A power rowing machine that combines the seat of a rowing machine with a weight arm for resistance training. The power rowing machine avoids the flywheel of a conventional rowing machine and instead uses a weight arm. The weight arm serves two purposes. First, weight can be added to the arm for progressive resistance training. Second, the pivoting action varies the resistance through the movement. As a slow controlled resistance exercise the back and the arms of the rowing stroke cannot move the same resistance as the legs. Similarly, a user at the beginning of the rowing motion, with the legs compressed, cannot move as much resistance as with knees at a 90-degree angle.