Thigh crush for short steel

[Tom Flesher 524]

During the last steel shredder contest (snapping grade 5 bolts) the top benders generally started their bends between the thighs without kinking overhand or over the hip/knee/shin first. I’ve looked at this technique but I can’t seem to find a position that allows me to apply force to the bar.

If anyone has experience with this, I’d really appreciate a few pointers!

Edited November 19 by Tom Flesher

[Donc101 1,449]

5 hours ago, Tom Flesher said:

During the last steel shredder contest (snapping grade 5 bolts) the top benders generally started their bends between the thighs without kinking overhand or over the hip/knee/shin first. I’ve looked at this technique but I can’t seem to find a position that allows me to apply force to the bar.

If anyone has experience with this, I’d really appreciate a few pointers!

In SS5 I started the bars DO, but I do like leg crushing to start a bar too. I just put the bar as high up on my thighs as possible and put me feet as close together as possible and then generate full body tension and crush the bar. Post a video of what you are doing and I may be able to help.

[Mike Rinderle 4,340]

Here's a braced wrench bend and BKOAB bend.  What Don said is correct.  It's also key to torque your wrists to get it to go.  Jedd and I talk about it in his braced bending dvd.  It's a lot of wrist extensor strength to get the energy from your legs to transmit into the steel correctly. 

Here's another way to start them that's a little painful.  You use the forefinger of one hand as a fulcrom on top of your thigh.  It mashes, but you get used to it after a couple months.  Works better with minimal wraps like the IMPs I use here.  Larger wraps make it impossible to get good pressure on your forefinger to start folding it.