I am pumped up to post today’s entry on the Blog. This one comes from Daniel Reinard.

This dude has made incredible progress within the ranks of Grip Sport in a very short time. His improvements in such a short time are comparable to some of the very best in the sport.

I think part of that progress is due to the fact that he is constantly looking to build overall strength and not just get good at Grip Lifts. This pursuit for all-around strength development was evident when he picked up our instructional DVD on Strongman Training. Considering Daniel’s background is in rock climbing, strongman work isn’t really the natural progression, but he understands the importance of full body strength and power to improving overall performance.

Check out his review of our DVD and our customer service, something I have always worked hard to be on top of:

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First thing’s first. Jedd’s customer service is nothing but top notch. I’ve bought several DVDs and pieces of equipment over the last couple years from him. His quick shipments and customer follow-up make for the most comfortable of transactions. He genuinely wants everyone to enjoy his products and to receive the maximum benefits they can achieve. I recently purchased the Intro to Strongman DVD and ran into a most unusual predicament.

I immediately watched half the DVD at home before heading to work. I proceeded to try watching the last half on my work computer. This did not fare well. The computer drive tore the hell out of that DVD, rendering it completely unreadable, even back at home. I sent Jedd an email thanking him for quick shipment and an excellent first half of the DVD. He was not content with me only knowing part of the DVD, particularly the fact I’ll never be able to revert back to watch it again because as a noob strongman I will need to focus on technique to stay injury free. Watching only part and then never again was setting myself up for an injury. Jedd sent out another DVD right away. I cannot thank him enough for this. He is really about making sure customers not only receive their purchase but can gain the most out of their journey.

The DVD Jedd Johnson and Steve Slater put together is packed with lots of technique instruction on core strongman lifts and also packed with prehab/rehab with an injury free focus on the lifts. What that says about these guys is that their concern is you will enjoy their product for as long as you wish. This isn’t a “how to be a competing strongman in 60 minutes” DVD, or any other fad how-to DVD that is all hype and no common sense. These guys spend a lot of time growing strength sports and they not only know how to get you into strongman, but they know how to keep you in strongman.

The DVD is broken down into nice segments that make it easy to pull up a chapter on a particular subject. Each segment moves quickly yet is full of information. Information covered includes prehab/ rehab work, personal gear, technique do’s and don’ts, common mistakes, and visual demonstrations. The experience showed when the don’ts and common mistakes of each lift were explained. This is extremely valuable information!

Overall the DVD is a great purchase if someone is looking to get started in Strongman. I’m very happy to have purchased it. I know I’ll be watching it many times as I take on the various lifts over the course of my strength journey.

Daniel Reinard

Rock Climber

Grip Athlete

Strongman Sport Trainee

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Thanks for the kind words, Daniel. Keep up the great work in all your strength endeavors.

If anyone else is looking for top quality information on Strongman Training, look no further, because Steve and I lay everything out for you that you need in Intro to Strongman Training.

All the best,

Jedd

Hello DIESELS!

As I am writing this, I am pretty stoked!

Blob (L) and Inch Dumbbell (R)

If you are on my newsletter, on the 4th of July you should have gotten a note from me on the 4th of July telling you to get out there and have an Independence Day Workout and to choose some stuff that you just plain wanted to do for the enjoyment and to celebrate the Freedom you have to do whatever the hell you want to!

I also did the same thing. I said screw it and went out and tried some stuff I have never done before in a training session here at my awesome home gym.

One of the things I tried was a Farmer’s Walk with both the Blob (Next Generation) and the Inch Dumbbell.

If you remember, at Sorinex, I couldn’t even deadlift the Inch and Blob at the same time, so I was pretty pleased to get such good results here in my drive way…

Blob and Inch Dumbbell Farmer’s Walk

As you can see, I walked them so far the first time, that I walked out of the screen on my Flip Cam. It was a total surprise to me to get this. My hands were just feeling so good! A couple days before this, I had spent a ton of time in a swimming pool, so maybe that had something to do with it. I went over to the filter return where it blows the water back into the pool from the filter cleaning unit and let it beat on my thumb pad and pinky pad – felt AWAZING.

I am really looking forward to Nationals, which are this weekend in Crooksville Ohio, this Saturday. If you are in the area and would like to watch, please leave a comment or email me. All I ask is $5 to go toward food and port-o-john expenses!

Once Nationals is over with, I plan on taking a week off of Grip Training to get rejuvenated, which is pretty much what I do each year, and is the only real Grip Training Drought I go through each year. I moderate volume and intensity throughout the year, but don’t do much along the lines of “time off” that much at all, as I have learned how to keep my training volume in check for the most part.

However, once that week of time off is over, it is right back into the swing of things with the World’s Strongest Hands Series.

World’s Strongest Hands Series II – 2011

The World’s Strongest Hands Series is organized by David Horne and there are contests going on all over the world.

I would love to have a decent sized group at each stage of the series here at my place in PA. For more information on the World’s Strongest Hands Series, check out this post I put up a while back: Grip Strength Contests – World’s Strongest Hands

Regional Grip Championship

Also as a quick addition, this year the contests I run here in PA will be part of a Regional Championship Series for the 2011-2012 Grip Sport Calendar. In addition to the 4 events pre-determined for WSH II, I will hold at least one additional event. I am not sure what name I will be going with. At first I thought of Pennsylvania’s Strongest Hands, but I may go with something a bit larger, like the East Coast Regional Grip Championship, as I know several people from Maryland and New York State may indeed be coming.

Either way, stay tuned for a lot of Grip action. I figure, if something is worth being done, it is worth being done RIGHT.

So stay tuned for more on this, and please post below if you are interested in coming!

All the best in your training.

Jedd

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

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Hello DIESELS!
Strongman Training is a great addition to the athletic strength training program. Check out some of the benefits of Strongman Training:

• Triple Extension – Many Strongman events involve the powerful action of extending the ankles, hips and knees, just like any sport involving leaping, bounding, and other explosive movements from the lower body.
• Grip Strength – Strongman events often use implements that are large and cumbersome to grip, especially Thick Bar Axles, Sandbags, Stones, and other Odd Objects, forcing the athlete to develop strength at the end of the kinetic chain – the hands, wrists and forearms
• Movement Under Tension – Many Strongman events involved carrying implements over a distance. Examples include the Farmer’s Walk, certain Atlas Stone events, Odd Object carries, and the Yoke Walk. It’s one thing to be strong enough to pick something up. It’s another altogether to carry it!
• Absorb and React to Force – Many Strongman events involve multiple repetitions, especially with overhead lifts, like with the Log or Viking Press. This requires the athlete to tolerate the dynamic center of gravity of the implement.

It’s due to all of these benefits, that I hold the Strongest Strength Coach contest each year at Juniata.
I am a firm believer that Strength Coaches and Personal Trainers should be athletic themselves. It makes a huge difference to athletes and clients when they know their coaches and trainers know what they are talking about, so here is a chance to test yourself and be put through the ringer just like they do each workout.
If you are looking to compete at the Strongest Strength Coach Competition, that will be held at Juniata on June 17th, then check out the video below because it shows you exactly how the events will be contested and judged.

It’s also important for people in the position of teach strength and fitness skills to clients and athletes to be able to draw on many different strength backgrounds. It’s not all about throwing around crazy odd objects like logs. That’s why I included lesser seen objects such as the Mace and the Sled Drag in this event. This should be an eye-opening and idea-generating experience for the Strength Coaches at Juniata, for sure.
Finally, I believe that Strength Coaches and Personal Trainers must have a grasp on proper technique before subjecting athletes and clients to complex movements. If you want your athletes to get the obvious benefits in their strength program by doing Strongman lifts, but you don’t know the technique, then sign up for the Early Bird list for the Strongman Training DVD, coming out soon from Diesel Crew and Strongman Stuff!


See you at Juniata!
Jedd

Hello DIESELS!

Strongman Training is a great addition to the athletic strength training program. Check out some of the benefits of Strongman Training:

• Triple Extension – Many Strongman events involve the powerful action of extending the ankles, hips and knees, just like any sport involving leaping, bounding, and other explosive movements from the lower body.
• Grip Strength – Strongman events often use implements that are large and cumbersome to grip, especially Thick Bar Axles, Sandbags, Stones, and other Odd Objects, forcing the athlete to develop strength at the end of the kinetic chain – the hands, wrists and forearms
• Movement Under Tension – Many Strongman events involved carrying implements over a distance. Examples include the Farmer’s Walk, certain Atlas Stone events, Odd Object carries, and the Yoke Walk. It’s one thing to be strong enough to pick something up. It’s another altogether to carry it!
• Absorb and React to Force – Many Strongman events involve multiple repetitions, especially with overhead lifts, like with the Log or Viking Press. This requires the athlete to tolerate the dynamic center of gravity of the implement.

It’s due to all of these benefits, that I hold the Strongest Strength Coach contest each year at Juniata.

I am a firm believer that Strength Coaches and Personal Trainers should be athletic themselves. It makes a huge difference to athletes and clients when they know their coaches and trainers know what they are talking about, so here is a chance to test yourself and be put through the ringer just like they do each workout.

If you are looking to compete at the Strongest Strength Coach Competition, that will be held at Juniata on June 17th, then check out the video below because it shows you exactly how the events will be contested and judged.

It’s also important for people in the position of teach strength and fitness skills to clients and athletes to be able to draw on many different strength backgrounds. It’s not all about throwing around crazy odd objects like logs. That’s why I included lesser seen objects such as the Mace and the Sled Drag in this event. This should be an eye-opening and idea-generating experience for the Strength Coaches at Juniata, for sure.

Finally, I believe that Strength Coaches and Personal Trainers must have a grasp on proper technique before subjecting athletes and clients to complex movements. If you want your athletes to get the obvious benefits in their strength program by doing Strongman lifts, but you don’t know the technique, then sign up for the Early Bird list for the Strongman Training DVD, coming out soon from Diesel Crew and Strongman Stuff!

See you at Juniata!

Jedd

The Farmer’s Walk is a great lift for athletes and general strength enthusiasts.
It is great for building Grip Strength, and that is something that is important for all sports, as well as many other lifts in the gym.
The Farmer’s Walk also strengthens the upper back and shoulders, and improves the posture in addition to improving your conditioning.

Farmer’s Walk Technique

If you don’t do the Farmer’s Walk correctly, you can hurt yourself, so it is important to know the right techniques.
Someone recently wrote me asking about how to properly execute the turn in the Farmer’s Walk and I finally got the chance to shoot this video this week. While I shot it, I also covered some other basic technique points to consider to maximize your performance while minimizing your risk.

Here’s a list of key points for your Farmer’s Walk training, in case you’d like to print them out:
1. Equipment Set-up: When you add plates, make sure they are tight. Loose plates shift around and can throw your technique off. Tighten them with collars, Pony Clamps, Wrist Wraps, or something else that will keep them tight.
2. Stance: Make sure you take not of how you set up your feet. Have the handles right by the legs and place the feet equidistant from the handles. Stand near the center of the handle, or maybe even slightly forward of center, whichever feels best for you.
3. Grip Position: Depending on how you pull and how strong your grip is, you will either want to grip the handles right in the center or shifted slightly back. It is better to have the handles leaning down in front than down in back. Slightly down in front shifts the emphasis to the first two fingers. Down in back shifts it to the last two (and weakest two) fingers.
4. Chalk: Chalk up well. Chalk the inside of your palm and fingers as well as the thumb and the back of the fingers.
5. Thumb: Wrap your thumb up over your index finger, middle finger, or both, depending on what is comfortable. This contact will secure your grip and it is also why you want to chalk on the back of your fingers. If they are wet, your thumb will slip and that is no good.
6. Heels and Glutes: Push the heels into the ground when you pull the handles up, just like you would a narrow stance deadlift. When you near lockout, fire the glutes instead of the lower back. You’ll last longer this way and be able to do more sets.
7. Short Choppy Steps: Take short choppy steps when walking, especially the first few. This allows you to conserve energy and stay balanced during your stride. Once you pick up momentum, you can take longer strides, but it is almost always easier to maintain control with short choppy steps.
While I had the implements out, I decided to try something I never tried before, a One-Arm Deadlift with the Farmer Handle for a max lift.
Support Grip is one my areas of opportunity at contests, so it was interesting to try it out. Not sure how much my Farmers weigh – Maybe 25 lbs? I ended up getting 4 plates and a 25 per side, left-handed.

I loved the feeling of this lift, but I the knurling is a killer. After the Farmer’s attempts, Grippers felt ridiculous, but I worked them anyway.
My hand skin felt like a ran a cheese grader over my callus lines and fingers, but I kept on going…they felt like trash when I was done with my workout…
Today they felt just tremendous.
All the best with your training,
-Jedd-

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Hungry for MORE on the FARMER’S WALK?
Check out our STRONGMAN TRAINING DVD:

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Ultimate Forearm Training for Baseball | How to Bend Nails | How to Tear Cards | Feats of Grip Strength Explained | How to Build Your Own Equipment | How to Lift Atlas Stones | The Sh*t You’ve Never Seen | Sled Dragging for Athletes | The Road to the Record DVD

The Farmer’s Walk is a great lift for athletes and general strength enthusiasts.

It is great for building Grip Strength, and that is something that is important for all sports, as well as many other lifts in the gym.

The Farmer’s Walk also strengthens the upper back and shoulders, and improves the posture in addition to improving your conditioning.

Farmer’s Walk Technique

If you don’t do the Farmer’s Walk correctly, you can hurt yourself, so it is important to know the right techniques.

Someone recently wrote me asking about how to properly execute the turn in the Farmer’s Walk and I finally got the chance to shoot this video this week. While I shot it, I also covered some other basic technique points to consider to maximize your performance while minimizing your risk.

Here’s a list of key points for your Farmer’s Walk training, in case you’d like to print them out:

1. Equipment Set-up: When you add plates, make sure they are tight. Loose plates shift around and can throw your technique off. Tighten them with collars, Pony Clamps, Wrist Wraps, or something else that will keep them tight.

2. Stance: Make sure you take not of how you set up your feet. Have the handles right by the legs and place the feet equidistant from the handles. Stand near the center of the handle, or maybe even slightly forward of center, whichever feels best for you.

3. Grip Position: Depending on how you pull and how strong your grip is, you will either want to grip the handles right in the center or shifted slightly back. It is better to have the handles leaning down in front than down in back. Slightly down in front shifts the emphasis to the first two fingers. Down in back shifts it to the last two (and weakest two) fingers.

4. Chalk: Chalk up well. Chalk the inside of your palm and fingers as well as the thumb and the back of the fingers.

5. Thumb: Wrap your thumb up over your index finger, middle finger, or both, depending on what is comfortable. This contact will secure your grip and it is also why you want to chalk on the back of your fingers. If they are wet, your thumb will slip and that is no good.

6. Heels and Glutes: Push the heels into the ground when you pull the handles up, just like you would a narrow stance deadlift. When you near lockout, fire the glutes instead of the lower back. You’ll last longer this way and be able to do more sets.

7. Short Choppy Steps: Take short choppy steps when walking, especially the first few. This allows you to conserve energy and stay balanced during your stride. Once you pick up momentum, you can take longer strides, but it is almost always easier to maintain control with short choppy steps.

While I had the implements out, I decided to try something I never tried before, a One-Arm Deadlift with the Farmer Handle for a max lift.

Support Grip is one my areas of opportunity at contests, so it was interesting to try it out. Not sure how much my Farmers weigh – Maybe 25 lbs? I ended up getting 4 plates and a 25 per side, left-handed.

I loved the feeling of this lift, but I the knurling is a killer. After the Farmer’s attempts, Grippers felt ridiculous, but I worked them anyway.

My hand skin felt like a ran a cheese grader over my callus lines and fingers, but I kept on going…they felt like trash when I was done with my workout…

Today they felt just tremendous.

All the best with your training,

-Jedd-

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Hungry for MORE on the FARMER’S WALK?
Check out our STRONGMAN TRAINING DVD:

---

Ultimate Forearm Training for Baseball | How to Bend Nails | How to Tear Cards | Feats of Grip Strength Explained | How to Build Your Own Equipment | How to Lift Atlas Stones | The Sh*t You’ve Never Seen | Sled Dragging for Athletes | The Road to the Record DVD

This past Friday I got a call on my cell phone around 9 PM. It was Rick Walker, who has written many of the articles we have in our strength and conditioning articles section.
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THIS KILLER POST AFTER THE JUMP (more…)

Smitty and I have participated at the NSCA’s PA Strength and Conditioning Clinic at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA for several years now.

We have done speaking presentations on Grip Strength, the Core Training, On-line Marketing, Chaos Theory and many other topics.

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THIS KILLER POST AFTER THE JUMP (more…)