Amazons International # 12 -------------------------- Topics: Mike R.: Bio Bev: Bio Jamie: Bio & Suggestion Chuck: Arm wrestling Chuck: Ideas & movie recommendations ******************************************************************** Welcome to another issue of Amazons International! This issue contains some bios from new members and you'll also find some ideas and suggestions for future issues. Two things you will find in the next issue: (1) The Bem gender role questionnaire, and (2) recently I got in contact with some new video producers and I'll write about this in the next issue -- some of it looks good. It looks like I may be spending some time on the East Coast (Pennsylvania, based in Pittsburgh) area in the beginning of August. Anybody want to meet me? How about an East Coast Amazon-con? We're about 60-70 people now, and I know there are several of us in the New Jersey, New York, Boston area. If you're interested in this, contact me at thomasg@ulrik.uio.no. - Thomas ******************************************************************** From: Mike R. Subject: Bio I am relatively new to an appreciation of what you call "Amazons." My tastes in general had run to the more conventional images of femininity. I must hasten to add, however, that I have been lifting weights since my late teens, and just as I have never felt a contradiction between my bodybuilding goals and my intellectual interests, I never perceived any inherent contradiction between weightlifting, muscularity and femininity. When, after some seven years of training, I decided it was time to start competing in bodybuilding, I started looking around the sport more generally and more critically, and began to really admire and respect my female colleagues in the gym who wanted to go "all the way". (It's not that I hadn't respected them before -- I am a loner, and generally did my own thing -- but now I began to see the woman I worked out with in a more collegial manner -- we were "in this together"). As I learned myself the tremendous strength and dedication it takes to bodybuild competitively, I found I appreciated more and more those women who bucked "tradition" and conventional notions of femininity to develop themselves as awesomely as they did. A workout partner in the gym introduced me to a friend of his, and we trained together and entered couples competition, at which we were extraordinarily successful. It was in training for couples competition with this truly awesome woman, (a light-heavyweight) that I really began to appreciate the erotic possibilities of female muscle. We eventually became very close -- I have a very strong personality, and she was able to hold her own with me. She was a brilliant scientist and communicator beyond her astounding athletic prowess. And the experience of working out together so intensely (and loving eachother afterwards) was one of powerful sensuality. Once one has had a relationship with a woman as tight and pumped as a competitive bodybuilder can get, there is no turning back. My new friend had to leave the States recently and go back to her country of origin, to her family, but I am hooked -- I'm pleased to meet a group of (hopefully) like-minded individuals. More power to you! I'd love to hear more about bodybuilders in this newsletter -- has anyone had similar experiences? Mike R. ******************************************************************** Date: Mon, 20 Apr 92 12:46:42 PDT From: bsb@crete.unify.com (Beverly Sobelman) Subject: Bio Sounds like an interesting group -- I'd like to check it out! As for my bio, at least in terms of Amazon-type interests/background... I grew up in a female-oriented household (though my 3 sisters are all at least 10 years older than I am, so they were more like extra moms), where almost all of us went to women's colleges (Wellesley '86 for myself) and never even considered _not_ having our own careers and lives, though I wouldn't consider it an explicitliy feminist upbringing. I just never considered being female as something that should influence my goals in life. So I majored in math and C.S., got a Master's from Berkeley in C.S., and am now happily employed as a software engineer. But aside from that general attitude, my main Amazon trait is that I'm very much involved in bodybuilding, and I'm quite proud of the fact that I'm strong and muscular but still undeniably female. I love working out, and do so about 2 hours a day; luckily, my gym has quite a few women who bodybuild, so it's a very supportive atmosphere, with great cameraderie. I'm hoping to compete in my first show early next year. I suppose I also have some very Amazon-like attitudes toward sex and sexuality, but I think I'll save those for a future contribution. Suffice to say, for now, that many men have told me that my views are much more like most men they know than like most women. I'm also divorced -- recently -- and *very* happy to have regained my independence (and my name -- I'll never give it up again!). Another lesson learned, albeit the hard way. Looking forward to hearing from others... Bev (also known as Rev) Beverly H. Sobelman "Instant gratification takes too long" bsb@unify.COM - _Postcards From the Edge_ ******************************************************************** From: gairns@ccrs.emr.ca (Jamie Gairns) Subject: Suggestion Date: Tue, 31 Mar 92 17:06:51 EST A new subscriber to the 'flock'. Great idea for a newsletter. I have a suggestion that may or may not be acceptable ... because of the storage space required. How about getting our hands on scanned images of real life Amazons. There HAS to be a source out there and there *IS* certainly an interest among us, if I may be so bold. I would be interested to hear feedback. The images could ALSO include members/subscribers of your newsletter. I like to put a face to the people I talk to and read about. It seems the problem would be to find (1) someone with a decent scanner to make the photos digital and (2) a place to store the images. Maybe this is NOT such a far fetched idea !?!? My bio ? 6'3" 200 lbs. Long mane of brown/black/red/blonde/plaid hair. I sport a van Dyke beard ... If you know the band Skinny Puppy ... I look (structurally) like the lead ... Ogre, but with a bit of a Robert DeNiro twist, so I've been told. I have been interested in the 'Amazon' ideal since about age 13. Why, I don't really know. I just like a strong woman. My ex has a VERY strong personality and I guess it rubbed off. I LOVE the physical prowess and presence of a well muscled woman, too. The more muscle ... the more impressed and awestruck I become. Phew !! I know mostly submissive women, and I think that this is the perfect forum to discover the wonderful variety of humanity out there in the world. I would love to hear from others out there with similar interests. I guess, finding 'Amazons' to correspond with is not terribly easy. I am interested to know why women like the ideal of being an Amazon. It fascinates me, completely. What sort of 'thing' do these Amazonian women look for in friends and lovers. SO much to say. Ciao, Jamie ******************************************************************** From: Chuck Subject: Arm wrestling Here's an example of why arm-wrestling is one of the most exciting sports to watch or participate. This is an excerpt from a book I read almost 15 years ago! (PS anyone know any other literary descriptions of armwrestling?) The scene is a Christmas party in a hotel room. Tommy J. and Jean are women wrestlers on holiday. Jean's biceps have been described earlier in the book as being quite large and solid. Tommy J. is a very aggressive wrestler, who has an almost fanatic need to win at everything she competes in. Her arms are not described in the book. "Do you think you could take Jean in the arm-wrestle?", Paul asked Tommy J. "We're about even", she admitted. (omitted)..... "Okay, I'll arm-wrestle you Tommy", Jean said affectionately. "For fun. Now you save one a' them toys for me, Harry. You hear now?" Harry nodded dumbly. He was a big success. Tommy J. and Jean lay on the floor facing each other, their elbows touching, thumbs locked, wrists absolutely vertical. Each drew a deep breath and began: Jean's face grew red with the concentrated effort, her smile strong, as if she wished to crush Tommy J. between her teeth. Tommy's eyes were hooded and ominous, a demented expression on her face as if she delighted in giving pain. We were exceedingly quiet, not wanting to distract them. For a few seconds it was a draw, neither giving way, but then Jean's arm began its slow but sure descent. Every movement she made to delay the final outcome sent waves of exhaustion through her entire body, causing it to tremble. With a mighty surge of energy, Tommy J. slapped her arm down. "Must be out of shape," Jean said thickly. pages 141-142 of TO SMITHEREENS by Rosalyn Drexler. Chuck from Buffalo ******************************************************************** From: Chuck Subject: Ideas for future issues & Movie recommendations A couple ideas for future issues: How about everybody putting in their $.02 about their favorite film/tv episode that included amazons or strong women? I'll start it off: Raye Hollitt in SKIN DEEP (movie) Although the bedroom posing scene was nice, I personally preferred the brief arm-wrestling match at the end of the film! Nell Fenwick in an episode (sorry don't know which one) of DUDLEY DORIGHT OF THE MOUNTIES! (cartoon) In one cartoon she flexes and beats Dudley twice armwresting!!! Olive Oyl in 2 POPEYE (cartoons) again I dont know titles There are at least two cartoons where olive eats spinach and proves women can have muscles too! (though on her skinny frame it's pretty silly!) OF COURSE TERMINATOR TWO!!! Linda Hamilton is FANTASTIC!!!!!! Red Sonja was fun, but except for the battles with Schwarzenegger pretty tame. I haven't seen Pumping Iron II: The Women yet, nor have I seen Double Impact (the new Van Damme movie) in which Corinna Everson (6 time Ms. Olympia) flexes her muscles as a martial arts baddie! I'd like comments from people who have seen them! Wide World of Sports used to cover the World Wristwrestling championships out of Petaluma, but I have,t seen it advertised in TV Guide for years. Currently I enjoy watching former bodybuilder Reggie Bennett on LPWA wrestling Sunday nights on our Cable network! Watch out though - they've got some transsexual guy who calls himself Terri Power and claims to be a woman. He's disgusting!!! ESPN carries a lot of bodybuilding shows, but again my favorite used to be the Football and Baseball Arm Wrestling championships they used to televise from Las Vegas the most!!!!! Some of the women there were INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!! My favorites were Julie Stanley - a blonde from Santa Ana, California who represented some tavern there, and was so short she had to stand on a small box to reach the table! She still always finished IN THE TOP THREE!!!! And of course anyone who's seen those matches will know what I mean when I say that everytime muscular Angela (Angie) Phillips walked up to the table it was doom for her competition. In the three years I watched these shows SHE WAS UNBEATEN!! No matter ho heavy or muscular her competition was! She even beat GRACE ANN SWIFT! TWICE!!! Also, I'd like to know if anyone has bought any of the apartment armwrestling videos from Premier Productions or the other company, and would review them here! I've purchased the 1989 Arm Wrestling Championships Tape from WPW, and IT WAS WORTH TWICE WHAT I PAID FOR IT!!! The best matches for me were those of Laura Robinson and Teresa Taglione (lasted more than 30 seconds!), Laura Robinson and Bonnie Dohm (both muscular, especially Bonnie!), all of Bonnie and Teresas other matches, all of Grace Ann Swift and Wendi Rogers matches, and Francine (I forget her last name). Francine had massive and well formed arms but grace just looked at her peacefully for 10 seconds and slammed her arm down! Amazing woman!!! Well that's all for now except for two more suggestions! 1)contributors might enter a fantasy character (male or female) in a fantasy Arm-wrestling Tournament which could be run through issues of the newspaper! 2) We might also swap notes on Amazons in literature! 3) Has anyone ever developed a female wrestling computer game? Or female characters in Arm Wrestling? (I love taking on the muscular women on the streets of Double Dragon)! That's all folks! Chuck from Buffalo ********************************************************* * Amazons International: thomasg@ulrik.uio.no * * Thomas Gramstad, editor * ********************************************************* "A Hard Woman is Good to Find" -- The Valkyries