Donati's Log Of Steel Bending, Grip And Powerlifting

[Buccos1]

Mon (6/16)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x3) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

(1x3) 315

(1x1) 340

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 25

(1x1) 30

(1x0) 37.5

Grippers - MMS

(1x5) #1.5

(1x3) GHP5

(1x1) #2.5

[Buccos1]

Wed (6/18)

Floor Press

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

(1x1) 305

Speed Bench Press

(2x3) 155

(6x3) 155 - add chains

1" V-bar

(1x1) 85

(1x1) 120

(1x1) 155

(1x1) 215

(1x1) 240

Grippers - 25mm block

(1x3) #1

(1x1) RB 210N

(1x1) GHP5

Grippers - MMS

(1x0) GHP6

(1x0) #2.5 (131 lbs.)

[Buccos1]

Thur (6/19)

Deadlifts

(2x3) 135

(2x3) 225

(2x2) 315

(1x2) 405

(1x1) 425 - add suit/straps down

(1x1) 475

(1x1) 525 - straps up

[Buccos1]

Fri (6/20)

2-hand Pinch

(1x1) 105

(1x1) 115

(1x1) 135

(1x0) 155

Axle Deadlift - Double Overhand

(1x3) 205

(1x1) 255

(1x0) 280

Rolling Thunder

(1x3) 52.5

(1x3) 87.5

(1x1) 112.5

(1x1) 127.5

(1x0) 140

Ironmind Hub

(1x1) 50

(1x1) 60

(1x1) 65

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 25

(1x1) 30

(1x1) 35

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 132

(1x1) 156

(1x0) 180

(1x1) 174

[Buccos1]

Sat (6/21)

DO - IMPs

1/4 x 7" Grade 2

1/4 x 7" square

Red Nail

Horseshoes - 1.2" suede

Diamond Bronco PL000

Grippers - MMS

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) #2

(1x2) GHP5

(1x1) #2.5

[wulfgeat]

Good job on the Bronco 000! I can't wait till I get it!

[Buccos1]

Good job on the Bronco 000! I can't wait till I get it!

Thanks man! I've found that using thinner wraps (1-1.2") with the 000s works better, especially on the post hand. With the thicker wraps, it's almost impossible to get a good grip on the leg. A lot of it too at this level of shoe is mental. Just taking that "attack" mindset and blasting through it.

[Buccos1]

Mon (6/23)

Bench Press

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

(1x5) 315

Wide-grip Bench Press

(2x5) 225

(1x5) 245

Grippers - 25mm block

(1x2) #1.5

(1x2) #2

(1x1) GHP5

Grippers - 20mm block

(1x0) #2.5

I was trying for a rep PR with 315 today. I got the fifth rep (tying PR), but it was a grinder and I didn't want to chance a sixth by myself. Just missed on the 2.5.

[wulfgeat]

Good job on the Bronco 000! I can't wait till I get it!

Thanks man! I've found that using thinner wraps (1-1.2") with the 000s works better, especially on the post hand. With the thicker wraps, it's almost impossible to get a good grip on the leg. A lot of it too at this level of shoe is mental. Just taking that "attack" mindset and blasting through it.

My thickest set of wraps at this point are 1 1/8" tightly rolled, so they should work well then.

Thanks for the advice; I believe the "hold nothing back/leave it all on the field" mindset is very important for anything a person seeks to accomplish. When it comes to steel bending, my favorite version comes from Miyamoto Musashi: Think not of your own safety, but only of the destruction of your opponent (paraphrase of translation).

[Buccos1]

My thickest set of wraps at this point are 1 1/8" tightly rolled, so they should work well then.

Those sound perfect! Another thing you should check out is braced bar bending. Maybe start out with 1/2" hot rolled steel ... cut it down short and then work up to the 5/8" stuff. As fun and challenging as horseshoes are, they are nothing like bar bending, IMO. Some of the most insane, intense (and painful) sessions I have ever had were when I was trying to bend a 5/8" bar under 5 minutes for a cert. on David Horne's list.

[wulfgeat]

My thickest set of wraps at this point are 1 1/8" tightly rolled, so they should work well then.

Those sound perfect! Another thing you should check out is braced bar bending. Maybe start out with 1/2" hot rolled steel ... cut it down short and then work up to the 5/8" stuff. As fun and challenging as horseshoes are, they are nothing like bar bending, IMO. Some of the most insane, intense (and painful) sessions I have ever had were when I was trying to bend a 5/8" bar under 5 minutes for a cert. on David Horne's list.

Bar bending is fun! I have coiled a 5 ft x 5/16 x 1 inch bar (I brought the legs completely around twice) and I have bent some 2 ft x 1/2 inch hot rolled round (I want to fish it, but I'm not there yet). What I'm most interested in is scrolling/coiling, flat bar bending, and bending wrenches (in that order). With round stock, I want to try out David Wigren's long-bar bending style, and I would like to work on the mighty atom bend (bar bent around the arm with one leg in the crook of yours and the other pulled with the opposite hand) with flat bars. Side note: when I get really good at horseshoes, I want to learn to break chains like the irish anvil does with his hands (with a technique similar to a horseshoe kink) and then I want to get good at breaking out of wrist shackles.

With bar bending though, I have a really strong rowing kink, a terrible pressing kink, an okay sweep, and an abysmal crush between the legs (it is everything I have to heart a SCF UL rim #1).

For the record, the other thing I really suck at is Double Overhand bending. I did finally manage to bend a 1/4 inch x 6 inch piece of weld rod, but I had to wrap it with my horseshoe wraps and strain everything I had to get it (I have only managed one bar). The irritating thing is that I feel like I have put more work into my DO than the other two, and yet it is still my worst style for the kink. I don't really want to have a similar experience with longer bars if I can help it.

For right now, I think what I really want to focus on is Unbraced bending and Horseshoe bending. I think between the two, I will have to resolve many issues that might make bar bending problematic (and consequently, more expensive).

I still need to check out Jedd's new DVD on Scrolling however, and I bet I will have to try something on that video when I do . . .

[Buccos1]

Wed (6/25)

Axle Deadlift - Double overhand

(1x3) 115

(1x1) 205

(1x1) 255

(1x1) 270

Ironmind Hub

(1x1) 50

(1x1) 60

(1x0) 67.5

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 132

(1x1) 156

(1x1) 180

Inverted Hex Pinch

(3x1) 40

Grippers - 20mm Block

(1x3) #1

(1x1) #2

(1x0) #2.5

Grippers - MMS

(1x1) Super Master (126lbs.)

(1x0) GHP6 (131lbs.)

[Buccos1]

Fri (6/27)

DU - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 6.5" Grade 5

1/4 x 7" Grade 8

Horseshoes - 1.2" suede

SCF Lite Rim #0

Rolling Thunder

(1x3) 52.5

(1x3) 87.5

(1x1) 122.5

(1x1) 140

1" V-bar

(1x1) 115

(1x1) 150

(1x1) 210

(1x0) 242.5

Grippers - 20mm block

(1x1) #1.5

(1x1) #2

(1x1) #2.5

I am THRILLED to have finally gotten 140 on the Rolling Thunder! This has been the one lift over the years, that no matter what I have done, there was no (or little) progress. But, since focusing on a lot more grip-specific stuff the past 5-6 months, it has slowly improved for me. I remember being stuck in the 120s for more than a year, with all other lifts improving except for the RT. The 2.5 was a PR with a 20mm block ... first time getting it with anything other than a MMS. It is not rated, but is an easier one.

Edited June 28, 2014 by Buccos1

[jvance]

Good numbers Carl.. Making steady progress

[Buccos1]

Good numbers Carl.. Making steady progress

Thanks Jon!

[Buccos1]

Sat (6/28)

Squats - briefs

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405

(1x1) 425

(1x1) 475

[Buccos1]

Sun (6/29)

Bench Press

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 295

(1x3) 325

(1x20) 225

[Buccos1]

Tue (7/1)

DO - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 7" Square

Red Nail

Horseshoes - 1.2" Suede

SCF Lite Rim #00

Rolling Thunder

(1x1) 87.5

(1x1) 122.5

(1x1) 130

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 144

(1x1) 180

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 25

(1x1) 30

(1x1) 35

Grippers - 20mm Block

(1x2) #1

(1x1) #1.5

(1x1) #2

(1x0) #2.5

(1x1) #2.5

[Buccos1]

Wed (7/2)

Shrugs

(1x8) 225

(1x8) 315

(1x8) 405

(1x5) 475

Speed Bench Press

(2x3) 155

(2x3) 175

(4x3) 175 - add chains

Lying Dumbell Extensions

(2x10) 30

2-hand Pinch

(1x3) 95

(1x3) 115

(1x1) 135

(2x1) 145

[Buccos1]

Fri (7/4)

Deadlifts

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x1) 405

(1x1) 475 - add suit/straps down

(1x1) 525 - straps up

Technique felt kind of off today. I had to take a second attempt at the 525 (which is usually smooth), due to getting out of the groove a little, and not being 100% focused. But, ended up throwing in some Slayer and destroyed it.

[Buccos1]

Sat (7/5)

Rolling Thunder

(1x5) 52.5

(1x5) 87.5

(1x5) 112.5

Axle Deadlift - Double Overhand

(1x1) 205

(1x1) 225

(1x1) 255

1-hand Pinch

(1x3) 45

(1x1) 65

(1x1) 70

(1x0) 72.5

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 156

(1x1) 180

Grippers - MMS

(1x3) #1

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) GHP5

(1x0) GHP6 (131lb.)

After the MMS attempts, I messed around a little with some negatives with a #3 and unrated GHP6. I never attempted this before, and it was awkward trying to get, and keep it closed. But it's something I'm going to start working into grippers, which will hopefully keep me moving toward the #3 close.

[Forever]

Sat (7/5)

Rolling Thunder

(1x5) 52.5

(1x5) 87.5

(1x5) 112.5

Axle Deadlift - Double Overhand

(1x1) 205

(1x1) 225

(1x1) 255

1-hand Pinch

(1x3) 45

(1x1) 65

(1x1) 70

(1x0) 72.5

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 156

(1x1) 180

Grippers - MMS

(1x3) #1

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) GHP5

(1x0) GHP6 (131lb.)

After the MMS attempts, I messed around a little with some negatives with a #3 and unrated GHP6. I never attempted this before, and it was awkward trying to get, and keep it closed. But it's something I'm going to start working into grippers, which will hopefully keep me moving toward the #3 close.

Good overall workout!

[Buccos1]

Good overall workout!

Thanks man!

[Buccos1]

Sun (7/6)

Squats

(1x5) 135

(1x2) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405 - add briefs

(1x1) 445

(1x1) 485

Ironmind Hub

(1x1) 50

(1x1) 55

(1x1) 60

(1x1) 65

[barbe705]

Sat (7/5)

1-hand Pinch

(1x3) 45

(1x1) 65

(1x1) 70

(1x0) 72.5

you are now pinching as much as me 1 handed.