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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Grip Strength Program

 
I hope you are doing well and your grip strength
is improving everyday.

Hey, I got an interesting question regarding
the 8-Week Grip Program that you get when
signing up for this newsletter.

I have gotten this question a couple of times over
the last few months, so I thought  I would send out
a note to everyone about it.  Check it out below:

"What experience level would you say this program is?
Would it be a novice, advanced, expert, or world class?
I'm thinking it's in-between novice & advanced for the 8 week program."
-Ben-

Ben, thanks for writing in.  Like I said, this is a question
I have received many times.


By the way, if you haven't signed up for my newsletter
and gotten this free program, you can do so here.

It is probably best to label this a "Training Layout"
than a program.

I say this, because when I designed it, I wanted to put
together something that was encompassing of all the
various types of Grip Strength:  Crushing, Supporting,
Pinching (both static and dynamic), Open Hand, 
Crimping, Clamping, as well as tests of forearm strength.

The idea was to provide something that would show
everyone who gave it a try a variety of lifts and difficulty
levels.

There may indeed be lifts or challenges in this layout 
that at this time you are not able to do.  

This is not to make you feel weak or anything like that.
It is simply to point out where you are at right now
as well as how far you can one day reach.

When I first started out with Grip I was NO WHERE
near where I am now and I would never have been
able to do all of the  lifts that are included in the
8 weeks of workouts.  

Believe me, I have been at this a long time, and if it
weren't for hard work, dedication, and consistency,
I never would have reached the level I am at, nor
would I have ever been able to perform all the lifts
that I laid out and demonstrated.

The total truth is that I had trouble filming all of the
lifts in the PDF and video!  It was a ton of work to
shoot it all in one day.  In fact, I was down-right
tired during the filming and pretty sore the next day!

So as you go through the program, if you are unable
to do something, no problem at all, my friend!

What I would suggest is to print out the PDF and 
take it with you to the gym and as you try each lift,
make marks in the margins beside the lifts that
say whether you were able to do them and also 
indicate how challenging they were.

After a few weeks or maybe months, you may
look back and realize that what was really tough 
for you at the beginning of the "program" is now
much easier.

At least that is the goal...

Once you work your way through all 8 weeks and all
24 different lifts, you should have an idea of where
you lie as far as your grip strength levels.

You will also know what you need to work on as far
as weaknesses, and hopefully by being introduced to
so many different lifts, you can lay out your own 
specific program in order to address your weaknesses.

Most of all, this program is meant to be fun.  That is
why at one point in the program I say, "Now you are
really going to hate me," or something along those 
lines.  While grip training will undoubtedly help you
out in other aspects of your training, it is also a very
fun way to train with nearly endless ways o changing 
things up and keeping them exciting.

Feel free to substitute things if you don't have the
equipment.  For instance, if you don't have a thick-
handled loadable dumbbell to train with, use a set
of FatGripz.

If you don't have a 45-lb Block Weight to use, feel
free to use an inverted dumbbell or something else
that will be similar to the suggested equipment.


And at any time, feel free to write back to me and
 ask me questions.

I also do consultations for setting up Grip Programs,
where I help you lay out more traditional programs 
with the purpose of helping you attain your 
specific grip training goals.  My fees vary, depending
on exactly how much help you need, so please feel free
to write in and ask or call me.

And finally, don't forget about my coaching site, 
TheGripAuthority.com - I have tons of great info
there and it is dirt cheap to get started.  Just $7 at
the beginning and $17 after that.

At TGA, the members of the site are able to view
all of the content I have uploaded since Day 1, right
from the beginning of their membership, and I have
made a lot of changes to the site over the years to
make it as user-friendly as possible.

One of the most popular features is my monthly 
Coaching Call Recording, where I field the members'
questions, and answer them as best I can to help
them out with all of their biggest goals and aspirations.

Again, I hope you are having fun with the 8 Week 
Program and that it is helping you learn more about
Grip Training while also having a great time doing it.

Thanks again for signing up and let me know if you
have any more questions.

All the best in your training,

Jedd

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

 
Ever since Mike Rinderle and I teamed up to put
out the Hammering Horseshoes DVD last year,
the popularity of Horseshoe Bending has
dramatically increased, because we effectively
removed a lot of the mystery involved with it.
 
But still, there is the occasional question that pops
up, especially regarding padding and wraps.
 
Here's a recent one that Mike got through YouTube.
 
"Mike
In the DVD you talked a little about 180
degrees being a legally bent shoe but I was
curious if there are other rules when it
comes to bending. I know you said the
wraps have to pass through a 1.25 inch hole
but are there any rules on how much
padding you can use? I would assume you
can not use anything hard. I saw you using
a piece of foam padding on top of a towel
in a couple of your vids and was curious
about that as well?
Jason"
 
Great questions, Jason.  Now, I will turn it over
to Rindo for a look at the rules for Wraps and Pads:
 
"From Rindo:
 
Rules on Wraps for Horseshoe Bending
As you mentioned, the standard is to have wraps
that can be passed through a hole in a piece of wood
or other sturdy material that is 1.25" in diameter
when all rolled up.  This is simply the standard that
was decided upon many years ago when Grip and
Feat of Strength Enthusiasts started developing
standards for feats of strength that in the past did not
have any standards developed.
 
Essentially, what is done, is the wraps that are to be
used are rolled up in the direction they would be
wrapped over the ends of the shoe and then each
one is passed through the 1.25" diameter hole.
 
Rules on Padding for Horseshoe Bending
The main rule on padding is that it cannot be rigid. 
I have found that using a folded up hand towel
works best for me.  Just enough to dull the pain,
but not so much that it doesn't let you impart full
force. 
 
What I mean by that is, if the padding is too soft,
it will just compress beneath your force.  Plus,
there is a point you can reach where you add so
much padding that you have to use even more
force than normal to bend the shoe further, which
is no good either.
 
Bending horseshoes without any padding is not a
good idea for most people.  I used to bend a lot
of shoes without padding, but I hurt my thigh so
bad once, I ended up in the doctor's office due to
a blood clot.  I couldn't bend shoes for almost two
months.  So now I almost always use some padding. 
 
In the video where you saw me using a towel and
some foam, I was working on a shoe that was a
personal best for me.  I have a system I use when
I am gunning for new PR's where  will go for
maximum padding and maximum wraps and then
work my way backwards toward the standard
until I can finish ti no problem with the exact
requirements for competition and certification lists.
 
Thanks again for writing,
 
Mike Rinderle"
 
As you can see, Mike has a little system for every
type of Bending, especially Horseshoes, that is
why he was successful in becoming the first ever
United States All-round Bending Champion.
 
And what's amazing is that doesn't even scratch
the surface of Mike Rinderle's knowledge. 
 
If you really want to learn Horseshoe Bending,
then pick up Hammering Horseshoes
 
All the best in your training,
 
Jedd
 
P.S.  If you haven't heard of the Hammering 
Horseshoes DVD before, here is the Chapter List:
 
1.  Introduction
2.  Special Recognition
3.  Horseshoe Progressions
4.  Warm-up / Injury Prevention
5.  Wrapping
6.  Padding
7.  Quick Re-wrap Method
8.  Jedd:  Raw, Uncoached
9.  Mike:  Demo Bend
10. Completed Bends
11.  Kink Technique
12.  Sweep / Crush Technique
13.  Leg Crush Technique
14.  Jedd:  Refined, Improved Technique
15.  Mike:  Elite Shoe Attempt
16.  Exercises for Shoe Strength
17.  Closing
18.  Extras
 
As you can see, we cover all the bases in this
DVD, and if you have any questions at all,
do not hesitate to ask.  We're glad to help
you out.
 
Pick up Hammering Horseshoes, here.