Slow Progression

[Justin Reagan]

I've seen many people who started about the same level as me (at the same time as me, also) surpass me by many levels. Some regularly killing G8's, some working with reds already. I'm still having an extremely hard time with G5's--and I'm not even consistent with those. I guess some people just get stronger a lot faster, huh? It's not like I could just start training like them and suddenly start progressing 2x as fast.

As long as I stick with it, I know I'll eventually get to those higher levels. I'm just slower than the rest.

I've thought of something interesting. I've actually stuck with all this bending stuff longer than I've ever stuck with anything. With squats, deadlifts, oly lifting, etc., I just can't stay interested in these long enough to get much stronger. I'm actually doing a few lifts (DLs, rows, swings, cable work etc) once a week in conjunction with all my bending. I'm also trying to do a little running, with some wind sprints mixed in. I'm going to TRY to stick with these for a while. I'm going to have a hard time concentrating on getting stronger in these lifts when I'm so focused on bending, etc. I just know I need to keep my legs and back strong.

Comments/suggestions?

Justin

[bencrush]

Your perseverance is impressive Justin. I don't know how long you've been bending but it sounds like it's been a while now.

I too watch with envy those guys that seem to start bending at a "normal" level and then 6 months later they're bending Reds or above. Congrats to them.

Meanwhile you and I and the rest like us will labor on at a much slower pace. Just a fact of life I guess. It is cool that you're not throwing the towel in just because the gains aren't lightning quick.

I've progressed pretty slowly with the bending too. And especially with the grippers until last year.

But since I've stuck with the switch from DU to DO, I've pulled myself to the Grade 8 level and hopefully have laid the groundwork for the Red and above in the distant future.

Have you considered a change in bending style? I think you're DU right? I felt much more comfortable with the DU style but decided that I was never going to bend any big steel that way. So I switched to DO. And haven't regretted that in quite a while.

[kerbjr]

I too have always been a slow but steady progressor, I have seen many people come and go with bending, many that have passed me up at one point or another. Point is, stick with it and you will make good gains, hard work and perserverance will pay off. Most likely your joints are not ready for the harder stuff yet so be patient and keep after it..Brett

[Justin Reagan]

Yeah, I've been bending since March 2005. Not a super long time, but still, it's been slow.

I've now actually seriously started bending with other styles. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm going to QUIT DU, just not use it exclusively. I'd like to be able to bend big steel with more than one style. You never know, maybe my DO form will suddenly fall into place and it will quickly surpass my DU. Even if that happens, I really don't want to quit DU.

Right now, I'm having a hard time with anything OVER 4.5" or 5" with DO. I've been doing some 6" g2's just to get my form down. I bent a 4.5" G2 with better form (easier, too) than I can a 6" G2. Any thoughts on this? I hate to imagine how hard it will be to bend 7" stuff! Technique-wise, that is...

Thanks,

Justin Reagan

[Vice]

Yeah, I've been bending since March 2005. Not a super long time, but still, it's been slow.

I've now actually seriously started bending with other styles. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm going to QUIT DU, just not use it exclusively. I'd like to be able to bend big steel with more than one style. You never know, maybe my DO form will suddenly fall into place and it will quickly surpass my DU. Even if that happens, I really don't want to quit DU.

Right now, I'm having a hard time with anything OVER 4.5" or 5" with DO. I've been doing some 6" g2's just to get my form down. I bent a 4.5" G2 with better form (easier, too) than I can a 6" G2. Any thoughts on this? I hate to imagine how hard it will be to bend 7" stuff! Technique-wise, that is...

Thanks,

Justin Reagan

I know a lot of others who share the same opinion. It seems that they can bend 6" stuff easier than 7" even thought it makes no sense. It's simply a technique issue, but unfortunatley I'm not experienced enough to comment on how to fix it.

[bencrush]

I've been bending DO since January and the 7" stuff ( to me) doesn't get any easier technique-wise. I am bending some of it but nothing over the 1/4" CRS at 7"...so earlier this week I started dedicating some training time to specifically 7" lengths of steel. Doesn't matter whether it's 1/4" CRS or 1/4" CRS taped to some other smaller 7" stock to make it just a bit harder. I also bought some 5/16" HRS to cut in 7" lengths to work on the form with slightly thicker stock. It doesn't compare at all to the Bastard or Ironmind 5/16" CRS but it will hopefully help on that goal of bending the Red or the Bastard stock.

[Crotchulla]

I was progressing really slow, switched my technique on DO and now I make a new PR or 2 everytime I bend (usually once a week). Try really easy stuff and work really hard on technique. Make sure to check out the diesel crew article about bending. I reread it a few times and it finally just clicked.