Remember when you were a kid and you played Uno?

You always looked forward to drawing a Wild card so that you could change the color of the cards to what you had so you could really screw over the dude sitting next to you.

Well, now, you have the chance to not only get the figurative Wild Card in the sport of Grip, but essentially the Draw Four Wild Card, the most evil and powerful card in the deck that not only lets you change the color being played but also makes the next dude pick up four cards to add to his hand, the perfect play when that guy’s about ready to go out.

This week’s Grip Strength Challenge will allow someone to potentially qualify for Nationals and compete with the best in the nation. What is great about that is that it will give someone the chance to qualify who might have had an off-day in a contest, or even become qualified when no contests have been held near their area.

In fact, the next three weeks in the Grip Strength challenge will be Wild Card weeks! So you have an outstanding chance to qualify over the course of the next 4 weeks from the comfort of your own home, something that has never been possible before.

Two Hands Pinch

This week’s lift is the Two Hands Pinch. Now, normally in Grip Contests, an adjustable apparatus is used for this event, but in this case it will not be required. Instead you can just use normal plates with a pipe or bar running through them.

Also, in normal Grip Contests, the weights are all weighed using a certified scale. This will not be necessary, instead we will go by the number stated on the plates.

The pipe running through the plates and any collars that are added should be weighed, however – that is important. You must weigh them on a scale on video or else you can not count them.

For more specifics on how this lift is done for this week’s challenge, please watch the video below.

Two Hands Pinch

Some other requirements for this week’s challenge…

• A metal or PVC pipe can be used

• A double overhand pinch grip must be used
• Plates Must Be Smooth-Sides-Out
• The plates have to be lifted to lockout or very, very close to it (I WILL be watching closely)
• The implement must be controlled on the way down. If it slips out, it is no good.
• Unlimited attempts. Go for the biggest lift you can
• The weights must be added evenly on both sides of the pipe. In other words, if you add a 25 on the front, you have to add a 25 on the back as well. Front loading the implement makes it much, much easier.
• If there are any rules I have forgotten and you violate the spirit of the lift, it will not count. I reserve the right to disqualify a lift if it is in violation

That is about it. Other than that, make sure you match your video with the required information for the Title, Description, and Tags.

• Title: DieselCrew.com Grip Strength Challenge – Two Hands Pinch
• Description: http://www.dieselcrew.com Grip Strength Training
• Tags: grip strength, hand strength, grip training, wrist strength, pinch grip

Looking forward to the submissions and I hope you are able to qualify for Nationals. If so, see you there!

All the best in your training.

Jedd

P.S. Get on the Strongman Training DVD Early Bird List. Put your name and email in the box below.

Diesel Iron Master – Nick McKinless

Hello Diesels!

I’ve got a very cool interview for you today. Check this out.
(more…)

I am announcing the date of the 2011 North American Grip Sport Championship.

Date:
July 16, 2011

Location:
Crooksville, Ohio.

Events (subject to change):

• 20-mm Block Set Grippers
• Euro Pinch
• One Hand Deadlift (Stronger Grip Plateau Buster)
• Medley
• Wrist Roller
• Possible 6th Event

Rules and Entry form will be posted soon.

To qualify for this contest, athletes must attain one of the following qualification levels.

Qualification Chance 1:
Athletes in the Open Class who Total Elite:

• Total of 800-lbs between Grippers, Axle, and Two Hand Pinch
• Finish in the top 3 out of 7 in your class (Novice, Open B, Open A) in a NAGS-sanctioned contest
• Finish in the top position of your class (less than 7 competitors) in a NAGS-sanctioned contest

Qualification Chance 2:
Athletes can also qualify for Nationals by completing 3 of the following feats during the 2010 – 2011 season in NAGS-sanctioned contests. (Can occur during multiple contests)

• 1″ Vertical Bar – 325
• 2″ FBBC Vertical Bar – 200
• Gripper – Close Level 13 Gold on the Vulcan or 150# Gripper Close (parallel or 20-mm Block Set)
• Bending – Grade 8×6″ bolt, Wrist Developer Level 5 Gold
• IronMind Axle Deadlift – 325
• Euro Two Hands Pinch – 200
• One Hand Deadlift on Olympic / Powerlifting Bar – 250
• 50-lb Blob to Lockout
• Rolling Thunder – 180
• Two 45’s Pinch to Lockout

Qualification Chance 3:
Complete any of the following Certifications during the 2010 – 2011 Grip season

• Certify for IronMind Captain of Crush (#3 or #3.5)
• Certify for IronMind Red Nail Roster
• Certify as Gripboard Mash Monster

Qualification Chance 4:
Complete any one of the following Wild Card feats during the 2010 – 2011 season in NAGS-sanctioned contests.

• Close #4 Gripper with parallel set or wider (choker included)
• Break US Record in Two Hands Pinch
• Break US Record in 1-inch Vertical Bar (LGC Standard or FBBC Standard)
• Break US Record in 2-inch Vertical Bar (FBBC Standard)
• Break US Record in the Axle Deadlift

On Saturday, November 13th, the final leg of the World’s Strongest Hands Series took place.

The Series involves three events: the Two Hands Pinch, the Wrist Developer, and the Vulcan Gripper.

This has been an outstanding way to truly test ourselves against one another all across the globe.

As you know, going in, I was the World Record Holder in the Two Hands Pinch, 256.04 lbs, which I set in December of 2009.

From the beginning of the WSH Series, Grip Sport athletes have been gunning for the record, one of the most highly regarded records in all of Grip Sport.

In August, September, and October, no one, not even myself was able to eclipse the mark. While I felt excellent at Leg 3, a severely torn spot of skin on my thumb kept me from setting a new mark.

But Leg 4 proved to be a day of Pinch Heroics, especially in Stafford, England and Crooksville, Ohio.

Since the individual contests take place at different times and in different time zones, the British competition took place roughly 5 or 6 hours before the one I attended in Crooksville, Ohio. I went to bed Friday night with a strong feeling that David Horne and Laurence Shahleai would be very close to the record. That feeling was still with me in the morning when I awoke.

I did not let this feeling get to me. Instead, I focused harder on my goal. I knew I HAD to break my own record in order stay on top of the list.

Sure enough, my feelings of a fallen record were true – both David Horne and “Big Loz” had both broken my record by slim margins. Horne (pictured to the left) broke it first, lifting an estimated 256.22 lbs. Then about twenty minutes later, Loz hoisted an estimated 256.39 lbs. This of course, was unknown to me because results of individual contests are not publicized until all of the contests are complete and results are sent in…

I was not sure how well I’d be able pinch, because my thumb had been torn so bad over the last several weeks that I could not do much training on the Euro Pinch device. Instead, I had to do some other forms of pinch training that did not aggravate my tear.

For my first attempt, I started out with 237 lbs – this is usually a very safe weight for me, and I believe I had lifted weights in this neighborhood in the previous two Legs of the Series. Sure enough, 237 came up very easy. So easy, I think I probably could have hit it for a double without resetting my grip.

After a short bit of deliberating, I decided not to take an intermediate jump from my first attempt to the next and I went straight for a new record. Twenty pounds were added and I lifted it fairly easily as well.

So now I had broken my previous record, but I was not sure if it was a big enough jump to put me ahead of anyone who might have broken the record earlier on, so I asked for 5 more pounds to be added.

On this attempt, I channeled the spirit of Mister Perfect, Curt Hennig (“Now You’re Gonna See … a Perfect Plex”) and said, “Now you’re gonna see…a new World Record.”

I made sure to have my feet lined up properly and my mechanics dialed in, but I came just short of touching the loading bar to the stick. Getting cocky always bites me in the ass…

After a short break, I tried this weight again. I challenged the crowd to get louder, as I told them it was too quiet on the attempt before.

This time when I applied my Grip, I squeezed the damn implement as hard as I could, visualizing that my fingers were going to indent the outside steel plates. And this time, the implement came all the way off and knocked the target stick off the marker stand.

I was such a relief to hit 262 that I gave a scream that rattled the scrolled steel hanging on the inside of the garage.

I would have liked to have gotten 262 on the first try and then tried 264 as this would have been an even 120 kg, but I was happy with what I got because I figured it would probably be a large enough distance to over-take anybody that might have set a new record before me, or after me, as Aaron Corcorran, from Tucson, Arizona, has in the past lifted 254 lbs in an unofficial attempt.

So, I am blessed to have set another record.

How long will it stand? That is impossible to say.

But one thing I can say is I appreciate all of the support you give me here at the site, on Facebook, on YouTube, and by email. Having so many people behind me is a great feeling and it does make a huge difference, so thanks to all of you.

In particular, thanks to my family who puts up with my frustration when I have a rough workout. Thanks to my parents who have always supported me doing this underground sport. Thanks to my buddies at Diesel for pushing me when I do make it up to train. Thanks to Brent Barbe for continually pushing me via email and coming up here to train several times a year, driving roughly 5 hours at a pop. Thanks to Mike Rinderle and Rick Walker who keep my cell phone inbox filled with texts urging me to keep pushing forward. Thanks to Chris Rice, for holding the contest – I feel so much better competing when i don’t have to run the show as well.

I am sure I am forgetting some key people, but if I don’t mention you here, don’t think it’s because you’re not important. Every single time I get a text, email, or a Facebook/YouTube message from you guys, it makes want to get downstairs to my gym and get my hands on the Euro Pinch. I thank you all.

Thanks for checking out the post today. I have many more videos uploaded and more to put up tomorrow, so please check out the footage on My YouTube Channel.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

P.S. By the way, even though I did very poorly in the first leg, I managed to finish #5 in the world at the end of Leg 4. Ka Kuh!

P.P.S. Click the banner below to sign up for my Nail Bending Newsletter…

This past weekend was the Third Leg of the World’s Strongest Hands Series.

Leg 3 Results (World-Wide):

1 David Horne – 4.5pt
2 Nick McKinless – 8.5pt
3 Steve Gardener – 9.5pt
4 Jedd Johnson – 16pt
5 David Thornton – 18.5pt

This 4-Leg series started in August and has taken place each month, contesting the Two Hands Pinch, Wrist Developer, and Vulcan Gripper.

It was a great showing this weekend here in Wyalusing. Check out the names below.

Mike Rinderle – from Washington DC, Mike made his return to Grip competitions since an injury began holding him up since May.

Brent Barbe – The third place finisher at the 2010 National Championship, Brent has been training hard and improved his Two Hands Pinch greatly, reaching the 100-kg mark for the first time in competition.

Chuck Carns – Chuck is also showing signs of improvement, especially in the pinch. he looked much more confident in all the events than I have seen him in the past.

Rick Walker – Rick made the trip for his first Grip contest since 2004 and looked like he’d been doing them right along. He stayed very conservative with his attempts due to his unfamiliarity with the equipment, but immediately has gone back to training, so look for bigger numbers next time around.

Jedd Johnson – My hands felt great and I set Personal Bests in both the Vulcan Gripper and Wrist Developer. My Pinch felt great, but I tore a chuck of skin off my thumb during my first attempt, and subsequent attempts amounted to nothing more than air beneath the plates.

Mary Ann McKeague – She is doing very well, finishing second over all amongst the ladies. Her training involves many types of strength disciplines and I think that if she were to narrow her focus she could add some serious weight to her pinch and move up some levels on both the Vulcan and WD.

Cheri Walker – This was her first competition, but from what I hear, she enjoyed it quite a bit and is looking forward to the next one. Perhaps there could be a friendly rivalry between these two in the near future?

As always, it was a great time pushing myself over the course of the last few weeks and challenging myself to do more. I look forward to the next and final leg of the WSH Series on November 13, 2010.

For more information on these contests, check out this link: World’s Strongest Hands Series.

Below are some videos showing how everyone did. There are six videos overall and each one is between 2 and 6 minutes long…ENJOY!

Men’s Two Hands Pinch

Ladies’ Two Hands Pinch

Men’s Wrist Developer

Ladies’ Wrist Developer

Men’s Vulcan Gripper

Ladies Vulcan

Great job to everybody, all over the globe, that laid it on the line this past weekend.

Keep hitting it hard.

Jedd

See More Grip Videos here => Jedd’s YouTube Channel