Double Under hand short bending

This week we will talk about my preferred and strongest bending style, Double under hand (DU). DU means your palms are facing you when you bend the spike or nail. I have been told by many of the top steel benders DU is best for those of us who have short upper arm bones/short torso’s (Trolls). If you want to find out if this is you, let your arms hang at your sides. If your belly button is below your elbow joint, you are one of us trolls. If it is at or above your elbow, your considered an Ape, and you will most likely be a better Double Overhand bender.

DU bending is two distinct stages, the drive to angle the spike, and the crush to finish it. Crushing down a nail is basically the same in all of the primary bending styles-Double Overhand, double underhand and reverse.

Before we bend a nail we have wrap it to protect the hand. Nails, bolts and spikes are all very strong, very sharp metal and cut hands equal lost training time. To wrap a nail DU, you place it about 5/8 of the way in the wrap

This will give you best padding for the bend. I only use Cordura wrap from iron mind, but leather wraps are the preferred wrap for the best benders. I know some people use things like shop rags or dish rags, and that is not good. if you get stuck bending you will mess up your hands. Cordura is very strong, Leather is very strong, use that.

Wrap up the nail and it will look like this-

Now you are ready to bend. grab the nail and squeeze it tight. lift your elbows and point them ahead of you. Aim to touch the bar to your throat and really load the lats. Note there is a line from my hand to wrist to elbow. This will give me the power production for the next step.

The Drive. Your rotate your hands downward towards your belly button and slam the spike on both sides as hard as you can. Both hands are anchors holding the nail in place, and both hands are drivers as they slam towards each other. Compress and unload on the nail.

Slam it all the way to your belly. DO NOT BEND OVER. I know, everyone does it the first time. bending over as in a toe touch does not make your stronger. If you have close the nail enough for a good crush then you turn it over. If it is not close to your liking, you slam it down again.

Crush down is a sum of your upper body power. compress the nail and slam it shut. I hold one end and press in with the other. I have done every single spike like this now, thousands of nails so i know it works for me. Learn your style and work it.

When is the spike finished? Legally, when it is 2″ closed from end to end.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.