Mark Luis Ben: Giving armwrestling a hand
Mark Luis Ben isn’t a household name. But he just might be someday.
Mark competes in the sport of armwrestling. Yes, that very sport that Sylvester Stallone promoted in one of his movies years back! It actually helped glamorize the sport somehow, but the follow-up push just wasn’t there.
Now, Mark is looking to make that push for the sport here in the country and, after representing our country in various international competitions and hopefully earning recognition and accolades, he hopes to take the sport to its place among the elite.
PHILIPPINE STAR: Why is this the sport for you?
MARK LUIS BEN: In armwrestling, big muscles aren’t the only things you need to win — it doesn’t matter whether you’re a powerlifter, a weightlifter, crossfitter or the most badass bystander. The only thing that matters is whether you can step on the stage and beat the person standing across you.
Growing up, I and my brother were very interested in a lot of sports because our family was sports-oriented, our goal was to get jacked and build our muscle and get strong. If you’re strong, you boost your confidence and it also helps you do good in school. We also liked to armwrestle a lot, even in school because we thought it was the measure of one’s strength compared to nonsense brawling. So, armwrestling is for everyone — old people, children, and women can do armwrestling as long as they have the proper knowledge of the sport.
A lot of awareness has been achieved to help enhance the growth of your sport. How can you try to contribute to this?
Armwrestling in the Philippines is not yet known as a sport, most people see it as a recreational activity, and others see it as a sport that’s prone to injury. In the US and Europe, armwrestling is very popular and now, it’s growing in Asia, they already have their own federations. Right now, what we are doing is to get a lot of participants, get a lot of strong people here in Philippines. Currently, we have at least 50 active members who promote armwrestling in their own ways, and every Sunday, we hold practice matches and clinics at Tiendesitas.
What would be the pinnacle of the sport for you? What are you still looking to achieve?
I had a competition in Shenzhen China last July 30 and just last August 21 in Hong Kong for Arnold’s Classic. I will represent the country in the 80kg category.
My goal is to get to the world level competition, to be the number one. I want to make history with Philippine records, I want to be recognized globally for armwrestling!
Why would you encourage young kids to choose armwrestling as their sport?
Playing sports is a rite of passage for most kids. But competition and kids can become a touchy subject — some kids and parents can get too competitive and turn into poor sports when they lose. Children often spend too much time watching television or playing video games. But sports like armwrestling provide an opportunity for exercise that can help keep kids in shape and healthy. Armwrestling participation can help children develop social skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. They learn to interact not only with other children their age, but also with older individuals and their coaches and sports officials. Participation in armwrestling can have a huge positive impact on a child’s self-esteem and confidence. They get praise and encouragement from coaches and parents, which helps to build their self-confidence. It is no surprise that children who participate in athletics excel in academics as well. They can apply the same principles of dedication and hard work learned to their studies. Sports participation promotes health and wellness not only through childhood but throughout a lifetime. Armwrestling is especially beneficial because the child can continue to play as an adult, benefiting from the physical activity. Children who participate in sports might also be more aware of healthy food choices.
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