and kindness in a world that is so destructive to the better of man kind. So bro im truly sorry for how i have pushed my mindset on you because i truly believe in God and his way of living life and our bodies are temples and we are sopposed to pave the way for the next generation.

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

Respect. I have no ill will on people doing what they want… except my kids. I’m all for freedom and if it makes you feel good… do it. What it is is the extremes we are headed to that change the sport and in the name of competition and growth I see the trend being unsavory, but in life… I couldn’t care less. Do what makes you feel good… and frankly if it was trt and test… I’d never have this stance, but we know it’s way way way beyond that… and I suspect it’ll continue until there is a death

[@marshall1671]

@@RobVigeantRVJ i agree

[@r.t.h.-R1ghtTh3Han9]

As the worst player in the NBA said "The gap between me and lebron is smaller than the gap between me and you"

[@SirBagelsFGR]

You mean the greatest? White Mamba for life

[@bradprovik453]

Mask will slam all the weight class winners from the Alberta championships, some real rising stars there, back-to-back-to-back at the end of the tournament - no warm-up. Looks like my dad pulling all my buddies when I was in 10th grade lol

[@adamthatoneguy8221]

Sounds like jimmer ferdette

[@jlowe8059]

If you've got arms like that actually being natty, you really do have great genetics and need to stop wasting the limited amount of time you have.

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

Trying bud

[@robertgould9641]

Jimmer fredette

[@realjosephanthony]

Oh yeah, the levels in life are ridiculous. The best in any field are astonishing. Then the top ten of said elite are on an entirely different platitude. Brian Scalabrine played people 1 on 1 in basketball and proved this.

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

I’ve watched his video. It’s funny how people underestimated him.

[@realjosephanthony]

@@RobVigeantRVJ He gave them the business. Puts a lot into perspective.

[@mcfarvo]

Yeah, a long-retired bench/roleplayer NBA guy will dominate a fresh out of college D1 scholarship athlete (if they weren't drafted to NBA) because the levels to a highly-competitive sport can be so extreme.

[@ronniemillsap]

Yep. arm wrestlers have WAYYY less competitive meetings per year compared to teams that play 5 times weekly., unless you go traveling to all tournaments etc..If a team loses a few its alright, if an aw loses a few...RE-FKING-TIRE YOU BUMMM!!......Like how do people expect anyone to get better if they're not beaten to know what to improve from?

[@igorsvacic217]

that story has value in general, however talking about specific case, no value at all without knowing where he actually went to play. If he went to nepalese national league, well.... And theres countless leagues and championships that are "professional" yet its worst quallity than ppl shooting hoops behind their house. We should knoiw eaither the name oif the player, or the league he went to

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

Based on the story it was a good league … I doubt a nba level guy plays for worst league

[@justinballard7242]

Bowen still sucks. Pin this comment

[@dylanknight4752]

Rvj. The man who says he’s natty but he’s not 😂 schoolboy is natty. You aren’t. Taking test, isn’t natty. Just in case you try playing that trick.

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

But you’re wrong… so there is that

[@zero082294]

Arms looking not natty

[@RobVigeantRVJ]

Thanks buddy, I’m tryin

[@meitwasnt6705]

ok, but can u beat Leonidas?