Donati's Log Of Steel Bending, Grip And Powerlifting

[Anthony C.]

Carl,

Setting the gripper properly is EXTREMELY frustrating. It took me basically a year to master. Don't give up on it. One thing that isn't said in that video which I learned the hard way is to keep the gripper close to your torso as possible to get as much chest and lat I to it that you can. I used to hold it far out in front of me to get a better view but it didn't do anything for setting strength. Also, don't hesitate or go into the set lazily. You have to push in with the confidence that it'll be a perfect set, and it will be. I know this all sounds basic as hell but it took me a while to figure out LOL

[Buccos1]

Carl,

Setting the gripper properly is EXTREMELY frustrating. It took me basically a year to master. Don't give up on it. One thing that isn't said in that video which I learned the hard way is to keep the gripper close to your torso as possible to get as much chest and lat I to it that you can. I used to hold it far out in front of me to get a better view but it didn't do anything for setting strength. Also, don't hesitate or go into the set lazily. You have to push in with the confidence that it'll be a perfect set, and it will be. I know this all sounds basic as hell but it took me a while to figure out LOL

Thanks Anthony! I might have been positioning away from my body a little too, without even thinking about it. Trying to get arm out at an angle ... I am going to try videoing some of my attempts to see this and get better at keeping the gripper in sight.

[Buccos1]

Fri (8/1)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x5) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

(1x2) 335

(1x20) 225

Adjustable Thick Bar

(1x3) 115

(1x1) 175

(1x0) 220

[barbe705]

also with gripper setting. make sure with your close you mimic where you want it for a judge to see. if you keep it too close after the set no one can see it. goes for video certs as well as comps. and, same as with lifts, practice that kind of set and show on the lighter grippers as well as the bigger ones.

[jvance]

Also on setting, this goes w/out saying but make sure your setting hand gets a secure hold on the end of the handle. I've had them slip out and the handle spring back and spank me across my knuckle. Both times broke skin and left some persistent bruises on my knuckle. Light gripper too, only rated 108

[Buccos1]

also with gripper setting. make sure with your close you mimic where you want it for a judge to see. if you keep it too close after the set no one can see it. goes for video certs as well as comps. and, same as with lifts, practice that kind of set and show on the lighter grippers as well as the bigger ones.

Also on setting, this goes w/out saying but make sure your setting hand gets a secure hold on the end of the handle. I've had them slip out and the handle spring back and spank me across my knuckle. Both times broke skin and left some persistent bruises on my knuckle. Light gripper too, only rated 108

Thanks guys. Definitely a lot of "little things" needed to master to improve on this. I've been working a little with the gripper close to my chest on the set, which seemingly lets me get my setting hand out a little more, getting the chest involved more. It has felt OK, but I haven't tried this yet with more difficult grippers.

[Buccos1]

Sat (8/2)

2-hand Pinch - Euro

(1x3) 45

(1x3) 65

(1x3) 95

(1x1) 125

(1x1) 145

(1x0) 160

1" V-bar

(1x1) 150

(1x1) 210

(1x0) 230

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 120

(1x1) 144

(1x0) 186

(1x1) 186

Grippers - 20mm block

(1x3) #1

(1x1) #1.5

(1x1) #2

(1x25) #1 - MMS

Horseshoes - 1.2" suede

SCF Lite Rim #0

I tried to season my Euro a little better and seemed to be on to something when I hit the 145, as it was an easy lift. So I tried for a PR of 160 next. I resprayed some water on it a minute before the attempt which ended up making it worse and I couldn't get a solid grip on it. Have a little better idea of what to do with this now though.

[Buccos1]

Mon (8/4)

Ironmind Hub

(1x1) 50

(1x1) 60

(1x1) 65

Medley

(DU) 1/4 x 7" Grade 8 - IMPs

(DO) Red Nail - IMPs

Diamond Bronco PL000

The medley was brutal! After hitting the G8 double underhand, my fingers and hands were still numb when I tried the Red Nail, and I was having trouble gripping the bar on the kink. To make the bend right after the grade 8, I had to throw out technique and just "muscle it" more to get it done. By the time I got to the PL000, everything was screaming, and a normally tough bend became a true test for me.

Just something fun to celebrate my 40th birthday.

[Anthony C.]

Happy birthday Carl! You don't look 40 at all bro

[Buccos1]

Happy birthday Carl! You don't look 40 at all bro

Thanks man! LOL I got carded buying a bottle of wine at 38 ... just looked at the lady, laughing.

[Buccos1]

Wed (8/6)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x5) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

(1x2) 325

Speed Bench

(5x3) 185

GripTopz Stub

(1x1) 25

(1x1) 30

(1x1) 35

Grippers - MMS

(1x5) #1

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) #2

(1x0) SM (126lb.)

[Buccos1]

Thur (8/7)

Squats

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405 - add briefs

(1x1) 455

(1x1) 475

[barbe705]

Happy birthday Carl! You don't look 40 at all bro

Thanks man! LOL I got carded buying a bottle of wine at 38 ... just looked at the lady, laughing.

that's crazy. you don't look your age but, you don't look underage at all. did they make you sign the slip that says if you're suing a fake id they can press charges later?

[Buccos1]

that's crazy. you don't look your age but, you don't look underage at all. did they make you sign the slip that says if you're suing a fake id they can press charges later?

Never saw that one. This lady was being difficult. Happened pretty regularly up until about 35 though.

[Buccos1]

Mon (8/11)

Axle Deadlift - Double Overhand

(1x3) 125

(1x1) 215

(1x1) 255

Barbell Curls

(1x5) 95

(1x5) 105

(1x5) 115

1" V-Bar

(1x1) 120

(1x1) 155

(1x1) 200

(1x1) 225

1-hand Euro

(1x1) 45

(2x1) 55

(1x1) 65

Ironmind Hub

(1x1) 50

(1x1) 60

(1x1) 65

Grippers

(1x3) #1

(1x3) #2

(1x1) #2.5

[Buccos1]

Tue (8/12)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x5) 185

(1x5) 225

(1x5) 275

(1x3) 315

Little Bighorn

(1x1) 70

(1x1) 95

(1x1) 105

(1x1) 115

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 156

(1x1) 180

(1x1) 198

Today was the first time trying the LBH. I put up about the same numbers as the HorneTop with it, but I didn't try to max out on it today. Might have been good for 125 ... maybe a little more. The sledge PR was not super-strict but felt solid.

[Buccos1]

Wed (8/13)

Deadlifts

(2x3) 135

(2x3) 225

(2x2) 315

(1x2) 405

(1x2) 425 - add suit/straps down

(1x1) 475

(1x1) 525 - straps up

[Buccos1]

Sat (8/16)

Squats - briefs

(1x3) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405

(1x1) 455

(1x1) 475

Axle Deadlift - Double Overhand

(1x3) 115

(1x3) 205

(1x1) 255

(1x0) 280

Ironmind Little Big Horn

(1x1) 80

(1x1) 100

(1x1) 120

(1x1) 125

The 120 was also a PR on the LBH, but only the second session with it, so almost everything has been a PR on it. LOL

[Buccos1]

Tue (8/19)

1-hand Euro

(1x3) 45

(1x1) 65

(1x1) 70

Ironmind Little Big Horn

(1x1) 100

(1x1) 120

(1x1) 130

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 156

(1x1) 180

Grippers - MMS

(1x3) #1

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) #2

(1x1) #2.5

[Buccos1]

Thur (8/21)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x5) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

(1x2) 315

Rolling Thunder

(1x1) 102.5

(1x1) 122.5

(1x1) 135

DO - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 6" Grade 5

Red Nail

I'm currently going through a move and was pretty worn down by the time I got around to today's session. Bench felt weak from the start, and I had to stop at two on 315, or I think I would have had a rough final rep (lifting alone). All of my set-up is going to change the next few weeks, so training will likely become "interesting."

[Buccos1]

Fri (8/22)

Squats

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405 - add briefs

(1x1) 455

(1x1) 475

I started moving last week and have not had an internet connection (aside from phone) for the past week +. My entire gym is packed up/in-between places. I had to get a one-month membership at a local gym to get a bench session in this week. Haven't been too happy not being able to get some grip sessions throughout the week. That, combined with the craziness of the move, has made it a very challenging week!

[Buccos1]

Wed (8/27)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x5) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

(1x2) 315

Dumbell Press

(1x8) 90

(2x5) 110

Ironmind Hub

(1x1) 45

(1x1) 50

(1x1) 55

(1x1) 60

Grippers

(1x3) #1

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) #2

(1x1) #2.5

DU - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 6" Grade 5

Overall, feeling pretty beat up from the move and lack-of-sleep. I can't wait until things get back to semi-"normal."

[Buccos1]

Mon (9/1)

Ironmind Hub

(1x1) 45

(1x1) 50

(1x1) 55

(1x1) 60

Little Big Horn

(1x1) 80

(1x1) 115

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 144

(1x1) 156

(1x1) 168

Grippers - MMS

(1x3) #1

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) #2

(1x0) #2.5

[Buccos1]

Tue (9/2)

Squats - briefs

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405

(1x1) 440

(1x1) 475

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x5) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x3) 275

Speed Bench

(7x3) 185

I had to squat in the commercial gym today ... haven't done that in years! Didn't really like it either!!

[Buccos1]

Wed (9/3)

DO - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 6" Grade 5

Red Nail

Horseshoes - 1.2" Suede

Diamond Bronco PL000

Grippers - MMS

(1x5) #1

(1x5) #1.5

(1x3) #2

(1x0) #2.5

Inverted Hex

(2x1) 40

Hex Block Pinch

(1x1) 40

Sledge Deadlift

(1x1) 144

(1x1) 156

Today was the first "OK" workout I've had in awhile ... especially with the bending, which felt great to get back at it! I just missed closing the 2.5 for the second session in a row, but grippers have felt weak the past few weeks.