Finger workout

This one's for reader Tim, who is interested in all things German, I think:

German finger wrestling pulls a crowd in Bavaria

Competitors, who are matched in weight and age, sit opposite each other and pull on a small leather loop using just one finger.  The winner is the one who pulls his opponent across the table. As in other forms of wrestling, those taking part must put in lots of training. Squeezing tennis balls and lifting heavy weights with just one finger are both part of the routine. To emerge triumphant, technique and physical strength are important, as is a high pain threshold.

Fingerhakeln is traditional in Bavaria and in Austria. Its origins are unclear but it is believed to have started as a way of settling arguments.

I thought at first, if only Hitler had been prepared to settle disputes with a good fingerhakeln session.  But then I thought of poor old Roosevelt being flung across the table, and America going all Man in the High Castle.

Churchill, on the other hand, might have kept Britain safe that way.

The articles has lots of photos of men in traditional get up, pulling fingers.