The Strictest Form Of Bending?

[gumpster]

Maybe you have started with in the last few years and it was from someone who posts here now like Aaron, Ben or Gazza.

Good reply Adam. That is exactly why I started bending 9 months ago. Watching videos of the current crop of elite benders is "traditional" for me. I haven't read books of the guys from generations past and what they did doesn't really interest me as much as what people are doing here and now. You can't easily get video of old-timers doing their feats and even watching the best bends of the great benders from 5-10 years ago is near impossible (unless you want to fork over $ for a DVD). I'd much rather watch Gazza doing superior bends on Youtube at no charge. Guys like Pat, Big Steve, Dave Morton & Greg Amidon may have been at the top of the unbraced bending game just a few years ago but they have since moved on to other things...and if you notice their names are slowly moving south on the lists if not gone already. Maybe they are still trying to improve their bending ability but we'll never know unless they come back and become more active here. The bending game is constantly evolving and people are finding new or easier ways of accomplishing the same thing - making a straight bar into a U or V. Who knows, maybe in another 10 years someone will discover a new style that causes an eruption in the bending world like DO did not so long ago.

This thread is loaded with lots of good info and opinions on this little hobby/sport we are addicted to. If I had to choose a strictest style it would be Heslep. I've only seen a couple of videos (Heslep & Adam) but I would love to see some other strong benders give it a shot and see what they can do. Anybody got something above a Grade 5 in them? Please post a video so I can feel weaker and envy you.

[gazza]

Adam

You are right about arnie and dorian never influencing any benders the only major bodybuilders i can think of are people like Bill Pearl,Chuck Sipes,Mike Dayton not shure about Reg Park tho Altho Dayton was a specialist strongman more than a bodybuilder but he did win the AAU Mr America,Peral and Sipes were 1st and formost bodybuilders who also did strength feats Chuck Sipes was a very IMPRESSIVE bender in his own right and used alot of partials and isometrics in his routines.

When i started of and 1st came on here Pat Poviliatis was the man he was the 1st one that was routinely killing g5s and g8s[A g5 was an Elite bend and a g8 was world class ] Pat was closeing in on the RED and a few like Big Steve and Clay Edgin etc were having some success with g8s Brookfield was still considered the GOD as he was at this time the only one who had supposedly bent a RED unbraced shortly after Gavin and Pat dispelled the mythe of wether a RED could be bent unbraced both going on to bend one unbraced Gavin just beat Pat to an ironmind exclusive altho i had had pms off of pat saying he had bent a red a while back but he was not fully consistant yet he then became the 1st person to publically do a Red bend unbraced on video.

Pat and Gavin both bending Reds started not only the DO style but also it made everyone now know that a red nail could now be bent unbraced because there was alot of speculation on wether or not Brookfield had or could actually bend a red nail unbraced.

Within a short space of time Big Steve,Clay,Greg + Dave,Shrug etc were all to bend reds now people were bending the RED in other styles as well this was when the wrapping rules changed from a single wrap to what we use now 2 wraps.

Eric Milfeld and others were accused of somehow gaining an unfair disadvantage useing the single wrap it was infaired that Eric and others were useing the ends of the single wrap to pull down on 2 gain an advantage this was the start of many controvertial wrapping debates Eric Milfeld has probably done more for bending than most on here and i know that he got alot of agrivation over this at the time but like the true professional he is he rose above it all,took it all on the chin like a man and is who we know him as Mr Tester of Steel and a great bender in his own right.

Teddy

Alot of people have there opinions about the oldtimers Thomas Inch has gotten alot of bad press over his Inch Dumbells and also his stage shows with Minerva the lady that could mysteriously alter her weight Its a shame that these things could have such a detrimental affect on such a strong man a man that has given us one of the greatest tests of grip know to man the INCH DUMBELL despite the above floors in mr inches caracter he was still a very strong man in his own right British champion on a number of occassions and one of the top bent presses ever i like to think about what mr inch gave us and not worry to much about the other i am not a religious man but is there not a saying that goes something like "Let him without sin cast the first stone" are we all so perfect another thing mr inch was reputedly the man that gave us disk loaded weights.

Without video or cast iron alibies anybody from the old times right upto present day can be doubted people used to doudt me probably some still do thats there choice just because some people choose not to compete doesnt mean they have stuff to hide its usually the people throwing the stones that are not secure in there own abilities who have to try and cast aspertions at others instead of just working harder and getting stronger Ive heard it all he doesnt compete yeah right i was still able to go to one of Hornes comps and win the bending despite being injured and not bending for over 4mths i still pulled it out on the day People used to say he only bends stainless his own stock he must weaken it some how so i got stuff sent to me from people all around the world showing me opening stuff on video etc i then bent various other things on video like Big g5s,Big g8s,3/8" g5s,8ods etc showing people that it wasnt just stainless that i can bend i also bent stuff at 7inch and stuff and 3 1/2inch and stuff inbetween etc in all manner of styles showing those especially that behind the scenes bad mouth me that no matter what shit you sling my way i am showing you and yours that i am becomeing more and more of a complete bender as time goes by i can also bend not only in various styles but also from barehanded to multiple wraps in my teeth behind my back useing other objects etc etc i am becomeimg more well rounded but theres plenty more work to do I also have bent various other objects horseshoes,wrenches,axes etx braced and unbraced and i like to play around with Blobs,inch db,anvils and Kettlebells from time to time Oh and a few grippers and grip machines

Like i said just because you choose not to compete anymore dont mean you got somethin to hide

When your at the top or near the top in any profession there will always be some who try to equal or better your achievements by useing short cuts well there aint none ive said it before and i will say it again its a journey into "TIME and PAIN" thats it?

Back to the oldtimers alot of them were unfortunate not to have video around or even so called credible witnesses does that make there feats in my eyes less worthy not in the least there are thousands of garage dwellers all over the world who could if they had wanted to have been at the top of there profession but choice not to for one reason or another men like Chuck Ahrens,Stanless Stan etc etc brutally strong men who just do it for no other reason than themselves.

Regarding Tradition and the oldtimers A standard oldtime Traditional bending feat was a 60d in a hankerchief or barehanded lots of people have equalled it in the same ie a hanky lots also have bent em in stuff from ironmind wraps to single leathers and double leathers now i could just come out and say those that did this are all just cheaters and fakes but im much to smart for that what i will say is a good quality 60d in any wraps is still a good bend but dont go kidding yourself and pretend its anything like a 60d in a hankerchief,paper towell or barehanded because its far from it thats what i disagree with there are alot of the new guys comeimg on here and through ignorance they are not be schooled/educated in the traditional ways of bending i liken it to someone who joints a gym and sees guys thay have been training 5-10yrs with a bit og size on then but are newbie goes stuff that i want to be big now so after just say 6mths training hes on the gear thats what i see now happening with the bending guys dont want to put the time in to develope the hands and tendond they just want to slap on double and treble wraps and when a fairly strong guy does this and kills a 60d 1st go or after only a few tries there well that aint so bad i got that done im now equal to am oldtimer

Anyway i better leave it there as i can feel myself getting far to passionate