Strong Thumb = Grip Freak?

[twig]

All my life, I've been strong at everything I do, until I hit grip.

It seems to me, that everyday PL/OLY/Weight training, doesn't train grip, some professions do, but in my opinion, they're dying out. In these enlightened times, is the thumb everything?

No matter what life throws at you, if it doesn't work your thumb, you won't be a grip freak without training, am I wrong?

Discuss.

Edited May 20, 2007 by twig

[MalachiMcMullen]

I'd totally agree. Everything, even grippers use thumb strength. Oddly enough grippers depend on thumb strength to hold the gripper in place during the close but doesn't work the thumb.

[GatorGrip]

Everybody wants to Be Thumb-Body--

Lets hear people's ideas of how and what to use to train the thumb for maximum results?

[anson]

Dynamic thumb work with the TTK and block work are both musts. You only have one thumb opposing 4 fingers, your thumb is the money finger baby!

[climber511]

You want to see how important the thumb is - try lifting a Blob without it

[ox3782]

You can use IMTUG's to quite good effect on the thumb.

Brendan

[crobb1320]

i agree the thumb is is very important in grip. 4 fingers versus 1 thumb. not a fair fight.

[aquilonian]

Everybody wants to Be Thumb-Body--

Lets hear people's ideas of how and what to use to train the thumb for maximum results?

The thumb is everything I agree.

Here's an odd favorite exercise for MMA practitioners, that guaratees results. First find a partner (its prefferable if they're used to grappling/sparring). stand infront of him and grab the top of his FOREARM (the big part between the wrist and elbow). grasp it tightly and when youre ready, ask him to tear his arm away. At first you wont be very good, but soon you'll get it, play around with it.

Once you get decent at that, and its not so easy for your partner to escape, you can make it more challenging. Lay down on the floor on the GUARD position. Grasp the tops of his forearms like before. Grabing the wrists or the biceps or triceps will make it too easy. Now ask your partner to muster all his strength and will, and attempt to POUND your face to the ground. point of the game is not to let your opponnets forearms go (or else). Game ends when you get pounded and you quit, or when your partner gets too tired to continue and he quits.

1. Make sure you know your partner, and that he is familiar with the rules of regular MMA sparring (tapouts).

2. have your partner wear the puffy gloves at first so as not to get any unsightly bruises, unless you're too much of a man (I'll take the gloves ).

3. Cut your figernails VERY WELL so as not rip your partners skin. He will bruise though (you might too)

You will experience the workout of a lifetime. This is a total hand, forearm, and wrist workout. Infact this is a total body workout. A big problem is that alot of people don't know how, or dont feel like giving 100%, on their workouts. youd be surprised how hard you can "GRIP" when you have a determined opponent trying to pound your face in.

I don't know if this helps anyone though

Edited May 20, 2007 by aquilonian

[superfeemiman]

I'm using my grippers for dynamic thumb work like mentioned in an old post. I'm really far away from a Trainer though, so I gotta use a Wal-mart one.

[makey98]

The thumb training device revealed in KTA2 (for blobs) is worth the price of the whole book........

[Ray]

You want to see how important the thumb is - try lifting a Blob without it

Hitch hiking's a bummer as well

[Trevor111]

You want to see how important the thumb is - try lifting a Blob without it

Hitch hiking's a bummer as well

what would pinch lifting be without your thumb.....open hand grasping?

[Jeff T]

Nice post aquilonian!

I like the sound of that game.