The Malvern Area Kiwanis Club is holding its second-annual Arm Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at the Boys & Girls Club of Malvern and Hot Spring County.
And for the second consecutive year, the co-coordinators for the event are some of the best arm wrestlers in the world.
Michael Todd of Hot Springs, who is is a 17-time world arm-wrestling champion, is the main contact for the tournament. Todd has also won 26 national titles. His wife, Rebecca, and stepson Ryan Morin are both accomplished arm wrestlers too, having both won seven national titles.
A year ago, approximately 60 competitors took part in the Kiwanis tournament.
“Everybody had a great time,” Michael Todd said. “Last year, they asked us if we could do it again this year. We didn’t know because we were supposed to go to Hawaii. We did an anti-bullying campaign in Hawaii a couple of years ago, and we weren’t sure we were going to be here. A few months ago, we knew we’d be able to do it again.”
Rebecca Todd said the tournament is a fun way to get the community involved with the Kiwanis Club.
“The arm-wrestling community that is growing up is very competitive,” she said. “So anytime that you hold a tournament, they are going to show up, and this one is for a good cause.”
Susan Lafond, past president of the Malvern Area Kiwanis Club, said a portion of this year’s proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Malvern and Hot Spring County.
Lafond said the idea of an arm-wrestling tournament came about after the Kiwanis Club hosted a car show.
“We were trying to think of other things to do to bring people in, and one of our members suggested an amateur arm-wrestling contest,” she said. “I don’t know anything about arm wrestling. So I started going on Google searches. That afternoon, Michael Todd called me. He and his wife were generous enough to help us out.”
Lafond said the Todd family are the nicest people she’s ever met.
“They are very giving to the community,” she said. “They are very down-to-earth people. It’s very exciting to have a 17-time world champion right in our own backyard.”
Michael Todd said his stepson Ryan got into arm wrestling after Rebecca and Michael started dating. Morin was Rebecca’s training partner. He was a drummer in the high school band. Michael said he was why Morin why he stopped drumming.
“I didn’t have the No. 1 drummer in the world teaching me how to drum,” Michael said Morin told him.
“All these kids who arm wrestle now because of Ryan could have easily been down a different path,” Micheal said. “Arm wrestling has given them an outlet. It’s a way for the nontraditional high school athlete to be competitive and to train and to have a reason to be healthy. That is why I look forward to doing it (the tournament).”
Rebecca Todd reiterated what Michael said.
“There are kids who are going a different route, which is awesome that we’re doing this for the Boys & Girls Club,” she said. “Not a whole lot of people know about arm wrestling yet. It’s just another way to get people focused on a different outlet, something else they can compete in that you don’t have to be the high school football star to do. We have all kinds of different people from all walks of life that are becoming champions because they are out there training and working hard.
“This is also a chance to give back, as well. We have tournaments all the time that do not benefit a charity.”
Morin said arm wrestling creates a community.
“A lot of the people who arm wrestle now, I wouldn’t have been friends with in high school,” he said. “It brings people together.”
The Malvern Area Kiwanis Arm Wrestling Tournament is to men, women and youth 17 and under. Divisions include left hand and right hand. Awards will be presented for first, second and third places in each division. The top two in each class will qualify for the overall championship.
Weight classes for men include 165 pounds and under, 166-198 and 199 and up; weight classes for women are 143 pounds and under and 144 and up; for youth, 165 pounds and under, 166-198 and 199 and up.
The tournament is double elimination.
Registration begins at 2 p.m. The tournament starts at 3:30 p.m. Awards are scheduled to be presented at 5 p.m.
Entry fee is $10 per arm.
For more information, contact Michael Todd at (501) 413-8772.
Staff writer Mark Buffalo can be reached at (501) 399-3676 or mbuffalo@arkansasonline.com.