Bulgaria Armwrestling

Richard Lupkes - The Pride of Minnesota

Richard Lupkes was born on 5th October 1954. He was growing up on the family farm. When he was 22 years old he started competing in local armwrestling tournaments destroying farm boys and guys at bars in l

ocal armwrestling tournaments. One of the first serious test of his armwrestling skills he had on WPAA in Kansas City in 1978, where he came second to Al Turner. That time he weighed 210 lbs. “I had the honor of pulling Mr. Turner at the '78 World finals in Kansas City at World's of Fun. Mr. Turner just pulled my arm right out of the cup with his amazing strength. If I would sweet talk my wife I could have her find a copy of Sport's Illustrated magazine with a picture of Al and myself in the finals. I also had the chance of talking the great puller and greater gentleman. at a east coast tourney year's later some where around 1987 to 1989.” – said Lupkes.

Year after he came back to Kansas and won his title in 220lbs class.

In 1986 Richard Lupkes competed in the biggest tournament ever, the Over the Top tournament, where he took 3rd place, losing to 22 year old John Brzenk. After that, Rich started training rigorously and won World Titles in 1988 and 1989 in the superheavyweight division. In late 80’s Rich was destroying most of

his opponents, and only John Brzenk and Gary Goodridge seemed to be the armwrestlers who could even slow him down ! Richard Lupkes: - “The two people that were my greatest threat was John and Gary I would have to give Gary the edge for raw horsepower. but John was always the smartest and would figure out what he needed to do to win.”

Standing near 6'3 and weighing over 300 lbs., Rich would put on a weight belt with 300 lbs. of weights and do dips (that's over 600 lbs. total being pushed up).
After World's in 1989 he had accepted the offer to train in the professional wrestling school in Chicago where he wrestled for WCW for a few years. - "They wanted me to go over to Japan for months at a time, but I had a wife and family and I didn't want to be away from them for so long. So I gave it up and came back to Rushmore. It was interesting while it lasted" - Lupkes said.
In 1991, at the top of his game, Lupkes retired because of an injury. He returned to the life of a corn and soybean farmer.

COME BACK AFTER 16 YEARS

Richard Lupkes came back to armwrestling in August 2007 when he attended the Unified National Armwrestling Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. He won the Grand Masters Heavyweight Division there and took 3rd place in the open division. In October, he took 3rd at the ROTN, beating Travis Bagent one time.

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n 2008 he won the Arnold Classic, beating Tim Bresnan and John Brzenk, and took 2nd place at Unified's Nationals in Salt Lake City after tearing his bicep while pulling Tim Bresnan on the A Side in the finals.

Early 2009 Mr. Lupkes had a car crash with a semi. Thankfully he was okay, two months later he beat Nick Zinna 3-0 for the Heavyweight Toproll Title, then won Unified Nationals in June in the Open, Masters, and Grand Masters Heavyweight Division. He tore a disc in his back a month after that and had to have surgery, but he was back in full force in 2010!!! Rich was undefeated at every tournament he attended (right handed) including Nationals and Worlds!

His only loss was at the end of 2010 in Las Vegas at ARM WARS in Supermatch with Devon Larratt (ranked #1 in the World) who was able to beat Richard 6-0! “I have met a lot of armwrestler's in my 30 plus

year's pulling, but I can honestly tell you that I have never felt the kind of power that Devon has. Not even John (no disrespect intended). Devon has my vote for #1 hand's down until someone prove's me wrong. This is just my experience and do not mean to disrespect any puller.” – said Lupkes.

On the beginning of 2011 Rich won The UAL Super Heavy Waight title beating in the final Travis Bagent.

During his career Richard Lupkes has won 3 World and 10 National Titles, and he is only competitor over the age of 50 years old to win the Arnold Classic Heavyweight division.
Richard Lupkes is credited as a founding father of arm wrestling in Minnesota. He is globally recognized as one of the very best armwrestlers of all time. In opinion of John Brzenk he is one of the 6 Strongest Super Heavyweight Ever. For many the 315 lbs farmer from Rushmore, Minesota, with 23 inchs biceps and 20 inchs forearm at his peak (late 80s), was the strongest armwestler who's ever pulled on this planet.

John says about Richard Lupkes "Your explosive power was the most incredible and sometimes scary example of pure power I have ever felt. Your size and strength to say the least always made me a little nervous."

When you look at his picture, you can tell he is plenty of power. For question - Is that from the gym, or are you just naturally strong? - he says: "Well, I was born on a farm and I've always worked hard. I've always tried to train each muscle group twice a week. I'm in the gym a minimum of two hours a day. Between two and three hours. I'm not in there just going crazy. I'll do a set and then rest, take a break. That's how I've always done it. I do legs, too. I've found over the years that when you work your legs it helps your whole body get stronger.".

Richard Lupkes of Rushmore - located near the Iowa and South Dakota borders in the southwest Minnesota in the summer time is a farmer who growns corn and soybeans, in the winter months, he is a personal trainer at Anytime Fitness in Worthington, but for the armwrestling world he is a puller with huge power and magnetic name.