Readers ask, David Shead answers 09:00 03/20/2015 Got any doubts? Ask a seasoned referee. David Shead answers armpower.net readers' questions. Not what you were looking for? Search for other text. Is it correct if referee makes admonition to the athlete who, because of the opponent’s palm inconvenience or otherwise, takes the elbow off the elbow-pad to get a better grip and gain an advantage in the starting position? The opponent doesn’t takes off his elbow. Answer: Their is nothing in the rules that says you must put your elbow down before taking a grip, nor does it say that you if you are not happy with the grip you cannot pull out and re grip, but the grip must be within the rules so they should not have any large advantage. However if the referee thinks one competitor is wasting time they should give them a warning. The problem is there are good grips and bad grips but both can be within the rules, and the referee is only allowed to get the competitors a grip that meets the rules