This Week in Grip

This Week in Grip – Episode 22 – 7/3/17

Want to Lever Bigger Hammers?
This Workout Shows You How to
Get it Done!

This Week in Grip

Who was the Strongest Strength Coach, Male & Female, at the Juniata Strength Clinic? Jedd Johnson and Allen Heineck reveal who had the sickest grip and who’s been pulling off the most amazing Grip Feats in this episode of This Week in Grip.

Take Your Training to the Next Level with the Diesel Files:

This week, Allen Heineck and Jedd Johnson begin the process of catching up from the last 2 weeks. Plus, we interview a mystery guest. Can you guess who it is, before he comes on?

Want to Learn to Tear Decks of Cards?
Get the Best Resource on the Plant

This Week in Grip

This week, Allen Heineck and Jedd Johnson discuss what went down at the North American Grip Sport Championship, also known as Grip Nationals.

Feedback on this episode: “Great episode guys! couldn’t make it to nationals, but felt like I was there with Jedd’s recount.” – Tom Scibelli

Want to Compete in Grip?
Start Out By Getting Your Crush Grip Right
With the CRUSH DVD:

2017 North American Grip Sport Championship

Grippers Right and Left Hands

Two Hands Pinch

Axle Deadlift

NAGS Championship Medley Runs

Aaron Corcorran Medley Run

Tanner Merkle Medley Run

Jedd Johnson Medley Run

Gil Goodman Medley Run

Post Contest Feating – Sahlaney Bell Combo Lifts

Jedd Johnson 180/172 Sahlaney Bell Attempt

Tanner Merkley 180/172 Sahlaney Bell Attempt

Jedd Johnson – First Try at 180/172 Sahlaney Bells

Eric Roussin 180/172 Sahlaney Bell Lift

Post Contest Feating – 180lb Sahlaney Bell + Fatman Blob

Jedd Johnson – 180lb Sahlaney Bell + Fatman Blob

Tanner Merkle – 180lb Sahlaney Bell + Fatman Blob

Jedd Johnson – 180lb Sahlaney Bell + Fatman Blob

This Week in Grip

This is a SPECIAL edition of the show today – episode 18, the day before a SPECIAL holiday here in the United States and around the world – Memorial Day, and the week before the North American Grip Sport Championship – Allen and I are ready to serve YOU and cover the LATEST in This Week in Grip!

How to Lift the Inch Dumbbell

This Week in Grip

Allen Heineck and I talk about the latest events in Grip Sport, Grip Training, Grip Strength, Hand Strength, Modern Day Oldtime Strongman, and other Feats of Strength.

In October of 2016, I experienced the worst back injury of my life. It was then that I decided that as soon as my back was ready again, I would make this feat my primary focus, and possibly become the first person to do it.

I first pinched one pair of Old School York Deep Dish Plates in 2013, and since then I trained it sporadically, mainly during periods when I wasn’t training for contests and certifications.

Last week, on Tuesday, I was sure I was going to pull this feat off. So much so, I actually wrote down on a piece of paper that I would do it on that night. It ended up being the first time I ever broke both sets off the floor, which gave me some great mental momentum. On my 5th or 6th attempt, I nearly got them to lockout. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite pull them all the way, as the set in my left hand slipped out about 6 inches before Lockout.

Finally, this past Tuesday, on 3/29/17, I focused in hard, took my time warming up and getting everything right, and was successful on my 2nd or 3rd attempt.

I waited to hear confirmation from Richard Sorin that he hadn’t heard of anyone else doing it yet, especially Chad Woodall, who I know was extremely close in 2011 at Summer Strong, and who has made other trips in recent years. Once Richard confirmed, I went ahead and uploaded the video.

After years of trying, and failing literally hundreds of times, this feat is in the books.

Thanks and all the best in your training.

Jedd

This Week in Grip

This Week in Grip – Episode 7

Steel Bending Resources

This past week, I released my latest steel bending product, the Less is More Steel Bending Workout.

One component of the product is the accompanying Workout PDF. I wanted to do something special for those who picked up the product, and I compiled a list of the videos about bending I’ve put up on YouTube and all the articles I’ve put up about bending here on the site.

Unfortunately, I can’t get the links to all of these videos to work, so I’m posting them here, and everyone will be able to check them out.

If you haven’t picked up your copy of the Less is More Steel Bending Workout, make sure you do it fast, while the introductory price is still available.

Steel Bending Videos

Grade 8 Bolt Bent with Head Removed

7″ FBBC Stainless Bastard Bar Reverse Miss

6″ x 1/4″ Grade 8 with Head Removed (Miss)

6″ x 1/4″ Square Cold Rolled Steel – Reverse Bend – 11/6/16

Grade 8 Bolt Reverse – 11/6/16

9/32″ x 6″ Reverse Bending | Prep for Gripmas 2016

Volume Bending to Improve Top Bending Strength | Cooking With Napalm

Mason’s Hope Strongman Show 2016: Horseshoe Bend

Mason’s Hope Strongman Show 2016: Bending a Widow Maker

Masons Hope Strongman Show 2016: Breaking a Nail to Pieces

Will Sledge Hammer Levering Help My Nail Bending?

Viewer Asks “What’s Your Biggest Accomplishment?”

Nail Bending, Inch Dumbbell, and My Physique – Cooking with Napalm

Red Nail Reverse Bend & Measure Only

Red Nail Reverse Bend – Full Wrap / Bend / Measure Video

Bending Steel | Red Nail Reverse Bend Attempt – 5/16×7 Cold Rolled Steel

Nail Bending Questions & Answers – Cooking with Napalm

Strongman Feats: Bending a Hammer

Strongman Feats of Strength: Bending a 60D Nail

Strongman Feats: Jedd Johnson Bends a Horseshoe

Strongman Jedd Johnson – Bending a Drop Forged Steel Wrench

Strongman Jedd Johnson – Bending a Carpenter’s Hammer

Strongman Jedd Johnson – Bending a Horseshoe

Strongman Jedd Johnson – Bending a Frying Pan

Strongman Bending 8″ Steel Wrench

Strongman Wrench Bend

60D Nail Break Under 3 Minutes

Nail Bending – Double Overhand Technique

Napalm Bends the Red Nail

Napalm Bends the Red Nail

Napalm Gets Called Out

Steel Bending Articles

5 Tips for Bending a Wrench

Welcome to the Jungle – The Ultimate Form of Bending

The Importance of Double Compression in Bending

Balancing Steel Bending with Other Training

8 Reasons to Start Bending Horseshoes

Success Stories: Bending Your First Horseshoe

How the Strength of Steel is Determined in Steel Bending

What You Need for Horseshoe Bending

What Sets Horseshoe Bending Apart from Other Strength Feats

The Journey Into Nail Bending

Isometric Hammer Work for Bending Success

4 Ways to Improve the Kink for Reverse Bending

Nail Bending and Variation of Metals

Intro to Nail Bending

Advanced Nail Wrapping

Will Sledge Hammer Levering Help Me Bend Bigger Bars?

Red Beard Power – Adam Moyers Bends the Red Nail

Interview with the Red Dragon Slayer – Nate Brous

Feats of Strength: Nail Breaking

Horseshoe Progression List

Rick Giese Bends the Red Nail

Rolling Frying Pans and Managing Radiant Tension

Chicken Winging and Angry Texting

What is the Best Material for Wrapping Nails?

Sledge Hammer Feats

With my ongoing back issues, I’ve been working on some feats that I don’t normally take time to work on.

Here are some quick clips of some of the training I’ve been doing.

16lb Slim Farman Floor Lever

This is a feat originated by one of the most widely recognized performing Strongmen, Slim “The Hammer Man” Farman. The objective here is to start with the hammer parallel to the floor, with your hand on a towel or pad, and then to lever it up into a vertical position, so that it contacts one of your shoulders.

Below, I do the feat with a 16lb Sledge. I’d like to work up to a 20lb Sledge though, which I’ve done twice in the past. I don’t recall seeing anyone but Slim go beyond 20lbs, so it would be nice to work up to that point as well.

20lb Sledge Face Lever

Next is the Face Lever, a classic oldtime strongman feat, popularized, again, by Slim, and done by many other strongman performers over the years.

The objective here is to start with the sledge vertical, lower it to the face or head, and then return it back to the vertical position with the strength of your wrist.

This is one of the most elusive feats of strength, for me. I struggle with wrist mobility, so I have trouble getting the hammer to my head, and as a result I end up dropping my arm down. So the video below is a poor example of execution of the lift, but it felt cool to add weight to the hammer and then take it off to make the 20 feel lighter. This is a technique that I showed in my program, Lever Bigger Hammers, but haven’t done for a while.

I’ll have more updates on the Sledge Training, since picking things up off the ground is still a no-go.

If you’re looking for ways to improve your sledge hammer training, check out the programs below.

Lever Bigger Hammers

Sledge Only Training for Bending Prep

All the best in your training.

Jedd

When grip guys and strength aficionados get started in steel bending, they want to progress as quickly as possible up the various levels of steel as fast as possible. They often try many different training techniques in order to strengthen their wrists and lower arms for the many steel bending techniques that exist.

One of the time-honored traditions of steel benders is Levering Sledge Hammers, and I’m often asked by steel benders if Sledge Levering is a good option for building better bending strength.

In today’s video, I address this topic: Will Sledge Hammer Levering Help Me Bend Bigger Steel:

Does Hammer Levering Help Build Bending Strength?

This is honestly a pretty big change in my line of thinking. In fact, in both my Nail Bending eBook and Nail Bending DVD, I suggest Sledge Hammer Levering to bring up their bending.

However, I always try to learn and develop, both as a lifter and a coach. Since working with dozens of benders over the last few years, I’m convinced that Sledge Hammer Levering isn’t as necessary as I once thought.

Also, in talking with many big benders over the years, the consensus, by far is that BENDING is what you should focus on in order to get good at bending.

I still stand by the fact that Sledge Levering will help you in conditioning your wrists for bending. In fact, I suggest a minimum 4-week ramp-up period where the various wrist movement patterns are trained with gradually increasing intensity, prior to doing any bending.

I recommend Sledge Levering for beginners because it allows you to work so many beneficial ranges of motion and movement patterns that are needed with steel bending, including both non-braced and braced bending methods.

However, once you start actually bending full time, or at least making steel bending one of your primary goals in your training, I think it’s most important to focus on purposeful bending, working your way up the ladder, and continually working on perfecting your technique and force production on actual nails and bars. At that point, Sledge Work can take a back seat, and be used mainly as a recovery method between bending sessions, and for keeping things like Tennis Elbow and Golfers Elbow as far away as possible.

I hope today’s post has been helpful toward directing you down as straight and as short a path as possible to your ultimate bending goals.

If you’re interested in more Steel Bending information, please check out the resources that countless other steel slayers have tapped into. The links are below.

Nail Bending eBook: Since 2005, this digital manual has helped more people start out on the right track with their bending than any other resource on the planet. It includes pictorials of how to properly execute all the major and minor bending techniques, dozens of different exercises for building lower arm strength and preventing injuries, as well as a full 9-week lower arm conditioning program for beginner benders.

Nail Bending DVD: Released in 2011, this video picks up where the ebook left off, walking you through the process of becoming a great bender. It shows you the proper way to wrap your steel for powerful bending, and you can see bars bent right on your computer screen or TV. Grab you steel, get your wraps, and let’s do a couple bends together as you play this DVD right in your own living room or home gym.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Training to Bend the Red Nail?
Get the Go-to Resource for Nail Bending: The Nail Bending Ebook

It’s the beginning of a brand new week and I’ve got an announcement I’m happy to be FINALLY making.

The DVD Sets of the Basics of Grip Training and Strongmanism Seminar ARE READY!

This seminar took place at the end of March, and the attendees had GREAT things to say about it.

This is a 2-Disk DVD Set covering the Fundamentals of Grip Training and performing Strongman Feats.

Here’s how the seminar flowed, and how the DVD set goes:

DVD #1

1. Welcome

Just a quick meet-and-greet where we do introductions and I cover how I got into Grip Training and Feats of Strength.

2. Warm-up (03:24)

I knew the rides in to the seminar would be pretty long, and the last thing the guys wanted to do was just sit there, so the first thing we covered was the importance of proper warm-up, and I put the guys through the exact Warm-up protocol I go through each training session.

If you’re not Warming Up prior to your Grip Training sessions, you’re leaving strength on the table!

In my experience 2 out of 3 lifters do NOTHING before hitting grippers, besides doing a few reps of light grippers.

That’s a surefire way to not only never progress in your training, but how to GET HURT, as well.

Start implementing this routine ASAP to start instantly seeing benefits.

3. Grippers (23:06)

When you watch the Warm-up section, I encourage you to jump right down on the floor and go through it yourself. Then, grab a gripper and enjoy the Gripper section.

This section covers the importance of the Gripper Set. If you don’t have your set technique established, no drill will be able to get you where you want to be with your Gripper Training.

You’ll want to have a gripper there with you when you go through this section, so you can make sure you’re doing everything correctly with your gripper placement.

Before this section wraps up, you’ll also get to see what I consider the best gripper training drills. Most of these I do every single week, because I know how big of an impact they’ve had.

4. Pinch (1:04:54)

Now it’s time to focus on my bread and butter – Pinch Grip! Easily my favorite form of training, I do more of this than anything else.

In this section of the Disk, we talk about all the different types of Pinch Grip Training, and how the techniques for each type is similar and different from the others.

You’ll also see he nuances of how to place your thumb and hand on what you’re trying to pinch. One size DOES NOT fit all and you HAVE to make subtle adjustments depending on what you’re trying to Pinch.

DISK #2

1. Thick Bar

If there is any form of Grip Training that is a MUST for a true Strongman, it is Thick Bar, and we cover the topic in detail in this section.

From the use of Axles, to Fat Grip instant thick bar handles, to the most challenging types of thick-handled dumbbells like the Inch and the Death Grip Bells, you’re gonna see a host of ways to train Thick Bar for open hand strength.

You might be surprised how similar the techniques are between some of the Pinch Grip training methods and Thick Bar lifts, but when you learn about the importance of the thumb adductor pollicis muscles, it will all make sense.

2. Hub Q&A (32:01)

Before we branched out into Strongman Feats, we did one last Q&A session on Hub Style training.

Hub training is one of the few types of Grip Training where smaller hands are an advantage, believe it or not.

3. Feats of Strength (38:18)

In this section, you’ll see a little primer that I covered regarding something that many new Strongman Featists aren’t familiar with – Tension.

Feats of Strength are all about Creating and Managing Tension. Until you know how to use tension to your advantage basic feats like Card Tearing, Nail Bending, will give you trouble. But, once you master tension, the more complex feats like straightening Horseshoes come more within your reach.

4. Card Tearing (49:26)

The first Strongman Feat we jumped into was Card Tearing, and for good reason, too.

Card Tearing is the perfect feat to learn the production and management of tension.

With the techniques you’ll learn in this section, you’ll be ready to take your first steps as a strongman. You’re gonna love what it feels like to destroy a deck of poker cards!

5. Steel Bending (1:05:20)

My products have produced more certified Red Nail Benders than any other source out there, and with the info included in this section, that number is going to go up once again.

Steel Bending is easily the most addictive type of strength feat out there. There is something about how it feels when steel buckles under your might.

You get hooked on it, and before you know it, you want more and more. This portion of the video will show you how to do it the right way to see great progress and stay injury free.

6. Programming (1:23:04)

The biggest challenges about Grip Training and Feats of Strength isn’t how to get started or understanding technique. I’ve got all that covered for you.

The hardest thing is actually how to mesh Grip and Feats with the rest of your training. In this section I lay out some ways you can go about doing this the best way possible, without disrupting the rest of the training your doing and the goals you’re working on.

7. Soft Tissue (1:37:46)

As a special bonus, one of the attendees of the seminar, Dr. Jim Wagner, put us through a quick demo of some instruments he uses with his clients, called Hawk Grips.

We captured everything on video, and now you’ll get to see exactly what Dr. Jim does with his clients to get them out of pain and recovered from injuries and surgeries.

In total, this 2-Disk DVD Set is almost 4 hours of awesome content.

Order Your Copy TODAY => Basics of Grip Training and Strongmanism DVD

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Learned More in 5 Hours Than the Last 5 Years!

“I got to spend the day at a seminar with the grip legend himself, Jedd Johnson. I learned more in 5 hours than I did in the last five years. It was an awesome day and Jedd is one of the nicest guys you could meet! I’ll be seeing you again Brother, hopefully at the next contest!”

Chris Fritz

One of the Most Informational Courses I Have Taken!

Jedd Johnson CSCS is truly a national leader in the sport of Grip and Strongman competition!

Jim Wagner OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CSCS
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Certified Hand Therapist
Certified Strength and Conditions Specialist

Man what an awesome time last week, DIESELS.

As you know, on Thursday, I help the Basics of Grip and Strongmanism seminar.

Here’s a pic, with Dr. Jim Wagner on the left, me, and Chris Fritz on the right.

I got this message posted on my wall on Facebook, after the event:

“I got to spend the day at a seminar with the grip legend himself,
Jedd Johnson. I learned more in 5 hours than I did in the last
five years. It was an awesome day and Jedd is one of the nicest
guys you could meet! I’ll be seeing you again Brother, hopefully
at the next contest!”
Chris Fritz

Here’s how the day’s content rolled out:

9:00AM Start, meet and greet

Warm-up
General to specific
– General Full Body: Mobility / Activation / Light Stretching
– Move to Weights
– Move to Specific
Magic Formula for Success

Grippers
Technique
– Placement
– Gripper Angle
– Wrist Angle
– Tension
– Set to Close
– Skin Stretch
– Hit
– Thumb Strike
– Roll the Dice
High Impact Drills
Other Considerations

Pinching
Technique
Chalking Considerations
Plate Pinching
Block Weights
Odd Objects
Euro Pinch
High Impact Drills

Thick Bar and other Open Hand Training
What is Open Hand Training? Is Thick Bar “Support Grip”
Support Specificity
Technique
High Impact Drills

Intro to Feats
Tension
Beginner Conditioning

Card Tearing

Steel Bending

Programming
Individual Based
Setting up YOUR Program
Formulating Workouts – Think Energy Economy
Specificity of Grip Training

Injury Prevention & Recovery Methods

2:00 / 2:30PM Close

Man, I’ll tell you what, I absolutely love talking GRIP with people.

As an added bonus, before we called it a day, Dr. Jim Wagner got out his Hawk Grips, a special set of soft tissue massaging devices, and worked on us a little bit.

We got EVERYTHING on film, and I’ve already begun editing the footage, and will be making it available on DVD.

If you want to be the first to add this information to your library, add your information to the box below:

It will be ready as absolutely fast as I can get through all 5 hours!

In the meantime, Make it a Great Week.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

P.S. Sign up for notification as soon as this seminar becomes available.

Which Feat Should You Start With First?

I’m often asked what is the best feat of strength to start with.

I think card tearing is the best way to get started with feats of strength.

Not bending nails, not tearing phone books, and not horseshoes.

There’s three reasons why I suggest you start out with tearing cards.

Why You Should Start With Card Tearing Before Anything Else

1) Cards are Cheap

Cheaper end cards, the kind that are perfect for beginners, cost only $1 at Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and similar stores. Sometimes they’re even cheaper than that!

2) No Other Gear Required

With nail bending and many other feats, you need wraps, cutters, rubber bands, etc. With card tearing, you don’t need any of that. You just take the card out of the box and start tearing.

3) Perfect for Hand Conditioning

Although made of paper, tearing cards still requires appreciable tension in the hands. Cards allow you to get used to straining and putting for sustained pressure, repeatedly in order to get the job done.

Once you’re used to this, you’ll be ready for the stresses associated with nail bending, horseshoes, and braced bends as well.

If you want to get started with feats of strength, Card Tearing is your ticket.

And I’ve got the perfect resource for you, to help you get started right: Card Tearing ebook.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

(L to R) James Fuller, Jedd, Luke Raymond, John Stepien

A few Saturday’s ago, John Stepien from New Jersey, and James Fuller from Maine, swung up for a killer workout.

We got started about 10AM and everyone was gone by 3PM.

Yes, by the time the dust settled, we had been training for a solid 4.5+ hours.

While not the norm, every so often, I love hitting a GIANT session like that. It’s almost a guarantee that within a week, you’ll hit a MONSTER PR, and this time around was no different.

Here’s a look at many of the things that we did that day, although it was impossible to get everything on film.

Deadlifts

The main movement for the day was Deadlifts, and we did several variations, but mainly we stuck with Double Overhand. Not everything got filmed, but most of it did.

Round Robin Deadlift

One particular Deadlift feat I wanted to isolate was the Round Robin Deadlift that James Fuller did. With 495lbs loaded, he hit the following reps in quick succession: 1 – Sumo Style, 2 – Jefferson Style, 3 – Hack Style, 4 – Conventional Style

Luke Raymond Curls a 62lb Anvil

The feats began early on, and continued throughout the day. Luke got the ball rolling by curling the 62lb anvil I borroed from my Dad’s place.

Double Anvil Clamp Lift

I was happy to complete this feat, so quickly after getting the new addition anvil in. This is a pretty darned tough feat with one 55lb anvil, let alone 2, and the 7 pound jump, plus the different shape, made it even tougher!

Double Anvil Key Pinch

Key Pinch is done with the thumb and the side of the first finger. As far as I know, no one ever lifted a 55-lb anvil with a Key Pinch prior to December 2015, when Eric Roussin and I did it. It took many tries, but I finally was able to Key Pinch 2 Anvils at the same time, during the Epic Grip Session.

James Fuller – 127lb Turkish Getup

The Turkish Get-up is an excellent test of full body strength. Here, James Fuller hits a new PR, lifting 127lbs on a nearly 2.5-inch handle, shot-loadable dumbbell.

100lb Plate Hub Key Pinch

An old challenge that got started, right here, at DieselCrew.com, is the 100lb Plate Hub Key Pinch. You should definitely give this a try when you cross paths with a 100lb Plate.

127lb Slater Bell Clean Attempts

Next, we had to try some Dumbbell Cleans with the Slater Bell, which weighs 127lbs with a nearly 2.5″ handle.

4 Inch Dumbbell Medley

Another thing we each did was take Medley runs with 4 Inch Dumbbells. Starting with the hardest, and working down in difficulty, we did our best to lift them as strictly as possible. The guys who aren’t Inch lifters yet stopped the rotation of the bells with a finger from their off-hand. Unfortunately, I didn’t get all of the dudes taking their runs.

Axle Clean Workout

With James Fuller being such a fan of the Olympic Lifts, we couldn’t go through the day without hitting some Axle Cleans. John Stepien handed me my ass in this lift, without a doubt. James Fuller had the absolute BEST technique though. I was pretty sore after this, due to the dynamic nature of the lifts.

Grip Rush #1

Next, it was time to finish the workout with some Grip Rushes, 60-second AMRAPS with various Grip Implements, usually lifting them to Lockout over and over.

Grip Rush #2

Grip Rush #3

Grip Rush #4

All the best in your training,

Jedd

After just about every contest, it’s a free-for-all of feats of grip strength.

Juha Harju, 1st Person to Pinch 2x25kg Plates

Lots of times, especially at Gripmas, people bring cool stuff for other people to try that others might not normally get the opportunity to get their hands on.

One such item is the 2x25kg Plate Pinch.

Up until this year, no one in the world had ever pinched 2x25kg plates.

Then, all of a sudden, Juha Harju did it (shown to the right).

Then Bob Sundin did it a short time later.

Funny how once you see something can be done, it becomes that much easier for others.

Bob was nice enough to bring his set of 25kg plates with him to Gripmas, and several of us took tries on them.

So, the list of people who have achieved the 2x25kg Plate Pinch has grown again, with Kody Burns becoming the 3rd person EVER!

And you can bet in 2016 the list will keep expanding. The only question is who will be NEXT?

Stay tuned for more awesome feats that went down at Gripmas. Sign up for my free email newsletter:

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Turn Steel Bars into Strongman Works of Art
The Art of Scrolling Steel

I recently got a call from Dennis Rogers, inviting me to perform at the annual banquet/gala of the AOBS.

From their site: “The Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen (AOBS) is the arm of WLO that focuses on education regarding Iron Game history and drug free sport, while the parent (WLO) concentrates on the development of the sport of weightlifting and amateur athletes, especially for national and international competition. The organization produces an quarterly newsletter and hosts an annual gala the educates, entertains and provides an opportunity to visit with legends of the Iron Game and old time friends.”

The WLO, or Weightlifting Org., Inc., is “… a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation. It was created to educate the public and public institutions regarding the nature, benefits and history of weightlifting and related activities; the hazards of drug use and benefits of drug free sport; and to develop amateur athletes for national and international weightlifting competition.”

You can learn more about WLO and AOBS here.

I am totally honored to be invited to perform this year. In the past, true legends of strength and strongmanism have performed at the AOBS dinner, including names like Slim “The Hammer Man” Farman, Dennis Rogers, Stanless Steel, “The Human Vise” Pat Povilaitis, and Steve Weiner, just to name a few.

I feel particularly privileged to be chosen to perform this year because I’ll be doing something a little different, in my presentation.

I’ll be performing feats of grip strength, with popular grip challenge items, like the Inch Dumbbell and 50-lb Blob.

50lb Blob (right-hand) Inch Dumbbell (left-hand)

Since finding out about this incredible opportunity, I’ve totally re-examined my training, and have taken some emphasis away from my Grip Sport competition preparation (the King Kong of Grip is taking place on October 24th), and more toward refining some of my specialty feats with the Blob and Inch Dumbbell.

As a result of keying in on the Blob and Inch Dumbbell, my performance has truly skyrocketed, and I’m breaking through barriers that have been in my way for several years.

Here’s a couple examples…

Blob Deadlift for Reps

In 2009, out of nowhere, I decided to go for 40 repetitions in the Blob Deadlift. I don’t remember why anymore, to be honest. Well, I ended up miss-counting and only got 39, but that’s not important.

What’s important is it took my 6 minutes. Here’s the video from 2009:

50lb Blob for 39 Reps (2009)

I had stumbled upon this video after not watching it for quite some time, and when I watched it and saw that it took me 6+ minutes to get to 40 reps, I honestly couldn’t believe it. I remember thinking back then that this was pretty much unbeatable.

What a fool I was. There have been times in my life where I have gotten complacent, and this, obviously, was one of them. As I watched myself struggle to get to 39 reps, like a man with concrete boots trudging uphill through a quagmire, I knew that I could beat this.

So, the next workout, I dragged the Blob back out and went for 40 reps again, as fast as I could. Here’s the video:

50lb Blob for 40 Reps

It’s like my Dad always said to me as a kid. “You can never rest on your laurels.” In other words, you can never feel that what you’ve done is enough. You’re always capable of more. You need to know that you can surpass what you’ve done in the past with the right training.

Inch Dumbbell Rows

Another feat I just recently FINALLY was able to reach, involves Inch Dumbbell Rows.

I have been able to perform a Side Dumbbell Row with the Inch Dumbbell since the mid-2000’s. I think I got my first one in 2007.

Here’s another case, where I was letting my mind get the best on me.

For nearly 8 years, I’ve been stuck at 1 Rep. In fact, I remember a few times thinking that I’d NEVER be able to get 2 reps, meaning 2 consecutive reps, without dropping and/or re-gripping the Inch Dumbbell.

Inch Dumbbell Rows (2011)

Again, what a fool I can be sometimes! Why would I ever think that something is impossible? Talk about mentally painting myself into a corner. Unbelievable.

Finally, for the first time I was able to perform 2 consecutive reps in the Inch Dumbbell Row. Here’s the video:

Inch Dumbbell Rows

I’m still not totally pleased with these, as there’s quite a tilt going on, but I’ll continue to work on them.

Here’s the thing guys, take a lesson from my mistakes, and get your head right with your training.

The mental side of training is HUGE. If you’re head isn’t right, it will keep you from attaining your goals.

And you can’t rest once you hit a certain mark. You can’t get complacent. You can’t hit a goal and just get comfortable. Keep pushing hard and keep growing.

Get your mindset locked in, starting today.

And if you need help with that, stay tuned for a message from me next week called Mental Muscle.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

P.S. Wish me luck at the AOBS on 10/17/15!

There were Superheros all over the place, this past Sunday.

From little kids with their faces painted like the Ninja Turtles, Spider Man, and even characters from Frozen…

To the athletes who participated in the 5K Run/Walk…

To the entertainers who did their thing after the event was complete.

It was a day to celebrate the inspiration we get from one awesome little boy and his family.

Sunday, August 23rd, was the 2nd Annual Mason’s Hope 5k Run/Walk.

And I had the honor to be a part of it for the second year, perform classic oldetime strongman feats of strength.

Above, I’m blowing up a hot water bottle until it bursts…

The whole day of activities is dedicated to Mason Barto, a boy from Towanda, PA, who has CDG (Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation) and it keeps him from living the kind of life most youngsters enjoy.

However, despite the challenges he faces, physically, Mason and his family continue to be bright faces in the community and an inspiration for countless people.

I know that when I came home later on and did my August of Arms workout, thinking of Mason made me focus in and take things a little bit further than my body wanted to.

It truly is my privilege to be a part of this great day each year.

Below, you’ll see the video of the entire show I did, and after I finished up, local singer, Aaron Kelly, who was on season 9 of American Idol, gave a little concert as well.

A great day indeed. I hope you enjoy the videos.

Intro and Warm-up Bend – Bending a Horseshoe

A nod to Pat Povilaitis, “The Human Vise,” and first person I ever saw do this feat.

Bending a 60D with Aaron Kelly in my Arms

A nod to Dennis Rogers, Grandmaster Strongman, who made this feat famous.

Bending a Nail on the Bed of Nails

I invited Mason up to help me out with this one.

Kid Lifting with the Strongman Bench

The kids always have a lot of fun with this one. I got the idea from Strongman John Beatty, who was once on America’s Got Talent and performs strongman shows all over the country.

Breaking a Chain with Arm Strength

I wanted to do something cool involving Arm strength, so I decided to break a chain. Looking back, I wish I would have gone for a double chain break, because the single ended up being too light.

Ripping a Phone Book in Half

This was a Pittsburgh phone book, so I made a couple sports jokes before ripping this book in two.

Bending / Breaking a Hammer

This was a Pittsburgh steel hammer, so I worked the Pittsburgh sports joke in one more time. Somehow, the handle broke on this instead of the neck bending like it usually does, so it didn’t look as good as it usually does.

Bursting a Hot Water Bottle with Lung Power

The hardest challenge of the shoe, I always feel like I might pass out doing this one.

Dousing the Flaming Hammer

This is one of my signature feats, I guess, since I light it on fire and talk about my original interest in becoming a pro wrestler called Napalm Jedd. I also use it to salute Slim “The Hammer-Man” Farman, one of if not THE oldest living performing strongman.

Performing feats of strength is a fun and reward form of training, and I’d love to share my knowledge with you, via any of my various resources. Please check some of them out below and let me know if you have any questions as far as what can be the best fit for you.

       

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Inch Dumbbell DVD

I’m excited to announce that I have a new DVD coming out soon on How to Lift the Inch Dumbbell.

This is a topic that readers have been asking me about for several years.

For many, Lifting the Inch Dumbbell is a lifetime goal of theirs.

For others, it’s something that they think they might never be able to reach, because it is so challenging to lift.

Well, I say, STOP PUTTING THE INCH ON A PEDESTAL.

With this DVD, everyone, from newbies in the world of Grip, to wily veterans who’ve set the Inch as their next goal, and even to the gripster who bought the Inch on a whim and is unsure how to go about working with it, will understand how to train on the Inch Dumbbell.

To be the first to get your hands on this DVD, add your information to the box below:

Here are some of the things you’re gonna learn when you pick up this DVD:

1. Inch Dumbbell Lifting Styles

There are 4 main ways to lift the Inch. You’ll learn exactly what they are, which one provides you with the most mechanical advantage, and which ones are more challenging.

2. Getting a Good Grip on the Inch

Do you just “Grab n Go?” They you might be making it harder on yourself to lift the Inch. You’re gonna learn the way you should apply your grip to maximize your grip strength, and also how to take advantage of the elastic properties of your hand skin.

3. Taking Advantage of Your Strengths

: You may not know it yet, but you may not be truly taking advantage of your individual strengths when you try to lift the Inch. You’re going to learn the three grip variations you can use on your attempts so you CAN take better advantage of your strengths and make lifting the Inch easier.

4. Inch Training Alternatives

What if you don’t have an Inch Dumbbell Replica yet? Does that mean you’re outta luck? No way! There’s plenty of good implements you can use to build Inch Lifting hand strength, you’ve just gotta know which ones are legit, and which ones are a waste of your time. You’ll find all that out here.

5. Inch Training Drills

There is SO MUCH you can do with your Inch Dumbbell, but you might not have thought of it yet. In 10 years of Inch Dumbbell training, I’ve discovered dozens of ways to work with the Inch. You’re gonna learn my absolute best Inch training drills so you can waste less time and move closer to the Inch faster than ever.

6. Inch Implement Drills

If you’ve bought a bunch of gear and you’re not sure what to do with it, no worries. You’ll soon see some High Impact drills you can do with things like the Rolling Thunder, Wrist Wrench, Gulley Grip, FBBC Crusher, Shot Loadable and Plate Loadable Dumbbells, and MORE!

At this point, your mouth MUST be watering to get your hands on this DVD.

Well, I’m not even done shooting this thing yet, so there’s gonna be EVEN MORE once this thing’s done.

While it’s not 100% complete yet, I’m at the stage where things are going to accelerate very quickly.

Make sure you’re on the Inch Dumbbell DVD List so you’ll know when it comes out ASAP.

For now, I’ve got a little bit more filming, quite a bit of editing, and some uploading and mastering to do.

All the best in your training!

Jedd

Grip Training with the “Chunk”

The Chunk

My gym is filled to the brim with cool grip training gear I’ve accumulated over the years.

That’s what happens when you collect stuff for over 10 years!

Every so often, I like to dig one of the hidden gems out of the corner, dust it off, and give it a few pulls.

Recently, we pulled out the “Chunk.” This one isn’t really “new” to me, as I’ve had it since 2006, but I don’t think I’ve ever put anything out in the public about it until now. So, in that sense, I guess you could say it’s new…

The Chunk Block Weight

The Chunk is a 66-lb steel or iron drop, or scrap piece, essentially a piece that was cut off and never used. The Chunk is what’s considered a Block Weight. Even though Block Weights are usually one of the heads of a dumbbell, they can be any block-shaped implement that you lift with an open handed pinch grip.

Block Weights can be very beneficial for your training. They work the thumb very hard, and they make the entire lower arm work together in order to perform your lifts.

Block Weight Training is a great form of grip training to add into your routine.

Block Weights develop hand and grip strength in a general sense, which means it has the potential to improve strength in order types of grip training, and will carry over to other types of lifting because you’ll be stronger overall from doing Block Weight Training.

Here’s a few videos where we lift the Chunk and try some cool variations by adding weight to it…

Intro to the Chunk

Just taking a look at the Chunk to see its weight and features such as edges and surfaces.

Protected Training on the Chunk

With the sharp edges the Chunk has, we tried protecting our skin with a suede bending wrap and lifting it.

Throwing Chains on the Chunk

Adding chains makes it tougher to complete the lift because it gets heavier, the higher you pull it. It’s an excellent way to train your grip, borrowed from the world of Powerlifting (Louie Simmons introduced me to the concept).

Major Take-aways from Today’s Post

Here’s a few things to remember from today’s post for your training.

• Block Weights are beneficial because they target the thumb (often neglected in training) and develop the entire lower arm in a general sense.
• Block Weights come in nearly endless shapes and sizes and can be used for many different types of lifts.
• Don’t be afraid to pull from other established training protocols and try the concepts in your grip training in order to spice things up a bit and keep yourself progressing. Naturally, do so safely!

If you’d like to get started with Block Weight Training, but don’t know where to begin, then grab my Block Weight Training DVD today. It also comes in digital format so you don’t have to mess with shipping.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Discover New Levels of Hand Strength with Block Weight Training

To me, the greatest thing about lifting weights is the never ending ways to challenge yourself.

Just when you accomplish one goal, there’s any number of other things you can do to make yourself better.

In the Fall of 2014, I pushed myself to the limit with 20-Rep Squats.

I wanted to see how far I could go.

I started with 225-lbs, and over the course of about 10 weeks, I worked my way to 355-lbs. I only got 16 reps with that, however, as on my last rep I strained a hamstring/groin muscle.

But I had no regrets. Sometimes an injury happens when you’re trying to see what you limits truly are.

After a couple months of rehab, recovery, and rebuilding, I decided I was ready for another round of 20-Rep Squats, only this time i was gonna do it a little different.

Instead, this time, the goal would be to hit 20-reps of Goblet Squats with the Inch Dumbbell.

Here’s my best effort to date in max reps: 13 with the 176-lb Inch Dumbbell on loan from John Eaton:

Goblet Squats are a great exercise. While they are usually used as a precursor to Back Squatting by using lighter weights, they can also be used for heavy training as well. On top of using the Inch Dumbbell for Goblet Squats, I was also using the 200-lb Kettlebell for Goblet Squats for a time this year as well. You can see some videos of that here => 200-lb Kettlebell Goblet Squats.

What’s interesting about Heavy Goblet Squatting, especially with a circus-style dumbbell such as the Inch Dumbbell, is that a part of the bell lies on your stomach.

So, not only is breathing difficult due to the dumbbell being held at chest height, you’ve also got the additional challenge of breathing through the belly against the lower portion of the dumbbell at the same time.

I liken this challenge to performing multiple repetitions of Atlas Stone lifting. The difference is, you never drop the stone to re-grip or load it atop a platform. Instead, it’s like you just keep going from the lap to the chest-load position.

Stone Lifting Technique: The Chest-Load

Above, Steve Slater lifts a stone to the chest-load position. Going from lap to chest-load like this feels VERY similar to Inch Dumbbell Goblet Squats.

It makes for an awesome physical challenge, and that’s what it’s all about, for me, when it comes to strength training.

I’ll keep you updated on the 20-Rep Inch Dumbbell Goblet Squat Saga.

Speaking of the Inch Dumbbell, next week, I will be shooting a DVD on that very subject. If you’re training to lift the Inch Dumbbell, make sure you sign up for updates about it using the form below.

Lift the Inch Dumbbell – Sign up Below:

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Are You Training to Lift the Inch Dumbbell? This DVD Will Help You:

In September, my friend from Finland, Juha Harju put up a video of himself lifting the Inch Dumbbell in one hand while doing a #3.5 Silver Bullet Hold at the same time.

I have written about this type of training many times in the past, and it is called Bi-Polar Training.

Here are a couple of examples of past articles on Bi-Polar Training:

• Bi-Polar Strength Training
• Bi-Polar Training: Inch + Kettlebell Flip

This feat was called “Feat of the Year” by someone on Facebook, and the name stuck.

I tried the feat and couldn’t quite get it at first, but with time, I was able to get it.

I then challenged Juha to perform the feat both hands: the gripper in one hand and the Inch in the other, and then reversing the combination within 2 minutes of completing the first one.

This has been a crazy challenge for me, as it combines two of my poorest events, but it has been great seeing the progress come along, brotherrr.

First Attempt at Feat of the Year (Misses)

The FRUSTRATING Feat of the Year Challenge

First Successful Feat of the Year & First Attempt at Double Feat of the Year

First Official Double Feat of the Year

Training this feat has unfortunately slowed to an absolute HALT.

At some point along the lines of performing this feat, I strained something in both shoulders, either a triceps muscle, a lat muscle, or worst yet, a rotator cuff muscle.

At this point, deadlifting anything off the floor has become impossible to do without substantial pain, so I have shut down most one-handed grip lifts from the floor in order to give the injured tissues time to heal.

What this also means is that I can’t train most of the lifts in the King Kong of Grip Challenge taking place at the end of this month.

I was really looking forward to it, but I would rather write this one off in order to get back to 100%.

I will still be running the Pennsylvania Leg of the King Kong here at my place in Wyalusing though, and not competing will enable me to run a more organized contest and help out the new competitors.

So, if you have been kicking around the idea of competing here, by all means come over and go for it, brotherrr!

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Are You Training to Lift the Inch Dumbbell? This DVD Will Help You:

On August 24, 2014, I did a Strongman Show as part of the Mason’s Hope SuperHero 5K, a fundraiser for Mason Barto, a little boy with CDG (Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation).

Here is a short news video that talks about Mason’s story.

It was my pleasure to be a part of such an awesome cause. I was hoping to have Mason stand on my chest while I performed the Bend of Nails, but in the days leading up to the event Mason was visiting more specialists and ended up having to stay there longer than planned.

I look forward to meeting you, buddy!

On top of the great cause, I was particularly excited about being able to put on this show, because my parents, my grandmother, my wife and my daughter were all there. You see, I rarely do a local show – most of my stuff takes place in other states, so none of them have ever watched me perform live.

Below is the show I put together.

Watch each feat separately:

Frying Pan
Horseshoe
Cards
Phone Book
Kid Lift
Anvil and Blob
Bed of Nails
Wrench Bend
Hammer Bend
Hot Water Bottle

If you’ve ever wanted to do feats of strength like bending a wrench, a horseshoe, a hammer, or rolling a frying pan, this DVD can show you how to do it.

Braced Bending DVD

Make it a Great Day!

Jedd

P.S. During the show, I pulled off a feat I have never been able to complete, if memory serves. I lifted a 55-lb anvil by the tail and then picked up a 50-lb Blob and curled it. It was quite a rush to do it during the show, although most of the audience probably had no idea how hard it was, ha ha ha.

If you are working on Lifting the Blob, here is the best resource for you: