Tom of Iowa2 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 (edited) Part of this is a second hand report as i was not at the gym when they were working out or when they attempted the Rolling Thunder.I missed their work out but the gym owner(Holly)was there and several other credible witnesses. Most of this report is grip related so i didn't post it in the Goerner forum. TEAM IMPACT was putting on a 'show'across the river in LaHarpe Illinois over the W/E. They put on 3 seperate shows.Friday.Saturday.And Sunday night.They did many brick breaks.(one guy broke 17 bricks with hsi forearm)Another broke 10 bricks with his head.Bent some steel rods.Broke many baseball bats.Ripped a few phone books.Did some interesting and EXCITING feats of strength.One guy Exploded a six pack of diet seven up with his hands...two guys blew up hot water bottles with their mouths...etc.,etc.They shared their testimony and gave an AWESOME positive message.I DID go to the evening show to watch their strength feats and to hear them speak...but,again i missed their workout at the gym. One of the guys from team impact(former NFL'er.6 ' 6',285lb. John Earle) actually LIVES in LaHarpe and frequently works out at the gym that i work out at. He brought his identical twin brother Guy Earle and 2 other members of TEAM Impact to the gym for an afternoon work out.At 6'1",approximately 310lb Jeff Neal,former Houston oiler(10 plus years ago) and former powerlifter(official 575bench?and a 630 in the gym?)was one VERY impressive individual.The other was former collegiate wrestler(nationals champ?) 6'7",325lb Berry Handley. After their work out the guys at the gym brought out the Rolling Thunder and they gave it a try.They had been told ahead of time of Josh Biggers 6 'plate' Rolling Thunder lift and Seans 5 'plates' and a quarter and Mike Deans 5 'plates' so they didn't want to start too low.However NONE of these guys had ever tryed the rolling thunder before and NONE of them trained grip like the folks on the forum do... 4 plates was loaded up.(exactly 191lbs in plates)John Earle could not get it.Guy Earle barely got it but apparently it was a good lift.Apparently they laughed about it Good naturedly and John Earle NEW how strong josh and Sean were in the hands so they really werent' that suprised and that was it for the two monsterous twins. Berry and Jeff apparently got 191 easily.They wanted to jump to five but the owners husband suggested 4 plates and a 25.(216lbs in plates)Berry and Jeff both got that.Witnesses said easily. 5 plates was added for 237lbs in plates and no go......Of course it was all in fun and witnesses said they'd have 'probably' got 220 or even 225 but the jump to 237lbswas too much.Again these guys are monsters in the size dept and do all sorts of crazy feats of ripping and tearing and bending.These aren't just farmers out of the fields or something. Big Berry attempted the Bigger Dumbell(2 3/8"SOLID,181lb dumbell that Josh has pulled 222lbs on)and he could not get it off the ground...Josh says this is simialr to the 172lbINCH replica But HARDER to balance. Jeff apparently did not try it and either did John or Guy Earle. Sorry long story but IF i had of been around i'd have handed off my grippers and i bet..... well who knows. jeff Neal reportedly got an EZ 216# Guy Earle got a 191lb. Rolling Thunder 6'7',325lb Berry handley got a 216# John Earle Had recently tore his bicep.So was a bit behind his twin! I hope these links get you to their photos and again they gave a wonderful message.inspirational.i feel recharged! Edited July 24, 2003 by Tom of Iowa2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom of Iowa2 Posted July 22, 2003 Author Share Posted July 22, 2003 After their work out the guys at the gym brought out the Rolling Thunder and they gave it a try.They had been told ahead of time of Josh Biggers 6 'plate' Rolling Thunder lift and Seans 5 'plates' and a quarter and Mike Deans 5 'plates' so they didn't want to start too low.However NONE of these guys had ever tryed the rolling thunder before and NONE of them trained grip like the folks on the forum do... None of these guys do grip specific training BUT they are all huge.Athletic!!! back grounds AND do ripping,bending and multiple feats of strength on a regular basis.They had NO thick bar experience. Well of course Mike Dean and Sean 'the cyborg'McCabe don't train grip either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandsofStone Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 You always seem to run across GRIP MONSTERS on the side lines. Nice post by the way. L.J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom of Iowa2 Posted July 22, 2003 Author Share Posted July 22, 2003 One of the feats of strength at the Team impact show was this: John Earle(local guy)laid down on some bricks.The team then placed a board- full of nails -with sharp end of the nails pointing down- at Johns Chest. Jeff Neil layed down on top of the 'board of nails'faceing upwards. They handed Jeff Neal 315lbs(it was REAL weight i picked it up)and Jeff benched 315 for the easiest 15 reps I've EVER seen.Jeff later told a friend of mine he had done 30 reps with 315 like this in a work out.He is a very strong man!!! By the time i saw the show???it was night number 3!! They had done 1 show a night for 3 days in a row. BTW the nails real too...touched em AND they pushe full cokes up against them and it pierced the aluminum cans. hope to be able to give you guys links to the Rolling Thunder lifts too..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mac Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Great report Tom. Look forward to the photos too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mac Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Great report Tom. Look forward to the photos too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gripmaster316 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Tom you are a really lucky guy... just for once I would like to be in your shoes and run into these genetically predisposed monsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMunger Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 Interesting, Ron Waterman (from a couple UFC's) is one of the members... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom of Iowa2 Posted July 23, 2003 Author Share Posted July 23, 2003 You always seem to run across GRIP MONSTERS on the side lines. Nice post by the way.L.J. I also thought it was interesting that they hadn't ever even HEARD of the Rolling Thunder. I think we take it for granted that more people KNOW about this stuff.I think there are FAR more guys out there like this that have great grips and don't even know that there is specific training OR people that almost look at it as a 'sport'? Also I think they were suprised how hard it was and actually(i was told)they had expected to lift more. It was explained to them that 216 was VERY good for first attempt.They were all just horseing around and it was not a big deal but they didn't think it was very good. On the other hand they were burned out after traveling-had already done two intense 'shows' AND had just finished their gym work out.Observers said they'd be good for more and we all know there is a bit of a learning curve on RT and/or thick bar. After wards Jeff Neal asked one of the other big guys at the gym IF he trained grip.The reply was NO and Jeff said he has never trained grip either.Again interesting......as they do so many grip related feats in their 'show'. I suppose they just practice the 'feats' and of course are very large and strong guys. Berry(6'7",325lbs)had very large hands and with his wrestling back ground would likely be very good at RT or thick bar if he trained.IMO Jeff was just freaky strong in ALL aspects of strength!and would also be good at thick bar/RT. I suspect we will run into more of these GREAT grips as time goes on and that perhaps the best grip is still out there to be discovered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gripmaster316 Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 216 is an incredible first attempt. I wonder how much he would have done when fully rested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom of Iowa2 Posted July 23, 2003 Author Share Posted July 23, 2003 A knowlegeable witness said the problem was just too big of a jump. Went from 216# to 237#.....he said THAT day..as tired as they were?? 220-225# WOULD have gone.PROBABLY more.(as 216 was described as EZ ) Add to the learning curve(i jumped up 10-12 lbs. in about 2 weeks and I've seen a REAL freak jump up 25lbs in 2 weeks) So RESTED,and with a 2 week practice time????they might have got that 237??or more. All hypothetical of course but well with in the realm of possibilities....Why not? Like I said I'd like to have been at the gym and handed off my #2 and #3 to these guys.After their exhibition/show and testimony sunday night would have been disrespectful and inappropriate and they also would have been at their weakest...so i did not do it. They had done enough for ONE weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom of Iowa2 Posted August 5, 2003 Author Share Posted August 5, 2003 Well the pics of their Rolling Thunder lifts have not been developed yet...still on a roll of film in someone elses camera? Here are some pics of the aforementioned guys doing some 'feats' at a local venue. I think some of these feats are grip related?although i guess they just practice these things and don't 'grip train'specifically.Obviously some of these activities have strengthened their WRISTS and fingers which assisted them on their first time Rolling Thunder lifts.....these guys being very strong probably didn't hurt their RT ability either.....nice guys also. jeff neal bench presses-while lying on top of a 'board of nails'which is on top of John Earle the night this was taken Jeff apparently got 20 reps with 315....the night i saw him he did 15 reps. forgot this guys name...was exploding diet seven up... Jeff Neal Rolling a frying pan...Guy Earle - 1 1/8th inch?bar bendjohn earle blowing up a hot water bottle Johns feat not grip related but he works out at the gym here in town...he recently tore his bicep so was not up to full strength. Sorry the pics aren't very clear..not sure who took these but since these are the guys that did the 'nice' RT's i thought it was grip page material. Hope to find out where the Rolling Thunder phots are soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom of Iowa2 Posted August 5, 2003 Author Share Posted August 5, 2003 There are actually 3 seperate photos on the 'links'that start with: Jeff Neal rolling a frying pan... then: Guy Earle-1 1/8th bar bend then:john earle blowing up a hot water bottle 3 seperate photo links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strong Man Posted August 5, 2003 Share Posted August 5, 2003 great pics tom, damn these guys are VERY strong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terminator Posted August 6, 2003 Share Posted August 6, 2003 1-1/8" bar bend? Are you joking? That sure looks like two 1/2 (or less) pieces of mild steel. That fry pan roll is pretty sloppy. Funny, what message are these guys saying....steroids are alright? Unbelievable........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom of Iowa2 Posted August 6, 2003 Author Share Posted August 6, 2003 (edited) I guess you could contact them on their web site and e-mail them with your question and ask them if they think 'steroids are alright'.please,Let me know what their response is.They aren't a bunch of 'angry'men so they would likely discuss this with you.I'm sure they have had the discussion before? The pics are just some fun pics.Apparently i misreported the bar thick ness- so be it.MY MISTAKE.As i set up the link-I quicky took that number off a kids website-that took the pics- and now that i think about it the bar is pretty small.Clearly less than 1 1/8inches...again my mistake.i din't even think that through as i transposed the info. Do I know that they are 'clean'?Well nobody can KNOW....but i guess everybody that is bigger and stronger than we are is on steroids?Do you KNOW that they are on...again one can ask.them .ibelieve some people just have superior genetics.Some people are born with strenth and then improve it by training.The NFL is full of genetic superiors.So are D-1 colleges.Every once in awhile they will have better grips 'out of the box'than most people could EVER attain. I hope get the rolling thunder pics- i guess that is all that is the most relevant photos to folks like you.The RT lift is less subject to analysis.its a number.its a fact. So from now on I'll stick to pics like that. Again e-mail jeff or Guy or John Earle at Team impact website and let me know what they have to say.They aren't a bunch of bad asses,i'm sure they'll be open to some dialogue...BTW..Berry who was a gentle giant(6'&",320lbs) and very strong just looks like a big farm boy to me.Sean 'the cyborg'(an RN) and Josh( a complete newbie that barely knows what a steroid is) will be interested in your theory also.i bring them up only because they are both very large and strong..probably stronger than the Team Impact guys..AND i have posted pics of them and mentioned some of their feats of strength..so I guess You would(because they are large and strong)probably say the same about them ?maybe-in your e-mail- you can give jeff some tips in on that frying pan roll too.Serously he's probably be receptive to your insite and listen if you had any tips. BTW...has nothing to do with this but i believe saturday will be my last day on the forum...moving on..most of you will be relieved. Edited August 6, 2003 by Tom of Iowa2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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