In the magical back room at Le Voyeur Café and Lounge, where all kinds of artistic dreams come into fruition, a dozen ladies and a few men gather to discuss proper arm-wrestling technique.

Smack talking and muscle flexing is encouraged, and costumed characters and their entourage parade about the floor, practicing for the first big match for the Olympia chapter of the Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers, or Oly CLAW, set for Friday, May 30. Characters such as Ivana KrushU, Cold As Isis, Vegan Villain and more will go head-to-head, or should I say arm-to-arm, in a full-out fight to raise money and awareness for Safeplace, an advocacy agency and confidential shelter for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Thurston County.

>>> Elly Slay Clamp-It, Bambi SpiceBush and Crystal Light cock their guns. Photo credit: Nikki McCoy

For many of the women involved in CLAW, this is their first time in the performance arena.

Katie Meyer, aka Elly Slay Clamp-It, says there is no room for nervousness, and being in a room full of like-minded ladies helps.

"Once you get in the flow, it's all adrenalin," she confesses. "I'm not intimidated."

And while the women all have guns and puns - Stone Cold Stevie Nicks threatens, "This landslide is gonna bring you down," and Vegan Villain claims to have "broccoli biceps" - each arm wrestler brings something unique to the group.

"It's cool to spend time with women in this town who I have never met before and who come from all walks of life," says Meyer.

Competition and compassion run equally strong for the group, which plans to do more events for charity.  

"Am I tough? I'm the toughest of them all," says Meyer. "But, really, the most important thing is that this is all for a good cause."

One hundred percent of proceeds benefit Safeplace.

Betting on arm wrestlers encouraged.

OLY CLAW WOMEN'S ARM WRESTLING, 7 p.m., Friday, May 30, Le Voyeur, 404 Fourth Ave., Olympia, $10 at brownpapertickets.com or at the door, 360.943.5710

OlyClaw Teaser from john manini on Vimeo.