Donati's Log Of Steel Bending, Grip And Powerlifting

[Buccos1]

Sat (4/12)

Squats

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405 - add briefs

(1x1) 445

(1x1) 490

1-hand Axle Deadlift

(1x3) 105

(1x1) 125

(1x1) 135

(1x0) 145

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 30

(1x0) 35

(1x1) 35

Plate Pinch

(1x1) 5 10s

I've been messing around with 5 10s during workouts for a few months, without much luck (not able to keep weights together, hovering a little off ground, then slipping etc.). But, I tried today and got a solid lift. At first, it started up, then I lost my grip. But, I tried immediately after with more chalk, and it was a decent lift. The next time, I will get this on video for an attempt.

I met Bruno Sammartino today, which was awesome! He is one of my all-time favorites. I got an autograph, and got to shake hands with him, which was cool.

[Tom Scibelli]

Awesome job Carl, 5 10's is tough!

[Buccos1]

Awesome job Carl, 5 10's is tough!

Thanks Tom! Now just got to get it on video next time.

[Buccos1]

Sun (4/13)

Axle Bench Press

(1x5) 115

(1x3) 165

(1x3) 205

(1x3) 245

(1x3) 275

(1x2) 300

(1x10) 205

(1x20) 205

Shrugs

(1x8) 225

(1x8) 315

(1x8) 405

[Buccos1]

Tue (4/15)

Barbell Curls

(3x5) 115

(1x4) 135

Rolling Thunder

(1x3) 50

(1x3) 95

(1x1) 120

(1x0) 130

Hex Pinch

(1x1) 40

DO - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 5.5" Grade 5

Red Nail

Grippers - 25mm block

(1x3) #1.5

(1x2) #2

Grippers - MMS

(1x0) #2.5 - 3mm

[Buccos1]

Thur (4/17)

Adjustable Thick Bar

(1x1) 95

(1x1) 130

(1x1) 165

(1x1) 200

(1x0) 225 - (half-rep!)

Axle Bar Speed Bench

(1x3) 115

(2x3) 135

(6x3) 135 - add chains

5 10s Pinch

(2x0)

DU - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 6.5" Grade 5

Horseshoes - 1.2" suede

Diamond Bronco PL00 - 45 deg.

Diamond Bronco PL000

I came so close to my 225 goal on the ATB today. I had it but lost the grip toward the top. I tried 5 10s again and got it up about an inch-or-two, then they fell apart. I tried it again and busted up my thumb pad web (which I'm going to have to let heal before I get a good attempt on this again).

I've had some mutant PL00 shoes I've barely been able to kink. This was one of those today. My best with the "mutant bunch" of PL00s was 80-90 deg. I think. After fighting the kink on this, the PL000 felt easy.

[Buccos1]

Sat (4/19)

Deadlift

(1x3) 135

(1x2) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x1) 385

(1x1) 475 - add briefs

(1x1) 565 - add suit

All-time deadlift PR! I ended up hitching it right at the top, which would have gotten it red-lighted at a meet. But, this was the most weight I ever attempted and 15lbs. over my previous best deadlift, so I will definitely take it! I actually was surprised on the way up ... thinking I should have tried for 575 instead. This brief loss of focus in the moment caused me to lose my momentum toward the top, I think. But, if this were at a meet, I would have held on to it a second longer.

[Buccos1]

Sun (4/20)

Squats

(1x3) 135

(1x2) 225

(1x1) 315

(1x2) 405 - add briefs

(1x1) 455

(1x1) 485

[Buccos1]

Mon (4/21)

Axle Bench Press

(1x5) 115

(1x5) 165

(1x3) 205

(1x3) 255

(1x3) 295

(1x2) 315

Floor Press

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

(1x1) 300

2-hand Pinch - 46mm

(1x3) 95

(1x1) 115

(1x1) 135

(1x1) 145

(1x0) 155

Ironmind Hub

(1x1) 50

(1x1) 55

(1x1) 60

(1x1) 65

(1x0) 67.5

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 30

(2x0) 35

Grippers - 25 mm Block

(1x3) #1

(1x3) #1.5

(1x1) #2

(1x1) GHP5

Grippers - MMS

(1x0) #2.5 -- 1mm!

I came pretty close to closing the 2.5 today ... about a mm away. My best with this gripper has been 3-4 mm, but never really close. It was right there today. Got some air with the 67.5 on the Hub too. By the time I got to the Stub, my fingers were messed up and I didn't really get a decent attempt.

[Buccos1]

Wed (4/23)

Axle Deadlift - Double Overhand

(1x3) 125

(1x3) 175

(1x3) 215

(1x1) 235

(1x1) 265

Rolling Thunder

(1x1) 70

(1x1) 87.5

(1x1) 122.5

(1x0) 132.5

Adjustable Thickbar

(1x3) 75

(1x1) 145

(1x1) 180

(1x1) 225

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 30

(1x0) 35

(1x1) 35

Sledge Hammer Choke

(1x1) 120lbs.

(1x1) 144lbs.

(1x1) 168lbs.

[Buccos1]

Thur (4/24)

Speed Bench Press

(1x3) 135

(8x3) 185

Bamboo Bar Bench

(1x30) 75

(1x15) 125

(1x12) 145

Axle Curls

(1x8) 75

(1x5) 95

(1x5) 105

Sledge Hammer Choke

(1x1) 120

(1x1) 144

(1x1) 180

COC Silver Bullet

2x10 sec #2.5

[Buccos1]

Fri (4/25)

DO - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 7" Square

Red Nail

DU - BBW

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 7" Grade 8

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 30

(1x1) 32.5

GripTopz HorneTop

(1x1) 75

(1x1) 100

(1x1) 110

(1x0) 120

40-lb. Hex Dumbell Pinch

(3x1)

Grippers

(1x40) #1

(1x20) #1.5

[Buccos1]

Sat (4/26)

Squats

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405 - add briefs

(1x1) 455

(1x1) 500

[Sean Cashman]

Good consistent work outs Carl! I'm impressed with everything you get accomplished within your training week.

Any bending goals for the rest of this year? I see you keep your base level of strength pretty solid.

[Buccos1]

Thanks Sean! I don't have any big bending goals at the moment. I'd like to hit a Huge Golden double underhand though. Tried it a few months back and had some decent movement. But, most of my goals now are PL or grip-related. Too bad about are old ranking lists, 'cause that was very motivating trying to get onto or maintain position.

I've tried to continue bending a Red every week since my cert a few years ago. It's turned into an obsession. LOL I guess I just don't want to ever lose that level (as a minimum).

Great to see you back at it!

[Buccos1]

Sun (4/27)

Axle Bench Press

(1x8) 115

(1x5) 205

(1x3) 255

(1x3) 295

(1x2) 315

(1x20) 205

1" V-bar

(2x1) 75

(1x1) 110

(1x1) 145

(1x1) 180

(1x1) 212.5

Sledge Hammer Choke

(1x1) 144

(1x1) 156

(1x1) 180

(1x0) 192

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 25

(1x1) 30

(1x1) 35

(1x0) 37.5

Lying Kettlebell Extension

(2x8) 35

I got my v-bar from FBBC today and tried it out for the first time. It's a tough lift. I got my 212.5 on video ... will try to put it up here later.

[Buccos1]

Tue (4/29)

1" V-Bar

(1x1) 115

(1x1) 150

(1x1) 175

(1x1) 200

2-hand Pinch - 46mm

(1x3) 95

(1x1) 115

(1x1) 145

Barbell Shrugs

(1x8) 225

(1x8) 315

(1x8) 405

(1x5) 455

Grippers - 25mm block

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) #2

Grippers - MMS

(1x1) #2.5

Today was the day I finally closed the #2.5! I have been working with grippers off-and-on for about 6 years and have really struggled making progress with this one. But, a lot of the new things I have been working into my routine really seemed to have carried over to my grippers. Now that this is finally done, I can turn my focus to the #3.

[Buccos1]

Here is the video of my first session with the FBBC 1" V-bar. I never attempted a lift like this, so spent some warmups messing around with different grips. This grip seemed to cause the least problems for me. Now something new to work towards!

[Buccos1]

Thur (5/1)

Speed Bench Press

(1x5) 135

(2x3) 155

(6x3) 155 - add chains

Wide-grip Bench Press

(1x5) 225

(1x5) 245

Rolling Thunder

(1x1) 87.5

(1x1) 112.5

(1x1) 122.5

(1x0) 130

Ironmind Hub

(1x1) 50

(1x1) 55

(1x1) 60

(1x0) 65

(1x1) 60

Grippers - 25mm block

(1x3) #1

(1x3) #1.5

(1x1) GHP5

Grippers - MMS

(2x0) GHP6

On my first attempts with the GHP6, I was able to get it to about 15mm, on both tries. It seems like I have to get way better with my set on these tougher grippers.

[bencrush]

Congrats again on the #2.5 close, Carl! And the 1" vbar is fun stuff. Good job pulling 212 in your first session with it! That's very solid for never training it.

[Buccos1]

Congrats again on the #2.5 close, Carl! And the 1" vbar is fun stuff. Good job pulling 212 in your first session with it! That's very solid for never training it.

Thanks Ben! If I stick with it and turn some of my other focuses into the gripper stuff, maybe at some point in the next 2 years, I'd be able to get a MMS, which would be awesome!! Grippers have always been slow progress for me, but finally closing that 2.5 showed me I had a chance!

The v-bar seems like a great thing and will be fun training it. I watched some videos before trying it, and yours was in the rotation. Sick #s on that!

[Buccos1]

Sat (5/3)

Squats

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405 - add briefs

(1x1) 445

(1x1) 475

DO - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 6" Grade 5

Red Nail

DU - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 6.5" Grade 5

DU - BBW

1/4 x 6.5" Grade 8

[Buccos1]

Mon (5/5)

Bench Press

(1x5) 135

(1x5) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

(1x2) 335

Dead Bench Press

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 275

(1x1) 305

Bench Press

(1x18) 225

Axle Deadlift - Double Overhand

(1x3) 130

(1x2) 215

(1x1) 270

1" V-Bar

(1x1) 120

(1x1) 155

(1x1) 205

(1x0) 220

(1x1) 220

Grippers - MMS

(1x5) #1

(1x3) #2

(1x0) GHP6

(1x10) BB Master 5/8"

I got the GHP to about 5/6mm from a close, which was a lot better than my last few attempts. As I continue to get better at setting this gripper, it will close soon. The 270 on the axle was a PR. I was actually able to hold it for a little at the top before it started to slip.

[Buccos1]

Wed (5/7)

Speed Bench

(1x5) 135

(5x3) 185

(3x3) 185 - add chains

Bench Press

(1x22) 225

2-hand Pinch - 46mm

(1x3) 95

(1x1) 125

(1x1) 150

(1x0) 160

Grippers - MMS

(1x3) #1

(1x3) #2

(1x0) GHP6

Grippers - 25mm block

(1x3) #1.5

(1x1) GHP5

I hit 150 on the 2-hand pinch, which tied my previous best. It was relatively easy, so I tried 160 a few minutes after, and it didn't even move. Night-and-day between the two attempts. The 22 reps with 225 tied a previous PR.

[Buccos1]

Thur (5/8)

Deadlifts

(2x3) 135

(2x3) 225

(2x2) 315

(1x2) 405

(1x2) 425 - add suit/straps down

(1x1) 475

(1x1) 500

1" V-bar

(1x1) 125

(1x1) 175

(1x1) 200

(1x0) 225

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 25

(1x1) 30

(1x0) 35

(1x1) 35