The Essential Arm Wrestling Home Gym: Inside Devon Larratt's Training Setup
When it comes to arm wrestling training, simplicity and specificity reign supreme. A tour through Devon Larratt's home gym reveals exactly what makes a world champion – and surprisingly, it's not a complex array of machines or fancy equipment.
At the center of Devon's training space sits an ancient table with history. “This was owned by a champion, a Canadian arm wrestling champion, Leandro Frain,” Devon explains. “Probably one of the best female arm wrestlers that's almost ever lived.” The table, held together with duct tape in places, represents the heart of arm wrestling training philosophy – functional, accessible, and battle-tested.
The Essential Equipment
Devon's setup is refreshingly minimal yet incredibly effective. The most important components include:
- A pulley system for various resistance training
- A collection of weight stacks organized by exercise type
- Belts that can be wrapped in different configurations
- Various handles for grip training
“This is my number one training equipment,” Devon says about his pulley system. “It replicates arm wrestling really, really well. And the main pieces that I use is a belt. The belt can be wrapped a million different ways to replicate different pressures.”
Location Is Everything
Perhaps the most important aspect of Devon's setup isn't the equipment itself, but its location – just steps away from his dining room table. This proximity is intentional and crucial to his training philosophy.
“This is the absolute key,” Devon emphasizes about the gym's location. “My life orbits around this gym.”
This setup allows for high-frequency training, with Devon able to work out multiple times throughout the day. It's not uncommon for him to be cooking in the kitchen, step over to do a set, then return to flip his eggs. This seamless integration of training into daily life separates the champions from the casual athletes.
The Specific Movements
Devon focuses on a few key movements that are specific to arm wrestling:
- Rising – “If I could say my style in one word, it'd be rising”
- Cupping – trained with specific handle configurations
- Rolling – high pronation movements
- Supination – rotational strength
- Grip training – various specialized handles
“The things that are consistent for decades: rising, cupping, rolling, little bit of supination, little bit of grip,” Devon explains, highlighting that arm wrestling success doesn't require countless exercises – just mastery of the fundamental movements.
The Training Philosophy
Devon's approach is brutally simple: “If you can do stupid heavy those things, that's enough.” No complicated periodization, no fancy equipment – just consistent, heavy, specific training.
This philosophy extends to his son's setup as well, which mirrors his father's approach in its simplicity and focus. Both training spaces feature handwritten notebooks, dedicated weight stacks for different movements, and the same proximity to living spaces.
Creating Your Own Home Gym
For those inspired to create their own home training space, Devon offers straightforward advice:
“You got to find what works for you,” he says. “I'm training arm wrestling, but I can do everything I need with this pulley and some weight stacks.”
His other key piece of advice is refreshingly simple: “Have enough weight.” When asked if there's anything missing from his setup that he wishes he had, Devon's answer is telling: “No. I've got everything I need. More weight, maybe.”
The Professional Approach
What truly stands out about Devon's setup is how it enables a professional athlete's approach to training. His son mentions working out around 10 hours a day – not continuously, but throughout the day, clocking in training sessions like most people clock in work hours.
“Professional athlete means that you're making a living off of being an athlete,” they explain. “The way it works out is you're getting paid to work out.”
For aspiring athletes, the lesson is clear: start with what you can do alongside your regular job until your athletic pursuits can take over. It's about dedication, consistency, and making the most of what you have.
Conclusion
Devon Larratt's home gym is a testament to the power of specificity in training. By focusing exclusively on what matters for arm wrestling performance and making training accessible throughout the day, he's created an environment that breeds excellence.
The most important elements aren't expensive or complicated – they're purposeful, convenient, and used consistently. For anyone looking to create their own home training space, these principles apply regardless of your sport or goals: identify what truly matters, make it accessible, and train with purpose.
