I am starting up a new list, devoted solely to communicating when the next sanctioned Grip Contests are taking place. I am contacted all the time by people wanting to know, and this will be the easiest way to keep everyone informed.

All you need to do is put your information in the boxes below and I will send you notifications when the next contests are scheduled, and when other important grip contest news becomes available.

Do you know anyone else who would like to stay up to date about upcoming competitions? If so, please share this post with them, and have them add their email in, as well.

Thanks and all the best in your training.

Jedd

Start Your Grip Sport Career Right With
The Basics of Grip Training and Strongmanism

Grip Strength Question

I see lots of beginner grip guys and gals talking about hanging from a bar for time. I’ve heard of people looking to do ninja warrior, obstacle course training, and fun runs talking about hanging to build grip strength too. Heck, I’ve even heard of lifters who want to bring up their holding power for the deadlift talking about hanging or time in order to work on their lack of grip strength.

So is this form of training beneficial?

Does it work for making your hands stronger?

I cover this question in today’s video:

Is Hanging from a Bar Good for Grip Strength?

That answer might surprise you, but thinking along the lines of strength training specificity, I feel that it is the right one.

And so, doing bar hangs to improve your grip strength might be a good idea for some, while it might be a complete waste of time for others.

I hope this helps you out, and I welcome any other questions you might have.

Please feel free to leave a comment here, or in the comments section of the video on YouTube.

Also, make sure you subscribe, as I’m on a push for 10,000 subscribers now! The goal is to eclipse that mark by Halloween!

Thanks and all the best in your training.

Jedd

Want to Close Bigger Grippers? This DVD Will Help You:

This Week in Grip – Episodes 40 Through 44

This Week in Grip-Episode 40 – CA Strongest Hands, 2018 Predictions & Goals

This Week in Grip – Episode 41 – Feats and Pizzles

This Week in Grip – Episode 42 – Finnish Nationals and a New Product Review

This Week In Grip – Episode 43 – Hands-on Grip Games

This Week in Grip – BONUS SHOW! Episode 44 – Dubai Trip #2

Gripper Training

Gripper training continues to be the most popular form of grip training.

Gripper training has often been labeled the “gateway drug to grip sport” because once people get their hands on grippers, they often get hooked, and want to try out many other types of grip training, as well.

Once you get serious with your gripper work though, it’s time to start doing things the right way, and that means optimizing the way you train with grippers.

Gripper Training Frequency

It’s no surprise that many people want to know how often to train grippers is best. After all, lifters love the idea of closing big grippers.

However, if you’re not careful, you can really overdo it with your gripper training and make your finger skin and your hand tissues very sore.

Plus, with too much volume, or too frequent of training, you generally end up stalling on grippers or even sliding backwards.

Today, I share my views on the optimal frequency for gripper training in the video below.

How Often Should I Train with Grippers?

Gripper Training Programming

Hopefully, the video above makes sense for you. Doing anymore frequent training has never been effective for me, and generally it throws a monkey wrench into the rest of my training when I try to push the frequency.

In addition, approaching Gripper Training frequency with a 2-day-per-week program has been effective for close to 100% of all the people I’ve coached as well.

On top of that, I’ve received lots of feedback from customers who’ve bought my Cadence Based Gripper Training Program, who have said that the 2-days-per-week has been great and helped them make good strides in their gripper training.

In my opinion, based on my own training results, and the results of people I’ve designed programs for directly, and those who’ve followed my gripper products, 2 days/week is the DEFINITELY the way to go for grippers.

Gripper Training Technique

It should be noted, however, that if your gripper technique (placement and set) are not optimized, it’s likely that no matter how often you train them, you’ll never see much improvement past a #2 gripper.

Large-handed and naturally strong-handed individuals will be able to overcome grippers up to about the #2 through plain brute strength and raw power, but to go beyond that will require you to develop your technique.

Therefore, I recommend anyone who wants to seriously attempt to climb the gripper ladder get my DVD, CRUSH: Total Gripper Domination, so they can properly iron out their technique for maximized crushing power.

Wrap Up: How Often To Train on Grippers

I love hearing you guys tell me about hitting PR’s and smashing bigger and bigger grippers.

That’s why I put out all the gripper training information I do.

If you’re just starting out with grippers, do yourself a favor and get the best resource in the world on gripper training technique and drills: CRUSH: Total Gripper Domination

And if you’ve got a good handle on the proper gripper mechanics, then it’s time to formalize your training over the next 8 weeks with this solid program: Cadence Based Gripper Training.

All the best with your gripper training.

“Napalm” Jedd Johnson

Lots of people ask me what the difference is between the Rolling Thunder and other rolling handle devices.

With the advent of so many cool rolling handle tools on the market, this question is presented to me more and more all the time.

I know how important this information is to you, because thick bar training is one of the best ways to develop grip strength.

Today, I cover the differences between the Rolling Thunder and various other thick bar rolling handle tools, in today’s video.

I’ll also touch on how the Crusher, Trillobite, Silarukov and other thick bar rolling handle tools compare to the Rolling Thunder from IronMind.

I hope this answers your questions about how the Rolling Thunder compares and contrasts with other thick bar training handles on the market.

Incidentally, if your main interest in thick bar training is to bring up your strength on the Rolling Thunder, in order to complete the Crushed to Dust Challenge, then I recommend the Rolling Thunder, in the interest of specifics of training.

And if you’re looking for a training plan to get you to the top of the Rolling Thunder mountain faster than ever before, there’s no better resource than this workout: Crushed to Dust Workout.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

“Dramatic Difference in Wrist Strength“ “Jedd, I think your tips on wrist training were really important. I’ve noticed many improvements in my wrist strength for steel bending. It’s given me the strength necessary to destroy the gold nail, without even warming up. I’ve never had this feeling of power in my wrists before. I’m also seeing improvements on the Rolling Thunder lift – on good days, I’m getting 15-20 reps with 70kg, which is a BIG improvement. I’m getting close to reaching my goals (CTD Challenge and Inch Dumbbell lift) and every day that passes I feel stronger and stronger. Thank you so much, for everything!” Mattia Crispino

Jedd’s 2018 Dubai Trip with Bader Alawadhi and Laine Snook

I was blessed to have been invited to Dubai once again by my good friend, Bader Alawadhi last week. And this time, I was not alone. In fact, the one and only Laine Snook, from the UK, came along for the trip.

The week was incredible to say the least. Laine is quite possibly the strongest Grip Guy I’ve ever met, and definitely the strongest I’ve ever trained with.

Over the course of the week, we were able to train 3 different times, and each session was a blast.

I am in the process of uploading the video clips I was able to get to my YouTube Channel (click the link to subscribe), and will be posting them here on the site, when I can.

The vids are in no particular order, just how I ended up publishing them on the channel.

Most Recent Dubai Vids

Laine Snook Multiple Fatman Blob Curls Backwards

Fatman Blob Curl for 2 Reps

Laine Snook Lifts Over 105kg on 2.5″ Crusher

Laine Snook Lifts the Queen Inch

Second Round of Vids

Blob50 – 2 Finger Lift Rep-out

Laine Snook Multiple Fatman Blob Curls Backwards

First Dubai Vids

Bader – 2 Finger Clean of Blob50

If You Try to Trick Laine Snook, You Will Pay!

Pinching Super Slick 5x10s at Bader’s Gym

Fatman Blob Curl Backwards

Laine Snook Lifts Heavy Grip Tools 30kg Blob

There will be plenty more videos coming. Be sure to sign up for email updates here on the site, as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel.

Thanks and all the best in your training!

Jedd

This Week in Grip

This Week in Grip is the (nearly) weekly podcast show that Allen Heineck, Riccardo Magni, and I do on YouTube. In This Week in Grip, we discuss the latest things going on in the sport of grip, as well as feats of grip strength that we see posted on-line, grip training topics, grip q&a’s, oldtime strongman feats, grip certifications, grip world records, and much, much more.

Please be sure to subscribe to the channel and click the bell for notifications on your mobile device. Also, if there’s any commentary or questions you’d like to put forth, please do so in the comments section under the video, and we will do our best to cover and answer them in the upcoming shows.

Specifically, we are wondering what you feel are the Top Feats of Grip Strength that you saw go down in 2018. Please post your thoughts!

Episode 37

Episode 38

Episode 39

Will “Greasing the Groove” Help Me Close Bigger Grippers

I got a question on my YouTube Channel about Greasing the Groove for Grippers, and I answered it in a recent video.

Mainly, the writer wants to know if the commonly known “Greasing the Groove” method, which is often used for Pull-ups, Push-ups, and other strength maneuvers, can work to help increase crushing strength with Grippers.

Additional Resources:

Big Goblet and Grip Feats Go Down on 1/6/18

Few workouts in the past six months have been as incredible as this past Saturday’s session.

It started off rocky, though brother. I’ll be honest.

I was in a rush to get out of the house and get downtown, and as a result, I took my mind off the ball and forgot to grab the empty propane tank for the heater I run during my sessions.

Call me a pussy for running a heater. That’s fine. But I’m not training to lift the Housafell stone in freezing temperatures. I’m training to keep myself sane. So I run a heater.

So, I made an extra trip downtown to get it, and it made a huge difference. The temperature outside was below 0, and the temp inside was freezing. The propane cooking helped make Saturday’s Savage Session one that probably won’t be topped in a while, at least as far as the strength feats that I pulled off are concerned.

Here’s a rundown of the highlights.

236lb Goblet Squats for a Double

It’s been a while since I pushed the envelope with Goblet Squats, and these Death Grip Bells, with their sharp edges will WRECK your hands, but I decided it was time to step it up. I attached a 50lb Scale Weight to my 186lb Homicide Bell. Getting it into position was an absolute NIGHTMARE, but with some redneck ingenuity, I got her done!

Blobzilla Plus 5 Pounds

This is a mark I’ve been working toward for a while now. I first started this hike back in October of 2015, but have not trained it consistently until the last quarter of 2017. I’ve been breaking it off the ground for a month or so, and came really close a week ago, but I made it a no-doubter on Savage Saturday.

Blobzilla Clean

Some people know this already, but not many. At the AOBS Dinner in October of 2015, after my performance, I successfully did an ugly Clean with Blobzilla. A combination of feeling amazing for several months, my training being locked in, and the adrenaline of having so many people around allowed me to get it done. But I hadn’t done it again since until Savage Saturday.

One of the goals that’s been on my radar, but still on the backburner is lifting the Blobfather (half 140lb York Legacy Blob). My hands feel very strong right now. I feel I am on my way, and if I can keep things going, Blobfather will be coming off the ground sometime this year. It will really come down to how much time I can put into it, as I also have some other goals I’m focused on, in addition to getting my right ring finger rehabbed in time for Nationals in June.

Stay tuned and come along for the ride.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Jedd Johnson’s Top Videos in 2017

For several years now, I’ve put together a list of my top videos of the year, based on number of views.

This isn’t always a “fair” comparison, because some videos have been up for a lot longer time than others.

This year, I’m including any videos I uploaded during December of 2016 in the countdown.

It’s interesting to see the topics that register into thee Top 20 every year.

One thing is clear, Fat Gripz are a very popular video topic on my channel. Part of that may have to do with the fact that I post those videos on Fat Gripz’s Facebook page, as well, so there’s more visibility. But there’s absolutely no doubt about it that there’s more awareness of Fat Gripz out there than there is Inch Dumbbell, Blob, and other much more common topics that I put up videos about.

Without further ado, here is the countdown, starting with number 20.

20. Warning: HARD Shoulder and Upper Back Training Method – 560

Although my biggest interest is Grip Strength, I also love all other forms of training and sometimes I put together some absolutely vicious combinations. Here’s one of them that I did this year for bigger shoulders and upper back.

19. Inch Hand-to-Hand Transfer – My First Time Ever – Right to Left – 590

Transferring the Inch Dumbbell from one hand to another is a feat that only a “handful” of people have done. I know that Adam Glass and Andrew Durniat have pulled it off, but can’t remember who else (if you know of anyone, please let me know). In 2018, I’d like to manage passing it from right to left and back to the right, or vice versa, as I don’t think anyone else has done that.

18. IronMind Stacker Training – 30lbs | Joe Sullivan – 601

Shortly after the New Year, Joe Sullivan came down for a training session. He brought several of his cool griplements, including the IronMind Stacker, that I don’t think I ad ever seen before.

17. A Version of Shrugs You’ve Never Done Before – 641

I tried these once this year, and instantly enjoyed them. Aside from their ability to build up the yoke, they also promote stability throughout the shoulder as well as the core.

16. This Week in Grip – Episode 2 – 1/22/17 – 660

This year, I finally was able to do two things I’ve wanted to do for a while: (1) Resurrect my old Grip Strength show/podcast, and (2) Bring more exposure to the great things going on in Grip Sport. Both became a reality when friend and log-time member of The Grip Authority, Allen Heineck. Also, later on this year, we brought Riccardo Magni aboard, as well, after having him on as a guest.

15. How to Build Grip Strength: Beginner Thick Bar Training | Awake and Alive – 669

I got invited to do a guest blog post this year – the first one I’ve done in a while, and all the videos from that post registered in this year’s Top 20.

14. Arm Wrestling Bench Curls – 675

There’s no denying the popularity of arm wrestling. I only put up a couple arm wrestling videos all year long, but they ended up in the countdown, and I didn’t even push them that hard.

13. How to Build Grip Strength: Beginner Grip Training with Modified Pullups | Awake and Alive – 701

Here’s another one from that guest post I mentioned before.

12. First Time Trying Pinch Pull-ups – 722

This was from the near beginning of the year. I think people were shocked that I was able to do these, but honestly, I think anyone could do these on this tool, as it rotates forward and takes a lot of pressure off the thumbs. I think the feat is over-rated, myself.

11. Jedd Johnson #4 Silver Bullet World Record 15.32 Seconds – 801

This is one I was definitely proud of. Hard to believe it has been almost ayear already since this record went down.

10. What’s Better? Gripper Negatives, or Holds? 972

This is a common question I get, and sometimes people are surprised by the answer I give.

9. How to Train for Grip Strength: Beginner Gripper Training Information | Awake and Alive – 1091

Look at that, another one from the guest post I did. Maybe I should do more of these?

8. Heavy Sledgehammer Levers | Joe Sullivan – 1100

Joe Sullivan is on a tear with sledgehammers. This is nothing compared to where he’s at now.

7. How to Train for Grip Strength: Plate Pinch for Beginner Grip Training | Awake and Alive – 1159

Let’s go over some plate pinching basics, brotherrrr!

6. This Week in Grip – Episode 1 – 1.15.17 – 1185

Here’s the very first episode of This Week in Grip, in case you’ve never heard it. Be sure to check it out.

5. How to Train for Grip Strength: Beginner Grip Training with Hammers | Awake and Alive

Now it’s time to build some serious wrist strength! Get your hammers out and start using them.

4. Training for Thicker Wrists and Forearms | Cooking with Napalm – 1317

In this video, I cover some tips on building bigger forearms.

3. First Time Ever – Double Old School York 45’s Pinch – 3840

Probably the highlight of my training year, I was finally able to perform the Double Old School York 45lb Plate Pinch.

2. Will Grip Training Build Big Forearms? – 4996

I get this question all the time, and took some time to answer it last year for my YouTube Clan.

1. Should I Get Regular Fat Gripz or Extremes? – 7202

Fat Gripz are so popular! I always seem to get a lot of views on videos about Fat Gripz. I’m thinking of doing more videos on Fat Gripz, showing training tips, some of my favorite drills, etc, because I think a LOT more people have access to Fat Gripz than other thick bar handles. Hopefully, if I do this, it will help bring more people into Grip Sport.

The Countdown is OVER, brotherrrr. Stay tuned for more videos coming your way soon.

Also, if there’s anything you’d like to see me cover on my YouTube Channel in 2018, please feel free to leave a comment below.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Gripmas 2017

The Gripmas Carol 2017 took place over the weekend in Crooksville, OH. It was run by Chris Rice with assistance from his wife, Teresa, and his son, Josh. It was a great time.

Hats off to Andrew Durniat, who took back the title of Gripmas Champion. I took second, and the Chez took 3rd.

My performance across the board on all 4 events was hindered tremendously by an injury to the A2 Pulley Tendon on my right ring finger. I was forced to close the Ivanko Super Gripper left-handed, the Two Hands Pinch hurt the instant it broke off the floor, I also had to skip a number of the heavier narrow pinch lifts and the campus board feats in the Medley.

Starting from behind with only 6.5 points when the leaders have 9 or 10 is hard enough, let alone when your finger won’t concentrate. It made for a very frustrated Napalm.

Here are some clips from the contest, although not everything is done yet, due to limited time to edit video.

Ivanko Super Gripper

My left hand isn’t as good on grippers and felt particularly terrible on the day of the comp. To make matters worse, the light fixture on the gripper would not light up for me, for some reason, until the last attempt. I ended up finishing near the middle of the pack with about a 230lb close. I do not have any clips for this event, at this time.

Medley

You’ll see I was sailing pretty smoothly until the end, when I got to the narrow pinch stuff. I purposely left that stuff to the end, because it’s usually gimme weight, but the injury to the finger made each lift BURN, and I lost many of the points I desperately needed.

Double Sledge Lever

A very exciting event, the Double Sledge weighed between 30 and 33lbs. My goal was 20 reps, because it wasn’t bothering my finger. I thought this might bump me up a bit to catch the leader, Durniat. Unfortunately, he had the same number in his sights. He was successful in getting it, but I only knocked out 18, and missed my 19th.

Thank God, despite the poor finish, I didn’t worsen the injury, and nothing else went wrong.

In fact, I’d honestly say my Thick Bar and Wide Pinching strengths are really really good right now.

After the contest, while others were eating, and before & during the awards, I hit a bunch of random feats, many of which involved combo lifts with the Inch Dumbbell. Many of those are up on my YouTube already, so you can check them out there. I’ve still got a small handful that require more editing and I just haven’t had the time to do it all yet.

We covered Gripmas in the most recent episode of This Week in Grip also, so I will post that below.

This Week in Grip – Episode 37 – The Gripmas Carol

Also, I put together a complete playlist of all the Gripmas videos, and I’m going to post the link to it below.

Complete Gripmas Video Playlist

Complete Gripmas 2017 Playlist of Videos

Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for some big announcements about upcoming 2018 Grip Competitions.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

This Week in Grip

Episode 36

In episode 36, we talk about Gripmas, the LA Fit Expo, and many of the other competitions that are set to close out 2017 and get 2018 rolling with plenty of Grip Power! We also look at some of the biggest feats that went down in the past week, including a deep set #4 close by a gripster named Artur Tumaguzhin.

Next week, we plan on covering the Inch Dumbbell. What questions do you have on the Inch? Leave your questions below, or in the comments section on YouTube.

Thanks for watching and all the best in your training.

Jedd

This Week in Grip

Let’s finally get caught up on all the past episodes of This Week in Grip.

Episode 33

Got totally skipped by accident, and we’re not gonna go back and re-do it!

Episode 34

Episode 35

Episode 36

Thanks for watching and all the best in your training.

Jedd

This Week in Grip

Still playing catch-up on the episodes of This Week in Grip that I’m behind on.

This Week in Grip – Episode 30

This Week in Grip – Episode 31 – Part 1

This Week in Grip – Episode 31 – Part 2

This Week in Grip – Episode 32 – Part A

This Week in Grip – Episode 32 – Part B

I hope you enjoy them.

All the best in your training,

Jedd

I am really behind on posting episodes of This Week in Grip, the podcast show where Allen Heineck and I cover the latest in the grip world, including Grip Sport, Oldtime Strongman Training and Feats of Grip Strength, as well as other topics closely related to Grip Training.

We also recently added Riccardo Magni to our regular TWIG Team.

Below, you’ll find episodes 27, 28 and 29. I hope you enjoy them. Be sure to subscribe and don’t be afraid to share your favorite episodes with your friends.

This Week in Grip – Episode 27

This Week in Grip – Episode 28

This Week in Grip – Episode 29

I’ll have more episodes of This Week in Grip posted here soon. I don’t want to overload you with TOO MUCH of a great thing.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

This past Saturday was the 5th Annual International King Kong of Grip Challenge.

This year’s competition took place at 18 different venues in 9 different countries, and saw 170 competitors hit the stage.

I have been training very hard for this competition, because I wanted to get my title back.

I won it in 2015, and think I would have had a pretty good chance to repeat as champion last year, but I hurt my back a week or two before the contest and was in severe pain, which hurt me very bad on two of the events.

This year was my chance to become the first person to ever win it twice.

Unfortunately, despite my best training efforts, putting together 6 to 8 weeks of excellent work, and having one of my best competition days ever, especially for these events, I was not successful in getting my title back.

I did manage to get 5th overall, 2nd in North America, and 1st in my individual weight class.

I also was able to break the World Record in the 1 Hand Pinch Lift, and set all time PR’s on the 2.5″ Crusher and Stub.

Alas, the 2″ Vertical Bar, an event that has severely injured several people, proved to be a big limiting factor for me, and my overall placement suffered because of it, especially.

Despite the positives, I’m still rather disappointed because the ultimate goal is to win the Overall and take the Title of King Kong of Grip.

And at the same time, even though I’m disappointed, there are a ton of things to be happy about.

My Dad was there for yet another competition and got to see me break the record, and my wife and daughter got to be there for the first time to see me break a pinching record, too

I am blessed with a family that is extremely supportive, and that is a huge difference maker.

Also, got the chance to watch my partner, Luke have an awesome day on the platform, as well, setting multiple PR’s. If a couple more lifts went his way, his placing could have moved from 12th overall to 10th. That’s how close these multiple venue competitions can be!

In addition, my long time friend, Mike Rinderle put together a fantastic day after getting some pretty bad news about an injury he recently sustained, plus not having trained grip since last year’s King Kong.

My friend Chris Andrade, from Connecticut, also made the trip down for another King Kong, and he has no lost over 80lbs. It was his first time making the 93kg class. Watching his 11-year old son, “The Ace Cowboy” compete over the years has been awesome as well, and I’m looking forward to many more. I’m hoping Chris’s wife, Amber, feels better next time so she can join us in the chalk dust.

It was great seeing my friend, Joe Sullivan, compete for the first time as well. If he sticks with it, I think he will be force to be reckoned with. Dude is just so strong.

I really appreciate everyone who made some pretty long drives down to be at the competition. Brothers John and Peter Nickless both came down from the Syracuse area. It was John’s first time competing, I believe, and it was Peter’s first time competing since a nasty foot injury he had.

Big RT, Ryan Thomas also came down from the Syracuse area, and looked very confident on all the events. I think he could be very good at Grip if he concentrated on it, for sure.

And a big thanks to brothers, Mike & Jeff M, who are still new to grip, but made the trip from Rochester and got some good quality comp experience as well as some good work on various grip tools after the event.

I’ll be working on video editing throughout the week, and Allen Heineck, Riccardo Magni, and I will be recording a King Kong episode of This Week in Grip, tonight. So, if you’re not subscribed to my YouTube Channel, do so right now: Jedd Johnson on YouTube – so you don’t miss any of the awesome content that’s coming your way!

And if you competed in King Kong and would like to share the story of your day in the heat of competition, feel free to send me a write-up. It might get read on the King Kong show.

Thanks for the support, and all the best in your training.

Jedd

This Week in Grip

It’s been a while since I posted the episode of This Week in Grip. Below, you’ll find episodes # 24, 25 and #26.

This Week in Grip – Episode #24

This Week in Grip – Episode #25

This Week in Grip – Episode #26

Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe!

All the best in your training.

Jedd

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This Week in Grip

This week, Allen Heineck and I discuss the upcoming contest, South Jersey 4, what is sure to be the BIGGEST grip contest EVER on U.S. Soil.

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