[Martin]

Blarg in answer to your questions.

No I didn't start with the number 2. I started with the plate loader. Since I was living in South Africa at the time there was no way I was going to find IM Grippers. I built my own plate loader based on the PDA Grippernator (Spelling) Anyway that's a grip machine that pretty much approximates a gripper. I trained with that for a few months and then a friend brought me the 2 and 3 from the USA. Based on my max rep on the machine I calculated I should be able to close the 2 which I did on my second try. Setting the gripper in your hand the first time is a bit odd. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I was used to hand training from the martial arts though.

Most people without any grip training can barely close the trainer and very few get the 1 first time. If you look on the gripboard you will see that they tested a whole bunch of bodybuilders and some got the 1, quite a few missed it and only one guy got the 2.

If you want training ideas I reccomend John Brookfield's books not gripper specific but some great hand training ideas. As for pinch blocks I use a pinch grip tray. Basically two 2x4 screwed onto a flat piece of wood one on either side. Load whatever crap you like on it and dead lift the thing using a pinch grip.

Kettlebells are good for grip more so than standard db. You might want to look into thick handle db though. I made one with a 2 inch diameter handle that really strains the grip.

There is a lot of debate regarding writst curls helping grip. BTW do them on a bench not your knees. I train forearms this way and with other exercises for steel bending and card/phonebook tearing not really grippers. Personally I think if you want to train grip do grip specific exercises. Crush training with grippers or plate loaders, some friction lifts ie. pinch grips, thick bar training and maybe some sledge hammer leverage.

I see someone asked about the RB grippers. Robert is a great guy, he makes high quality stuff and his factory is hear in Austria. Lots of people buy his grippers since he makes versions between the standard IM numbers so that allows for an easier progression. There are also a number of other grippers on the market. Beef Builder being one of them. All are pretty good. However if you want the Iron Mind cert then you have to train towards the Ironmind 3 not the others, even though they may be the same poundage.

Hope that helps.
Finally gripping meets poker [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]