First Feat of Strength for Beginners

I’m often asked by readers and viewers what is the best way to get started with Oldtime Feats of Strength, like bending and tearing things.

There’s one single feat of strength that I believe you should begin with…

First off, feats of strength require you to be able to produce tremendous pressure with the hands, so you should begin with something that checks that box.

Next, aside from being able to latch onto something hard with your hands, you also need to be able to make what you’re bending or tearing do what you want it to.

You have to be able to overcome whatever it is that you’re working on, so this introductory feat has to involve movement as well as the tension requirement

On top of all that, your first feat challenge needs to test you mentally. Often, when trying to bend or tear something, your mind gives up long before you hands do or your body does.

So you can’t just start bending paper clips or wire hangers. There’s gotta be some sort of mental challenge to it.

Finally, and I think this is something that a lot of new feat fanatics forget about, is there needs to be a low level of risk involved. This way, you don’t hurt yourself, and screw up not only your new hobby, but also all the other strength training and other strength goals you have.

For instance, it’s really easy to go overboard with steel bending, or pop something in your shoulder, because of the increased levels of strain.

As a bonus, it’s nice if the thing you’re starting off with is fairly affordable and easy to get, so you’re not blowing through paychecks and combing the edges of the internet trying to find some rare stock to work with.

So with all these factors considered, I believe the perfect feat for you to start out with is CARD TEARING.

Card Tearing teaches you not only about the application of force from your hands into the cards, but also how you can direct this force into the deck at various angles.

Once you learn this, it’s a much easier jump to bending nails, steel bars, horse shoes, etc.

Before you know it, you’re bending and tearing everything in sight!

While it may not seem so, tearing cards also requires mental fortitude, because it isn’t by any means easy, and you have to push yourself to complete the tear.

Finally, cards are available EVERYWHERE! From the local super market, to the various dollar stores, to ebay, casinos, and more – decks of cards are constantly at your fingertips.

For all these reasons, and probably more that I’m not thinking of, if you’re thinking about getting started with oldtime feats of strength, your best bet is Card Tearing, and I’ll show you everything you need to know in my ebook, the Card Tearing System

Thanks and all the best in your training.

NAPALM

P.S. If you’re not sure if you’re strong enough to start tearing cards, don’t worry – I got you covered with an extensive exercise index in my Card Tearing eBook Grab Your Copy Today!!!

Beginner Grip Training Video Series

We are getting deeper and deeper into this series on Beginner Grip Training Methods. We’ve looked at entry-level plate inching, some of the aspects of gripper training, and even a thick bar training method you can do in just about ANY GYM. Now, it’s time to look at a way beginner grip trainees can work on developing their wrist strength.

Basic Sledge Hammer Movements for Wrist Strength

Sledge Hammer Levering can put a lot of torque on the wrist, and if you go too heavy, too soon, you can experience undue pain from the drills. In the video below, I show you some things you can do right now, as a beginner grip trainee, that are safe and entail less risk.

I hope today’s installment in the Beginner Grip Training Series has been helpful.

If you’ve got additional questions on developing your grip strength, be sure to leave a comment below, or contact me directly.

Either way, I look forward to hearing from you.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Ready to Graduate to Bigger Hammers?
Then Get the Workout That Will Show You How:
Pick Up The LEVER BIGGER HAMMERS WORKOUT HERE

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

Feedback from the Attendees

Left to Right: Dr. Jim Wagner, me, and Chris Fritz

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!

As a hand therapist and being in strength training for 28 plus years I found Jedd’s Essentials of Grip/Strongman Training Seminar one of the most informational courses I have taken! The information Jedd covered has made a huge impact on my training and how I look at treating my patients. Not only was the course informative, it was totally hands on!

Jedd’s passion for the sport and approach to kinesthetic learning made the day!! Jedd laid the foundation for building diesel grip and forearm power! To anyone one who is considering getting into the arena of Grip sports or needs a change in training program Jedd’s course is a must have!

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

When you read the title of the post, you probably thought I was going to try to sell you some kind of new training equipment out on the market when.

That’s not it at all.

If you want a truly strong grip, there is one thing you need to have that you might not be doing in your training.

I know for a long time when I first started, I left this out, and because of it, my numbers suffered.

Since then, I no longer make that mistake, because I keep this in my training on a regular basis now.

No, it’s not a special piece of equipment.

It’s actually much more simple than that…

If you want a strong grip, you NEED strong wrists.

Think about it this way…

Many of the muscles that control your grip run through your wrist.

So, all the power is running right through that joint.

If you’ve got good wrist strength, that power will pass through well.

If you neglect your wrists, they’ll stay weak, and that means you’ll never reach your potential with your hand strength.

If you don’t have good stability there, you’re SCREWED.

So, the question is, how do you train for wrist strength?

One way is with Sledge Hammer Levering.

Sledge Hammer Levering involves gripping a sledge by the handle and then lifting the head up and down, under control, using wrist strength.

Chances are you already have a Sledge Hammer. If you don’t you can use any type of leverage device.

A mop or mop handle will work great.

Even a baseball bat can do the trick.

Remember, your objective is to work against leverage through a variety of angles, in order to make the wrists as strong as possible.

Because if you don’t have strong wrists, there’s virtually NO WAY you can have a strong grip.

If you want ideas on how to build wrist strength, check this out: Lever Bigger Hammers.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

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Bring Up Your Wrist Strength TODAY
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Today’s question comes from Norm, and it is about Mace Swinging.

“Hi Jedd
I picked up your Home Made Strength Online DVD. I’m very happy with the product. My only question is whether the exercise where you swing the mace around your head should be used as a warmup, main strength move, or finisher? -Norm-“

Thanks for the note, Norm. Mace Swinging is a lot of fun, plus is is very versatile, so I put together a quick article for you.

In addition, I just talked with Ryan Pitts, and he just set up a special discount code just for my subscribers.

From Ryan Pitts at Stronger Grip Enterprises:

“I have been making the handles on some of the maces loadable at request of customer. I will give this upgrade to anyone who uses your diesel5 code. They get 5% off and a bonus $25 value of loadable handle, giving the mace an extra 10-16 lb capacity depending on what kind of media and length of mace they order. -Ryan Pitts-“

To get your own Mace with the custom adjustable-weight handle, use this link:

Special Diesel Crew Link for Custom Handle Maces

Be sure to use the code => diesel5 <= when you check out to get 5% off and get a cool adjustable handle.

The Benefits of Mace Swinging

Maces: Multi-Purpose Tools, Perfect for Warm-up, Strength Work, or Finishers

Is the Mace best used as a Warm-up device, a Strength Movement, or as a Finisher?

The Mace can actually be used for all three of these purposes. Allow me to detail each one…

Mace Training as a Warm-up

When done with a light weight, Mace Training can be a great warm-up for the upper body.

The shoulders, biceps, triceps, and the lower arms get used under light loads very fluidly with Mace Swinging, and this promotes blood flow to the area, lubricating the joints, making them feel good, especially after a long day where you are stuck in a chair or something like that.

In addition, the over the shoulder and behind the head movements of Mace Swinging open up the thoracic region of the torso, which can help you lift heavier later on in the workout.

Maces as a Strength Movement

You can also test your strength and coordination with heavy mace swinging.

I had a giant mace / club made several years ago that I call the Demolition Club.

Here’s a post on the Demolition Club.

It’s literally a giant artillery shell with a handle and it weighs 89lbs. The handle is super thick and there is no ball at the end of the handle, you not only must get your core, torso, and shoulders ready to go in order to swing this thing, but you grip must be ON too.

So, you can load a mace up heavy, especially shot-loadable ones like Ryan Pitts makes here, and keep the repetitions lower for a very challenging strength movement.

Maces as a Finisher

I, generally, use my mace training as a “finisher” of sorts the majority of the time.

During periods where I have no contests to train for, or if I am looking to burn some extra calories, I use Mace Swinging as “Upper Body Cardio,” at the end of the workout, doing a handful of sets for maximum repetitions.

Generally, I will wear some kind of gloves with these, in order to prevent blisters. Plus, my hands have to work a bit harder, so I get a good Grip Strength Challenge out of it.

I even like to do some “Sprint-Style” Mace Swinging, where I try to rip off 20 repetitions as fast as possible for 4 to 6 sets.

So, really, depending on what you want to go for, Mace Swinging can be a great multi-purpose form of training.

I like the shot-loadable Mace that I have, and you can also buy plate loadable ones too.

Good luck with your Mace Training, Norm.

Jedd

P.S. Don’t have a Mace? I gotcha covered:

You can buy a sweet shot-loadable mace here.<= Use code Diesel5 to get 5% off

Build Big Arms and Strong Wrists

One of my overall goals is to build my arms up to 20″ cold (no pump).

The way I see it, if you are going to get big, you might as well build strength to go along with it.

And if you are going to be strong, then by all means get as big as you can.

With these things in mind, I give you Scale Weight Curls.

A Scale Weight is a block-shaped weight that is used in industrial settings where scales are used.

These weights are calibrated to specific measurements and have handles so that they can be placed on the scale quickly and easily in order to test that a scale is reading accurately.

How to Perform Scale Weight Curls

Scale Weight Curls can be done like any other curl. They can be done free-standing or braced, and can be done in alternating style or both at the same time.

For me, performing them standing has gotten too easy, so I have been doing them in more of a Preacher Curl style, off my Glute Ham Machine. This allows me to keep the movement more concentrated (although cheating is not completely eliminated).

Also, what I look for is to try to keep my wrist in a neutral position throughout the full range of motion. This strengthens the wrist a bit more.

I can usually get up to 3 extra reps per set if I let my wrist buckle, so once I feel that I am losing my neutral position and breaking into ulnar deviation, I generally just stop the set.

Here is a video showing some recent Scale Weight Curls.

Scale Weight Curls

Scale Weights are somewhat hard to come by, because they are a specialized tool, sort of like anvils, and they can be cheap, but I have been lucky enough to score a couple over the years.

Believe me, the collection of grip tools I have amassed has taken me literally years to develop, tons of time to research, and of course, big expenses in order to build.

If you can’t find Scale Weights, another alternative is to try and curl your Kettlebells. Since the kettlebell handle sits out away from the rest of the bell, they will actually be much tougher to curl, and the weights will drop, but you will still get the Leverage Curl effect.

Still, I like the Scale Weight Curl a little better than Kettlebell Curls, just because I can use a bit more weight to challenge the biceps more, while also challenging my wrists.

To take it even further, you can attempt to curl your Scale Weight or Kettlebll in a supinated position. When you do this, you will have to CRUSH DOWN on the handle BIG TIME, or else you won’t be very successful.

I hope you enjoy this variation of Curls.

For more sinister ideas on how to build crazy arm strength, check out Call to Arms.

All the best in your training,

Jedd

Mace and Club Swinging

Originally posted March 21, 2012

Hello Diesels!

One type of strength and endurance training that almost no one practices anymore, but certainly should is Mace and Club Swinging. This sort of training has many names from macebell training, to circular training, but really what it comes down to is swinging either a mace or a club around your head and down past your back with either one or two hands.

What is a Mace?

I first heard the term mace as a teenager, studying medieval weaponry. In that context, the term mace is used to describe a medieval weapon that was a ball with spikes on it that the warrior would swing and hit his adversary with. These days, the mace is a ball on the end of a long handle, usually about 4 feet long or even longer. In fact, Indian Wrestlers would swing a mace, or gada as they would call them, for their strength training and conditioning.

One type of Battle Mace

What is a Club?

Originally, clubs were weapons of old as well. They were really any sort of blunt object used to hit someone or something in order to hurt, maim, or kill it. This was usually done with one hand. These days, clubs are used in a swinging style in order to bring about the same types of benefits as mace swinging for people such as wrestlers, baseball player, football players, firemen, police, etc.

A Medieval Ball-Headed Club – Beat some asses with this piece!

I recently found this old video clip of the greatest Persian Club swinger ever to grace the wrestling ring, the Iron Sheik, swinging his “70+ Lb” clubs and allowing other wrestlers and bystanders to try the $10,000 Persian Club Challenge. You’ll see that this form of Club, with a much different shape, is more in line with the Persian style of Club, with much more mass to wield than other thinner forms of Indian Clubs.

From the video you can tell that Club Swinging requires a different form of strength to be developed in order to be able to just get the clubs into position, let alone to be able to swing them with authority like the Iron Sheik, especially the obvious time spent in the weight room by the guys in the video who failed miserably to swing the clubs, one of them a young Jim Hellwig who would later become the Ultimate Warrior.

I thought it was so cool watching the Iron Sheik swing clubs as a youngster, that I always wanted to try it. That was the reason I first gave it a try, but now after doing it for several years, I have found that there are many benefits to be gotten from club swinging.

Benefits of Club and Mace Swinging

The benefits of Club and Mace Swinging are numerous, including:

• Grip Strength and Endurance – This movement requires you to flex and adjust the hand dynamically throughout the range of motion which tires out the entire hand as well as the full length of the forearm
• Shoulder Flexibility / Mobility – The relatively light weight of the implement is enough to stretch out the musculature slightly, improving range of motion. This is also effective as an upper body warm-up
• Core Training – Maintaining a stable core while swinging the club or mace-style implement dynamically works the abs, lats, and muscles of the back as well, again, excellent for a warm-up method or finisher for your workouts.

What is the difference between Maces and Clubs?

There are a few differences between maces and clubs. First off, Maces are usually much longer than clubs, and produce more leverage when they are being swung, even if their heads are roughly the same size and weight.

Another difference between maces and clubs are the number of hands used. Generally a mace is swung using two hands while a club is swung using only one hand. Of course if the mace is extremely light it can be used with just one hand. Conversely if a club is extremely heavy, then it may be necessary to use two hands in order to swing it.

Regardless of the weight, length of the handle, or the number of hands used to swing the club or mace, it is a very beneficial form of training for anyone who needs to have strong hands and solid grip in order to be successful at what they do.

Stronger Grip Enterprises – Mace and Club Training Tools

There are lots of places where you can get Club and Mace training tools, but one of the best I have found is Stronger Grip. I have many different training tools from Stronger Grip and I love all of them.

Stronger Grip has several different types of tools that are used for this sort of training. Many are shot loadable, which means you will have the benefit of starting out with lighter weights and gradually working up over time. Shot loadable implements are also fun to train on because they make such a cool noise when you swing them around.

Like I said, I own several pieces of Stronger Grip equipment, but by far, the ones I use most often are the clubs and maces, and I use the maces more routinely because they are a two handed implement and I am able to do more weight with them. I guess I just enjoy Mace training more.

Some quick links to the Stronger Grip equipment line of Clubs and Maces:

• Indian Clubs – The Stronger Grip Indian Clubs are the perfect size to reap all the benefits, plus, they are shot loadable making it even easier for you to maximize the benefits.
• Plate Loadable Clubs – Some people don’t like Shot because they have to have a place to keep it and it requires a bit more concentration to change weights. The Plate Loadable Clubs get you around that very easily and work just as well.
• Loadable Maces / Core Club – This is the type of Mace I have owned for several years. This piece looks great and feels even better. Get ready to not only build your Grip but also to improve your shoulder mobility at the same time.
• Monster Mace – If you are looking to really move a lot of weight around, then you want the Monster Mace. Once you start manhandling this piece of beauty around, you will be ready to challenge the Iron Sheik himself.
• Plate Loadable Mace – If you are not into shot-loadable instruments, Ryan Pitts also carries plate-loadable maces which you can use with those extra plates you have sitting around.
• The Starter Mace – If you would like to start out with something a little more manageable, the Starter Mace is perfect.

Those are just a small selection of the variety of Clubs and Maces available from Stronger Grip. Once you go to the links, check out the full spectrum of tools. You can even pick up pairs and sets at a discount!

Club and Mace Swinging Technique

Once you pick up your Clubs and Maces, come back to this page in order to practice your technique.

When it comes to swinging a Club or Mace, you must start out with the basics. If you just stay with the basics, you will be able to readily enjoy and benefit from this type of training. Of course, course there are dozens, if not more, of other ways to swing Clubs and Maces once you master the basic training.

Basic Club Swinging Technique Demonstration

This video shows the beginning techniques for Club Swinging. Take note, that other instructors may use slightly different terminology from what I use. I am not a certified Club training specialist, but I do know how to properly perform the basics of Club swinging.

Basic Mace Swinging technique Demonstration

Just like with Club Swinging, there are many different styles and varieties you can try, but you definitely need to start out with the basics. Below I get you started on the right track, and if you are feeling frisky, after you get some practice, I’ve got a couple of other Advanced Mace Swinging Techniques for you to try as well.

Advanced Mace Swinging with Modified Speed Demand

With this technique, you will attempt to get the Mace moving and keep it going as fast as possible. I chose a total of 20 reps, but you can choose any number you wish. You will see that when you put this speed demand on yourself, in order to keep improving you must focus on your rhythm and strive to get your entire body to work together. Focus on getting as much of the musculature involved as you can in order to make each repetition smooth and fast.

Advanced Mace Swinging with Modified Range of Motion

This variation I liked quite a bit, because it took some of the focus away from the lats and torso and put more of it on the arms, forearms, and hands. My hands were pumped and burning up after trying this.

Once again, start out with the basic maneuvers with your Clubs and Maces and then start adding in slight variations until you are confident and can control the tools throughout the entire range of motion.

I hope you enjoy your Club and Mace training, and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment below.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

I am going out of town this weekend to visit my sister, so I want to learn more about you so I can help you out more with your training in the future.

Be sure to sign up for further updates on Grip Strength Training.

Thanks for filling out the survey and Happy Memorial Day.

Jedd

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Special Offer from My Mad Methods until June 15:
Free Tank Top with a 24/48-month Digital Subscription

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Earlier this year, Matt Ellis and I released our first DVD together, Grip Training for Track and Field Throwers.

Since then, our DVD has been helping Track and Field Coaches and Athletes understand how important the hands are to their throws, as well as how to train the hands effectively to improve performance and stay injury free.

Recently, I received the following feedback from Bill Piche. Bill, aside from being a pioneer in Grip Strength, is also a studied Track and Field scholar, having coached his two kids in Track all their lives. Both have put together impressive careers, and at least one of them is now competing at the collegiate level. Both Bill’s kids, Ryan and Amanda, are pictured to the right.

Here’s what Bill writes:

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“A missing link in the strength training program of many athletes is grip strength. In the throws in track and field, hand strength is of utmost importance. But, many coaches neglect training grip.

Jedd Johnson is a grip training expert and he combines his expertise with throws coach Matt Ellis to provide a great resource for throwers on how to train their grip for the throws. Their new DVD entitled “Grip Training For Track and Field Throwers” covers the complete grip strength spectrum from crushing grip to wrist and forearm strength. A big bonus is they also cover common throwing injuries and prevention.

One of my favorite parts is on the topic of Home Made equipment. There are no excuses for not training grip and this part of the DVD shows you how to do it on the cheap so there are no budget issues to worry about for implementing grip training into a strength program.

Needless to say, I highly recommend “Grip Training For Track and Field Throwers.”

Bill Piche

Gripboard.com“

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Thanks so much for the kind words, Bill!

To make this DVD even more accessible in the Digital Age, this video is available not only in hard copy DVD format, but we also provide streamable options as well, so you can watch the video on your smart phone, ipad, or your other preferred devices.

If you’d like to pick up a copy of Grip Training for Track and Field Throwers, you can do so by clicking the image of the DVD to the right.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

When Matt Ellis and I released Grip Training for Track and Field Throwers, we knew that the information was killer, but we also wanted to see what other experienced Throwers had to say about it, so we sent out some complimentary copies.

Now, the feedback is coming in and I am excited to share what a truly great multi-talented athlete had to say about it.

Adriane Wilson Reviews Grip Training for Track and Field Throwers

“The Track and Field Grip Training DVD is outstanding. It is a complete collection of simple and practical exercises for throwers, lifters, and any person concerned with their hand and lower arm health. The preventive and strength building exercises can be performed in or outside of a gym, which is useful for those unable to travel to the gym on a daily basis.

In addition to grip tools already found in the gym, Jedd and Matt present easy and inexpensive alternatives to top rated grip equipment to further strengthen your grip. Their inventive program can apply to the novice gripper and challenge the elite crusher. With nearly two hours of valuable demonstrations, your grip training will stay exciting and strength will continue to impress.

Adriane Wilson

You have probably heard of Adriane before under her maiden name, Blewitt. She is a decorated Highland Games competitor, having won the Women’s World Championship on 3 separate occasions.

She also became the first woman to certify on the IronMind #2 Captains of Crush Gripper in the Fall of 2011.

Adriane also nearly became a member of the 2012 USA Olympic Team, as she competed for a spot in the Throws, but was ever so slightly edged out during the trials.

To get feedback like this from a truly gifted athlete such as Adriane is an unbelievable feeling. If you are a thrower, a coach, or an athlete, this DVD can help you get to the next level with your throws, as well as keep your hands, wrist, and elbows more resistant against injuries.

To pick up your copy, go here: GripTrainingForThrowers.com

All the best in your training,

Jedd

In a short poll I did on Facebook, one of the most commonly mentioned exercises that causes wrist pain for my Facebook friends ended up being the Bench Press.

If the bench Press is a lift that bothers your wrists as well, then I hope you check out the video below.

In it, I talk about the alignment of the wrist bones and how these bones interact with the bones of the hand and forearm. In addition, I also talk about how to take care of the wrists to keep them feeling good so that they do not affect your Bench Press training.

So, in review, make sure to keep these three points in mind when you are Benching:

Warm-up: Get some blood flowing into your hands and wrists so that the tissues become more pliable and you can better exert force into the bar.

Stretch Between Sets: You would be surprised how much of a difference it makes for your wrists if you do some light stretching between sets. The Thumb + First Two Stretch that I show in the video above is a favorite of mine.

Use Proper Technique: Part of the correct bench press technique is to keep the wrist straight. Having the wrist bent way back can cause extreme pressure in the wrist. This change may feel weird at first, but over time you will grow used to it and enjoy the reduction of nagging pain in the wrist.

I think these slight changes in your technique, preparation, and approach will pay big dividends for you in your training, by helping you to avoid wrist pain.

If you are experiencing wrist pain, and you want to end it for good, you should check out Fix My Wrist Pain. Rick Kaselj and I worked together on this and it is helping people out already.

Special Introductory Price ($27) Ends Tonight – Grab FMWP Today!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below and I will be glad to get back with you.

All the best in your training.

“Napalm” Jedd Johnson

Article by Logan Christopher, Legendary Strength

In this article I’m going to share a secret of strength that is rarely if ever spelled out in detail. Yet if you utilize these factors in your favor you can easily and dramatically increase the strength that you have. What I’m talking about is training with partners or a group that is strong, where the expectation of strength is high. Doing this, and this alone, will almost assure that you become strong yourself.
(more…)

This was originally a guest post I did for Murph at Total Performance Sports. The purpose is to show those who need a strong grip some innovative ways to build grip strength using simple training tools. For more information on Grip Training, check out The Grip Authority.

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Grip Training for Law Enforcement, Corrections, & Security Personnel

Law Enforcement and Corrections Personnel (and other related professions) are confronted with many physical challenges while on the job.

They have cardiovascular demands that can arise suddenly and before they know it they have to pursue a perpetrator on foot. As if that isn’t tough enough, they have to do so while wearing heavy boots and protective gear. Specific preparation needs to take place on a routine basis in order for these members of law enforcement to have their edge when the heat is on.

Another type of physical demand that law enforcement personnel must think about is Grip strength. Handcuffing a person who is resisting arrest can be very challenging and being able to maintain wrist control in this situation can make the difference between an altercation that leads to a successful arrest and a scuffle that results only in an escaped assailant.

Still other important grip strength demands exist in the realm of law enforcement, including holding and aiming a pistol with steady confidence or trying to pull a firearm out of the grasp of criminal without making it go off in the struggle.

My goal with this article is to show law enforcement, security, and corrections personal a few ways they can train for grip strength that will make them more prepared for the situations above and more, so they can be successful in subduing the criminals they encounter and are able to return home to their families unscathed.

My aim is to also show ways to get the benefits of increased grip strength using only equipment that is commonly found in a commercial gym, since many do not have their own training facilities in their homes and headquarters.

Hand Cuffing Training – EZ Bar Partner Pulls

Trying to maintain a grip on the wrist of someone who is trying to break free can be very challenging. This exercise is designed to replicate the feeling of someone trying to pull their wrist out of your grasp.

Begin by having a partner grab one end of an EZ Curl Bar with both hands. Next, grab the other end with one hand and have your partner try to pull the bar out of your grasp.

You can make this even tougher by wrapping a towel around one sleeve of an EZ Curl Bar, then take a grip on the towel. The purpose of this is to mimic the feeling of gripping a wrist with a sleeve on it.

The partner should violently pull on the other end of the EZ Bar trying to yank it out of your hand. When performing this exercise make sure to squeeze your fingers hard into the sleeve, pinning it against your palm. Also, make sure to activate the thumb as it will be very important in maintaining a grip on the bar.

Perform this variation for several sets for as long as it takes for the partner to get it out of your hand.

Physical Altercation Preparation – Full Contact Twist, Gripified

The Full Contact Twist was originally designed as a method for training the core, but with the use of a thick towel, you will also get the benefit of building very strong hands and lower arms. Begin by positioning one end of a barbell in a corner of the gym, have a partner step on it or secure it in some other fashion. This is done to keep the barbell in one place. Next, loop a thick towel around the sleeve of the bar tightly.

With the towel looped around the sleeve, grip the ends of the towel and pull them apart. This will activate the upper back and shoulders while also hitting the lower arms and hands very hard. This upper body tension combined with the activity of the lower body results in a very intense full body exercise that works everything between the feet and the neck, mimicking the full body stress of an altercation with an inmate.

The full contact twist is done by rotating on the ball of the foot and moving the end of the barbell from a position in front of the body down to knee level, and then back upwards and over to the opposite knee.

Hand Toughening Training – Duffel Bag Pull-ups

In your profession, it will also benefit you to have Tough Hands. This will reduce your distraction during a struggle, enabling you to focus more on the assailant and less on the pain in your hands as you try to control them.

Throw an empty duffel bag over a chin-up bar. Mash the bag into a clump and use it as a gripping surface for performing pull-ups. The material will most likely pile up unevenly, but that is okay because when grasping for control of an incensed criminal, you will never get an even grip on his clothing with both hands, so just roll with it.

Pull-ups with this type of material will also most likely hurt, but doing this routinely will deaden the fingers to this type of training which means you will be ready if you ever have to wrestle someone to the ground when on duty.

Empty duffel bags can also be used for exercises such as lat pull-downs, cable rows and T-bar rows to toughen the hands and build hand strength.

Gun Handling – PVC Pipe Holds

One of the challenges of aiming a gun, especially for those who are new to using a pistol, is the leverage of the heavier firearms in the out stretched arm. Their surprising weight causes new personnel to shake and become incapable of maintaining an accurate site picture, let alone an accurate shot. The following exercises will help strengthen the lower arms and wrists to be better prepared to aim and hold a gun.

For this exercise, you will need a length of PVC Pipe 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter about 5 inches long, a large carabiner, and some JumpStretch or other elastic training bands.

Run the band through the PVC Handle and clip the carabiner onto the bands. This will keep the bands from popping back out through the pipe. Next, choke the bands toward the bottom of a squat cage or other sturdy structure.

Stand several feet away from the squat cage, grasping the PVC pipe as if it were the handle of a firearm. Raise the handle upwards, attempting to keep it perfectly vertical. Once it reaches shoulder height, keep it there, performing holds for time, shooting for a solid 30 second hold.

Both hands can also be used on the device, allowing for more band tension to be used.

This movement can be performed several times a day every day if it is set up in the right spot in the office or in a break room. Obviously those locations do not usually have squat cages in them, so accommodations will have to be made to formulate a work-around, such as a partner standing on the band, attaching it to a heavy bench, chair or desk, etc.

Grip Training does not require fancy equipment. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to perform grip training with equipment you already have at the gym or stuff you can get at a hardware store and make yourself with simple tools. The movements above will prove to be very beneficial for law enforcement personnel in toughening and strengthening the hands as well as training the hands to work in unison with the rest of the body to control an adversary.

Hand Strength is an extremely important part of the job for law enforcement personnel, and my expertise is as a Strength and Conditioning Coach, I am not experienced in Law Enforcement, Corrections, or Hand-to-Hand Combat. By analyzing movement patterns often encountered Law Enforcement and Corrections Personnel, and by conducting an informal needs analyses, I came up with these simple movements, but there are literally hundreds of ways to train the hands, fingers, wrists, and lower arms to be strong and powerful.

For more ideas on how to train the Hands, Wrists and Forearms, sign up for my Free Grip Strength Training Tips today, and as a free gift you will get my complimentary Grip Training Workouts PDF and Video.

Free Grip Training Tips, Workout PDF, and Video

This Free Grip Program includes 8 weeks of Grip Workouts at absolutely no cost to you, giving you 24 workouts in total with absolutely NO REPEATED DRILLS.

So if you need strong hands for your profession, your sport, or you pastime, sign up today and start Building a Stronger Grip.

By the way, for the policemen, guards, security personnel, and others whose jobs entail the risk of having to physically engage someone who could be violent, I certainly hope you never have to experience. Your safety is my number one concern, but for those who may need it, I hope this information is helpful.

-Jedd-

I am a Strength and Conditioning Coach / Personal Trainer in Pennsylvania. For more information, or to ask a training question, I welcome emails and phone calls. Feel free to contact me at jedd(dot)diesel(at)gmail(dot)com or call 607-857-6997.

For information on Grip and Forearm Strength, there is no better resource than TheGripAuthority.com. The site features monthly detailed Grip topics, Workouts, Coaching Calls, and Articles. Your membership is guaranteed to bring your hand strength up to the standard of your profession. Try it today for just $7 and see what TheGripAuthority.com has to offer!

Happy Valentine’s Day, DIESELS!

I hope you remembered to get something for the one closest to you. If you did not, then you better get thinking of something special you can get on the way home, because you need to show her how much you care.

I just released a new product today – a training video for the Wrist Developer from David Horne’s World of Grip.

For the rest of this week, you can get this video for just $19.99!

Click here to get it = > How to Train with the Wrist Developer

After you pick this up today, you’ll better understand the loading method of the WD as well as how to wrap it and train with it.

On top of that, I also cover the training techniques I have used with the device, many of which I don’t think anyone else has ever done, at least I have never heard of anyone else doing them…

I look forward to seeing a lot more big numbers being produced on the Wrist Developer device. I break down the technique and show you how to figure out the best style for you, depending on your strengths, weaknesses, and your particular goals, so I feel it is going to help a lot of people who are currently struggling with it.

Remember, this video is $19.99 the rest of the week. It is a streaming On-line DVD with the option to upgrade to a hard copy as well.

Click the banner below to order your copy.

Jedd

I’ve recently come to know that some people do not realize that I run another website called The Grip Authority, so I wanted to make a post here to talk about what the Grip Authority is, what you can find there, and also to share some feedback I have gotten from some of my subscribers I work with there.

The Grip Authority originally started out as a page where we talked about the benefits of Grip Strength training, since back when we first started speaking at seminars no one really knew what Grip was or why it would be important to talk about training for hand strength.

Now, fast forward about 8 years and all kinds of sites speak specifically about Grip Training and why it is important to do so.

Unfortunately, many of those sites provide the same recycled content, advice and exercises.

In the summer of 2009, I decided I was going to take Grip Strength instruction, Feat of Strength execution, and Grip Sport Preparation to a whole other level and began plans for turning the Grip Authority website into an affordable monthly membership site for those who wanted to work with me toward their goals.

I launched The Grip Authority in January of 2010. Since then I have covered a wide variety of topics that have included very common topics such as Gripper Training, Nail and Steel Bending, and many varieties of Pinch Training, plus other lesser known types of training such as Anvil Lifting.

Nearly 100% of the content I provide is by request of the subscribers in one way or another. For instance, with each new member, I ask them for their top three goals and with this information, I am able to provide content for them that will help them accomplish what they want to where Grip Strength is concerned.

For example, one of my most recent subscribers is a woman trainer from California who is gunning for the Big 6 Feats of Strength: Braced Bending, Non-braced Bending, Phonebooks, Cards, Horseshoes, & Nail Driving. I am preparing a coaching video specifically for her on her short steel non-braced bending technique.

Another feature that I have begun including on a monthly basis is a coaching call recording. I take questions from the members throughout the month and compile them for an mp3 that the members can download and listen to at their convenience. It’s all about helping them attain their goals.

TGA has very little Hair Metal content, unfortunately…

Now, not all of the stuff is made in direct response to what the members are looking for. Sometimes, I bring reports back from trips I take or seminars I do and share my experience, especially if I am training with someone and a technique I use is an eye-opener for them.

For instance, in a trip I took in July of this year, I was swapping stories with Richard Sorin and showing him some stuff with the Blob. I showed him some hand placement and training techniques that I use with Blob and Block Weight Training and afterwards Richard said, “I just learned more in 15 minutes about Grip Training that I have learned in the last 15 years.”

That was an awesome trip that I enjoyed immensely and to hear that I impressed the original Blob lifter with my knowledge made me feel great, so I instantly came back from that trip and shot video of the same techniques I shared with him and I called it “Things I Taught Richard Sorin,” so that my subscribers could benefit from it and put it from action.

I got some feedback on that segment from one of the members, Rick Giese, shortly after posting that segment.

“Just wanted to let you know that your “things I taught Richard Sorin” videos

added a lot of strength to my left hand block weight training. Thanks man,

good stuff, simple yet very effective. Rick Giese”

This has proven to be a huge topic over time, because Block Weight Training is major aspect of many people’s training. Block Weight Training is one of the most beneficial (and yet simple) forms of Grip Training, and there are some things you can do to get a bit better grip on a Block Weight. This can lead to doing a few more reps in Block Weight Deadlifts or Cleans and can really increase your results.

Another of my most recent subscribers, Kyle Lapinsky, said after just a few days of being on the site:

“Some good news – I picked up my 40lb blob today in both hands.

Something I couldn’t do until I signed up on your site. I’m also a lot

closer to closing my #3 COC.”

If you are looking to improve your grip, I can help you get there. You can join today for just $7 at http://www.thegripauthority.com.

By now, I have nearly 100 posts on various topics and am able to get people jump-started toward their goals because I keep things much more organized these days. I also started a Private TGA group on Facebook a few months ago for the members to be able to react with one another, share PR’s they’ve accomplished, send in questions for coaching calls, and discuss training topics.

It remains a work in progress, but I am very happy with how it has progressed as well as how much I’ve been able to help people improve.

If you’d like to check it out you can sign up for a 10-day trial at http://www.thegripauthority.com.

Looking forward to working with you towards attaining your goals.

Jedd

I recently got this note from Rob Russell about a charity event he is holding very soon. It sounds like it’ not only going to be awesome, but very challenging as well. Check it out and please give if you can. I have donated a couple of ebooks, the Nail Bending eBook and the Card Tearing eBook.

Jedd, I love challenges and the tougher the better! I’ve been training for many years now and been down just about every avenue possible.

Over the last 7 years I’ve taken up many forms of non-conventional training, kettlebells mainly, along with strongman, maces, sandbags, grip training and over the last 2 years heavy sledgehammer training.

The first person I ever saw swinging a heavy sledgehammer was John Brookfield, it looked so brutal I knew I had to get one of my own (a 25kg one to be precise). Initially training with it was really hard, until I learned the technique and shortened the handle. In 2009 I was inspired by kettlebell and sledgehammer fanatic Stepf Dogman to go for a 1 hour sledgehammer challenge after seeing this guy weighing in at only 69kg strike a tire 520 times with a 20kg hammer. I managed 791 reps on my first challenge for a charity that I support.

October 15th sees me return aiming to break the 1000 rep barrier (that’s roughly 17 strikes/min). I have been training since May and racked up over 13,000 strikes over nearly 60 sessions. The basis of my training has been 10 min sessions 3 times per week, setting off at 10 reps/min increasing by 1 rep per week until I hit 20 reps/min for 10 mins then I started upping the length of my sessions. I knew 1000 reps was going to be a tall order so I thought starting early would get me a great base to work from.

The carryover from hammer training to repetition snatching has been great too, I recently did a new best in the 24kg 10 min snatch test with 252 reps without any specific kettlebell work, it has also done a great deal for my grip strength (my hammer handle is nearly 2″ thick). The best thing about the training I have been doing is that it’s all been done in my half hour lunch break at work. It’s resulted in being a bit sweaty at work but really gives you a physical and mental boost for the afternoon and allowed me to do other training in the evenings.

My event on the 15th October is for Charity and to boost fundraising I have written my first ebook – ‘Unconventional Conditioning,’ a 45 page book packed with many videos, tips for training and program ideas.

To get hold of this ebook and be entered into a raffle for some strength and fitness goodies I am asking for a 2GBP minimum donation on my nation on my Just Giving Page.

Rob Russell

Thanks Rob! This event sounds AWESOME. I can’t imagine how brutally strong your hands, wrists and thumbs are getting from swinging the sledgehammer for such high volume. I know when I take my sledgehammer outside to swing it, my thumbs blow up like hot water bottles. All the best to you with your event – – Jedd

In May this year, my buddy Mike Rinderle came up to the Diesel Fortress and together we shot footage for about 5 hours covering the basics and advanced techniques of Horseshoe Bending.

Let me just say that these 5 hours were an education for me by Professor Rinderle. This dude has taken the art of horseshoe bending and broken it down to its most basic parts and nearly turned it into a science.

I learned more about bending horseshoes from one man in 5 hours than I have learned in the last nearly 10 years. I was blown away, to say the least!

Hammering Horseshoes: How to Bend, Mangle and Destroy Horseshoes

When it came time to edit the video footage, I knew no one would want five hours of us rambling about Horseshoe Bending and how to get strong enough to do it, so instead I put together only the most important points that would allow you to become great at horseshoes bending.

I still ended up with 90+ minutes of kick-ass content.

Now, it should be mentioned that David Wigren, of Sweden, helped us out tremendously with this DVD, covering some of the history of horseshoe bending as well as some of the clearest and most definitive still shots of horseshoe bending technique I have EVER seen.

Mike and I both knew it would be an absolute travesty to not include these stills in the DVD somehow, so I dusted off some software I had for audio recording and did a voice over of Wigren’s unbelievable technical break-down of horseshoe destruction and that is included on the DVD as well.

Now the DVD was 105 minutes.

I also went through my archives of Diesel Footage and found a gem of a horseshoe bend by The Human Vise, Pat Povilaitis, from a strength gathering called, Night of Strength, from 2004 and put that in. Back in the day, Diesel Crew was known as the guys with the video camera. I think we were the only ones that had a camera back then and we captured Pay absolutely mutilating a giant shoe with ease and with speed!

Then I thought, if I am going to stick footage on this disk, I need to include how much Mike has progressed over the last 1.5 to 2 years in horseshoe bending.

So I scoured YouTube and downloaded 5 or 6 of his bends, from the time he struggled for over 5 minutes to bend a minor league horseshoe, to the bend that won him the title of Beast in the East in the Spring of this year, to some of the shoe bends that only a handful of people in the world have ever bent
.

Now, these classic bends are on the end of the disk so you can see just how much Mike has improved his technique over the years.

Technique, by the way is the most important part of horseshoe bending.

You can be as strong as a bull, but if you are not lined up properly at the start, you will NOT successfully kink that shoe.

You might be as tough as nails, but if you do not set the shoe up properly on the thigh, you will NOT be able to open it beyond 75-degrees.

Technique is what hammers horseshoes, and this DVD is full of it.

We will be helping novices get started safely on the right track to bending big shoes and we will be taking seasoned veterans smoothing out their technique and they are going to start bending shows many levels higher than they are at now.

With all the bonus footage, this disk is 2 hours long and there is not one minute of the disk that you won’t be learning or observing something that is going to help your horseshoe bending.

Thanks to Mike for the outstanding job he did in his first DVD – you looked and sounded like a pro, brother.

Thanks to David Wigren for your assistance and direction with the DVD. Without your contributions, it would not be what it has become.

And thanks to two very good friends of mine who have inspired and helped me over the years in my pursuit of strength, Pat Povilaitis and Dave Whitley, both horseshoe manglers themselves.

Now, my fried, it’s up to you.

Get Hammering Horseshoes and learn how to bend horseshoes today: Hammering Horseshoes DVD.

All the best in your training,

Jedd

Hello DIESELS!

I have been thinking about doing this for quite some time (since about March) and I am finally going to do it.

August is Classic Strongman Feats Month at Diesel Crew for the Diesel Grip Strength Challenge.

We will be having the first ever On-line Grip Strength Tournament. Here’s a video talking about the Tournament.

The way this will work is you all will submit videos as is regularly done and a bracket will be formed at random from the submissions.

The bracket will look just like any Tournament Bracket, like the NSCA for example.

Each week, the submissions will go into a hat and be pulled at random to fill the bracket and whoever out-duels the other person either wins, loses or there is a draw.

This will be a 5-week tournament, and each week will be a different feat of strength.

This week, for Week 1 in the Classic Strongman Feats Tournament is Reverse Style Bending.

You can have your choice of bending stock from the following selections:

• 40D Nail
• 60D Twisted Spike
• 60D Non-Twisted Spike
• Grade 5 Bolt
• Grade 8 Bolt
• 6″ X 5/16″ Hot Rolled Steel Bar
• 6″ X 5/16″ Cold Rolled Steel Bar

All of these items can be readily obtained through places like Ace Hardware, Home Depot, etc. Also, I have a bunch of Grade 5’s and Grade 8’s that I will send people for $1.50 apiece plus shipping.

To allow as many people to enter this Tournament as possible, almost all types of wraps will be allowed, meaning any soft material, such as towels, rags, denim, cordura, IronMind Pads (IMP’s), suede, etc,, as long as they are no longer than 12″ in length and 4.5″ in width. (**If you are not sure if your wraps count, please send me an email).

If you are wondering What Is a Grade 5 or a Grade 8 Bolt, then check out this video on my YouTube Channel = > What are Graded Bolts.

Rules of the Bend

• Must use Reverse Style / Terminator Technique
• No part of the lower arms below the elbow can touch the body during the bend
• The Bend must be completed within 30 seconds
• After the 30 seconds is complete, the bar must be bent to at least 40 degrees
• The bar has to be straight before bending. Once you attempt a bar, you can not attempt it again.

Feel free to attempt multiple bends throughout the week. Just make sure to send me your best bending video by 8PM on Friday, August 5, 2011.

How to Measure Your Bend

My buddy, Mike Rinderle has put together this video for you on how to measure your bent bars.

How to Wrap and Bend Reverse Style

Here is a video that I did showing how the Bars should be wrapped and how Reverse style is done.

Video Identification Requirements

• Title: DieselCrew.com Grip Strength Challenge – Classic Strongman Feat Week 1
• Description: http://www.dieselcrew.com Grip Strength Strongman Feats
• Tags: grade 5 bolt bend, reverse bending, strongman feats

Alrighty DIESELS – get your best bends done and get me the videos.

Jedd

P.S. Need instructions on how to bend? Check out my Bending Resources below…

Nail Bending eBook = > How to Bend Nails

Nail Bending DVD = > Nail Bending Explained

Hello DIESELS!

Some pretty good submissions this week, DIESELS! The numbers came out pretty close. In fact, i’d say this is the closest the results have ever been. No one really blew everyone out of the water, in fact last place was only 6 reps behind first place – AWESOME!

Check out the results below.

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Josh Dale: Score = 22 x 22 = 484

Josh not only busted out 22 reps with zero hand switches, but he also busted out what look to be the biggest biceps in this week’s competition.

Josh’s score doesn’t do justice to how impressive his performance was. As you can see, Josh never switched hands, hitting 22 reps with just one arm. Crazy. Also, he used a 10-kg plate so he lost points each rep because of the 3-lb difference. What you have to keep in mind though, is that Josh did this all after a full arm wrestling practice, making his performance even more impressive. Nice job, Josh!

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Mike Turpin: Score = 25lbs x 20 = 500

Mike continues to put out entertaining videos, having fun each week. Finishing last in this tight group is nothing to be ashamed of.

A little recognition goes out to Mike and Paul – both are training for a major Powerlifting meet and they continue to take the extra time out of their schedules in order to submit videos for the challenge! Awesome job, Mike!

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Paul Tompkins: Score = 25lbs x 22 = 550

Paul is a BRUTE – there is no other way to describe him, except for he is also probably the calmest brute I’ve ever met. He just lines up the challenges and then quietly mows them down. He and Mike T. have been hitting Grip feats in between the challenges and sending them to me, chomping at the bit since there was no challenge last week. They didn’t want to lose their edge.

If you look in the background of this video you see another fine member of the Diesel Universe, Niko Hulslander, who although has never submitted a Grip Challenge video, I have personally trained with him and I think he could be very good. He has also contacted me about holding a Grip Contest with him at his gym sometime in the future, so watch out for that, especially if you are in the South Western part of Pennsylvania!

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Rick Walker: Score = 25 x 23 = 575

Leave it to Rick Walker to get surgery in the Spring, and do next to nothing in the weight room for 2 solid months and then go down and hit 23 Plate Curls with a 25 in between sets of shoulder presses. Awesome.

I believe this is also Rick’s first submission for the Grip Strength Challenge – not too shabby coming in third place and only two reps behind McIntyre who has won many of the challenges. Could it be that we have found McIntyre’s weakness – wrist strength and stability? Good job Rick! Looking forward to more videos when you have time, buddy!

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Kevin Greto: Score = 25lbs x 24 = 600

Judging by the video, Kevin appears to be training at Iron Sport Gym in Glenolden, PA. This makes me extremely jealous because I have read that this is one of the last truly hardcore gyms in the state of PA and my buddy Pat Povilaitis and I have talked about going there to train for years and just never scheduled it to make it happen.

Kevin had a lot of hand switches in his video, I’d estimate he would have gotten enough to win this challenge if he would have had one less hand switch and pushed out a couple more reps prior to switching. However, I understand his training paradigm and he does not force reps. Keep on gripping, Kevin – looking forward to seeing you here for World’s Strongest Hands 2011.

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Josh McIntyre: Score = 25lbs x 25 = 625

Josh was one of the Wild Card Qualifiers for Nationals through the Wild Card Challenges leading up to Grip Sport Nationals. I was so looking forward to a clash between him, Mike Turpin, Jason Steeves and Daniel Reinard. I am hoping we can see these guys all square off sometime down the road in an actual Grip Competition.

As you can see, Josh won this challenge, leading Kevin by one rep and thus 25 score-pounds. However, you could really see that Kevin clearly lost a few reps with his hand switches. This could be a very interesting duel down the line as well!

---

Check back soon guys for the next challenge!

All the best in your training!

Jedd

Hello DIESELS!
Some pretty good submissions this week, DIESELS! The numbers came out pretty close. In fact, i’d say this is the closest the results have ever been. No one really blew everyone out of the water, in fact last place was only 6 reps behind first place – AWESOME!
Check out the results below.

---

Josh Dale: Score = 22 x 22 = 484
Josh not only busted out 22 reps with zero hand switches, but he also busted out what look to be the biggest biceps in this week’s competition.

Josh’s score doesn’t do justice to how impressive his performance was. As you can see, Josh never switched hands, hitting 22 reps with just one arm. Crazy. Also, he used a 10-kg plate so he lost points each rep because of the 3-lb difference. What you have to keep in mind though, is that Josh did this all after a full arm wrestling practice, making his performance even more impressive. Nice job, Josh!

---

Mike Turpin: Score = 25lbs x 20 = 500
Mike continues to put out entertaining videos, having fun each week. Finishing last in this tight group is nothing to be ashamed of.

A little recognition goes out to Mike and Paul – both are training for a major Powerlifting meet and they continue to take the extra time out of their schedules in order to submit videos for the challenge! Awesome job, Mike!

---

Paul Tompkins: Score = 25lbs x 22 = 550
Paul is a BRUTE – there is no other way to describe him, except for he is also probably the calmest brute I’ve ever met. He just lines up the challenges and then quietly mows them down. He and Mike T. have been hitting Grip feats in between the challenges and sending them to me, chomping at the bit since there was no challenge last week. They didn’t want to lose their edge.

If you look in the background of this video you see another fine member of the Diesel Universe, Niko Hulslander, who although has never submitted a Grip Challenge video, I have personally trained with him and I think he could be very good. He has also contacted me about holding a Grip Contest with him at his gym sometime in the future, so watch out for that, especially if you are in the South Western part of Pennsylvania!

---

Rick Walker: Score = 25 x 23 = 575
Leave it to Rick Walker to get surgery in the Spring, and do next to nothing in the weight room for 2 solid months and then go down and hit 23 Plate Curls with a 25 in between sets of shoulder presses. Awesome.

I believe this is also Rick’s first submission for the Grip Strength Challenge – not too shabby coming in third place and only two reps behind McIntyre who has won many of the challenges. Could it be that we have found McIntyre’s weakness – wrist strength and stability? Good job Rick! Looking forward to more videos when you have time, buddy!

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Kevin Greto: Score = 25lbs x 24 = 600
Judging by the video, Kevin appears to be training at Iron Sport Gym in Glenolden, PA. This makes me extremely jealous because I have read that this is one of the last truly hardcore gyms in the state of PA and my buddy Pat Povilaitis and I have talked about going there to train for years and just never scheduled it to make it happen.

Kevin had a lot of hand switches in his video, I’d estimate he would have gotten enough to win this challenge if he would have had one less hand switch and pushed out a couple more reps prior to switching. However, I understand his training paradigm and he does not force reps. Keep on gripping, Kevin – looking forward to seeing you here for World’s Strongest Hands 2011.

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Josh McIntyre: Score = 25lbs x 25 = 625
Josh was one of the Wild Card Qualifiers for Nationals through the Wild Card Challenges leading up to Grip Sport Nationals. I was so looking forward to a clash between him, Mike Turpin, Jason Steeves and Daniel Reinard. I am hoping we can see these guys all square off sometime down the road in an actual Grip Competition.

As you can see, Josh won this challenge, leading Kevin by one rep and thus 25 score-pounds. However, you could really see that Kevin clearly lost a few reps with his hand switches. This could be a very interesting duel down the line as well!

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Check back soon guys for the next challenge!
All the best in your training!
Jedd