Double Overhand Bending

I’ve done a great deal of steel bending in my time. I’ve bent nails, bolts, steel stock, horse shoes, widow makers and more. I’ve bent alongside some of the best steel benders in the world in grip contests.

How to Improve at Bending

When it comes to building strength for bending, there is no doubt that the best option is BENDING. Buying the piles of nails, ordering the stock , wrapping the bolts, and bending the hell out them all on a regular basis. This is the number one way to get better because it is the only specific type of training for it.

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THIS KILLER POST AFTER THE JUMP

However, improving in bending doesn’t always have to be about making consistent jumps up in steel. It also has to do with longevity.

Let’s face it, for most of us, it takes months if not years to make huge jumps up the bending ladder. It’s tough enough to set new PR’s when we are healthy. If we experience injuries along the way, it just makes it harder for us to progress.

This is where isometric hammer work can be so valuable.

Sledge Hammer Training for Bending

Sledgehammers have been a popular cross-training method for benders for years. For many benders, hammers are what they start out using in order to prepare for bending. I know I did.

Hammers are great for getting the lower arms, wrists and hands used to the stresses placed on them, and now they can also be used to keep people in top bending form.

Sledges are so great for this because we can use them to work a variety of joint angles. We can pick a sledgehammer up to the vertical position, then lower it slightly and hold it there, all the while isometrically strengthening that point in the wrist movement, plus or minus 15 degrees (research shows isometrics effectively strengthen the joint angle over that range).

Important Points for Hammer Training

A few things to remember going in:

• Make sure you are warmed up before doing these lifts. They produce high levels of stress, so prepare for the work sets with some lighter work ahead of time.
• Train throughout the range of motion, not just at the extremes. Stop and hold half way through from time to time. Get strong at all angles.
• If you can’t get the hammer in position by concentric wrist strength only, then use your other hand, momentum, or a training partner to get it there.
• If you can’t hold the sledge in position by gripping at the end of the handle, then CHOKE UP. Do what you need to get the benefit of the training stimulus. These are not official attempts, so don’t treat them that way.
• Work both of your hands. You bend with both hands, so make sure to work both hands as well.
• Know when you are done. If you’re feeling serious fatigue, don’t push through it. Remember, these lifts are for keeping you away from injury, not to bring you closer to it.

Hammer Isometrics

Here are a handful of movements that can be done with sledgehammers isometrically that will both build strength for starting and keeping a bend going, as well as keeping you resilient and safe, and maintaining your momentum in your bending training.

Partial Hammer Deadlift

With the sledge laying flat on the ground, bend down and grip it by the handle and pick it up, but stop half way and hold it there. It can be a lot harder holding a hammer in the parallel position, when you are bent over like this.

Weaver Stick Row

The Weaver Stick involves picking a stick with weight hanging from it up off a surface parallel to the ground and breaking parallel with it. We can do it with a sledge hammer as well, but in this case, pick it off the ground and hold it level with the ground and then slowly move the arm back and forth, all awhile controlling the momentum of the sledge.

Multi-Stage Front Nose Lever Hold

With this one, raise the hammer up to the vertical position, then lower it. Every few inches, hold the hammer for a few seconds, then let the hammer ride down a bit further and hold it in that position. Turning it “on and off” like this resembles what goes on during a bend with the joint angles constantly changing and how the hands shift from being and anchor hand to a driver hand.

Front Hold

This movement is great because not only do you have to hold the weight of the hammer out in front of you, but you also get a great stretch through the top of the wrist and forearm.

Taking Action

These are just a handful of ways to use this isometric concept in your training that I shot over the span of about 5 minutes, and they only cover ulnar and radial deviation movements. You can also use sledge hammers to train wrist flexion and extension as well as forearm rotation (pronation / supination). The only limit is your imagination.

If you’re looking for more guidance with your bending, my Nail Bending eBook is the best place to start. I’ll show you a ton more exercises for nail bending as well as a ramp-up program to get your strength levels up to speed, plus all of the techniques you need to know to put a hurting on steel. Pick it up here = = > How to Build Hands Strong Enough to Bend Steel

As always, I welcome any questions you might have, so feel free to contact me through the form at the top of the page, or leave me a comment below. I check the comments added to the site each day, because they are important to me, so fire away!

For more updates, subscribe to our newsletter in the box above and to the right so you get notified about each new article that goes up here on the site.

Otherwise, check out the related articles that appear in the links below – we’ve got tons of information up on the site for you to enjoy!

All the best with your bending,

-Jedd-

Articles You Might Also Like:

• Beginner Grip Training: Basic Hammer Movements for Wrist Strength
• This Week’s Challenge – Sledge Hammer Deadlift
• This Week's Challenge – Sledge Hammer Deadlift
• Jedd’s Training Update – Fire Walk with Me
• Jedd's Training Update – Fire Walk with Me

Tags: bending, bending bolts, bending nails, bending steel, bending strength, feats of strength, how to bend, how to bend steel, wrist strength

This entry was posted on Monday, May 10th, 2010 at 12:39 am and is filed under feats, feats of strength, feats of strength bending, grip strength, how to improve grip strength, how to rip cards, how to tear cards, old strongman feats of strength, strongman feats, tearing cards. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.