On Oct. 27-28, in Round Rock, TX, the 2023 Rogue Strongman Invitational (RSI) will pit 10 of the world’s top strongmen in competition for the largest prize purse in the sport. Among those athletes are the two-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Tom Stoltman and 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) Luke Stoltman.
The strongest brothers on the planet are amidst their prep for the 2023 RSI, though the events featured in that contest have not yet been announced at the time of this article’s publication. Despite that, the Stoltman brothers are training with keen anticipation of what they are likely to be challenged by in Round Rock, including the log press, Fingal’s Fingers, sandbag carries, and the truck pull. Take a look at the video below, published to the Stoltman brothers’ YouTube channel on Sept. 9, 2023, wherein they break down how to arm-over-arm truck pull:
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Using a metal log in their personal gym set up that appeared to be a converted warehouse, the Stoltman brothers warmed up with 110 kilograms. Eventually, they advanced to the wooden log, locking out reps with 152 and 172 kilograms. Their lifts were slow, methodical, deliberate, and smooth.
In a medley, the brothers flipped a pair of Fingal’s fingers, followed by a log lift double before unclasping their lifting belts and breathing heavily through their elevated heart rates. Their faces were a deep blush red with sweat coating their skin as they voiced how training in the heat was part of their prep as they expect the Texas weather to be one of the more formidable variables at the 2023 RSI.
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How to Arm-Over-Arm Truck Pull
With a rope attached to a pick-up truck and his feet based on a sandbag against a handheld forklift, Tom first reached his left arm to grab the rope in a three-grip cadence until the rope was taught. From there, he maintained a neutral spine and pulled backward as though he were performing a partial deadlift while seated. The pick-up truck slowly wheeled backward from Tom’s effort as the rope piled up next to his left hip.
Luke performed a similar three-grip cadence but appeared to use much more leg drive as he achieved more knee flexion than his younger brother. It was unclear whether it was toward his dominant side, but Luke let the rope build up next to his right up. The trick seemed to be not allowing the momentum to slow once the truck had built up speed. While it may not seem like it at first glance, the event effectively switches from one of strength to move the vehicle to a race against the slowing momentum built over time.
The Stoltman brothers will have a chance to test themselves in competition before the 2023 RSI, as one week prior, they are scheduled to contend for the title at the 2023 Giants Live World Tour Finals in Glasgow, Scotland. While they may not go all-out in Glasgow with the 2023 RSI the following weekend, it will gauge how well their preparation was for the pair of elite contests.
Featured image: @stoltmanbrothers on Instagram
