Walk the Road Less Traveled

Things have been a bit fucked up for me this last week but lifting was good.

Side note on BB Snatch is getting better

compare to 17 April 2013

Seems a few people have enjoyed the 3″ axle pull up challenge from the remarks on facebook. Here are a few more.

This challenge is a hang and pull up with a mixed vertical grip plus claw pinch. You will use the Ironmind Little Big Horn Anvil trainer (the official Ironmind lift record is 100kg held by yours truly) and the Ironmind Hub lifting handle.

Hang them then use an overhand grip on the anvil and the classic “claw” grip on the hub.

Let me know if you get it. Share a video here or on my Facebook fan page “Adam T Glass” so I can show the world your strength.

The next challenge uses the Strongergrip Gripmo pull up handle. This handle was designed by Ryan Pitts and later copied by several equipment companies.

The gripmo was an easier fix to the problem of dealing with a kettlebell while hanging it for pull ups. I imagine most of you have not tried that before, it’s one of the best arm developers ever. For strength I am speaking, not body building. I was using 36 and 40 kg bells as I liked the size, and one day Ryan told me he has something for me to try. On a Saturday morning of a Grip Decathlon Ryan pulls in with the Gripmo.

One of the interesting things he added was the globes on the sides. They feel like rock climbing tools on the top. From the bottom they represent an incredible chance to build elite hand strength. The challenge is to pinch the bottoms of the globes and pull yourself up.

If you do this, please tell me. I think it is was one of the harder things I built to and I would like to personally recognize your achievement.

Last few days have been mixed training days

Friday BJJ no gi practice for 2 hours plus KB snatches
Saturday assorted medley lifts on fixed weight grip tools (anvils, Inch, Blobs) plus 5 minute 24 kg snatch test
Sunday lots of deads, pull ups, and stretching
Monday hand stand press ups on fingers and thumb tips plus block weight lifts and stunts.

My focus for the month will turn to my green bell, shown below. Full deadlifts with either hand or bust. This may take a while to get to but to me it is worth the time.

What have you been up to? Any particular PR’s you would like to share?

I often have a difficult time gauging how difficult a given grip challenge is so I would like your help.

Take a 3″ smooth axle (maybe PVC pipe would be a good work around) and throw it on top of a rack. Now grab it double overhand (that means with your thumb and all fingers) and hang. If you can hang, try to pull.

I have watched several fit people try and fail at this. Josh said he thinks this is harder than the pinch bar. I want to know what you think.

What did you do today?

 

Snatches to 215, Ironmind Anvil to 237, plate hulu’s and some Thomas Inch Dumbbell Lifts

I think most lifters would agree the foundation of strength is lifting weight off the floor.

When the topic comes to speed, endurance, flexibility, or power opinions can become varied quickly…but for strength many can side that deadlifting is the starting point for a stronger body.

How many types of lifts off the floor are there? Hundreds, if not thousands of variations and modifications.

Last May a number of lifters joined me for the challenge of lifting daily.
A goal to work some type of pull.
This year the challenge continues

There are no rules.

 

 

The basics – lift something up.
Any deadlift variation.
With any tool or object.

Resistance, sets, and reps.
I will offer two facts and an opinion.
I do not care what you select.
No one else does either.
So my opinion is do what is best for you at that moment.

Some days are heavy.
Some are light.
Some days it is a rack pull for singles.
Others it is hundreds of kettlebell swings and snatches.
It maybe a fatbar you struggle to break off the ground
or a dumbbell you fix to your hand with a lifting strap. It’s your body, your program.

This is all fun, and it’s fun for all who do it.

So this Month of May,
I’ll ask you a question
Will you join me in picking shit up off the floor, everyday?
31 days.

31 Days to challenge your hips, back, grip, creativity, motivation, dedication, time management, and focus.

This is what I am doing next, I would enjoy having you travel with me.

If you wish, share a video or picture of your lifting.
post up a comment, I will put up a video here of you getting at it.
Share a PR. Share a new modification. Allow the rest of us to cheer you on.
You would be surprised how many people will stand behind you.

ATG

Lifts off the floor all month of May, figured I would get a jump on the start.

 

This May I have two things starting up which you will dig

 

Smarter Strength 2013 will begin in May. Class registration will begin next Monday.

 

Pick Up Shit Off The Floor Every Day will begin 1 May 2013. Just like last year the challenge is simple – get in at least one lift from the floor daily. Deads, cleans, snatches, rows, whatever.

 

Details later this week, stay strong

 

I love a product that solves a legit problem. Liquid Grip is such a product.

Chalk is one of those things that seems to be a point of contention for many athletes. While I personally do not care about the associated mess of chalk, I know other people do. Many commercial facilities do not allow lifters to use chalk primarily to potential for spill. I get it, they are worried about the minor clean up issues from a bucket tip or white hand prints. They don’t like having to vacuum and wipe down equipment.

Liquid Grip is a fantastic solution to this problem.

Some brands of chalk are sticky. Some are slick. Some are quite rough. Others very fine. Depending on what you are doing this can affect your poundage and performance. For some sports chalk is an essential component such as Grip, Rock Climbing, and Kettlebell Lifting (GS). In these situations hand sweat turns your chalk in to a hot mess, particularly in the humid summer.

Liquid Grip shines when stacked against chalk.

What is it?

“Liquid Grip is a water based hydrocellulose thickener that allows for rosin and chalk to mix in a suspension formula. This new innovative product contains an exceptional drying agent that gives the user a dry and rosin feeling when applied. The product dries within seconds of applying and once dry binds with the fatty acids and does not transfer to any object. Rosin powder and chalk both leave a residue of dust that slightly transfers and ultimately can be inhaled by the user causing discomfort. Liquid Grip outperforms both rosin and chalk while leaving no mess or transfer and giving the user a longer, more effective grip.”

– From the LiquidGrip.com website

This stuff is awesome. A small application about the size of a US dime will last for well over an hour and will not rub off on equipment, flooring, clothing, or other surfaces. If you look at the picture here from the Arnold you will notice there is no chalk residue on my clothing at all, the stuff would not rub off. It smells pleasant with a mild coconut scent, very much like sun block.

LG works far better than chalk for grip specific movements. I get much better friction on pinch and vertical bar lifts. It lasts much longer for long duration sets with kettlebells. It can be applied to directly to equipment and after it dries it works much better than chalking the metal. It doesn’t irritate the skin or excessively dry the skin. I personally get very dry spots on my knuckles in the winter which tends to split and I have found liquid grip doesn’t make this worse. LG is also much cleaner than using a chalk bucket as foreign dust and dirt particles are not collecting in the mix.

Liquid Grip will stay on your skin until washed off with warm soapy water. It takes about 1 minute to dry on the hand once applied. Once LG has been spread across the skin it feels very dry with a slight bit of stick. It is a very different feel than standard rosin or chalk. I have not yet been able to use it at a very high temperature with snow fall still occurring in MN here in April so I will put a follow up review in the summer. I have had a few workouts now with it where I was a dripping sweat and the LG worked very well under those conditions.

I only review stuff I use and I only recommend things that I believe are worth your time. This is one of those little things which can add up to much better results when introduced to your training. Check it out

 

ATG