Minnesota can lay claim to having one of the best arm wrestlers in the world. Richard Lupkes of Rushmore -- located near the Iowa and South Dakota borders in the southwest Minnesota -- recently won the super heavyweight grand master world title in Nevada. The Star Tribune's Michael Rand caught up with the 54-year-old Lupkes, who checks in at 6-2 and 315 pounds.Q Outside of the world of arm wrestling, what do you do for a living?
A I'm a farmer, actually. We raise corn and soybeans. And in the winter months, I'm a personal trainer.
Q How do you become good at something like arm wrestling?
A Well, I guess I've just been kind of fortunate. I spend a lot of time in the gym, but I really don't practice. Nowadays, I would say 90 percent of the guys do practice. Really, the only the time I see an arm wrestling table is at a tournament.
Q What are some of the techniques or the inner workings of an arm wrestling match at a very competitive level?
A You have people say there is a lot of technique, and actually there is. But at the national or world level, it still comes down to power. Everybody is familiar with your style. There are really no secrets to it.
Q So you really don't practice? Just let technique take care of itself?
A I hope so. Sometimes it doesn't. I have a friend in Salt Lake City who says I have the worst technique he's ever seen. And he's probably right (laughs).