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2014 September - CoC #3 Certification Attempt - Geralt


Geralt

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Hey guys.

I just wanted to share my experience with you regarding my certification attempt on the #3 today on my birthday.

Unfortunately I have failed. This write up will also help me get rid a little bit of the nagging feeling I am experiencing right now and try to put things in perspective. I have been chasing this goal for a while now.

First of all, I want to thank Nathaniel Brous for giving me the mental push to step up. I have the tendency to make things too much mental. Nathan is not doing well physically at this point. I won't go into detail about it but he is going through difficult times now. Positive thoughts from his gripfriends will be good. Nate is you read this, you're GOLD.

After Nathaniel's first cert. attempt he and I made the deal that we should prepare for certification within 8 weeks timespan. At that time I was closing my BBE from parallel and doing reps with #3's and I had the Ghp7 cert in my pocket. Some dedicated training without any other stuff around it should do it. It needed a kick in the butt. By the end of those 8 weeks I just wasn't stable/consistent enough in my strength. Nathan stepped up and certed and I just couldn't honestly step up. So I gave myself another timespan to make it happen and finally made the appointment for certification with Ironmind for today, as it happens my 37th birthday. I have been on and off since 2009 with grippers and started working more with a plan for this goal in 2010. From there I went off and on and gradually got consistent in closing the #3.

My strength however didn't skyrocket that much so with the same capabilities I mentioned above I went into the certification. The foundation was good, it just needed to come out today.

Ironmind hooked me up with Bas Hein, co-owner of Body & Beats, a sportscentre in the Venlo area in Limburg, here in Holland. Bas and I spoke back and forth and he was very glad to facilitate the certification. Bas and his girlfriend/wife were very friendly and supportive throughout our meeting. I want to thank them very much for acting as my referee. The last grippertraining I did was in my vacation in the end of August and after that I did some open hand strenght work (very short) one and a half week ago. From there on I rested up.

At 11.00 AM the appointment was made. My wife drove me to the location so that I could do some mental focus and start warming up with grippers. Yesterday I had contact with Bob van Genugten, also from the GB here. He was also so kind to come over and give me a cheer and also made some photos. Thank you Bob! Bob is also a strong guy on grippers, let it be said.

I warmed up while driving up to Venlo (one hour and a half driving from my place). I used my Vulcan with gold spring.

Setting 1-1 x 8, 2-2 x 5, 3-3 x 3. All CCS. We arrived at the location and were welcomed by Bas's girlfriend who still was giving a training at that moment. We waited upstairs and I started warming up for the last bit. Vulcan level 12 (4-4) x 1 CCS. I did 4 x 25 bodyweight squats in between and got the CNS a bit going. I took my IM#2.5 (filed) as last warm up gripper. I destroyed it CCS. The handles clicked loudly and that was the last thing I did.

At that point everyone was at the scene and after a short and friendly introduction and handshaking, Bas took us to a garage like area behind the sportscentre with lots of space to walk around. His girlfriend filmed the introduction and the taking of the gripper out of the package.

I amped up and went for the first attempt. The set was good but I just missed it by a fair bit in my opinion, although Bas said I was very close. I honestly can't tell since I was too concentrated. This was a mental hurdle coming up but also a bit of a rage in my head. I had to make the next one count. Bas gave me all the time I wanted. After a few minutes I did the second attempt. Needless to say, I gave it everything I had and almost blacked out. Everyone was shouting and according to Bas I missed it by a millimeter! Bob said he got goosebumps by that time. It shows how the intensity was.This is so frustrating. The third attempt was also a miss. I gave so much in the second close that my hands quickly started depleting in strength. I called it quits....I had failed my certification.

I tried to feel how the gripper felt and did a parallel set, just for feel but my hands were so tired that I couldn't close it. A few minutes later I closed it however. But strength was gone. I handed the gripper over to Bob and he closed it MMS.

He then tried to CCS is and also came close. This shows we're both quite up in the same league.

We talked a bit back and forth and Bas called it a very good certification attempt. I was glad he said that but I didn't feel that way of course. Needless to say, I am very disappointed in myself. My wife was also very supportive and I am very glad she accompanied me. She also made a video but when I looked back I got to emotional with the effort I put in that I don't want to see it for some time. I know I need to put things in perspective but I just need to give this a place as a learning moment.

How I see the future? I will start training next week again. I am letting the certification go but, I will do it somewhere in the future. I just need to get stronger. Simple as that. I have some small nags that I need to train around and I want to train more smart, focused etc. I have made new plans. Even letting grippers go for while. I will keep pushing, pushing and pushing till I can do the cert as a formality.

I want to keep on training and really enjoy this beautiful sport. There are so much guys I want to thank for getting me up to this point with information, advice and cheering. Nathaniel, Cesare (thank you for lending me your grippers buddy), Ivan, John, and many more. I respect the board members very much and hope I can enjoy the comradery for many years to come.

Thank you.

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Excellent write up Geralt!

Missed by a hair's width. No doubt the cert is yours next time!

Bob

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First off geralt, happy birthday man. Secondly, Nate if you're reading this, here's wishing you a fast recovery and good health from all of your buddies here at the GB.

Geralt, I've had my share of failures in life and man, failure is necessary because it builds character. It's not getting knocked down that makes you...it's about how fast you can get back up. You started this post off talking about Nate...I seem to remember that he also didn't certify on his first attempt. A few months later he came back and nailed it. Another big name that comes to mind is John McCarter. Failed the first try, and then came back and closed the 3 like it was a trainer.

You can and will do this. Take some time, clear your head and get back into the mindset you need to be in. We are all rooting for you and you're either gonna get on that damn list or die trying, brother!

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That which does not kill you only makes you stronger. That's the saying right. Live it and smash it next time!!

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You are one of the most dedicated and persistent guys I have ever known. You will bounce back and destroy this cert. Just keep going and build upon the strength you have already built.

Edited by Chez
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Guys, believe me that your kind words are a big deal for me. Thank you very much! At this moment I feel pretty f..d up mentally. My legs are very wobbly right now so I know I have given all I had. There was no more at that moment. I am trying to put things in perspective. My two daughters just gave me such a lovely gift, I am a rich man. Like Richard mentioned, this should be a learning experience.

Edited by Geralt
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I am sorry to hear this Geralt but in spite of this i wish you a happy birthday. Take a Little break and try it again. You will get it.

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Hi Geralt,

Man this sucks you've worked so long for this! Very sorry to read that you missed it by a millimeter. Are you going to get a RGC rating by Matt for that gripper? Could be interesting. And also happy birthday dude! Although you might not be too happy right now. We definitely have to do a grip showdown soon with Bob there also. For motivation and fun.

Nathaniel if you're reading this. Best of luck to you and your recovery!

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Since I read in your log, Geralt, that you had signed up for the cert, I have been thinking that I hope it goes well. Because you seem like very passionate and determined about your quest in this. I'm sorry you did not get it.... THIS TIME... But i'm happy you say that you will keep fighting for the cert. Time and pressure and BOOM. Keep fighting, Geralt !

And best wishes to Nathaniel for better times.

Edited by Six Barrel Shotgun
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Hi Geralt,

Man this sucks you've worked so long for this! Very sorry to read that you missed it by a millimeter. Are you going to get a RGC rating by Matt for that gripper? Could be interesting. And also happy birthday dude! Although you might not be too happy right now. We definitely have to do a grip showdown soon with Bob there also. For motivation and fun.

Nathaniel if you're reading this. Best of luck to you and your recovery!

Thanks Roy and also the other guys. Roy, my referee kept the gripper. I am unsure whether or not the gripper is given to the candidate, in case of failed attempt. That said, even if he had offered me the gripper, I think I have not earned it. So in that case I would have let him keep the gripper anyway. As in RGC rating, the way it felt to me it was in the range where it's supposed to be. Definitely not under 150. I'd say around 153, it felt pretty much like one of my #3's rated rated at that RGC by CPW.

Edited by Geralt
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Feel sorry for your cert ! Great report of the event.

Keep up the hard work man, cert will come in no time!!

Few kms (miles) from you, I'll drink a beer in your honor !!

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From someone who has failed on the #3 certification, I know the feelings you are experiencing. Something you have built up to for a very long time, only to have it taken away from you. I have a strong feeling that you will bounce back at a later time and destroy the #3 next time around. Just take some time for yourself and plot a new course of action.

I wish you all the best.

And Nate, if you are reading this, I hope everything goes good with you. Positive energies sent your way.

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Geralt, I am very impressed that you wrote about your cert "failure." It's a learning experience, and it sounds like you're definitely treating it as such. You will come back and hammer this cert out of the park.

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Thnx guys. This does me good very much. Yesterday a strange day all in all, I was hanging on the couch in my own cocoon yesterday evening when all of a sudden a load of friends came marching in with presents and good food! Turned out my wife had arranged a surpriseparty for my 37th birthday.

I hit the bed around 02.00PM. I was completely wasted. It was a very nice surprise for taking my mind of the days events. I am very grateful for having such a fine and lovely wife and friends. Today I feel completely cramped up with super sore legs...so the build up tension is coming out now. Good intensity at least...never felt that before.

Eyes on the price guys, with consistency and time.

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Thnx guys. This does me good very much. Yesterday a strange day all in all, I was hanging on the couch in my own cocoon yesterday evening when all of a sudden a load of friends came marching in with presents and good food! Turned out my wife had arranged a surpriseparty for my 37th birthday.

I hit the bed around 02.00PM. I was completely wasted. It was a very nice surprise for taking my mind of the days events. I am very grateful for having such a fine and lovely wife and friends. Today I feel completely cramped up with super sore legs...so the build up tension is coming out now. Good intensity at least...never felt that before.

Eyes on the price guys, with consistency and time.

PM must be AM of course lol While licking my wounds I have ordered a pair of Manus grips from CPW and bought a nice 162 Elite. You know, just for reppin'. (tough talking helps take away the pain they say lol)

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Geralt, time is on your side. You are 37 years old. I didn't touch my first IM gripper until I was 44. There is no doubt by anyone that you will get it.

In 2008, R Strossen was my witness on my failed cert attempt. On my last attempt, I "may" have closed it. My arm was resting on my leg in a similar fashion as yours was in the photo, except it may have been a couple of inches closer to the wrist. Randy told me that my arm touching my leg would have disqualified the close, as that would be considered "bracing". No one on this thread mentioned that but it is something to take into consideration. Bending over and squeezing like that is simply a way of giving it 100% (I know!), but be careful.

Keep at it. I am positive it will happen for you.

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Awesome write up. Bummer about the cert, but I know that will just serve has fuel for next time. Keep on crushing!

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Geralt, time is on your side. You are 37 years old. I didn't touch my first IM gripper until I was 44. There is no doubt by anyone that you will get it.

In 2008, R Strossen was my witness on my failed cert attempt. On my last attempt, I "may" have closed it. My arm was resting on my leg in a similar fashion as yours was in the photo, except it may have been a couple of inches closer to the wrist. Randy told me that my arm touching my leg would have disqualified the close, as that would be considered "bracing". No one on this thread mentioned that but it is something to take into consideration. Bending over and squeezing like that is simply a way of giving it 100% (I know!), but be careful.

Keep at it. I am positive it will happen for you.

Thanks Mike. Funny thing is, what you mentioned was one of the first things I said when I saw that picture. I am taking this all as a big learning thing. The stronger I will get, the less I will need to swing my arm all over the place. Good point and observation. By the way that must have been a BIG disappointing moment. Being that close in 2008. My referee also said my best squeeze was just a hair from closed. So frustrating. When I see the video my wife made you can see me put so much effort in that I get emotional when watching it back. Stupid grippers.

Edited by Geralt
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