The strong and the *truly* strong.

[astro]

I've been playing with these hand grippers for (http://www.ironmind.com/ironcms/export/IronMind/Main/captainsofcrush1.html) the better part of a year, and can just about close the # 2 gripper, and the # 3 is just for laughs (as in it laughs at me). I'm a reasonably strong guy and can bench press around 290 but these hand grippers blow me away.

And then I look at videos of guys (http://www.cyberpump.com/gallery/albums.php) (and not huge guys either) doing this kind of thing (http://www.cyberpump.com/albums/albun00/aaa.wmv)(15 repeated closes with a # 3). It's so depressing. I feel like a little girl looking at these videos.

Here's a guy tearing cards (http://www.cyberpump.com/albums/albun01/aaa.wmv)

Skinny guy closing a #3 and then a more difficult one! (http://www.cyberpump.com/albums/album100/aah.wmv)

[Surly Chick]

astro honey, you need to get out more. What exactly is the point of having an uber-strong grip? It's not like chicks go "Oooooh look at the hands on that dude! They're totally ripped!"

[Mindfield]

astro honey, you need to get out more. What exactly is the point of having an uber-strong grip? It's not like chicks go "Oooooh look at the hands on that dude! They're totally ripped!"

All the better to CRUSH YOUR HEAD with!

[Surly Chick]

All the better to CRUSH YOUR HEAD with!

Well, not until he can at least close the #2, for pete's sake!

[astro]

Well, not until he can at least close the #2, for pete's sake!

Now you've made me cry! <cries>

[Surly Chick]

Now you've made me cry! <cries>
Be careful wiping your tears away with those ubermitts of yours. I wouldn't want you to accidentally put out an eye...

[zoid]

astro honey, you need to get out more. What exactly is the point of having an uber-strong grip? It's not like chicks go "Oooooh look at the hands on that dude! They're totally ripped!"

They don't call it "jerking off" for nothin' :eek:

[ultrafilter]

What exactly is the point of having an uber-strong grip?

So you can lift bigger weights.

[Lobelia Overhill]

astro It's not like chicks go "Oooooh look at the hands on that dude! They're totally ripped!"

Speak for yourself dearie!

:)

[Colophon]

astro honey, you need to get out more. What exactly is the point of having an uber-strong grip?

Oh right, and you've never played the weak and feeble maid who needs help opening the jar of pickle?

And then laughed as your gallant hero wrestles with the jar, turns purple and starts muttering about slippery hands?

[Nava]

Oh right, and you've never played the weak and feeble maid who needs help opening the jar of pickle?

And then laughed as your gallant hero wrestles with the jar, turns purple and starts muttering about slippery hands?

No... I've played the "pissed that I can't open the G*ddamn jar" woman, though. And I'm more likely to say "bah, it must'a been already tired!" when he opens it effortlessly.



As a labmate once put it: "I hate saying this... (lifts some stuck glassware up) I need a man here!"

[Contrapuntal]

You never actually see the skinny guy close them one-handed. The left hand obscures the view. Are you sure he is not using the left to assist the right? After he opens the grips, he never closes them again.

[constanze]

No... I've played the "pissed that I can't open the G*ddamn jar" woman, though. And I'm more likely to say "bah, it must'a been already tired!" when he opens it effortlessly.

As a labmate once put it: "I hate saying this... (lifts some stuck glassware up) I need a man here!"

I only say "I need a strong guy" when at work - because at home I use either the handle of a spoon to break the vacuum, or a silicon hand grip. Voila, no effort. (As for stuck glassware, the trick is to use hot and cold water.)

That's why men have muscles, and women have brains. :D

In your case, it's probably genetic disposition of muscles. But other than showing off, or going climbing, what do you need them for?

[Baldwin]

astro honey, you need to get out more. What exactly is the point of having an uber-strong grip? It's not like chicks go "Oooooh look at the hands on that dude! They're totally ripped!"Well, if you develop a really strong grip, the muscles involved are in your forearms. This looks good if you're reasonably muscular in general; if you're a skinny dude with big forearms, the image of Popeye is unavoidable.

I use regular grippers to maintain hand strength for SCA fighting, but don't know the poundage involved. The higher-level "Captains of Crush" grippers sound like they're for fanatics.

[Kalhoun]

All the better to CRUSH YOUR HEAD with!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/karlen1956/detail?.dir=/9e77re2&.dnm=9911re2.jpg&.src=ph

[Triskadecamus]

I'm an old guy. Been there, done that on the <eyelash flutter> "Oh, could you do this?" thing. At work the favorite thing is a mechanical rest, which has to be lifted, and turned. I get asked all the time to do it. I generally do it with one finger. I flutter my eyelashes and say, "Not strong, just smart."

Tris

[Mindfield]

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/karlen1956/detail?.dir=/9e77re2&.dnm=9911re2.jpg&.src=ph

http://www.thetalentshow.org/images/bushcrush.jpg

[Kalhoun]

http://www.thetalentshow.org/images/bushcrush.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/236373167/ :p

[Mindfield]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/236373167/ :p

Okay. You win.

But I will seek my revenge!






Crush! Crush!

[mrklutz]

Well, if you develop a really strong grip, the muscles involved are in your forearms. This looks good if you're reasonably muscular in general; if you're a skinny dude with big forearms, the image of Popeye is unavoidable.
Yarrr, I ran into that after I spent a couple summers as a deckhand on a salmon boat in Alaska. I'm a skinny guy, but I came back with Popeye arms from handling the nets, ropes and fish. It looked funny, but G.I. Joe had nothin' on my kung fu grip.

[astro]

Yarrr, I ran into that after I spent a couple summers as a deckhand on a salmon boat in Alaska. I'm a skinny guy, but I came back with Popeye arms from handling the nets, ropes and fish. It looked funny, but G.I. Joe had nothin' on my kung fu grip.

Actually, I'm starting to believe that *really* strong hands are more related to occupation and genetics than working out. Other than kyaking the hardest thing I have to grip is usually a pen. The uber grip meisters in the videos mostly look like outdoor lifestyle, hard working, contractor type guys.

[Kalhoun]

Okay. You win.

But I will seek my revenge!






Crush! Crush!
"I'm crrrrushing your post! I'm crrrushing your post!"

[astro]

astro honey, you need to get out more. What exactly is the point of having an uber-strong grip? It's not like chicks go "Oooooh look at the hands on that dude! They're totally ripped!"

Interestingly, the last two women I dated complimented me on what nice hands I had. When I asked why this was an item of interest, the first said "A woman imagines that the guy she's with will touch her with his hands at some point, and it can be a real turn off if he's got weird hands". I didn't ask what qualified as "weird hands".

[Shodan]

Vansart, the Man with the Iron Grip, (http://www.sandowmuseum.com/page86.html) is said (by David Willoughby, in his book The Super Athletes to have been able to squeeze a new tennis ball until it burst.

And the book Grips (in the Ippon Masterclass series, some advanced instructional manuals on judo) mentions a match in 1979 between V. Kunetsov of the USSR (6'10", about 290 lbs.) and Sumio Endo of Japan (5'7', 280 lbs.) Both men were penalized for stalling several times. But during that match, they tore up two brand-new, double-weave canvas jackets apiece.

Regards,
Shodan

[Beware of Doug]

I'm a reasonably strong guy and can bench press around 290Way to go. You come off sounding modest, and yet imply most of us (who probably couldn't bench-press 290) are wimps. :D

[mr. jp]

astro honey, you need to get out more. What exactly is the point of having an uber-strong grip? It's not like chicks go "Oooooh look at the hands on that dude! They're totally ripped!"

It's a muscle. It can be used for many things. Such as climbing, or helping in lifting weights. It's not like we do everything we do only if girls like it, you know.

I play around with one of these (http://www.powerballs.com/). Probably not as good strength building-wise, but more fun.

[ouryL]

I've been playing with these hand grippers for (http://www.ironmind.com/ironcms/export/IronMind/Main/captainsofcrush1.html) the better part of a year, and can just about close the # 2 gripper, and the # 3 is just for laughs (as in it laughs at me). I'm a reasonably strong guy and can bench press around 290 but these hand grippers blow me away.

And then I look at videos of guys (http://www.cyberpump.com/gallery/albums.php) (and not huge guys either) doing this kind of thing (http://www.cyberpump.com/albums/albun00/aaa.wmv)(15 repeated closes with a # 3). It's so depressing. I feel like a little girl looking at these videos.

Here's a guy tearing cards (http://www.cyberpump.com/albums/albun01/aaa.wmv)

Skinny guy closing a #3 and then a more difficult one! (http://www.cyberpump.com/albums/album100/aah.wmv)

That would explain the hairy palms!!

[astro]

Way to go. You come off sounding modest, and yet imply most of us (who probably couldn't bench-press 290) are wimps. :D


Not when I can't quiiite close the # 2 metal to metal yet, and skinny little 180 pounders can. I feel like the weasel.

Besides one doper has a large penis and large breasts, no one can compete with that no matter how much they bench (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7752171&postcount=22)!

[Surly Chick]

It's not like we do everything we do only if girls like it, you know.

You lie! You lie! The very reason for your gender's existence is to please us girls.

That's what my mom told me and I choose to believe her.

[mr. jp]

You lie! You lie! The very reason for your gender's existence is to please us girls.

That's what my mom told me and I choose to believe her.

Hmm, now that I think about it, perhaps you are right. Maybe I train my lower arm muscles, so that I can become a better climber, so that I can climb more, so that I can become in better shape, so I am more attractive to girls.

[Cisco]

Actually, I'm starting to believe that *really* strong hands are more related to occupation and genetics than working out. Other than kyaking the hardest thing I have to grip is usually a pen. The uber grip meisters in the videos mostly look like outdoor lifestyle, hard working, contractor type guys.
I agree with this, if only from experience. My paternal grandfather could rip a Los Angeles phonebook in half and make it look simple right up until he got sick in his late 60s, and he never lifted weights a day in his life. He built fences until sometime in his 30s or 40s, at which time he got an office job but seemed to keep most of his strength.

I'm about average strength for my weight but my forearms are disproportionately strong, and I think it's got to be hereditary. I've opened jars for guys who are considerably stronger than me in all other aspects.

I've had my eyes on these professional grippers for a little while now. I recently got some "heavy" ones from Wal-Mart (probably not half as difficult as the easiest pro-gripper) and I can close them about 100 times in a row with either hand. I'd like to see how I'd stack up against the real ones.

[Zoe]

I can see using time to build up a grip if it is for some purpose such as improving musicianship. And I wished I didn't have to turn to my husband to open every jar for me. My 93 year old arthritic mother has a better grip than I do.

I think muscle-building is a thing that guys do to impress each other and improve their self-confidence. Most women don't have "muscular" near the top of their lists of most desirable traits.

If it makes you happy, go for it. But there will always be someone stronger.

[astro]

I can see using time to build up a grip if it is for some purpose such as improving musicianship. And I wished I didn't have to turn to my husband to open every jar for me. My 93 year old arthritic mother has a better grip than I do.

I think muscle-building is a thing that guys do to impress each other and improve their self-confidence. Most women don't have "muscular" near the top of their lists of most desirable traits.

If it makes you happy, go for it. But there will always be someone stronger.

Quite possibly, but the ladies I've been going out with over the last year or so have been most emphatic in telling me that they really like the fact that I have a hard, muscular "man's body", and how it's so much better and more virile than the pillowly bodies of their ex-boyfriends/husbands/SO's. The thing that keeps me from being at all smug in this is that until April of 2005 when I lost some serious weight, and started working out, I would been in the "pillowesque" category myself. I still need to drop about 20 lbs or so to get to my ideal (IMO) weight, but the effects of the weightlifting have been a huge plus overall.

[the chicken of exeter]

psssh. i hate those stupid gripper things. my rowing coach made me use them a while back, for no apparent purpose as far as i can tell (i can already open jars and hold oars), and ever since i have had weird dents in my wrists, i think where the tendons stick out, which get worse if i clench my fist. very strange looking.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Actually, I'm starting to believe that *really* strong hands are more related to occupation and genetics than working out. Other than kyaking the hardest thing I have to grip is usually a pen. The uber grip meisters in the videos mostly look like outdoor lifestyle, hard working, contractor type guys.

Perhaps ultrafilter can confirm this, since he always seems knowledgeable about these things, but more specifically, hand strength really comes more from the muscles of the lower arm than anywhere else. You can build those muscles up, and should probably do other movements besides working the grippers, such as wrist curls and reverse wrist curls. But if you look around your gym you'll not see many people doing those excercises, because the average person just doens't have the time. For most amateur gym rats it's upper body, core, quads, hams and glutes, and calves if you have the time.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Quite possibly, but the ladies I've been going out with over the last year or so have been most emphatic in telling me that they really like the fact that I have a hard, muscular "man's body", and how it's so much better and more virile than the pillowly bodies of their ex-boyfriends/husbands/SO's. .

Understandable, but do most ladies focus that much on the strength of your grip?

[astro]

Understandable, but do most ladies focus that much on the strength of your grip?

Nah... the grip stuff is just pure fun stuff, plus the gripper is small enough you can horse around with it at our desk.

[Colophon]

Have you tried using Powerballs (http://www.powerballs.com/)? They're meant to be good for grip strength, and are fun to boot.

[Kalhoun]

Understandable, but do most ladies focus that much on the strength of your grip?
My husband used to do "squeezies" every day. He's got a grip like a vice. Neither attractive nor unattractive unless there are pickle jars that need to be opened. In that respect, the strong grip is a godsend.

[nd_n8]

You know what they say about guys with big hands.


As the proud owner of a couple of decent sized meat hooks I can say it is absolutely true.















We really do wear big gloves :)

[gonzomax]

Phonebooks and cards are ripped by fanning them slightly so you rip a couple at a time to start Once the rips are started the momentum carries through the one left.

[GusNSpot]

As a child, when we would go back to the small hometown to visit, it would include a trip out to see a great uncle. Anywho, he was an orney old coot and worked hard all his life. He was probably in his mid 60's then. His idea of relaxing on Sunday was to go out and bust rocks. For real He did this.

He would amaze us kids by picking up a 16# sledge hammer ( Yeah we checked many a time, it was huge. ) and grip the very end with just three fingers, the thumb, the index and the middle and do it right at the end of the handle. With his arm straight out from his body, not bending his elbow, he would tip his head back and touch his nose whit the strike face of the hammer.

Now after I became a late teen and was in pretty good shape from working on a farm all summer, I tried that with an 8# sledge and using my whole hand. I almost killed myself. I could not even come close.

That old man was made of iron.

[Epimetheus]

astro honey, you need to get out more. What exactly is the point of having an uber-strong grip? It's not like chicks go "Oooooh look at the hands on that dude! They're totally ripped!"

By this logic, you girls need to get out more, after all, It's not like guys go "Ooooh, look at that nice purse and fancy shoes, they are totally fashionable, I gotta have her."

[Least Original User Name Ever]

...hell, if anything, we say "How can i get her OUT of those shoes and that purse..and those shorts...and that shirt...definitely the shirt..."

But that's another thread.

[Cisco]

Phonebooks and cards are ripped by fanning them slightly so you rip a couple at a time to start Once the rips are started the momentum carries through the one left.
That's not how my grandpa did it.

He would take the phonebook and get an overhand grip on the far edge of it and then bend towards the outside. This way, it starts as more of a 'break' than a 'tear'. Once that got started, he would rip it like you or I would rip a sheet of paper.

Then he would laugh and grab a new phonebook and say "Now you do it!"

He really did make it look easy.

[AskNott]

"Goddamn it, Bernie, cut it out! That's the fourth one this week. Do you know what it costs me to keep buying new phone books? Stop it, put it down! Aww, man."

[ultrafilter]

Perhaps ultrafilter can confirm this, since he always seems knowledgeable about these things, but more specifically, hand strength really comes more from the muscles of the lower arm than anywhere else.

Yep.

You can build those muscles up, and should probably do other movements besides working the grippers, such as wrist curls and reverse wrist curls. But if you look around your gym you'll not see many people doing those excercises, because the average person just doens't have the time. For most amateur gym rats it's upper body, core, quads, hams and glutes, and calves if you have the time.

Yet another exercise that you don't need to take the time to do if you deadlift.

[Miller]

Oh right, and you've never played the weak and feeble maid who needs help opening the jar of pickle?


A jar of pickle? You can buy more than one to a jar these days, you know.

[Surly Chick]

By this logic, you girls need to get out more, after all, It's not like guys go "Ooooh, look at that nice purse and fancy shoes, they are totally fashionable, I gotta have her."
I'll give you the purse one but have to strongly disagree on the shoes. Lots of men admire sexy shoes. You don't think we wear those instruments of torture for ourselves, do you? Have you ever tried to walk any distance in a four inch heel??? It's not fun.

[Freelancer]

Actually high heels and such aren't really attractive at all to me. Never really got why women wear them.

[astro]

Actually high heels and such aren't really attractive at all to me. Never really got why women wear them.

They make a woman's leg look longer/slimmer & the position/tension makes the leg/calf look more defined than if flatfooted, plus the angle forces a more upright posture and force the chest and read end out. This doesn't work for all women and some women take naturally to walking in them, and for some they are pure torture.

Here (not very PC) (http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/93/98/04_3_m.html)

Heel me! the pros and cons of sexy shoes (http://www.transgenderzone.com/shoes/shoes.htm)!

[astro]

They make a woman's leg look longer/slimmer & the position/tension makes the leg/calf look more defined than if flatfooted, plus the angle forces a more upright posture and force the chest and read end out. This doesn't work for all women and some women take naturally to walking in them, and for some they are pure torture.

Here (not very PC) (http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/93/98/04_3_m.html)

Heel me! the pros and cons of sexy shoes (http://www.transgenderzone.com/shoes/shoes.htm)!


Hmmm... I didn't initially notice the header in that second link I googled... so all the advice might not apply specifically to women.

[Cisco]

Actually high heels and such aren't really attractive at all to me. Never really got why women wear them.
How tall are you?

2" or 3" can make a surprising difference in how tall a girl looks, and tall is attractive :).

I love it when my wife wears heals. She's 5'7" and I'm somewhere in the fuzzy area between 6'4" and 6'5".

[Freelancer]

I actually have no idea how tall I am. I would have to measure it (just as I have no idea what my weight is currently).

But I actually like small women, so that might have something to do with it. ;)

[OpalCat]

I'll give you the purse one but have to strongly disagree on the shoes. Lots of men admire sexy shoes. You don't think we wear those instruments of torture for ourselves, do you? Have you ever tried to walk any distance in a four inch heel??? It's not fun.
Gotta disagree. I can walk further in a four inch heel than I can in flat shoes. But that's due to a unique ankle-and-knee joint problem that is resolved when I walk with my weight on my toes instead of my heels. Hell, I wish they made running shoes with a four inch heel (not a four inch platform--it has to be toes down, heel up).

[Scylla]

Ok. I checked the link. If I ask to be certified do I need to bring my own or will the judge have one?

I bet I can do a #3.

[astro]

Ok. I checked the link. If I ask to be certified do I need to bring my own or will the judge have one?

I bet I can do a #3.

http://www.gripboard.com/

You may need to join the board (it's free)


#3 Certification Procedure, (http://www.gripboard.com/index.php?showtopic=892)

This is what you have to do to get certified by Ironmind. When you can close Ironmind's Captain of Crush #3 gripper, give Ironmind Enterprises a call at 530-265-6725. They will refer you to a gym or person in your area that can serve as a credible witness to you closing the #3 gripper. Your witness needs to sign a letter stating that they saw you close the #3 gripper with one hand, without assistance from any other part of the body, and that the gripper handles touched completely. You will also need to provide them with a photograph showing the gripper handles touching completely, and a "torso" shot so people can see what you look like. The photos are then sent to Ironmind Enterprises, Inc. P.O. Box 95959, Nevada City, CA 95959 USA. I hope this helps all who need this information, as I look forward to seeing some familiar names join me on the list soon! Steve Weiner

Good Luck!

[Cisco]

I wish I had an idea of how difficult they were without paying $20 + shipping to find out.

Maybe I order a #1 and it's way too easy, or maybe I order a #3 and it's completely unacheivable. Either would irritate me.

Like I said: I can close my "heavy resistance" grips 100 times in either hand, but they might be 15lbs for all I know, while the #1 Gripper is 140lbs.

[astro]

Like I said: I can close my "heavy resistance" grips 100 times in either hand, but they might be 15lbs for all I know, while the #1 Gripper is 140lbs.


It's time for you to move on up!

[astro]

I wish I had an idea of how difficult they were without paying $20 + shipping to find out.

Maybe I order a #1 and it's way too easy, or maybe I order a #3 and it's completely unacheivable. Either would irritate me.

Like I said: I can close my "heavy resistance" grips 100 times in either hand, but they might be 15lbs for all I know, while the #1 Gripper is 140lbs.

Even the guys who can close 3's with either hand use the # 1 for warm ups. You wouldn't lose anything buy getting a #1. Amazon also sells them (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-8876934-5012707?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=captains+of+crush&Go.x=13&Go.y=10).

[Cisco]

A'ight astro, you old slicktalker, you - I ordered them. I'll let you know who laughs at who when they get here :).

[astro]

A'ight astro, you old slicktalker, you - I ordered them. I'll let you know who laughs at who when they get here :).


Let us know how it goes. Apparently Scylla should be crushing bricks with his bare hands by then, so I look forward to his mastery of # 3 gripper video.

[Scylla]

I signed on at the gripboard, and I just ordered a #2. If I can make that my bitch then I'll order a #3, but if my earlier post was sheer bravado I'd at least like to have something usable.

I do think I might be able to do it. When I had to rehabilitate my hands I did and continue to do a lot of strength exercises for them, like squeezing tennis balls and climbing a half inch rope.

We'll see.

[Frelling Tralk]

Actually high heels and such aren't really attractive at all to me. Never really got why women wear them.

*proposes marriage to Freelancer*

[Cisco]

Ok, I got the grippers today.

I hate sounding like a puss on here but, uhhhh, I can't quite close them. I can get within a few millimeters but the resistance increases as they get closer together. When I first grabbed them I thought, this is way too easy -- no, too hard!

My forearms are throbbing from trying already so I'm going to quit before I hurt myself but I'm so close I know I'll close them within the next couple of days.

#1 Gripper - 140lbs

[astro]

Ok, I got the grippers today.

I hate sounding like a puss on here but, uhhhh, I can't quite close them. I can get within a few millimeters but the resistance increases as they get closer together. When I first grabbed them I thought, this is way too easy -- no, too hard!

My forearms are throbbing from trying already so I'm going to quit before I hurt myself but I'm so close I know I'll close them within the next couple of days.

#1 Gripper - 140lbs

You'll crack it . It took my 15 year old 2 months before he could close the # 1.

[OpalCat]

I saw a guy on an airplane last night that reminded me of this thread. Fairly wiry thin guy, not muscular, but then he had these freakish Popeye forearms.

[Cisco]

You'll crack it . It took my 15 year old 2 months before he could close the # 1.
Oh, gee, thanks! My hands and forearms are bruised and squishy and your 15 year old is doing it!

I'll close it real soon, though, and it'll be a great conversation piece after that. I don't think the average adult male could close these.

[Scylla]

Mine were supposed to come today according to the "expected delivery date," but they didn't show up, so I just crushed crushed some cue balls into powder with my bare hands while I waited, and then I bent some rebar into animal shapes and made some wind chimes.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

but then he had these freakish Popeye forearms.

You mean with the anchor tattoos? Cool!

[mrklutz]

but then he had these freakish Popeye forearms.You mean with the anchor tattoos? Cool!
Damn! Now why didn't I think of getting temporary anchors on my forearms after those summers as a deck hand? :smack:

[Contrapuntal]

You lie! You lie! The very reason for your gender's existence is to please us girls.

That's what my mom told me and I choose to believe her.And yet, to judge by your username, it still ain't enough! Or, as the old blues guy asked, "What'd I say to piss you off this time, babuh?" ;)




I bet I can do a #3.With your butt cheeks, no less. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7763756&postcount=13)

Well, you could definitely do a #2 with your buttcheeks.

[astro]

Mine were supposed to come today according to the "expected delivery date," but they didn't show up, so I just crushed crushed some cue balls into powder with my bare hands while I waited, and then I bent some rebar into animal shapes and made some wind chimes.

Once you've mastered the grippers then it's time for hand balancing (http://www.functionalhandstrength.com/hand_balancing.html)

When Strong Hands Meant Life or Death… (http://www.functionalhandstrength.com/stronger_hands_life_or_death.html)

Grip and Hand Strength Articles (http://www.functionalhandstrength.com/grip_articles.html)

[Cisco]

I took it to work today and only 3 guys in my office could close it (out of maybe 12-15 who attempted.)

One guy barely got it once, one guy got it 6 times, and one guy - who doesn't even work out - did eighteen legitimate reps. He didn't even know he had strong forearms, but now he's going to buy the #3 and try to get certified.

Both of my arms are throbbing from messing with it all day; I can get within about 1mm and the tips may have rubbed together a couple times but I'm not calling it closed until I know it's closed.

If I can resist the temptation to keep messing with it and let my arms rest for a day or two I'm sure I'll be able to close it by the end of the week. It's a lot harder than I expected it to be. I heard, "I lift weights 5 times a week, how can I not close that thing?!!" more than once today.

[ultrafilter]

I've ordered a pair of #1s. Back at my peak--before I got sidelined by a shoulder injury--I don't think I would've thought twice about banging out 3-4 reps. Now, it's not quite so certain. We'll see how it goes.

[Scylla]

My #2 arrived today.


Crap, I think it must be defective.


No matter how hard I squeeze, it won't bend.

[Cisco]

The guy at work who made short work of my #1 went home and ordered the #3 number last night. I honestly think he has a great shot at it. I'll post video of his ceritification if he can do it.

Scylla - How close are you getting? These things are deceptively tough. I mean there are some pretty decent-sized guys at work who've gone red in the face and still not gotten my #1's closed.

[Scylla]

Seriously?

On the #2 I can get 3/4 of an inch from closed with either hand.

I thought I would do a lot better.

[Cisco]

Skinny guy closing a #3 and then a more difficult one! (http://www.cyberpump.com/albums/album100/aah.wmv)
On what planet would anyone call that guy skinny? He looks like he literally lives in a gym - you can hear his phone ringing during the video - I'm thinking that's his basement. His arms look like they're carved out of granite and you can see his chest muscles through that thick shirt.

[Cisco]

The spirit is willing but the flesh is spongy and bruised.

[astro]

The spirit is willing but the flesh is spongy and bruised.

You and Scylla will make it happen. I read about Scylla's marathon running exploits with amazement, and wonder how his body can take that kind of punishment without exploding. If he can run a marathon he'll master the #2, and I'm sure you will too.

[Cisco]

My dad was over tonight and closed it no problem. I'm interested to see how my brother handles it. He's 6'7", 290lbs. He doesn't strength train but his natural strength is absolutely phenomenal.

I won't give up because I simply think it's cool. I'm thinking of buying a "Sport" (80lbs) to build myself up. Currently the #1 is way too hard and the store-bought grippers are way too easy. I think the Sport will be the perfect middle-ground.

[astro]

So close on the # 2 (http://img287.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010026pq2.jpg)

and yet so far. (http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010027ic5.jpg)

[Cisco]

So close on the # 2 (http://img287.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010026pq2.jpg)

and yet so far. (http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010027ic5.jpg)
Frustrating, huh? I get within a few millimeters and it doesn't really feel like I can't squeez any harder, it just sort of feels like my hand doesn't want to close anymore.

My whole lower arm - including wrist and hand - is hurting pretty bad from messing with it all week, so I'm taking a few days off. Me and that thing are going round 2 starting next week, though.

[ultrafilter]

My #1 came tonight. I think that they accidentally sent me a #4, and that they accidentally marked it as #1 at the factory. What are the odds?

I can get the handles to about parallel, but after that, it seems to get more difficult. Ah well, nothing like the iron game to keep you humble.

[Cisco]

My co-worker got his number 3's and brought them in today. He can get them parallel, which is a lot farther than anyone else can, but he's got a long way to go before closing them.

I closed them with 2 hands, which is more than I thought I'd be able to do.

I'm still 1-2mm away on my number 1's.