Captains of Crush gripper challenge

[Stuey]

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Yeah, I finally got mine too and the #1 has me by about 1/8". Humbling stuff, but awesome possibility for growth, eh? [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

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When I heard Blarg could not do it I knew it would be hard. I like hard challenges though but I think this will take some time and I don't think I am ever going to be able to close the #3. But only one way to find out.

I like their motto.
Hard work. Persistence. Pain. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Blarg]

Exactly. All three of us are starting at almost exactly the same place, too, so we can encourage each other not to slack off.

Here's something else cool and it should be encouraging. Me, the ectomoroph who has always had a weak grip, got my first #1 on July 12, and got it to 1/4 inch closed, maybe a bit less. Today, 7/27, I was messing around on the #2, and "set" the gripper in my palm with my left hand, and squeezed it just a bit so I could get my pinky on it -- and I got it to around 1/4 inch from closed! That's a HUGE increase in strength in only two weeks!

The funny thing is, I still have trouble on the last 1/8 inch even on the trainer! I really stink in the last 1/8 inch.

But going from 1/4" on the #1 to 1/4" on the #2 in two weeks is something I never dreamed possible! One day, but maybe many, many months out, not in two weeks.

Of course, it's not a close, and a close is what counts, but still...

I think working on negatives and trying to jam as hard as I could with the #2 primed my central nervous system to take a quick step up. My goal gripper was the #1(and still is, actually, since I still usually can't close it), but taking the advice of people on the gripper boards, I did some work on the #2 and it seems to be paying off very quickly.

I highly suggest reading grippermania.com and gripboard.com. The amount of specific knowledge these guys have about strongman sports and gripping equipment and training theories, etc., has really surprised me. There's a lot more to it than I thought, and those forums are really excellent and full of info. Very friendly attitude there too(much more so than here).

Good luck you guys -- do read that stuff, and start squeezin'! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Blarg]

Hey Stuey -- and Subfallen too -- I agree on getting the trainer. You can use it for warm-ups and high rep work, and also to squeeze the hell out of to get some power work in the last 1/8 inch, which is always the hardest part of range, so it needs to be worked a lot.

Basically, it's a good idea to always have one above and one below the one you're really trying to work on closing.

Stuey -- the #3 is going to be a long trip for all of us. To do that, you're so good you're worthy of recognition and certification by Ironmind. It's definitely the kind of thing that could take years. But, the consensus seems to be it's quite doable by anybody, with enough devotion, no matter the body type. Which is pretty cool; you may never be bulked or cut up like a bodybuilder or squatting 1000 pounds like a powerlifter, but apparently gripping is kind enough to be something everyone can do and get extremely strong at.

I like that a lot, and that you don't need a gym or to spend a fortune or a lot of time or anything. Heck, tonight I was doing some grip work while playing poker.

Tried to talk Wacki into it but he shunned me. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] Oh well, we'll get more recruits. It's pretty cool that we all started at almost exactly the same strength level at close enough to exactly the same time -- I've just got two weeks on you guys, Stuey and Subfallen.

Martin is way ahead of us, though. He's the elder statesman!

[Martin]

Good Luck guys.

A few things.

As Blarg knows, the position of the gripper in the hand is very important. Make sure you get the dogleg in the right place.

Read both boards for good gripping info.
Also check out something called J.A.G on the Grippermania board it's an interesting idea that allows micro-loading of a gripper.

Sledge levering is great for hand strength if you have the space. Magnets and nails make good micro loading or just move your hand on the handle.

Lastly don't forget the pinch grip, block weights or thick bar work. This will increase overall hand strength. And pinch grip / thick bar seems to directly translate into sweep strength on the gripper.

[Martin]

Some interesting stuff that may help you guys. Ignore the half naked guy pics [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
Grip Training Article

[beernutz]

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Never seen an adjustable one. I've seen all kinds of weird contraptions, though. This regular old familiar design seems to be what people are measuring themselves by these days. I was surprised they were measuring grip strength competitively or working on it so much at all, but apparently it's a big new deal.

I did see some other grippers advertised here and there, with varying loads. Like up or down 10 pounds, etc., more or less harshly knurled grips, whatever. These ones I have are smoothly but well knurled; if you let your fingers or hand skin slip much, you'll definitely feel it, and maybe build up calluses.

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An adjustable one is the Ivanko. I have it and also a CofC #1. The Ivanko is a much better deal as you can't outgrow it, however, it is pretty big for a gripper.

Ivanko:

[Blarg]

Good link, Martin.

[Stuey]

Very good link Martin thanks. I hope I stick with this as I keep reading that great gains are possible in a short period of time if you work hard, smart and consistently over time.

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Almost anyone within a year or two can become almost superhumanly strong in the grip.

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Sweet.

[Blarg]

Yeah, there are not many physical things that genetics don't draw some really hard limits on, and just having time to train draws strict limits on what you can achieve, too. But grip can be worked pretty quickly and done to high achievement by anyone, and even pretty much on the cheap.

Keep going, all! And tell us of your new grip toys. I think I'm probably done buying for a while. I wouldn't mind one of those Ivanko grippers, but the regular grippers are doing fine by me, and I have lots of other ways to train, so I'm good for a while.

[Blarg]

So Martin, what did you do to mess up your left hand tendons?