Buccos1 Posted November 29, 2015 Posted November 29, 2015 7 years ago, this week, I bought the Ironmind Bag-of-Nails. I had no idea of what I was getting into ... did not know anyone who bent steel, and wasn't aware of any forums for help, at the time. I saw the Bag-of-Nails in the Ironmind Brochure, thought it would be cool to try, and more importantly, it might be something that would help strengthen my wrists. I was so amped-up after ordering it, and was super-psyched when it finally came. I remember sitting in my basement, going through the steel and wondering to myself, "How am I going to do this?" I saw the White and Green, and thought that it wouldn't be too difficult to bend those. When I examined the Yellow and Blue Nails, I wondered "How?" and was trying to process how these things could be bent. When I held a Red Nail for the first time, I literally thought it was impossible, and that there was no-way it could happen. I saw the Red Nail Roster for the first time, and was almost awe-struck, with what it would take to get on that list, and very much admired the people who had done it. I read the manual inside-and-out, and started doing some experimenting right that night. It was tough for me from the start, and I had zero instruction (aside from the included manual). It was a little later on that I found the Gripboard and Bendersbattlefield, and things really took off. But for those first few months, progress was abysmal, and pain was high. But it was fun, and the process of experimentation was formative. After my Red cert. in 2010, I decided I would continue to bend a Red Nail weekly (5-10 days) in single IMPs, for as long as I could physically accomplish it. And I have been keeping that going since then, through the injuries, and everything else that has happened to me (including in the hospital room when my son was born). The Red and bending has been such a huge part of my life for so long now, that it is and will be a part of me forever. I know that I cannot continue bending forever though, and things have been slowing down this past year+ for me, but I will continue to attack this monster as long as I can, and hopefully take down a few big bends one last time before I hang things up for good. 7-year Red Nail anniversary bend: 13 Quote 2023 Goals Huge Golden Bastard - DU Big Bastard - DU Bodyweight Press (semi-strict) 2.75 x Bodyweight Deadlift 1.75 x Bodyweight Bench Press 1.85 x Bodyweight Bench Press Close my easy #3 again MMO cert. 5'9" 180bs. 7.35" hands nearly 40 years of consistent, hard and heavy training YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CarlDonatiJr
robertmiller67 Posted November 29, 2015 Posted November 29, 2015 Incredible dedication & strength sir.. awesome!! 1 Quote
GrassMaine89 Posted November 29, 2015 Posted November 29, 2015 this is very inspiring...awesome 1 Quote Goals MM0 10-25-2014 Bend a Red Nail in singles 10-27-2015 Certify on a Red Nail Bend a Bastard in singles 10-10-2015 Certify on a Bastard 10-15-2015 MM1 MM2
anwnate Posted November 29, 2015 Posted November 29, 2015 Very cool man. Congrats. 1 Quote Current Goal: Train consistently...consistently. "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." - Stephen King "Grip-ology is the study of pressure and time. That's all it takes really...pressure...and time. That, and a big goddamn poster." - "Red" "The most productive and the most difficult thing about grip training is waiting until your body is ready to train again." - me "We're not here to put another tool in your tool box. We're here to clean out your garage." - Adam T. Glass "Nearly all the satisfaction comes from battling and overcoming your opponent. Having them simply yield to you...leaves little to savor". - me "Get disappointed go smash them tomorrow! What right do they have to make you feel like crap all week?" - Jason Steeves "maybe you just lack natural awesomeness?" - Brent Barbe "We've got to preach the grip gospel." - Jared Goguen
Buccos1 Posted November 29, 2015 Author Posted November 29, 2015 Incredible perseverance. Incredible dedication & strength sir.. awesome!! this is very inspiring...awesome Very cool man. Congrats. Thank you guys! Quote 2023 Goals Huge Golden Bastard - DU Big Bastard - DU Bodyweight Press (semi-strict) 2.75 x Bodyweight Deadlift 1.75 x Bodyweight Bench Press 1.85 x Bodyweight Bench Press Close my easy #3 again MMO cert. 5'9" 180bs. 7.35" hands nearly 40 years of consistent, hard and heavy training YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CarlDonatiJr
Anthony C. Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Awesome, Carl. I remember your 6 year anniversary bend. Time sure is going fast. It's really impressive that you've kept this level of strength, in single imps no less, for this long. 1 Quote
Geralt Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 That is cool to read. Great write up. May I ask what is causing your slowing down in training? 1 Quote Started training June 2008 MM level 1 Ghp7 GSS certified Some videos.... http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_y-TPakQE6zfc18qWgZW7Q
Chez Posted November 30, 2015 Posted November 30, 2015 Very cool Carl. Very inspiring dedication. 1 Quote "A lot of men train to be pretty, I train to be the strongest man in the world, then again I'm already pretty." -Magnus Samuelsson "You don't have to be fat to be strong!" - Svend Karlsen "I know it doesn't just come from playing with yourself" - Svend Karlsen talking to Magnus Samuelsson about closing the COC #4. "Everybody pulls for David, nobody roots for Goliath" - Wilt Chamberlain "No Roids. Just Rage!"
Buccos1 Posted November 30, 2015 Author Posted November 30, 2015 Awesome, Carl. I remember your 6 year anniversary bend. Time sure is going fast. It's really impressive that you've kept this level of strength, in single imps no less, for this long. Thanks Anthony! I think I missed it last year. LOL Might have been 5. I've continued to push myself too, almost for the fear of never being able to get back to at least a Red, if I stop. Very cool Carl. Very inspiring dedication. Thanks Chez! Quote 2023 Goals Huge Golden Bastard - DU Big Bastard - DU Bodyweight Press (semi-strict) 2.75 x Bodyweight Deadlift 1.75 x Bodyweight Bench Press 1.85 x Bodyweight Bench Press Close my easy #3 again MMO cert. 5'9" 180bs. 7.35" hands nearly 40 years of consistent, hard and heavy training YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CarlDonatiJr
Buccos1 Posted November 30, 2015 Author Posted November 30, 2015 That is cool to read. Great write up. May I ask what is causing your slowing down in training? Thanks man! Once I hit 40, things have started to hurt more and longer. I've always been able to do everything in training, and push it to my limit week-in-and-week-out. But, lately, things are starting to "pop" more and the aches and pains aren't going away as quickly, as from even a few years ago. I think my days of double-overhand bending are winding down, at least from a "safe" elbow- and shoulder-health perspective. But, as much as double underhand hurts, it doesn't take the same toll on overall recovery, aside from just pain-tolerance, which isn't a problem. So, I think there are a few more years of DU, at least, if I'm forced to call it quits on double-overhand. Or at least reverse, which I've never really pushed or stuck with. 1 Quote 2023 Goals Huge Golden Bastard - DU Big Bastard - DU Bodyweight Press (semi-strict) 2.75 x Bodyweight Deadlift 1.75 x Bodyweight Bench Press 1.85 x Bodyweight Bench Press Close my easy #3 again MMO cert. 5'9" 180bs. 7.35" hands nearly 40 years of consistent, hard and heavy training YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CarlDonatiJr
Jose Cabrera Posted December 1, 2015 Posted December 1, 2015 Awesome, if you love it, keep doin it Carl! Meeting you and seeing you destrpy a red after a comp was huge inspiration for me. 1 Quote
Anthony C. Posted December 1, 2015 Posted December 1, 2015 Awesome, Carl. I remember your 6 year anniversary bend. Time sure is going fast. It's really impressive that you've kept this level of strength, in single imps no less, for this long. Thanks Anthony! I think I missed it last year. LOL Might have been 5. I've continued to push myself too, almost for the fear of never being able to get back to at least a Red, if I stop. Very cool Carl. Very inspiring dedication. Thanks Chez! Lol maybe what I'm remembering is the red you bent in the hospital room when your son was born 1 Quote
Sean Cashman Posted December 1, 2015 Posted December 1, 2015 Fantastic Carl. I think I've followed your journey the whole way. Watching as you progressed along the steel depth chart to when you certed the Red. I’ve always respected your commitment and perseverance. Congrats brother! 1 Quote
JoshW Posted December 1, 2015 Posted December 1, 2015 Hope you have many more years of red nail bending! Looked just as strong as the one I saw in the hospital room. 1 Quote Goals for 2016 Certify bastard DONE Bend bastard in BB wraps DONE Certify big bastard Certify Hexabastard Certify Shiny bastard
Buccos1 Posted December 2, 2015 Author Posted December 2, 2015 Awesome, if you love it, keep doin it Carl! Meeting you and seeing you destrpy a red after a comp was huge inspiration for me. Fantastic Carl. I think I've followed your journey the whole way. Watching as you progressed along the steel depth chart to when you certed the Red. I’ve always respected your commitment and perseverance. Congrats brother! Hope you have many more years of red nail bending! Looked just as strong as the one I saw in the hospital room. Thanks guys! Quote 2023 Goals Huge Golden Bastard - DU Big Bastard - DU Bodyweight Press (semi-strict) 2.75 x Bodyweight Deadlift 1.75 x Bodyweight Bench Press 1.85 x Bodyweight Bench Press Close my easy #3 again MMO cert. 5'9" 180bs. 7.35" hands nearly 40 years of consistent, hard and heavy training YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CarlDonatiJr
MANTHOS Posted December 4, 2015 Posted December 4, 2015 Great stuff Carl! Happy bending anniversary brother! 1 Quote
Buccos1 Posted December 4, 2015 Author Posted December 4, 2015 Great stuff Carl! Happy bending anniversary brother! Thanks Manthos! Quote 2023 Goals Huge Golden Bastard - DU Big Bastard - DU Bodyweight Press (semi-strict) 2.75 x Bodyweight Deadlift 1.75 x Bodyweight Bench Press 1.85 x Bodyweight Bench Press Close my easy #3 again MMO cert. 5'9" 180bs. 7.35" hands nearly 40 years of consistent, hard and heavy training YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CarlDonatiJr
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