The Perfect Storm: The Legacy of John Brzenk

There were many wonderful resources and videos I pulled from to make this video but one scorce I quoted throughout the video for historical information and dates was the armwrestling archives. Be sure to check out their content at the link below.
www.thearmwrestlingarchives.com/
Explore the Legendary Grip of John Brzenk: The Greatest Armwrestler of All Time 🏆🤝
Dive into the unparalleled career of John Brzenk, the man who turned the tables in armwrestling and gripped the world with his strength and skill. From his early days to becoming a global icon, this video essay captures every pivotal moment of Brzenk’s journey. The Perfect Storm. @johnbrzenk9237
🔥 Featuring:
His record-breaking performances and unmatched win streak
Exclusive insights into his training regimen and competition strategies
🌟 Why Watch?
Relive the most thrilling matches, including showdowns with Denis Cyplenkov
Discover the techniques that made Brzenk a legend
Get inspired by the dedication and resilience of ‘The Perfect Storm’
#ArmwrestlingGOAT #StrengthIcon #PerfectStorm #BrzenkLegacy #GripOfGlory #ArmwrestlingChampion #SportsMotivation #LegendaryAthlete #armwresting #training #sport
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[@LagiaArm]

It is indeed really rare that there is such an obvious and clear cut GOAT in a sport. John Brzenk's career is so unbelievably rich. Great video

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it 💪

[@MoHawkAnakin]

Arm wrestling fans are lucky to be alive during the time of the greatest ever. 100 years from now people will only have old videos. We got to see him live. Someday when arm wrestling is as big as boxing or ufc, his trophies will be held in an arm wrestling museum.

[@coatofarmwars]

For sure 💪

[@armfighterjourney9911]

Agree

[@hairyape_8103]

Arm wrestling will never get that big and even if it did he would be surpassed as the goat as the level John dominated is far less the even today. Arm wrestling was unrefined in his time

[@Armwrestlingchef]

@@hairyape_8103 after all that documentation you still understood nothing ?? common you cant be that dumb !!

[@ldarm]

@@hairyape_8103 Not with that attitude it won't

[@vikingmode9093]

paying homage to the greatest of all time. Well done.

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated

[@softwashscience]

I remember years ago watching his super-match on late night TV with Devon Larret from 2015. I got bored one winter a year later and tried to find the guy back on youtube and there it was. I started to look into who John was and watched pulling John and then watched every video I could find on the Internet about him and any interview he may have done just really anything about him. There was nothing new or recent at that time of him But I was just amazed with his story because I’m such a sports fan. I would search his name almost every day for months to see if anything new would come up even if it were people just talking about him. I still search his name as a keyword and select upload date weekly to see if there is anything and thats what brought me here lol. Then all of a sudden, Ryan Bowen popped up on my keyword search for John Brzenk And they started to do interviews and even a few live streams and it was just unbelievable to hear from John and Cj again and for me it was the first time to actually see who this person was in real time. I continued to follow and there was talk about him coming back, but it never seemed quite real until the chance Shaw match was announced and the tournament he did the week before where he beat Cody Merritt. I watched the chant Shaw match live and I remember being nervous for it like I was competing myself because I didn’t wanna get let down I guess. I remember when he won that match it kind of choked me up a little bit. Here I was watching what I believe is the most amazing story in athletics and I’m watching a legend that I followed and he just happened to come back out of nowhere and I happen to get involved in everything and interested at the perfect time to see it all unravel. I have since communicated with John personally and we email back-and-forth as we both share a passion for snowmobiling. One day, the story of John Brzenk will be put on display for the entire world to see and I will get to say I saw an experienced that firsthand as it happened. It’s been truly an honor to watch him compete and communicate with him. When God made wrestlers, he made that guy right there.

[@coatofarmwars]

Pulling John was what got me started a few years ago 💪

[@mcfarvo]

15:20 "where ya goin', buddy?!"

[@coatofarmwars]

Best line ever

[@batman6540]

i love it :D

[@dragicvetanovski3807]

Best ever ..John Brzenk its GOAT..grethings from 💪🇲🇰🇬🇷

[@coatofarmwars]

💪

[@justaguyfromreddit]

amazing documentary, loved every bit, even the absolute murder or "Pavlo derbedyeneyev" and " hadzhimurat zoloev" 😂

[@coatofarmwars]

You could absolutely hear the despair in my voice as I try to pronounce those lol.

[@lightoflife-ministries]

Incredible gifted genetics to have such bone and tendon strength on that frame.

[@coatofarmwars]

Don't forget hard work 💪

[@lightoflife-ministries]

@@coatofarmwars yes, of course. But his genetics were special, truly built for the sport

[@DevonWildZillaTeschJr]

Very well, put together video. Hope it gets the credit it deserves!

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated, share it with your friends and let me know what you'd wanna see next 💪

[@MSV667]

Great mini documentary. Thanks for making it.

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@razenhell6514]

Thanks for taking the time to make this. It's quite enjoyable.

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it 👍

[@TopMoneyMoves]

Awesome video 💪

[@coatofarmwars]

💪

[@mmd_ra]

This video needs more view

[@coatofarmwars]

Appreciate the support. I put a lot of work into it be sure and share it with your friends 💪

[@mmd_ra]

@@coatofarmwars sure you're doing great

[@MP-xx1kb]

Agreed. Very well made.

[@Jstew3032]

That was amazing

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it 💪 got a favorite part?

[@Jstew3032]

35:45

[@coatofarmwars]

@@Jstew3032 absolutely, I still remember watching that match. John's reaction was great.

[@pietrogarofalo2943]

Amazing documentary man. Keep it up! Can’t wait to see what you got for other armwrestlers

[@coatofarmwars]

Who would you want to see? I'm thinking about Ron next.

[@pietrogarofalo2943]

@@coatofarmwars It sounds really good.

[@yanyothegrey9634]

Great video man. Keep doing content. Don't quit. You're good.

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated 💪 what do you want to see next?

[@jameslatta2226]

Awesome video!

[@coatofarmwars]

Thanks!

[@bradgrundy512]

Amazing Video. 16:45, this is untrue. Devon famously beat john in a supermatch in 2008 and krasamir beat him in 2013 i believe. Still an almost flawless 3 decades of dominance tho.

[@coatofarmwars]

I'm sure there are some things I missed. I've heard a lot of different things about his undefeated streak. I just went off of a few different articles and the records I could find.

[@bradgrundy512]

@@coatofarmwars yeah no worries man, bound to happen when making a video this comprehensive. great job

[@coatofarmwars]

@@bradgrundy512 Glad you enjoyed it 💪

[@Enigma9178]

Devon was heavier not in John's weight class, undefeated streak of 30 yrs is in his own weight class of middle weight and light heavyweight.

[@coatofarmwars]

@@Enigma9178 that's a good point I could have phrased it like that instead. I sort of mentioned it later in the video how "slowing down" for John was just not being as good against super heavys as he was but still being great in his weight class. 💪

[@jameslatta3512]

Man thats some quality work, really great stuff 👍

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it

[@jayclean5653]

Thanks for putting this together. This is really good for newer fans to understand why John is the Greatest.

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated 💪

[@spidermonkeynr1]

This is what every armwrestling watcher must know as a basic. I allready knew. But last tike I see a poll of who is the Goat. And John was voted 3rd place. That shows you how little people know. They see a current champion and say ow that's the Goat. No people that's not how it works. John is the Goat 4 ever

[@coatofarmwars]

There's so many accomplishments this doesn't even cover it all. Glad you liked it and share it with your friends 💪

[@spidermonkeynr1]

@coatofarmwars you did a phenomenal job. I was 5 when I saw over the top and John for the first time. He had glasses and I wear glasses . Today it's normal to have glasses on in the early 80's you was seen as a weak nerd. John boosted my self-esteem at a very young age because of that.

[@sylvesterkanev2918]

16:53 against Devon 2008. Nevertheless, John is the Greatest armwrestler of all times!

[@coatofarmwars]

I probably need to make a comment with some corrections 🤣

[@sylvesterkanev2918]

@@coatofarmwars I wrote you a long comment but somehow either YT f*cked up again or it got deleted. In a few words, this video is fantastic!

[@darkfist9889]

Thanks for making this. John brzenk is my favourtie armwrestler and now this made me realise in depth why he is the GOAT

[@coatofarmwars]

💪

[@MJIZZEL]

Dude you killed it on this. Wish more people were aware of johns insane peak. I first heard of him in 04 and couldn't believe how long he had been at the top. Showed all my buddy in the army barracks in south korea and they all were amazed as well. Then he stayed there for 10 more years after that! Wow. I still laugh at people who try to bring up devon or levan as the greatest ever. Its just laughable to compare careers. I mean think about it with devon. He lost to john in 99 and thats was when john was already near the end of 2 decades of dominance. We will never see another run like the perfect storm. Grest documentary.

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it 💪

[@hellsdryad]

I watched him with the widest of eyes when John defeated Denis. I would never be weak in body again.

[@coatofarmwars]

💪

[@matteoallegretti1663]

Great video! Great John!💪

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated 💪

[@jonnymillerproductions]

Superb documentary. I know this took effort. Been in the sport 5 years myself and John’s accolades are just astonishing.

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it I just hit two years myself 💪

[@rasberrydefender1930]

What an absolute Banger of a video, nothing but respect for your work, simply wow also funny with the pronounciations (Pablo Dongarbaev?😅) loved it and well, the Goat status of armwrestling is a difficult topic, because yes what John did is simply unhuman, simply absolutely incredible and amazing, but in my opinion there are simply things to consider, like how the sport is way more proffessional now, the general level is soooooooo much higher then back in the 80s for example or even in the 2000s I mean we just have to look back at 2008 Devon vs John, Devon beat John, and yes it wasnt the best version of John, still this was a match for the superheavyweight number 1 title and Devon back than arguably wouldnt even be top 10 now, in his hook training he did like 80kg with one arm, impressive, but Levan gets over 100kg and things like that make the Goat discussion still interesting in my opinion, because yes, John dominated for decades, but in a small sport, where training is not that developed and many are part time armwrestlers, that doesnt take away, that John was absurdly good, but wouldnt it also be absurdly good if a nearly 50 year old Devon defeats a guy who can curl like just under 400 pounds and is regarded as the strongest armwrestler ever, with on top becoming a tripple champ at supeeheavyweights, heavyweights and light heavyweights in a much much more professional sport, that is way more optimised in terms of strength, technique, endurance, in general the whole training improved? for me its like in cyclimg there was Eddie Merx back in the 80s and he was so good, that at a Tour de France, the hands down biggest event ever and every year, he won the overalls and every other class, he could sprint, and cycle up the mountains the fastest, today cycling is so optimized that, noone even things this is even a possibillity that one ever could do that. I dont want to say John isnt the Goat, or wouldnt be even if Devon gets a tripple devision champ and clears the whole top 10 in the superheavyweights, but in my opinion he still has to get a good case against John, because the times have changed drastically. Thats how I see it. Other than these thoughts, I just again only can say what an awesome video, I never thought someone would do such a video, but here it is and I love it. Absolute respect to you.

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it 💪

[@TIGERSDFW]

Over the top, John vs. "Under the table" Todd... "where ya going buddy?"

[@coatofarmwars]

Classic 😎

[@dvr1337]

pushkar in tournaments was crazy. i wish levan would be able to do the same.

[@weldmishref]

Thank you!!

[@coatofarmwars]

No problem 💪

[@samuel96100]

G O A T 💪

[@coatofarmwars]

Facts 👌

[@richardherron7670]

The best in arm wrestling history

[@coatofarmwars]

💯

[@RottenKid88]

What is this masterpiece?? omg.. thanks for this great video. Keep up the great work!!! Absolutely stunning!

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated 💪

[@matt_555]

Great video!

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it 💪

[@fugazi225]

thanks for content

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it 💪

[@mcfarvo]

The G.o.A.T. in the sport of Armwrestling (maybe if Devon takes down Levan and then dominates for another decade or so, then there will be another contender)

[@coatofarmwars]

Maybe he'll be almost sort of half way there 🤣

[@deaconlambeaux2716]

Great content

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it 💪

[@bigman4175]

Amazing video

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated 💪

[@thomas8794]

great video for a even greater athlete.

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated 💪

[@iamcoffeerepublic]

Just dropping a thank you.

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated 💪

[@ldarm]

A very interesting and wonderful homage to the greatest 💪🏻

[@coatofarmwars]

Much appreciated glad you liked it💪

[@veritas2145]

Good stuff

[@coatofarmwars]

💪

[@mezohmorf1371]

This was great

[@coatofarmwars]

Glad you liked it 💪

[@mezohmorf1371]

@@coatofarmwars You should do this for all the top names in arm wrestling

[@coatofarmwars]

@@mezohmorf1371 Im definitely thinking about it.

[@stevelegreid]

Michael Jordan is the John Brzenk of basketball

[@coatofarmwars]

💪

[@brian6speed]

The problem is the fans think Devon is the goat no matter how many times you try to tell them john is......

[@coatofarmwars]

They even try to comment here 🤣

[@karuonline3294]

Actually a lot of fans recognise John as the GOAT... and that includes the likes of Engin, Devon

[@coatofarmwars]

@@karuonline3294 A lot of people do for sure my point was that it's surprising that there are any that would claim otherwise 💪

[@Muskiehunter4841]

Levan is no doubt the strongest who has ever lived but let’s see where he is in forty years . I doubt he will even be alive let alone still be competing at a such a high level

[@coatofarmwars]

Facts 👌

[@PokyBallinBabo]

Was this video made by this channel? 😮

[@coatofarmwars]

Yes, I did not film all this footage or anything but I pulled from a lot of articles and did research and wrote a 15 page script. I recorded the voice over edited it then got the corresponding footage from online and compiled my video.

[@PokyBallinBabo]

@@coatofarmwars great work. ☺️ It's surprising to see a video like this on a channel this small (with seemingly no prior videos of this type).

[@syntholshoulders1842]

Many don't know John has Neanderthal genetics this is the reason he has surpassed many

[@coatofarmwars]

I might need a citation for that one 😂

[@syntholshoulders1842]

Think about it he didn't lift weights He was strong as a bull Manhandled many armwrestlerrs Average height home sapiens are taller Thick skin very calm am 100 certain John Carriies neanderthal genetics 100 PERCENT SURE

[@coatofarmwars]

@@syntholshoulders1842 well at least you got conviction 😂

[@bigman4175]

Real question I’ve been curious about, does anyone think John was on PEDs? I could see maybe later on in his career but even from the start, he was unbeatable. He’s never looked like a roid head

[@coatofarmwars]

If you watch the whole video you'll find out 😉

[@bigman4175]

@@coatofarmwarsalright I plan on it , thanks. Could he just be a genetic anomaly though?

[@bigman4175]

@@coatofarmwarsAMAZING video thanks

[@coatofarmwars]

@@bigman4175 oh absolutely his thumb size was legendary it was always described like grabbing a coke can.

[@JOHNWICK-fr4tr]

Video about Devon No limits Larratt please

[@coatofarmwars]

I'm definitely thinking about doing one 💪

[@MelbourneMaster]

0:45 ah yes Christialdo Ronaldo, a great player. Not to be confused with his equally talented brother *Christiano* *Ronaldo*

[@Jonwood74]

For a second I thought he was Lex Luger....Weird.

[@coatofarmwars]

Lol

[@Day-ZDuke]

I can see the resemblance for sure! The thumbnail image could definitely pass for Luger at a quick glance

[@ericharlan15]

@coatofarmwars Bruh can you seriously do something like this for Henny Hughes? Youngest world champion at 16. 💯

[@coatofarmwars]

Unfortunately I don't know enough about him. I was planning on doing something for Ron and maybe some other top guys.

[@dvr1337]

what happened to corey west even?

[@user-hs4ih8zp7e]

John is not normal size. He is a big dude. Big misconception

[@klooger28]

Bro struggled hard with those foreign names lol, great video though.

[@coatofarmwars]

Names shouldn't have that many consonants lol. Glad you liked it 💪

[@nilesnelson4075]

Okay I just started watching this and I have to correct you on something. Jordan vs LeBron isn't a debate. LeBron doesn't deserve to be in the same sentence as MJ. Any true fan of basketball knows this. Most kids who say LeBron is the best never saw MJ play live. LeBron won't have a last dance. I find it extremely disrespectful that people always wanna make it about MJ vs LeBron when the player closest to MJ is Kobe. Kobe runs circles around LeBron every time. MJ Wilt and Kobe are on my top starting 5 of all time along with Jerry West and Doctor J. My team beats everyone.

[@coatofarmwars]

Well first of all your right but other people can have wrong opinions. I think it makes my comparison even better because there's no debate about John being the goat even though people try to make it one. I just included them as an example.

[@armhistorian]

😶‍🌫

[@coatofarmwars]

I was wondering if you'd show up 🤯

[@denda2643]

Pavlo dongarbaev?XD You butchered some names there pretty badly. Great video nonetheless.:-)

[@coatofarmwars]

Ya win some ya lose some what can I say 🤣

[@sinjinsmythe1571]

Why you using depressing, tragedy music on a John Brzenk documentary!!!

[@coatofarmwars]

Well it's supposed to be dramatic not depressing 🤣

[@BMB012887]

Dude, good narrative and video editing, but take your time on the voiceover. You have a lot of mushmouth and mispronunciations. Listen back to 13:00, 13:30, 13:39, and 14:35. There's many more and it takes a viewer―especially an audio-only viewer―out of the story.

[@coatofarmwars]

I'm glad you have opinions.

[@BMB012887]

@@coatofarmwars I'm glad you read comments.

[@coatofarmwars]

@@BMB012887 I'm glad you have a sense of humor 😂

[@BMB012887]

@@coatofarmwars There's nothing humorous. You're expressing appreciation that I commented and I am expressing appreciation that you read it.

[@Armwrestlingchef]

awesome awesome footage, only thing i would critize is that you showed some matches twice or more and left al lot of big footage out.. like against Cyplenkov in Zloty Tour or Vegas.I know there is too much of John videos around to cover all but yeah

[@coatofarmwars]

Well I tried my hardest to make you happy lol.

[@Armwrestlingchef]

@@coatofarmwars haha thank you, awesome Work :)) John brzenk Just cannot be covered. You would have to need a membership of armTV also For the 2000 -2010 years. And For the 1980/90 there were way to less cameras lol.

[@ekokarss]

bro butchered all the eastern names

[@coatofarmwars]

Tried me best lol 😂

[@davesufci1929]

Well .... The GOAT of all GOATS is Novak Djokovic. As simple as that.

[@coatofarmwars]

It's ok to be wrong. If he keeps winning for another 30 years he might be in the same discussion.

[@davesufci1929]

@@coatofarmwars looooooooooool .... You just proved that you don't understand sport mechanics. Ok, let's take you to the school. :)) Sports like tennis, squash, football (Real football called soccer I mean), boxing, MMA, athletics depends on speed, dynamic, strenght, reflexes, stamina, ability to repeat sprinting and feints again and again ..... Not only the strenght, but also extreme cardio and endurance. Those sports are much more complex and age is much bigger factor than in AW. AW can be done by older people, because strenght is leaving as the last attribute and is the most important attribute. It is much easier to get exposed in tennis than in Arm wrestling when you decline physically. I don't even mention the fact that mastering the tennis technique is much more difficult than mastering AW technique. You can have genetic freak like Khaled Awa Jashell and he could start to blast roids and train specific training.... He could become champ in five years... Cyplenkov did that during three or even two years and destroyed veteran Brzenk.. In tennis? Impossible..... You need 20 years to master technique and you have to start from 5 years old. If squash top player would try to become a pro tennis player while he is 25 or 30 years old.... Impossible! Direct comparison of Djokovič and Brzenk is just ridiculous. Tennis is more commercial sport than AW. Level of profesionalism in tennis was and is much higher than in armwrestling. Tennis is played by much more players on a pro level than AW. Tennis has much bigger tradition and PRO history. There is much bigger competition in tennis than in AW. Djokovic dominated several eras, specially golden era of tennis. Brzenk didn't dominate golden Era of AW. Brzenk beated a lot of giants in past, but IT was because these giants didn't have any technique during 80's and 90's, AW was more like a bar pub sport..... So He basically armwrestled amateurs. And when He stood against good quality opponents.... He was losing. He lost against Goodridge, Lupkes, Cadorette. Brzenk also doesn't have the best H2H with Todzilla. Brzenk was able to beat rookie Novice Cyplenkov .... Then Cyplenkov trained AW technique for one or two years and completely destroyed Brzenk. It says everything what we need to know. Larratt has and had Brzenk's number. Fact is that Brzenk would be in his prime a champ in his weight category during nowadays golden Era of AW ... Maybe.... But He would not beat TOP super HW. Not a chance! He would not beat Larratt in 115 kg even. Djokovič beated them all. Djokovič even sarcificed his best Grand Slams because of Covid nazi... It shows He Is the greatest in and out of the court. Djokovic came as a child from the ashes of Yugoslavia war , trained in destroyed swimming pool as a tennis wall. You need money to play tennis, Djokovič was able to do it without rich family behind. This is absolutely incompareable. Djokovič played more than 1200 official PRO matches, that's something and much more than Brzenk arm wrestled during his 50 years in sport. LOL. There are absolute TOP GOATS like Djokovic, Ali, Alexander Karelin, Bolt, Ma Long and Phelps, Manny Pacquaio (Pac Man dominated more weight categories in boxing than Brzenk can ONLY dream about btw), Roberto Duran.... Then lower level are team sports GOATS like Pele, Jordan, Gretzsky..... Then another lower level there are less famous sport GOATS like Brzenk in AW, Pospisil brothers in cycle ball etc. So, I am just telling you..... Be a good boy and shout your little gimp mouth. I don't want to spank you a** too much. I don't want to humiliate you more. Lesson finished. Aloha.

[@ibuk4309]

😂😂😂😐

[@sonyx4500]

​@@davesufci1929Armwrestling is far harder than you think. You can get injured pretty badly. John Brzenk was undefeated for 25 years in his weight class. The Losses he had were against Super Heavyweights. And you can count them on one hand who were able to beat him. Tennis is not really comparable to Armwrestling. Its completely Different kind of Sport.

[@TstanDa-Man]

After this weekend he will not be considered the GOAT anymore. That distinction will go to the winner of Devon and Levan. John will have the greatest career but the greatest to ever do it will be decided this weekend. Arm wrestling is not a team sport so someone like Michael Jordan or Tom Brady can be debated but in a one on one sport you take the person in the GOAT discussion in their prime and place them vs the other person in the GOAT discussion in their prime and the person who would win is the GOAT. it’s elementary my dear Watson elementary 🕵️‍♂️

[@coatofarmwars]

Maybe you should watch the video a few more times and it might change your mind 🤣

[@TstanDa-Man]

@@coatofarmwars it’s a great video. Great job 🤙🏼

[@esbonwordenjr6069]

Your facts are off....!!! Not saying john isnt the goat because he is my hero and the reason why i started competing but your facts are off

[@holyshitmostoriginal]

You forgot about his supermatch loss in 2008 to Devon Larratt at 17:00

[@coatofarmwars]

There's a couple issues I've found, after the fact of course. I simply went off the few articles I could find. I think there are probably a few other losses as well I wasn't aware of. But it's still an impressive point regardless.

[@holyshitmostoriginal]

@@coatofarmwars Still a great video 👍

[@DnEdBr]

He wasn't wrong though. The 22 years of being undefeated was from 1982 until his loss to Voevoda in 2004.