Bavarians crown finger wrestling champion — PHOTOS

Georg Schoettl warms up with a leather strap prior to his fight at the 40th Alpine Country Championships at Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (Matthias Schrader/AP)

Georg Schoettl tries to pull his opponent over the table at the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln_finger wrestling_ in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (Matthias Schrader/AP)

Georg Schoettl from Ohlstadt near Murnau looks into camera prior to his fight at the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (Matthias Schrader/AP)

A competitor stretches his fingers as he prepares for a bout at the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (Matthias Schrader/AP)

A man dressed in traditional clothes tries to pull his opponent over the table at the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. ((Matthias Schrader/AP)

Young men dressed in traditional clothes attend the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln_finger wrestling_ in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

A man dressed in traditional clothes tries to pull his opponent over the table during the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln_finger wrestling_ in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

People dressed in traditional clothes attend the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln_finger wrestling_ in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Two competitors connected just with a leather strap around their middle fingers challenge at the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln_finger wrestling_ in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

A man dressed in traditional clothes tries to pull his opponent over the table at the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln_finger wrestling_ in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

A competitor stretches his fingers as he prepares for a fight at the 40th Alpine Country Championships in Fingerhakeln in Woernsmuehl, Germany, Thursday, May 25, 2017. Competitors battled for the title in this traditional rural sport where the winner has to pull his opponent over a marked line on the table. (Matthias Schrader/AP)

WOERNSMUEHL, Germany — Georg Schoettl’s workout routine is intense, but it involves just one finger. That — plus a high tolerance for pain — is all he needs to compete in the unique sport of “Fingerhakeln,” or finger wrestling.

Schoettl’s training regimen consists of using his middle finger to lift a weight and pull a rubber band over and over again. The preparation serves the 56-year-old farmer from southern Germany well when he arrives at the 40th Alpine Country Championship, where he is one of more than 50 competitors.

Hundreds of people in traditional Bavarian clothes come together in a big tent in the picturesque village of Woernsmuehl near Miesbach in Upper Bavaria to drink beer and watch the crowning of new champions.

Fingerhakeln is now a serious competitive sport in the Alpine region of southern Germany and neighboring Austria, but it was originally used to settle disputes.

In each round, competitors sit on opposite sides of a solid table cushioned with leather to soften the impact. They hook their fingers through opposite sides of a small leather loop and wait for the referee to signal the start. The winner is whoever can pull his opponent across the table first. Contests usually last just a few seconds, and dislocated fingers are common.

Schoettl, who has competed for more than 40 years, placed third in the most senior category.