In the world of arm wrestling, legends are created at kitchen tables and backyard barbecues. Murfreesboro resident Jason Gulley—whose grip is as strong as his ambition—launched “Never Been Beat” as a rallying cry to the champions who have ruled their circles without tasting defeat.

Gulley is working on a documentary, to be called Never Been Beat, about arm wrestlers across the country who have never been defeated in a match.

“I am looking for blue-collar, country, hard-working men who have beaten all their friends at arm wrestling,” Gulley said. “I would like them to reach out to me to be a part of this.”

For the documentary concept, comedians Tom Mabe and Reno Collier are going to interview these strongmen who have never been beaten in arm wrestling to find out their stories, similar to the way the show American Pickers goes around the country looking for antiques, Gulley said.

“I am looking for tradesmen with unheard-of strength, who have arm-wrestled their buddies and always win,” he continued. “I’m not looking for professional arm wrestlers. I’m looking for people who have never been beat in arm wrestling with their friends.”

Often, these are unassuming, quiet guys—these are the ones about whom Gulley is intrigued, hoping to learn their stories.

“I’ve always been very interested in blue-collar, hard-working men who work with the strength of their hands,” Gulley said. “I wasn’t so much interested in the aesthetics, like body builders. I was just taken away by terms that were relevant to that kind of ‘country strong’ arm strength—the type of hand stability that these men have.”

So he is putting out a call to find these guys, and wants to tell their stories.

“Often, that guy is a master craftsman too, who is so specific and precise in his work,” Gulley added.

Gulley asks those featured in the documentary to join him in his effort to raise funds to be donated to A Soldier’s Child Foundation. Gulley has a partnership with the nonprofit organization, run by Darrell Mankin, which serves children of fallen servicemen and women from all U.S. military branches.

Jason Gulley and his Never Been Beat crew recently organized and gathered arm wrestling mentors to stage an arm wrestling competition, and offer words of encouragement, for kids of fallen military personnel at Journey Camp in Fountain Run, Kentucky, a project of A Soldier’s Child Foundation

Gulley is a former Marine himself, and a former competitive arm wrestler. He says he uses Janusian thinking—conceiving two seemingly contradictory ideas simultaneously—to draw out his creative side and to find innovative solutions through multiple perspectives.

He is also an inventor, the creator of the Gulley Grip, a thick-handled exercise grip that assists in developing hand and arm strength, and can connect to cable machines, weights or pull-up bars.

The Gulley Grip, shown here, was created by MTSU alumnus Jason Gulley. The exercise tool features a rotating handle that is supposed to improve gripping strength. (Photo by MTSU News and Media Relations)

“I have always wanted to arm-wrestle and have always been an athlete,” Gulley said. “I started arm wrestling with my buddies’ dads because I would beat all my buddies. I showed up every day for six months to beat one man. I arm-wrestled throughout high school and when I was in the Marine Corps after 9/11. Even in Iraq, I put together a little arm-wrestling exhibition at the gym where we worked out.”

After he left the U.S. Marine Corps, Gulley went to his first arm-wrestling tournament and started getting connected within the arm-wrestling community. He soon met John Brzenk, known as one of the best arm wrestlers of all time, winning more than 500 championship titles—with his first world title win on ABC’s Wide World of Sports in 1983.

“I asked Brzenk—the greatest arm wrestler of all time—what he did to strengthen his arm-wrestling abilities,” Gulley said. “He described to me utilizing a free rotating thick handle that you work out with to make your hand more stable.

I met with MTSU professor Walter Boles, and he made me a prototype. I started using it and two months later I won a tournament and beat everyone easily. I wanted to help others, so I mass-produced The Gulley Grip.”

Today, Gulley is a realtor with Zack Taylor Real Estate here in Murfreesboro, specializing in veteran home ownership. Gulley also serves as a veteran service officer for the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services, with an office at MTSU. He has a daughter at Oakland High School and a son at Oakland Middle School.

Look for more on the Never Been Beat documentary over the coming months as Gulley develops the idea and takes it to film companies.

___

For more information, visit neverbeenbeat.com or keep up with Never Been Beat on Facebook and TikTok.

Find more on A Soldier’s Child Foundation at asoldierschild.org.

Those interested in getting involved can call or text Jason Gulley at 615-920-2658.