Get a grip: The underground arm wrestling scene in Singapore

Above from left: Syed Uzair, Chief of Operations, and Greg Yeo, Founder, at the grand opening of Eastside Arm Wrestling

When it comes to sport in Singapore, arm wrestling may not be the first that springs to mind. You might have vague memories of it being played at the pub, a contest at a backyard BBQ or watching a film about it involving Sylvester Stallone.

For Gregory Yeo, 31, arm wrestling was commonplace for students at his all-boys school, Maris Stella High School in Singapore. Back in 2010, in a world prior to constant screens and digital distractions, the kids would challenge one another to arm wrestling matches between classes. “I was never the strongest kid, and more of a tenpin bowler,” Greg admits. “But after losing matches to my stronger mates, I became determined to beat everyone at school.”

Arm wrestling didn’t just become Greg’s school break-time pastime, it became his passion project. As a teenager searching online forums and Facebook groups, he became friends with Valen Low, the founder and first president of Singapore Armwrestling, the official governing body for arm wrestling in Singapore. In 2016, after a few years training at his NUS gym with Valen, Greg entered his first competition in Malaysia. Placing fourth in the open weight category propelled him to push further.

Greg taking third place in the Senior Men’s 78kg Right Arm category, 2023 IFA World Championships, Kuala Lumpur

A star is born

While the pandemic put the kibosh on public meet-ups, it also sparked a new boom of interest in arm wrestling due to increased coverage of the sport online. “Spending more time watching sporting personalities such as Jujimufu ( @jujimufu) and Larry Wheels ( @larrywheels), I was inspired to make my own arm wrestling content on YouTube,” Greg shares. His training videos, sparring matches, Q&As and tips went stellar, and soon Greg had racked up 15.6k subscribers on YouTube and nearly 30m views across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

As his numbers grew, so did his sporting career. Competing at the IFA World Championships in Malaysia in 2023, Greg placed third in the Men’s 78kg right-arm category.

Above: Eastside member Barnabas Koh takes on Leo Marcus

Generate power

Riding high on his success and keen to legitimise and improve the image of arm wrestling, Greg started to consider opening his own gym. By 2022, his practice group had grown from a handful of members training at his father’s house to around 35 regular members. “Training at people’s homes or at void decks had a charm to it, but I wanted to professionalise what we were doing,” Greg shares. “I knew having an actual location would be the first step to achieving my dream.”

After many interest checks within the community, Greg opened Eastside Arm Wrestling in September 2025 with fellow arm wrestler Syed Uzair. Located in Changi, it’s a space more like a clubhouse than a traditional gym, where members get together once or twice a week to train and chat.

Step inside and you’ll find a mix of the red dot’s novice and casual arm wrestlers. “Many members simply enjoy the sport for what it is and the connections that come with being part of a community with similar interests,” Greg shares. “Even at our bigger practice sessions, there’s a strong culture of safety and camaraderie. The more experienced pullers are always willing to show newcomers the way.”

As for how you actually train to be an arm wrestler, according to Greg, “as long as you have an arm, you can arm wrestle!” Training can be split into two approaches: weight training and table practice, or sparring. To gain technical experience, training on a professional arm wrestling table is required. However, sparring can be taxing. “Many people get overzealous and caught up in the moment, accidentally overexerting themselves, which results in extended recovery periods,” Greg says.

Above left: A group practice at Greg’s dad’s house during Covid. Above right: Greg with Novice Class winner Daniel Park from South Korea at the Eastside Cup #1 in January 2026

To circumvent a badly-placed wrist, Greg recommends a more methodical approach. “Most coaches, including myself, suggest a structured weight training regimen to build arm wrestling strength that’s not stressful on the body. This way, progress can be tracked over time.”

What’s great is that progress develops fast as pretty much every upper body muscle has its utility in arm wrestling. “The most important muscles are those that involve the forearm, hand and wrist, as that’s the main point of contact with your opponent,” explains Greg, who adds that the upper arm muscles, such as the biceps and triceps, play a significant role, as do the shoulder, chest and back muscles, which help generate power. “But no matter how strong these groups are, you’ll almost certainly be limited by your fingers or wrist, so they’re the most important thing to train.”

Those flexing their pecs while reading will be pleased to learn that arm wrestling is a sport almost anyone can get into, and one that offers impressive longevity. “Some of the best arm wrestlers in the world, such as Todd Hutchings and John Brzenk, both world champions, are well into their 50s and 60s,” Greg notes.

The Eastside crew after arm wrestling practice at Circular Road

Global community

Eastside’s big weekly club practice runs on Sundays from 2 – 6pm, and Novice Nights are Tuesdays from 6 – 10pm. Throughout the week, more serious members pop down for specific training sessions or to use the weights, as they’re open 24/7. “Having many levels of experience at our club allows everyone to find a good practice partner to train and grow with,” Greg says. The gym also welcomes overseas arm wrestlers who fly into Singapore on holiday for a practice session. He continues, “These moments are great for our team as we learn more about the global community and training culture in other countries, as well as foster friendships overseas.” Earlier this year, Australia’s 85kg Victoria State Champion, Leo Marcus, practised with the team while visiting the island.

As for the future, Greg wants to grow the sport’s profile, move to a bigger premises with broader fitness offerings, and he’s working with Singapore Armwrestling to secure National Sports Association status with SportSG – recognition would unlock funding and open doors into schools. There’s also a regional push underway, with SEA countries collaborating to get arm wrestling into the Southeast Asian Games. “Our colleagues in Malaysia are in talks with their national sporting committee regarding the 2029 Malaysia SEA Games,” Greg says.

So sharpen your elbows and watch this space. What began as a playground challenge has grown into an entire movement, and with Greg leading the charge, it appears Singapore’s arm wrestling scene is just getting started.

228 Changi Road, B1-17 Icon @Changi, 419741
 eastsidearmwrestling.com
 @eastsidearmwrestling