Guest Youngguy Posted January 11, 2003 Share Posted January 11, 2003 Out of plan blue curiosity, does anyone know what the popularity of grippers from 5 years ago to now is? It seems that they have been well recognized in my school do to the word getting out that I accomplished a world class feat of strength. Which is closing the 3. People always ask me if I am the guy who is in the Guinness World Records book. I keep telling them, “No, I am in a strength magazine called MILO”. Besides that, I have notice that in my area grippers have been becoming more popular, or well recognized. Now when I use the word popular, I don’t mean like a fad or like it is the coolest thing in town kind of thing. I just mean well known and has sparked interests in new and more people. Another factor that can contribute to the gripper’s popularity in my area is that maybe I could have inspired people. I don’t mean to sound like I have a big head , but here is my analysis to as of why. My junior high P.E teacher likes to bring in his grippers when he starts the weight lifting program with his students. I have heard that he likes to tell them of me and show them the Milo book I was in, and stuff like that. I don’t mind that he does this at all by the way; in fact I think it is good that he does. For it could inspire his students to accomplish goals and obstacles that seem impossible. That is my small theory on that part. Does anyone else get this kind of gripper recognition in there area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGuy Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 I do think that gripper popularity is growing. At the same time here on the board things are more balanced with many being interested in thickbar, pinching,d and bending. It use to be gripper dominated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 My stock of grippers, probably a dozen or so, is now dispersed to the digitally blessed via trades or gifts. The Hammer Strength machine does fine for me when working grip is needed; wrist curls and thick bar on other occasions. My #4 was such a toy that it bored me. One of the above paragraphs contains a lie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Piche Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 One of the above paragraphs contains a lie. The number 4 Joe refers to has to be one of the hardest on the planet. It compares to the World Class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bseedot Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 I was just thinking of this while reading KTA. Who would have written a book dedicated solely to developing a better crushing grip via hand held grippers five years ago? Obviously my question has to be rhetorical because no one did this until now. There is a market for grip tools and it's increasing. PDA and IronMind continue to develop new grip training implements, Brookfield has published another book, etc. All of these things are definitely a good sign for the sport of lower arm strength so far. This board has always been outstanding by any strength board standards, but I honestly thought that it was slipping a bit in the not too distant past. However, I think that the GripBoard has gathered positive momentum again and it's never been better. The diversity of content has also vastly improved from the past and that's great to see. BC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricMilfeld Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 I agree that that grippers in general are increasing in popularity, only not so much with my wife... "Are you on that stupid GripBoard again?!" I sense you're proud of your Captain of Crush status, and you certainly should be, Youngguy! Closing the 3 is an impressive accomplishment, but at your age it's nothing short of incredible. Could you tell us a bit about the training routine that brought you to this level? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybersnott Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 Awhile back, I got "mini-status" one time when I walked into a supplement store, and found two guys there huffing and puffing on a #2 gripper (I wrote a post about it). I asked them what they were doing (playing dumb, of course), and they showed me the gripper. I closed it for them, and they were blown away! I recently went back to that same store, and met the manager there. On that day, I was wearing my Captains Of Crush t-shirt. He saw it and asked me about the grippers. I replied, "I'm a Captain Of Crush". He said, "Really? Wow, you must have a strong grip!". He then produced a #2 gripper and asked me to close it. I did, and clicked the handles (it was an easy #2). He was impressed. We talked about IronMind, the grippers, strength training, etc. He told me that that was the first time he had ever seen that gripper closed. I asked him how many people had tried. He said on that gripper, which was fairly new, about two dozen guys - most of which were bodybuilders, powerlifters, strength coaches, etc. Also the gym I went into to get certified - they were VERY impressed by me, since I was able to close it four times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Youngguy Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 Eric Mainly at the start of my training I did tons of reps with my first gripper, which was the #1. After I got the #2 and #3 I started a new level of training. I started researching a bit, but came up with very little. So, then what next, what do I do? So I Repped the #2 and continuously squeeze the #3 with all my might. After awhile I came down with in ¼” or so from closing the #3. That is when I got stuck in a bind. I could not get past that point one bit. Every training day same place as last time. It got very discouraging. Well then I decided to buy John Brookfield’s book (Mastery of Hand Strength). It helped a little bit, but not much in what I needed to do. My gym teacher would also help me with some tips for grip, since he has been around a lot of the big name strongmen. He suggested getting a ¼” thick rope and tie weights at the bottom, and pinch the top part in my palm. I tried this for a while, and then tried all the other grip basics as well. Not to forget I bent tons of nails too. The main key to building brute strength is recuperation. It is seriously important to put down them addicting grippers and take at least two days off. It is so hard to do when you got a gripper you can’t close, well except for the #4 . There should be some old posts of mine were I explained my training routine. Not sure though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHenze646 Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I found this topic with the search function and it is ten years old. Why do you think grippers are so popular when people train there grip? I am really interested in anyone's opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh O'Dell Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 The challenge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightyjoe Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I find it interesting you joined the GB 43 years ago according to the status under your pic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh O'Dell Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Who??? if me im only 25 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh O'Dell Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Ok ok i see now! Thank goodness but wow 43 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electron Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I'd say that grip is getting more popular- especially grippers and thick bar. On one hand, we've got more companies than ever producing hand grippers. The up and coming Asian companies, seasoned European metalsmiths, and all the international dealers, myself included. We've also got tons of press coverage in the USA lately (thanks Jedd) and more people are training thick bar as many companies dealing with bars add them to the inventory. I think grip will soon hit a point where it gains massive popularity quickly. With all the people into fad exercises like crossfit and backyard strongman-type stuff, it's only inevitable that grip becomes integrated into one of these. But I foresee that even if the fad is dropped, grippers are something that everybody can retain and keep trying their hand at. The challenge is too inviting. Most of us can barely keep our hands off them for a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh O'Dell Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 It just drives you to get that last cm such a small distance between the handles but you still chalk your hand up and try again and again hoping dreaming of that close something so intense from something so simple its the challenge for me and its just flat out addictive!! Its productive in anything in life having strong hands will save you even earn respect. As a child i respected my dads hands and belt lol and also a strong handshake. If it grows great if not then ok but i wont give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHenze646 Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 I am new to grip training and I am not good at grippers. It seems like the majority of the discussion on this board involves grippers. I understand the challenge but isn't axle, 2HP, half-penny, etc.? I think there are several factors that make grippers popular. The simple ones are the facts that they are small, light weight, and relatively inexpensive(till you buy dozens). They have a finite range of motion. There is no room for interpertation when the handles are smashed together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
climber511 Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Grippers suck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electron Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Troll! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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