A CLAWnucopia Celebration

“Give thanks for the fruits of our labor, align with your favorite wrestler, and dance.”

In case you missed Saturday night’s CLAWnucopia lady arm wrestling extravaganza at Blue Moon Diner, check out what these CLAW ladies have to say about the growing sensation in Cville and beyond. Like them? Like CLAW.

Nurse Cheryl // Cville Knievel, aka Jennifer Hoyt Tidwell

In five words or less, describe your bad ass contestant self.

Nurse Cheryl has been taking nursing classes at PVCC for 15 years. She is not a nurse yet, but she wears scrubs and practices amateur nursery. Is that a word? She dates Permanent Lifetime Judge Jim Waive.

What makes a CLAW girl a CLAW girl (besides having desirably large arms)?

Pure wildness and unpredictability. We are Women Who Run With Animal from the Muppets.

Describe your work out routine.

I do this isometric thing where I look at my arms really hard and critically 8 times a day (when I’m drinking my 8 glasses of mandatory water). Plus I eat a vegan diet.

How can the crowd best support their favorite lady? CLAW Bucks? Chants? Groupie attire?

If you love me, you’ll wear a white coat, shout “You’re the Best Nurse Cheryl” or “You’re the Real Nurse Cheryl” and of course tons of CLAWbucks in my half-sister Meryl’s bucket bra.

If a crowd member wants to take it to the next level in the realm of obsession, what’s it take to be a groupie?

You must be the product of a human daddy and a farm animal.

With the growing local and national popularity of CLAW, what should people really know about CLAW?

In all seriousness, CLAW and her sister leagues are an extremely open, accessible format for exploring empowering personas, making statements about things that are important to you, and convincing those of us who are poor that we can still give money and make change in all kinds of ways.

How long have you been a CLAW lady?

3.5 years

What’s your “how I became a CLAW girl” story?

I inadvertently founded CLAW w/ Jodie Plaisance (aka MoJo). Our well-traversed founding story is on our website.

What else do you do, besides being a bad ass arm wrestler?

I am the CLAWvangelist and executive director of CLAW USA, an alliance of theatrical ladies arm wrestling leagues that sprang up from our local CLAW since 2008.

How have you seen CLAW grow since you joined, and where do you see it going?

I’ve seen it grow from 75 people to 750 people, and realized that was too damn many people to keep an eye on! But seriously, I believe that because CLAW is such a flexible, original format, it can accommodate many ideas and changes in vision over time. I hope it always keeps an idea towards theater & performance because that is what makes it most exciting and unpredictable.

Best (or most ridiculous) during-a-live-match anecdote.

We had City Counselor Holly Edwards as a celebrity judge back in 2008. She was asked to break a tie between Sourpussy and Stiletto Southpaw. She’s a mild-mannered, sweet nurse and a mother of 4, so we were all shocked and delighted when she ruled for Sourpussy, exclaiming, “Charlottesville needs more pussy!”

Foxxy Cleopatra, aka Erika Powell

In five words or less, describe your bad ass contestant self.

Name says it all – FOXXY!

What makes a CLAW girl a CLAW girl (besides having desirably large arms)?

Spunk, passion, creativity, and a talent for breaking all the rules.

Describe your work out routine.

Mine is more of a pampering routine – nice long bath, a few splashes of my favorite smell-good and tons of nail polish and glitter. Do that 3x daily and you’ll see how those muscles grow and start to sparkle!

How can the crowd best support their favorite lady? CLAW Bucks? Chants? Groupie attire?

It’s all about the benjamins, baby! Although the chants and groupie attire keep the energy pumping through the night.

If a crowd member wants to take it to the next level in the realm of obsession, what’s it take to be a groupie?

You know what they say, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” I also take cash, check and/or money orders. Gold, rubies, chocolates, perfume etc… would also be considered acceptable.

With the growing local and national popularity of CLAW, what should people really know about CLAW?

It’s all about empowering women, having fun and giving back to the community.

How long have you been a CLAW lady?

A few short months.

What’s your “how I became a CLAW girl” story?

CLAW came to me, actually. They needed a hot foxxy mama to join their band of thieves and thought I would be a PUUURRFEECT addition to the group! It was serendipitous actually because I was growing tired of keeping bad guys off the strip…em I mean…street.

What else do you do, besides being a bad ass arm wrestler?

I’m a lady of many talents (wink. wink. wink).

How have you seen CLAW grow since you joined, and where do you see it going?

It’s gone from local to national, now let’s make this a global/international family affair.

Best (or most ridiculous) during-a-live-match anecdote.

My fro’ was getting a little too puffy so I had to tame that sucka’ with my comb and keep it in check while waiting for the next wrestler to come down the aisle. 

The Decomposer, aka Jenny Mikulski

The Decomposer – Throw Your Clawbucks in the Compost Heap

In five words or less, describe your bad ass contestant self.

I will break it down.

What makes a CLAW girl a CLAW girl (besides having desirably large arms)?

Having a borderline personality disorder is probably helpful.

Describe your work out routine.

I aerobically oxidize everything that crosses my path.

How can the crowd best support their favorite lady? CLAW Bucks? Chants? Groupie attire?

If there is a wrestler you like I think it’s delightfully creepy to show up in coordinated attire – especially if she has no idea who you are.

If a crowd member wants to take it to the next level in the realm of obsession, what’s it take to be a groupie?

Organize your posse so your favorite wrestler can bodysurf off the stage.

With the growing local and national popularity of CLAW, what should people really know about CLAW?

CLAW is here to remind us of what we knew as children: all you need to have fun is the backyard, your neighbors, some cardboard and facepaint, fishnet stockings and PBR.

How long have you been a CLAW lady?

Since menarche.

What’s your “how I became a CLAW girl” story?

The son of 1st-generation Polish Baltimore City immigrants met the daughter of 4th-generation Pennsylvania Germans, gave birth to and raised a girl with a martyred Protestant work ethic, Catholic guilt complex, preternaturally large arms, a bad attitude, a yearning for the resurrection and an absurd capacity for pain tolerance.

What else do you do, besides being a bad ass arm wrestler?

Compost.

How have you seen CLAW grow since you joined, and where do you see it going?

When there’s a CLAW match in a mangrove swamp in Equatorial Guinea, I’ll think back on the days we stood on chairs INSIDE the diner to get a better view.

Best (or most ridiculous) during-a-live-match anecdote.

It was a little absurd when Bridezilla gave birth on stage.

Nurse Cheryl, aka Sian Richards

In five words or less, describe your bad ass contestant self.

She nevers wrestles. She Mc’s and keeps an eye on the arms. She tells filthy stories, dispatches bad advice, and busts balls.

What makes a CLAW girl a CLAW girl (besides having desirably large arms)?

CLAW women are all kinds and this goes for all the leagues as far as I can tell. We like all the ladies. I think the common thread is women who like to use their brains. Women who like to help people and women who like a good party.

Describe your work out routine.

In my case, cause I don’t wrestle, my work out routine would be all the things I (mostly) don’t say. They come in handy for Cheryl.

How can the crowd best support their favorite lady? CLAW Bucks? Chants? Groupie attire?

All of the above.

With the growing local and national popularity of CLAW, what should people really know about CLAW?

It is people making something to help some other people and to make lots of people laugh, cheer, boo and have a good time.

How long have you been a CLAW lady?

Since the very first event in 2008.

What’s your “how I became a CLAW girl” story?

Jennifer and Jodie asked me to join the first meeting about how to hold a Ladies Arm Wrestling competition, I have been meeting and Mc-ing and cursing ever since.

What else do you do, besides being a bad ass arm wrestler?

I sell wine and I act. I often act as I sell wine. I am a co-founder of Performers Exchange Project and an (All New) Acorn Sister with my friend Sarah White.

How have you seen CLAW grow since you joined, and where do you see it going?

It is great to see other leagues starting up. Taking Cville as an outline and making their own thing… Let’s face it: we had no idea what we were making. All the individual women and men volunteers plus all our Charlottesville community, plus the fantastic people at Blue Moon and what they offer our communtiy got tossed in a pot and CLAW is what came out. I have no idea where it is going, thank goodness. I hope it is a surprise.

Best (or most ridiculous) during-a-live-match anecdote.

It is hard to separate one from another.

Rev. Blackbusch, aka LaTrina Candia

In five words or less, describe your bad ass contestant self.

Al Sharpton meets James Brown meets Peaches

What makes a CLAW girl a CLAW girl (besides having desirably large arms)?

Bi-polar

Describe your work out routine.

Longed-squats while drinking a Martini (Its a tough balancing act).

How can the crowd best support their favorite lady? CLAW Bucks? Chants? Groupie attire?

Bribe the judges.

If a crowd member wants to take it to the next level in the realm of obsession, what’s it take to be a groupie?

Flattery will get you everywhere.

With the growing local and national popularity of CLAW, what should people really know about CLAW?

Women Rule!!!!!

How long have you been a CLAW lady?

6 months.

 What’s your “how I became a CLAW girl” story?

Crazy lady (Dolly Joseph aka School Morm) asked me to be in her entourage for a CLAW event and I have been hooked every since!

What else do you do, besides being a bad ass arm wrestler?

Student.

How have you seen CLAW grow since you joined, and where do you see it going?

More fans and better event equipment.

Best (or most ridiculous) during-a-live-match anecdote.

Anytime Home-wrecker takes the stage!

SparKills, aka Lara Fisher

In five words or less, describe your bad ass contestant self.

I LOVE IT!!

What makes a CLAW girl a CLAW girl (besides having desirably large arms)?

Sense of fun and the ridiculous; interested in giving back to C’ville.

Describe your work out routine.

I am totally lopsided from skating in the same derby direction.

How can the crowd best support their favorite lady? CLAW Bucks? Chants? Groupie attire?

It is all about the BUCKS for our charity!

If a crowd member wants to take it to the next level in the realm of obsession, what’s it take to be a groupie?

For my groupies? glitter glitter glitter…

With the growing local and national popularity of CLAW, what should people really know about CLAW?

It is such a fun, creative and ridiculous way to come together and give to important work in our local community!!

How long have you been a CLAW lady?

Since the 3rd CLAW in April ?2008?

What’s your “how I became a CLAW girl” story?

I got to be one of the 4 Derby Dames in the 3rd CLAW and stayed!!

What else do you do, besides being a bad ass arm wrestler?

Hospice Social Worker and Derby Dame.

How have you seen CLAW grow since you joined, and where do you see it going?

It was still inside the Diner when I joined!!

Tagged: (all new) acorn sister, beliza brazil, blue moon diner, charlottesville derby dames, Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers, CLAW, CLAWnucopia, derby dames, dj western front, erika powell, foxxy cleopatra, Jennifer Hoyt Tidwell, Jenny Mikulski, lara fisher, nurse cheryl, PEP, performers exchange project, quality community council, sarah white, sian richards, sparkills, the decomposer, we are star children

Posted in: community, New to Cville, quirky