By CATHY DYSON

Gary and Jeremy Kessler will drive 300 miles next month to compete in "The Arnold," a prestigious arm-wrestling event.

Truth is, the basement of their North Stafford home is as far as the father and son need to travel to practice their techniques.

Both are really into the sport, and their downstairs workout room has everything they need.

Inspiration comes from nearby trophies and plaques, cast in the shape of bulging biceps.

Perspiration flows freely as both do hundreds of push-ups and pull-ups to make their upper bodies strong.

Competition is stiff as parent and child go head to head in the age-old battle of experience versus youth.

Youth is the victor--at least at the practice table of the Kessler home.

On a recent night, Jeremy, 17, showed no signs of fatigue as his Gary, 44, challenged on one hand and then the other.

"You don't have to pin me every time, you know," Gary said.

"Yeah, I do," his son answered, forcing his father's hand to the mat once more.

The Kesslers got into wrestling about five years ago, after both saw matches and thought they looked interesting.

Gary joined the Northern Virginia Arm Wrestling group, and Jeremy started hanging out with him.

Both are quick to point out that arm-wrestling isn't held in smoke-filled bars, where someone's likely to get hit on the head with a beer bottle.

"Most guys are computer engineers, they're wholesome family guys," said Jeremy, whose father is a network engineer.

"It's not like it's pictured on TV," added Gary, whose son is a junior at Brooke Point High School and a member of the academic team. "If it was, I wouldn't be in it."

Matches are orderly and organized, arranged by weight classes like other sports.

The father and son weigh the same--low 180s--and compete in the same class, for those between 155 and 176 pounds. (Both fast before weigh-in to shed that pesky water weight.)

That means, at the Arnold Classic Armwrestling Challenge in Columbus, Ohio, March 5-7, one Kessler could find himself squaring off against the other.

Based on their recent practice, does that mean the older Kessler doesn't stand a chance against the younger one at the event known as "the Mecca of muscle"?