Nature vs. Nurture in arm wrestling. Coaching Brian Shaw away from his natural game

Nature versus Nurture is a concept that has been brought up many times in armwrestling. Do you let the new athlete train in what is natural for them or do you push them to armwrestle a different way?
Brian Shaw (a world's strongest man) is kind of experiencing this now. He has built is body with extreme strength and one of those strength is the ability to press extremely heavy loads. Yes, in the world of armwrestling the Press can be looked at like a slightly dangerous move to begin with, but for Brian's case his body has been built and stressed for years.
What are your thoughts on this? Nature or Nurture?
Brian pressing Nick Simmons
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[@NBSV1]

It’s hard to say with someone like Shaw because he’s so strong he may not need all the little technique details so he can take advantage of body geometry. Guys like Devon tend to do better for their size because of that detailed specific training and knowledge. But, they’ve also been doing this for years. At the end of the day it’s probably best to let Shaw work with how he naturally moves and train him to not injure himself. Then as he gains experience it’s easier to add the extra training and skills over time. Still had to say since he can basically brute force so much.

[@SavageArmWrestling]

Finally, someone who agrees with me on this 😆 🤣 😂

[@RDS_Armwrestling]

I believe one of the best ways to be a better armwrestler is to always strive to bring up your weak areas rather than only train your strong areas. I have better strength in my deep hook, and attempting to toproll used to hurt my hands, but due to elbow pain from lots of hooking, I was forced to focus on bringing up my toproll, for example. I also have a strong press, but I don't train it THAT much off of the table, but my training does include heavy dumbbell presses, weighted dips, etc. I agree that Brian should improve his toproll abilities first, for the overall gains that come with that, because his press will always be strong if he still includes some pressing movements in his training. On top of that, going straight to press from Go is way more injurious than toprolling and then pressing to finish. Hook and press could also work well for Brian.

[@SavageArmWrestling]

People have different stances on this as I have spoken to people who live in the press as there go to and they focus an immense amount of training on it, but they also dive into it of the go. I definitely think that he needs to learn all the armwrestling moves, but I also don't agree that people should be scaring him away from going deep into the press. Especially if he feels comfortable there.

[@armfellas]

I simply think that he will find his way if he keeps going on...as you well said, let him choose his way while guidance for his safety

[@SavageArmWrestling]

100%, but I am a little worried it will take him as long as it took Larry. Larry eventually found his way to the hook and became very strong, but in the beginning, he believed he needed to topproll.

[@armfellas]

@@SavageArmWrestling we will see...

[@SavageArmWrestling]

@armfellas Well put! Only time will tell.

[@sethnaffziger1402]

I think that Brian is more than smart enough to figure out his style should he train and practice enough to compete. I personally think it's a good thing guys like Devon larratt are teaching him styles that pull him out of his comfort zone, that gives him valuable info on how to use/counter/beat these things whenever he settles on his preferred style. He obviously has amazing press potential, but if that comes more naturally to him, he will learn / perform well regardless. Coming into the sport later with a ridiculous base, there is a danger of becoming a one trick pony if you push him down the path he is inclined to, and that leaves weaknesses and gaps in knowledge/ experience. I think starting him with techniques he needs to learn and practice more but he can excel at gives him the most value coming into the sport. Nothing these guys do is going to stop him from being a great presser or stop him from learning it... But regardless of how much of a juggernaut at press he might be, he's much scarier if he has a mean top roll/ hook and a press transition in his back pocket. That's what will make him a real threat... just like when Levan pulled out the flop press against Devon, it will make him so much harder to beat, especially if he doesn't have to play his hand right away

[@SavageArmWrestling]

I greatly appreciate this well thought out comment. In many, many ways, I agree with you, but if you remember Brian's training with both Devon and Derek, it almost seems like they are pushing him to not go go inside. This is why I feel Brian should be given the perspective of an inside shoulder roll presser. Like Kamil or even Jerry. Jerry's training seems a little away from the table compared to Kamil, but they both bring the perspective. Also, both of these athletes can topproll and hook, but there ace is the press. This is the perspective I feel should be brought forward for Brian so he can feel out how he wants to move forward. Let nature take its course, and where he ends up is where he will feel the strongest in the end.

[@sethnaffziger1402]

@@SavageArmWrestling Yeah, there's no denying that he's gonna be ridiculous at press, I don't know about Derek, but I was kind of going along the line of what I believe Devon's thought process was. While I do think what he's doing right now can't hurt starting out, I do hope that soon, he'll train with someone who shows him the techniques and training for presses, as his is will be very hard to stop, and may very well be his most dangerous move on the table (he's also got the potential for an obscenely dominant cup/top roll too). He's gonna be a force to be reckoned with no matter what with his ability and tools, but I think once he's got the conditioning and some experience, his inside game will definitely be the thing his opponents are worried about the most 😅 (I think he'll find/explore it, he's a dedicated, smart and thorough athlete. If he starts competing and gets serious- we've got no reason to believe he won't, I've no doubt he'll find and explore this option).

[@SavageArmWrestling]

@sethnaffziger1402 this is 100% what I mean. It great to learn all perspectives, but if someone feels comfortable going into a position, that should be built on and not discouraged. He should learn how to do everything, but he should still be encouraged to do what feels comfortable.

[@danthemetalman7736]

Hay bro, I think there's a lot of points to argue both ways. But i generally believe it's safer to start training in top roll, outside pulling. Starting to understand hand control and angles is a lot to learn. The inside can also be trained and practiced. But in my opinion an inexperienced guy trying to press. Is a bad place to be if the other guy's. Strong enough to pull you out of your bone line. And pull through you as your committing with your body. Just saying that's when things tend to snap cracking and popping.

[@SavageArmWrestling]

I understand what your saying. This I'd also why i simply suggested he work with a world class presser to gain that perspective. I am not trying say we gotta let him press matches now. I am saying train him in it properly

[@danthemetalman7736]

@SavageArmWrestling I agree with you on training pressing too. Train it all for sure it's just a riskier style, is all I'm saying. Brian is definitely very strong in a press. And realistically probably very few people are actually strong enough. To put Brian in any kind of risk of serious injuries. I think Devon is just playing on the side of caution getting him pulling outside. Plus, Brians got crazy potential as a top roller. Good to be well rounded on the table. So you can fight in any position. Work on your weakness. Pressing will come easily for Brian. Maybe Devon is looking to close the biggest holes in Brian's game first. Just some thoughts.

[@SavageArmWrestling]

@danthemetalman7736 That I understand. Maybe I was just thinking to much but I got the feeling both Devon and Derek were trying to discourage or scare Brian from pressing.

[@Bvsterrrrrrrrr]

Press for the win, given all his advantages.

[@SavageArmWrestling]

I just feel like he should be educated on this so he can perform it properly or at a higher level of understanding. This way, he can armwrestle where he feels comfortable and have a better feel for the move itself.