What is the Modular Grip System?

Variety and Convenience.

 

These are two things I am always looking for

in my training.

 

Having Variety allows me to constantly be

challenging myself in the gym with new and

different pieces of equipment.  This keeps the

gains coming and the PR's piling up.

 

Convenience is very important to me because

I have limited space for training and don't want to

waste time setting stuff up and breaking stuff down. 

I want to get in, get the work done, and be able to

get out of the gym and enjoy my time with my family.

 

Maybe you are like that too?

 

Well, I've got a buddy named Ryan Pitts.  Maybe you

have heard of him.  He runs a company called

Stronger Grip Enterprises.

 

Last week Ryan contacted me and let me know

that has put out a brand new grip training equipment system.

 

He is calling it the Modular Grip System.

 

The Modular Grip System is a training equipment

kit with loading pins and interchangeable parts. 

This means that it will allow you to train various

aspects of grip strength with a small collection of tools.

 

The MGS, as it is called, comes with two loading

pins and various plug-in style handles which attach

to these loading pins.  Let's run down the handles

that come within the system:

 

1.  Two Hand Pinch (normally $59)

This is a steel implement that attaches to the loading

pin and allows you to train open hand strength and 

thumb strength, two very important aspects of grip

which have carryover to all sorts of athletic activities

and sports.

 

2.  Plateau Buster Handle (normally $149)

This is another steel implement that is used to train

true support strength.  The handle is about 1 inch in

diameter, meaning just about everybody will be able

to wrap their hand completely around it and strengthen

the grip for deadlifts and other pulling movements.

 

3.  A 2 3/8-inch Vertical Bar

This device allows you to train in an ulnar deviated

open hand position.  You've probably seen vertical bar

training before, but if not, think gripping a giant office

water bottle by the neck, or trying to pull a 2 and 3/8

inch thick horseshoe stake out of the ground.  This

joint orientation is also very similar to pulling on a

long rope.  Awesome for serious hand strength.

 

4.  Thick Burger Grip

This is pretty much a new device for me, but it is very

similar to block weight training.  The Burger Grip is

pill-shaped.  Imagine lifting a giant aspirin tablet. 

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

 

You can see pictures of all the devices included in

the Modular Grip System here.

 

Check it out.  If you're looking for a good set of

equipment that is going to last you a long time,

then this could very well be perfect for you.

 

I own all kinds of Ryan Pitt's Stronger Grip

equipment and it is all top notch.

 

In terms of workmanship, much of Ryan's equipment

BLOWS AWAY his competitors in  terms of quality

and aesthetics, plus they are built to last.

 

Another thing I like about Ryan's equipment is his

loading pins.  You don't have to mess around with

carabiners, so you save even more time that way.

 

Looking at the new design, I think this version of the

Plateau Buster will be even better than the first version

for dynamic training such as swings, because the plates

will be loaded vertically instead of horizontally

 

I still use mine to this day for heavy two-handed swings

because I can actually get both hands on the handle fully,

something most people are unable to do with kettlebells.

 

I hope Ryan puts up records lists for this equipment. 

I know it is always fun to see how much you can pull on

new pieces of equipment, but when there are public

listings available on sites like his, it makes it even more

fun and allows you to challenge yourself for years down

the road as well.

 

So, make sure you check out the Modular Grip System

from Stronger Grip.  Right now it is just $199 for the

whole package.  That is the regular total for the Plateau

Buster and Two Hand Pinch handle. 

 

If you get the MGS right now, you will essentially

get the  Vertical Bar and Burger Grip handles for fr ee.

 

Enjoy and all the best in your training,

 

Jedd

 

P.S.  Ryan has indicated that he is working on other

prototypes that will be coming out later as additional

plug-in handles for the Modular Grip System. 

So that means even more goodies to come!

 

 

Tough Kettlebell Grip Shit

I’ve said for years that Grip Training is one of the
most important types of training that most people
are NOT doing.


A Strong Grip helps you perform better in sports
 by being able to hold onto the ball, bat, or your
opponent better.

A Strong Grip also helps you improve your
numbers on lifts where the hands are involved,
especially the all important Bench Press. By
having a firm grasp on the bar, it helps you engage
your upper body in the lift much better while also
 increasing your confidence in the lift, knowing
you are going to dominate it with no problem.


Finally, Strong Hands and Forearms are Safer
Hands and Forearms.


What I mean by that is when you have put in the
work to strengthen everything from the elbow
down in a balanced fashion, it makes you much
more injury-resistent. You are able to take more
bumps without having to worry about breaking
something and you’re able to give more bumps
without having to hold back.


The issue with all this is, how do you get started?


People make Grip Training out to be a lot tougher
 than it is. In fact, if you have a small kettlebell in
the 15- to 30-lb range, you’ve got exactly what
you need in order to start training your grip and
start reaping all the benefits.


Kettlebell Gut Pops (Full Hand Emphasis)


Forget the fact that the kettlebell has a perfectly
good handle on it. Instead, pick it up by the belly
or Gut. Next, pop it up into the air and try to grab
 it with the other hand.

In the pictures above, I am using a 30-lb Kettlebell.
However, take note that I am not as much of a
bad-ass as I may seem THIS TIME, because this
kettlebell has a rubber coating around it. If you have
 one that is bare iron it is going to be much tougher.


Kettlebell Front Raise (Thumb Emphasis)


Again, Grip the Kettlebell by its round gut with an
open hand. Next raise it up in front of you like a
front delt raise, making sure to keep the thumb
positioned on the bottom of the bell in order to
hit it the hardest way possible.

If you are a true tough guy, try holding it up for a
pause on each repetition.


Kettlebell Horn Deviations (Wrist Emphasis)


Grip the Kettlebell this time by the “horn,” which
is the part of the handle that is generally vertical.
From there, lower the bell down into ulnar
deviation and then back up into radial deviation.

 If you love the pain and torture of this variation,
you should also try supinating and pronating the
forearm. LOVELY!

There are thee Grip Training movements you can
start doing RIGHT NOW in your routine to get the
benefits of stronger lower arms and hands.


If you want more ideas on how to be a bad-ass by
lifting crazy shit and bending and tearing everything
in site, check out The Grip Authority. I’ll tell you how
to build the strength to be able to rip phone books,
 tear cards and bend steel.


Now, go Lift or Destroy something.


All the best in your training.



Jedd Johnson, CSCS, RKC

Captain of Crush | Red Nail Certified

See more on building ridiculous hand strength = > http://www.thegripauthority.com

Kettebell Swing + Grip Training Benefits

Grip-Friends! 

You want information on

improving your Grip Strength, and I am bringing

it to you!
Here is an article on a device called

the Napalm's Nightmare.

(Just in case you didn't know, when I was 

training to be a pro-wrestler, my name was 

going to be Napalm Jedd.)

Kettebell Swing + Grip Training Benefits
 

Kettlebell Training is a very beneficial form of

training that is naturally good for improving

your grip strength.

Kettlebell work helps improve hand strength 

so well, because of two natural properties of

kettlebells: 

(1) The increased size of the handle,

and

(2) The dynamic nature of the training.

1. The Increased Size of the Handle

One of the easiest ways to INSTANTLY

hit the hands harder in order to bring up your

grip strength is to increase the size of the

handle of whatever it is you are training.

The "handles" we often train on are barbells

and dumbbells, which are often only about

1-inch to 1.25-inches.  For most people this

is not going to do much to stimulate grip

strength improvement unless you load up

extremely heavy and hold for long periods

of time.

Plus, dumbbells and barbells are almost 

always knurled, in order to assist with the grip

you can get on them.

With Kettlebells, however, the handles are

generally slightly bigger, often in the 1.5-inch

range, which still isn't huge, but throw in the

fact that their handles are NOT KNURLED

and you have a tool that will test your grip

strength more than standard equipment.

Now, let's look at the other side of the equation...

2.  Dynamic Nature of the Training

Kettlebell Exercises, especially Cleans, Snatches

and even the basic Swing all require a pendulum

motion where the Kettlebell swings downward

and then you pull it back up.

Add in the fact that sets generally include between 

20 and 100 repetitions and you have a great deal

of  dynamic loading to the hands, which can be

great for increasing your grip strength.

So, the handles are larger and slicker, which will 

make your grip work harder.  PLUS, the movements

are often more dynamic, bringing in another element 

of difficulty...

So everybody should go get a set of Kettlebells, right?

Well, while I do think Kettlebells are awesome pieces

of equipment, there is one main drawback...

They can get quite expensive.

Kettlebells can be picked up ranging from 12 pounds

all the way up to over 100-lbs, and all that iron brings

a price with it.

Well, I want to tell you about an innovation 

I came up with a few years back called the 

Napalm's Nightmare.

 

(If image does not appear, click this link)

This is a Home Made that is connected to a

loading pin with weight added and then swung

just like a Kettlebell Swing is performed.

The Napalm's Nightmare device combines 

the thick, slick handle of the Kettlebell with

the dynamic nature of the Swing, but takes it

two steps further, because not only are the

handles even larger than regular kettlebell

handles, but they also rotate as well. 

These two traits of the Napalm's Nightmare

make your hands scream for mercy, in a good way.

Here is the best picture I could find, which I 

pulled from a video on-line, where I am 

performing Swings with Napalm's Nightmare:

At this point I have propelled the implement

forward with my hip strength, but due to both

the size and the rotating action of the NN handle,

your hands must work 2 to 3 times harder to

keep your grip on the handle.

Plus, at the bottom of the swing, when it passes

down and beyond your hips, you have to 

overcome the momentum of the implement,

again requiring a greater grip engagement than

regular kettlebell swings.

So, obviously, I am either a genius for innovating

such an awesome device, or I am downright evil for

thinking some up so intense.

Either way, if you use one of these, your hands, 

wrists, and forearms are going to get Scary Strong,

and that is what training is all about.

Unfortunately, I don't sell these implements.

BUT, I do show you exactly how you can make

them in Home Made Strength II:  Grip Strength Edition.

In fact, not only do I show you how the 

Napalm's Nightmare is made, but I also show you

how to make 10 other Grip Training Tools.

If Grip Strength is something you need to

work on, you are going to need some good 

quality equipment to train with.

Home Made Strength II will help you expand

your Grip Equipment Arsenal and you'll be 

able to save a whole bunch of cash as well.

For more information and to find out exactly

what you can learn to build check out 

Home Made Strength II:  Grip Strength Edition.

All the best in your training,

Jedd

P.S.  This video comes in a Digital Streaming

format, but you can also upgrade to the Physical

DVD as well.  Just go here

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.