By Anthony Rifilato
Perka, an unknown amateur from Ridgewood, Queens, wore a look of sheer determination all night, and he wasn't the only one. Along with 29 others, Perka was aiming to win the Ultimate Sit-Down Arm Wrestling Crown last week at the second annual Long Island Tournament of Trades held at McLoon's in Rockville Centre.
"I probably have a good chance," said a reticent but confident Perka. He was right. Although he didn't win the title, he took first place in the amateur super-heavyweight class later in the evening.
Sanctioned by the New York Arm Wrestling Association and
sponsored by The National Collision Co. USA Inc., in Baldwin, whose owner, Bobby Buttafuoco, is an arm wrestling legend, last week's event drew more than 100 people and raised over $400 in registration fees for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Pediatric Cancer Research Fund.
"It's a nice thing to do for them," said Buttafuoco, a 13-time winner of the NYC King of Arms title and a consultant for the Sylvester Stallone arm wrestling film, "Over the Top." Buttafuoco was a referee at the event, which he described as different and difficult. "It's an old-fashioned sit-down style, which is pure strength as opposed to technique," he explained.
Pro (former title holders) and amateur contenders from the tri-state area competed in a series of matches in their respective weight classes (three amateur classes, three pro and one for women). In the final test of strength, the winners of all the weight classes squared off against one another. A $200 cash prize went to the overall winner, and other cash prizes, 30-pound statues and medals were also awarded.
Sit-down competition is more difficult than most matches, whose participants perform standing up. In a sit-down, there's no advantage to be gained by positioning your lower body for leverage.
"Stand-up is more popular...you're more restricted in a sit-down," said contender Rich Calero, a personal trainer from the Bronx who was competing in his first sit-down and took first place in the amateur middleweight class.
One after another, men and women sat across from each other and clasped powdered hands. Buttafuoco and referee Dan Fortuna positioned contestants' elbows on the pads, arms directly in the middle, and made sure thumbs weren't flared out.
Then, after the referee's signal, the pressure was on. Spectators cheered, cameras flashed, arms pushed back and
forth. Usually matches ended quickly with a resounding thud. A few went the distance, with long periods (about 15 to 20 seconds) of sweaty endurance, contorted faces, energetic grunts, and finally the ref's call: "Winner!"
Even the losers came away elated. "It's a great way to stay in condition and meet people," said Bob Spieler, a teacher from Brooklyn who lost to his friend Mike Kuor in the amateur middleweight class.
The juggernaut of the evening was Paul Walther, a towering construction worker from New Jersey who took first in the pro super-heavyweight open class (for those over 215 pounds), capturing the coveted L.I. Ultimate Sit-Down Arm Wrestling Crown and the MVP Sit-Down King of Arms title, not to mention the $200.
"I thought it was a good competition with very good people," Walther said. "Everybody was a good sportsman."
But his defeated opponent, Jason Vale, from Bellerose, New York, wanted another shot. After all, Vale went the distance after winning first place in the pro heavyweight class, and he wanted the crown. "Paul Walther is unstoppable...I want a rematch," Vale jokingly said.
Earlier, Vale beat his friend Vinny Vetere, a corrections officer from Lynbrook. "I thought it was excellent, it was a lot of fun," said Vetere, who took first place in the pro middleweight class.
The event had no Hollywood pretensions, and most of the contenders were friends or knew one another from past competitions. There were no bar-room-style brawls when someone lost. In fact, the occupations of many of the contestants belied their arm-wrestling abilities. Among the competitors were a teacher, a news editor and and stock trader.
And not all the contestants were macho men. Amanda Fortuna, a precocious 14-year-old from Wading River, competed in the women's division. Her hip, young look was more MTV than arm wrestling.
"Genetically I'm strong and technique helps," said Fortuna, who handily beat bigger women. "I'm the youngest pro contender."
Fortuna is part of an arm wrestling family that started competing several years ago. Her mother, Dina (the 2002 Empire State Champion, who sat out with an arm injury), and father, Dan, who refereed the matches at McLoon's (he sat out when his daughter wrestled), both compete. Amanda holds the Connecticut State title and competes eight to 10 times a year.
"It was kind of a fluke," she said of her foray into arm wrestling. "My dad always liked arm wrestling. We went to a competition on Coney Island and my mom came in first and I came in second."
Fortuna is something of a minor celebrity. She was interviewed by the New York Times and said she will be featured in a February issue of Sports Illustrated. Earlier, Fortuna wasn't even sure she would compete, as the turnout for the women's weight class was looking small. Later, though, the deceptively tough Fortuna showed her stuff and won first place in the women's pro/amateur class. She was also named female MVP.
"I'm happy about it. She was strong," Fortuna said of her opponent after her win.
After the event, the guys and gals chanted "Bobby, Bobby," in order to get Buttafuoco onto the table once more. Eventually the two most formidable men in the room, Walther and Buttafuoco, went at it. Needless to say, neither had anything to prove, and the final match-up was all for fun.
