When I was very young in my training, I read about feats of strength which were considered to put someone on top of the game. Lifting the blob, lifting the inch, on and on. These things sounded like things which would take me years and years of hard training to get, if it was even possible.
I watched online as other toiled and struggle to accomplish them.
When I got serious in to grip training, there were several pieces of equipment I wanted. An adjustable pinch apparatus, a York blob, a Thomas Inch Dumbbell. The two things all three of these have in common is being rare and also extremely expensive, especially considering they are just pieces of iron.
A few weeks ago my friend Chris Mathison hit me up and asked if I was interested in his Inch replica. It weighs in at 182 lbs with a 2.4″ diameter handle, a monster of a bell. Naturally I couldn’t refuse.
He dropped it off on Sunday.
On Tuesday I decided to test myself and see what I could do with it. I am pretty happy with my findings….
Next I needed to test the famous Inch + Blob lift
After I got this, I was feeling a bit crazy and went for a Farmers Walk attempt
What is the big deal with the Inch Dumbbell?
It was a challenge bell made famous by the trickster performing strongmen Thomas Inch, who I personally believe was a fucking fraud. He would have the bell on stage and allow men to try it. No one could lift it even the slightest bit off the floor. Later in his show he would lift the bell overhead.
Considering how few men ever lifted the Inch off the floor, and how only a handful of them could press it makes me believe Thomas was a trickster…but the challenge of the Inch Bell is no shit legit.
The original bell weighed 172 lbs. This one being heavier is more challenging.
The reason the bell is so hard to lift is two fold. One reason is the thick 2.4″ diameter handle. The other is the rotation. The bell spins in your hand as you attempt to lift it off the floor.
I have already formed some new goals for this; one is farmers walking it for various distances, one is lifting without tilting, and of course various other combination lifts with the blobs and other tools.
What I do know is progress is assured with the Gym Movement Protocol. Your last chance to purchase Grip and Rip 2.1 is coming in the next few days. I am offering this right now for 50% off. Are you ready to smash PR’s Everyday?
{ 3 comments }
I am a bit embarrassed to admit that this post has inspired me to read about Thomas Inch for the past two hours! Nice lifts!
I know very little about Thomas Inch. Why do you say you think he was a trickster?
Adam,
Why do you think Inch was a trickster? The “trick” to the Inch Dumbbell is… it’s thick grip! Most men couldn’t lift it because of that, and Mr. Inch knew that. He trained six years on the DB before he himself could lift it. It will spin to the weakest part of your grip, so your grip has to be strong enough at it’s weakest in order to lift it. BTW, look up the video on Mark Henry cleaning and pressing the Inch – I was the one that shot that video; probably the greatest feat of grip strength I’ve ever witnessed.