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

TheGripAuthority.com

 

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

today = >  Hammering Horseshoes DVD.

 

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.