Grip Strength

lefthandblack

lefthandblack

Joined
Jan 22, 2004
Messages
756
After becoming addicted to HI blades, I realized something. I was'nt used to working with blades this heavy and massive. I lift weights on a regular basis and consider myself somewhat physically fit, but these blades were really testing my grip strength under heavy use since some of them weigh close to 2 pounds or more. I have always been interested in grip specific training, but using these blades really helped me to become motivated to find a way to improve my grip strength. This is when I discovered Ironmind grippers.

I have known about Ironmind grippers for a little while, but I had never purchased any until about a month and a half ago. I purchased the trainer model and after working with it for a couple of weeks I have seen a dramatic improvement in my grip strength. When I first received the trainer model, I was only able to do about 11 full reps on it. Now I am able to do 40 full reps. Shortly after ordering the trainer, I ordered the #1 and #2 models. I am currently able to do 9 full reps on the #1 and am getting very close to closing the #2. This has really helped during heavy chopping with these blades, as I am now easily able to hold onto the blade for longer periods. The gripper models are as follows:

Guide, rated at 60 lbs.
Sport, rated at 80 lbs.
Trainer, rated at 100 lbs.
#1, rated at 140 lbs.
#2, rated at 195 lbs.
#3, rated at 280 lbs.
#4, rated at 365 lbs.

In order to be certified as a "captain of crush" by Ironmind, you have to close the #3 or #4 under certified conditions. The #4 has only been closed by 5 people under certified conditions.

Just wanted to post this in case anyone was looking for a great way to improve grip strength and overall hand and wrist strength when working with these massive blades. I think they are a great strength tool to compliment the khukuri. Mods, let me know if this would be better suited in the cantina.
 
my goodness! If you could close a #4 and had enough patience, you could probably squeeze-forge yourself a nice khuk by starting with a leaf spring.
 
I find any khuk weighing 2 lbs or more and about 18" or more causes me severe tendonitis if I use it for extended periods. In those instances an axe is much easier to use.:thumbup:
 
Kazeryu said:
my goodness! If you could close a #4 and had enough patience, you could probably squeeze-forge yourself a nice khuk by starting with a leaf spring.
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Ha! Probably! One of the guys that has been documented as closing the #4 is none other than Magnus Samuelson of worlds strongest man fame. He said that he had to use three fingers to close it because the gripper was'nt big enough to fit his pinkie on as well :eek: . I wonder what his favorite Khuk would be:D .
 
For a man the size of Magnus Samuelson, I would imagine a 30 or 35 inch AK with a 6 or probably a 7 in handle. Anything smaller, and he probably wouldn't even realize he was holding it.

mike
 
I don't work out at all. I can't lift anything but a map. I'm a little uneasy when a physically strong person starts talking about grip strength and the khukuri. The number one mistake beginners make is holding the khuk too tight.

That said, when I'm not cutting much, sure it hurts the muscles in my hand and forearm during a prolonged cutting session. You'd be surprised how quickly this goes away during a season of wood cutting.



munk
 
hollowdweller said:
Munk is about 1000% correct :thumbup: IMO:)
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Usually when chopping, I hold the Khuks pretty loosely in the hand and use a light, whippy motion, but I was still feeling fatigue in the fingers and wrist. Since training my grip, I have eliminated alot of this fatigue. It also allows for a stronger grip when using the blade for other things such splitting. It has really worked for me but YMMV.
 
cndrm said:
For a man the size of Magnus Samuelson, I would imagine a 30 or 35 inch AK with a 6 or probably a 7 in handle. Anything smaller, and he probably wouldn't even realize he was holding it.

mike
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a 18 inch kukri feels pretty natural to me, yes a mere 15 inch feels ... i dunno, fluffy :) 10 inch? do i have a knife? 5 inch? toothpick :>

when i rock climbed, i could support my body weight by one hand for quite a long time; that was useful. couldn't do a one arm pullup, just needed to hang on :>

bladite
 
Bladite said:
a 18 inch kukri feels pretty natural to me, yes a mere 15 inch feels ... i dunno, fluffy :) 10 inch? do i have a knife? 5 inch? toothpick :>

when i rock climbed, i could support my body weight by one hand for quite a long time; that was useful. couldn't do a one arm pullup, just needed to hang on :>

bladite
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Never have rock climbed, but I have heard that it builds freaky levels of grip strength.
 
I could do a one armed pullup once upon a time- when I weighed 170 and climbed all the time. If I could get a finger on something, I could hang on long enough to get my hand to a grip and pull myself up. I use to climb stairwells from underneath the open horizontal steps. Try that for 5 flights. Today I couldn't climb a jungle gym.

A myth of youth is that strength will last forever. It doesn't, and you must do the work.


munk
 
I have trained with the Captains of Crush grip trainers some...and they are sitting in my briefcase as I write. Made good gains with the Trainer and No. 1models. Never really got too far with the No. 2 model for some reason. Maybe I need to train more than two days a week to make gains...or maybe I was just reaching the limits of my strength potential. Not sure.

These things are not like any hand grip you have ever seen or used before. They are really tough. I can not imagine closing a No. 3, let alone a No. 4. :eek: If you are like me and sit at a desk reading and typing 40 hours a week, you probably need something like these grip trainers if you are gonna swing khuks. on the weekends.

Jeff
 
lefthandblack said:
Never have rock climbed, but I have heard that it builds freaky levels of grip strength.
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I only climbed a little back in the day, and it sure does.

My hands were already pretty strong from years of off-road motorcycling and racing.

If your forearms tend to get "pumped", and your hands lose strength after short workouts, there is something simple that can help.

Eat a banana a little while before starting the work. The potassium in the banana helps break up the waste material that accumulates in the muscle tissue. Since I ride infrequently now days, I tend to take a potassium capsule or two before going riding on my observed trials bike.
It really helps. And, as with most activity, HYDRATE!

DaddyDett
 
Good point DD. Any residual pain is due to lactic acid buildup in the muscles. Potassium helps to eliminate that. Kreatine does the same thing, but banannas taste better.

mike
 
devo55 said:
These things are not like any hand grip you have ever seen or used before.

Jeff
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This is true. I have callouses on my hands now in places I have never had callouses before. It took me awhile to get used to them, because they really tear at your hands, but now they are no problem. My hands have toughened up considerably.
 
There you go- and speaking of the past lives stuff- the places where callouses form don't surprise me at all. Seems natural; which is wierd for a knife made on the other side of the world with a ring around the handle.

lefthandblack; nothing but good will come out of your gaining strength. I do caution you that there is a point at which you allow the tool to work with you, and a point where you attempt to exceed the physicial limitations of the tool, space, time, and the continuem. A guy with your kind of strength should probably be able to chop all day. I can only handle bursts of activity.

Have a great time. I enjoy chopping wood.

munk
 
Geez, my wrists and nerves are so screwed up these days I had a hard time squeezing the ball they gave me while I was giving blood today! lol
 
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