The MashMonster - Level 9 and Level 10!??

[Fist of Fury]

22 minutes ago, Geralt said:

Okay okay, if no one wants to try, send them to me - stands up from the couch, dusts of his trousers - 

Has anyone ever considered approaching some of the big names from the past, like Holle and consorts, and ask them if they are interested in getting back into the sport? Where does Nathan Holle live, anyone know? For all I know the guy became a phantom after being covered on MILO and a while later the Ghp9 cert. I mean Paul Knight was strong, but I do think with the MM7 he was on top of his game, and just a few guys are above that. 

I might be wrong here but I do believe Paul Knight has closed a harder gripper than the MM7. I'm pretty sure Juha has closed a harder gripper than the MM7 but he has not certed on the #7 yet. Martin Arildsson has closed a 208 lbs rated #4. There's plenty of people that can close the MM8 I think, if they wanted to or got the opportunity. Holle and Puscasu would close it no doubt.

The ladder system is a bit tedious, I can understand that many people don't want to close all grippers, if their strength is far above the first 5 levels. Of those already active on the ladder I would say Valery, Juha and Chez has the best chance right now.

 

[Geralt]

1 hour ago, Fist of Fury said:

I might be wrong here but I do believe Paul Knight has closed a harder gripper than the MM7. I'm pretty sure Juha has closed a harder gripper than the MM7 but he has not certed on the #7 yet. Martin Arildsson has closed a 208 lbs rated #4. There's plenty of people that can close the MM8 I think, if they wanted to or got the opportunity. Holle and Puscasu would close it no doubt.

The ladder system is a bit tedious, I can understand that many people don't want to close all grippers, if their strength is far above the first 5 levels. Of those already active on the ladder I would say Valery, Juha and Chez has the best chance right now.

 

Could possibly be about Paul, he has a load of videos up so he closed quite a few tough grippers. I meant in cert conditions, I remember he said that with the MM7 he almost blacked out and felt the handles touch of the MM7, which for me was an indication that he was on top of his gripperstrength at that time and he was training pretty dedicated. Same for Tim Struse. That's why I think they were pretty close to their ceiling. I don't know the difference in jumps to the 8 and up of course. With Morgan's cert I saw more domination of the gripper, same as what you see when you watch Holle's Ghp9 cert. 

Hmm about the ladder..don't know. It's quite subjective I think. If I were that strong I would have a lot of fun dominating all those grippers so climbing the ladder for me would be fun. Kinda like Paul Savage (no assault don't get me wrong) doesn't want to cert the 3.5 and only is interested in the #4 while I think 'dude, just cert the damn thing', if only to prove that I am able to do it. It's true what @Squeezus said, you gotta walk the talk, otherwise it never happened. 

Perhaps there could be a system made where people can skip certain MM grippers under conditions (member of good standing, proving gripperstrength to other GB members etc before being send a gripper), after showing they have a certain strength level but on the other hand, grippers go out all over the world and with climbing the ladder you're pretty sure someone is dedicated and not trolling to make a gripper dissappear.

Juha not so sure atm, he's fighting hard to get back after some serious physical problems. 

 

[Paul Savage]

 

[Chez]

17 hours ago, Fist of Fury said:

I would say Valery, Juha and Chez has the best chance right now

Training grippers Sunday 🙂

Edited September 9, 2017 by Chez

[Alawadhi]

On 9/7/2017 at 8:25 PM, temmmeeee said:

There is that video of him casually repping a #4 for 7. And that was 4 years before the apparent pro close. Not sure about the exact RGC of the pro that the guy said he closed but I feel like it's not TOO farfetched based off of that. But yea I do see your point

First one must know the #4 in that video. Even an easy #4 is amazing for 7 MMS reps. But on the other hand our own Tim did this which is 2 WIDE reps and the 3rd was also very wide and OVERCRUSHED! I would put that over Nathan's 7 reps (Not saying Nathan has a weaker gripper strength but just comparing those two closes). Also to be that strong then it is really hard to move up even more. I mean if you close a #3 in one year that doesn't mean you will need another year to close a #4. Maybe 5 years maybe never. Also if the BBPRO was rated at 215 or 220 then it wouldn't be far-fetched.  

[Hellraiser92x]

We will never know. But to me Nathan is this phantom, that is always way ahead the others and still keeps it to himself. I mean look how old the #4 and ghp 9 close is. A couple of years ago there was no one else capable of something like that (the ghp9 close, correct me if i am wrong). I believe that he closed a BB Pro. Would be cool to know if he still trains with grippers.

Edited September 10, 2017 by Hellraiser92x

[ShelluvstheMostHigh]

On 9/3/2017 at 10:29 AM, Paul Savage said:

220lb+ has been done MMS and by more than one person but totally depends on the gripper and how hard it is through the full ROM too. As far as strongest men in the world not competing in grip, yes but then again its apples and oranges. Ive always said the strongest powerlifter or strongman doesn't beat the strongest grip guy in an all round grip contest. With specialist training possibly but without it they will lose points on the none thickbar events. Specific to crushing strength, ive trained with loz  in the past who's one of the strongest in the world for sure and although very good grip he could only beat me on two hands pinch and don't think could beat Steve (mobster) at anything, maybe two hands pinch dependent on the day. He could wide set close a #3 and tried a #4 I was doing choker work with once and got it to 3/16th. Brian shaw couldn't ccs #3.5 but again very high level on the pinch and thickbar events (Loz was no mug on these either). In summary, whatever they do they will be very very strong in but beat the best no, grip is a different sport.

Agreed Bryan Shaw trained to try and closed a 3.5 for a bit and couldnt do it. Dedicated training to grip will yield results no strongman is going to match without putting in the same type of work. As tendons and muscle fibers in hands and forearms etc are strengthened on a whole different level with someone aiming to have world class grip strength. So even if money was in it,its not guranteed that Shaw or Thor can close a #4 or ghp9 or 10 fellas. Different muscles. Why you think every top arm wrestlers can break shaw or thors hand off.

[ShelluvstheMostHigh]

On 9/3/2017 at 10:29 AM, Paul Savage said:

220lb+ has been done MMS and by more than one person but totally depends on the gripper and how hard it is through the full ROM too. As far as strongest men in the world not competing in grip, yes but then again its apples and oranges. Ive always said the strongest powerlifter or strongman doesn't beat the strongest grip guy in an all round grip contest. With specialist training possibly but without it they will lose points on the none thickbar events. Specific to crushing strength, ive trained with loz  in the past who's one of the strongest in the world for sure and although very good grip he could only beat me on two hands pinch and don't think could beat Steve (mobster) at anything, maybe two hands pinch dependent on the day. He could wide set close a #3 and tried a #4 I was doing choker work with once and got it to 3/16th. Brian shaw couldn't ccs #3.5 but again very high level on the pinch and thickbar events (Loz was no mug on these either). In summary, whatever they do they will be very very strong in but beat the best no, grip is a different sport.

Agreed Bryan Shaw trained to try and closed a 3.5 for a bit and couldnt do it. Dedicated training to grip will yield results no strongman is going to match without putting in the same type of work. As tendons and muscle fibers in hands and forearms etc are strengthened on a whole different level with someone aiming to have world class grip strength. So even if money was in it,its not guranteed that Shaw or Thor can close a coc 3.5 ,#4 mm7-10 or ghp9 or 10 fellas. Different muscles are trained and strengthened that need years and years of careful dedicated training. So. Hence why you think every top 20 arm wrestler can break shaw or thors hand off. Heck I can bring one of  my coc#4 rgc 205 near parallel and friends who benching 400 or can dl 600-700 can barely move it. Lol . So there you have it unless a worlds strongest man is going to put years into it, he wont catch someone who's been an elite grip phenom training their grip for 5-14 years or more..

[ShelluvstheMostHigh]

On 9/3/2017 at 10:29 AM, Paul Savage said:

220lb+ has been done MMS and by more than one person but totally depends on the gripper and how hard it is through the full ROM too. As far as strongest men in the world not competing in grip, yes but then again its apples and oranges. Ive always said the strongest powerlifter or strongman doesn't beat the strongest grip guy in an all round grip contest. With specialist training possibly but without it they will lose points on the none thickbar events. Specific to crushing strength, ive trained with loz  in the past who's one of the strongest in the world for sure and although very good grip he could only beat me on two hands pinch and don't think could beat Steve (mobster) at anything, maybe two hands pinch dependent on the day. He could wide set close a #3 and tried a #4 I was doing choker work with once and got it to 3/16th. Brian shaw couldn't ccs #3.5 but again very high level on the pinch and thickbar events (Loz was no mug on these either). In summary, whatever they do they will be very very strong in but beat the best no, grip is a different sport.

Agreed Bryan Shaw trained to try and closed a 3.5 for a bit and couldnt do it. Dedicated training to grip will yield results no strongman is going to match without putting in the same type of work. As tendons and muscle fibers in hands and forearms etc are strengthened on a whole different level with someone aiming to have world class grip strength. So even if money was in it,its not guranteed that Shaw or Thor can close a coc 3.5 ,#4 mm7-10 or ghp9 or 10 fellas. Different muscles are trained and strengthened that need years and years of careful dedicated training. So. Hence why you think every top 20 arm wrestler can break shaw or thors hand off. Heck I can bring one of  my coc#4 rgc 205 near parallel and friends who benching 400 or can dl 600-700 can barely move it. Lol . So there you have it unless a worlds strongest man is going to put years into it, he wont catch someone who's been an elite grip phenom training their grip for 5-14 years or more..

[ShelluvstheMostHigh]

Sorry about double posts all. I was trying to delete them. Can a mod please delete them. Hoping everyone is having a great day. 

Also if I'm correct no one has widespread or tns closed any gripper in the 235-240 rgc range??

[ShelluvstheMostHigh]

On 9/10/2017 at 8:36 AM, Hellraiser92x said:

We will never know. But to me Nathan is this phantom, that is always way ahead the others and still keeps it to himself. I mean look how old the #4 and ghp 9 close is. A couple of years ago there was no one else capable of something like that (the ghp9 close, correct me if i am wrong). I believe that he closed a BB Pro. Would be cool to know if he still trains with grippers.

He still trains. Morgan choi interviewed him in Sept 2020. 

Said he has closed a 232 rgc coc4. I would to see Holle go after that ghp10. Definitely one of the true legends in grip strength. I also wonder what's the strongest #4 David shamey has closed.

And what was their strongest no set closes.

[Jared P]

Interested to see how far David Shamey, Ivan Cuk, and Morgan can go. Hopefully some CoC No. 4 cert attempts in the future.

Nathan has said in his YouTube comments several times that he has closed the GHP 10 before.

[AdamTGlass]

56 minutes ago, Jared P said:

Interested to see how far David Shamey, Ivan Cuk, and Morgan can go. Hopefully some CoC No. 4 cert attempts in the future.

Nathan has said in his YouTube comments several times that he has closed the GHP 10 before.

Honestly the total number of IM certs will likely tumble to zero if things keep on the way they have gone, but hey maybe I’m wrong— 

the mash monster ladder is the true most prestigious cert. every athlete touches the exact same gripper- rigorous, fair judging. It is an error to esteem the moving target of #4 cert over a good position on the ladder. As you keep charging on your own journey I definitely recommend looking to get your best MM cert over any other.

[Vinnie]

1 hour ago, AdamTGlass said:

Honestly the total number of IM certs will likely tumble to zero if things keep on the way they have gone, but hey maybe I’m wrong— 

the mash monster ladder is the true most prestigious cert. every athlete touches the exact same gripper- rigorous, fair judging. It is an error to esteem the moving target of #4 cert over a good position on the ladder. As you keep charging on your own journey I definitely recommend looking to get your best MM cert over any other.

I can't deny that I enjoyed the IM cert, but it is true that it tells you less about the strength of the certifier because of the wide variability of gripper difficulty and the changing cert rules.  You are right that MM is awesome because of the use of the exact same gripper.  My only critique there is that the jump from 2 to 3 is so steep that there really truly ought to be a gripper in between them (if not two!).  Call it the MM Bridge or MM 2.5.  Right now there's just an empty MM chasm, and the differentiation that MM provides for people in the under 160 and over 180 range is absent for the 20 pounds in between, which is a pretty important 20 pounds because there aren't many who can close over 180.  It is kinda silly to have 5 or 6 grippers in the 180-200 range inhabited by 20 or 30 people and nothing for the 20 pounds beneath that, inhabited by probably 100 or so.  As soon as I got the MM 2 I just turned to other things because 3 looked so far off it made no sense to target it next.

[Vinnie]

1 minute ago, Vinnie said:

3 looked so far off it made no sense to target it next

Mind you, I won't say never.  I thought the same about the IM cert a couple years ago.  But I needed intermediate goals.  I would love to see an intermediate goal on the MM ladder.  Maybe going for reps on GHP 7, and then GHP 8, would be a path, but all the better if there were just an intermediate MM!

[AdamTGlass]

1 hour ago, Vinnie said:

I can't deny that I enjoyed the IM cert, but it is true that it tells you less about the strength of the certifier because of the wide variability of gripper difficulty and the changing cert rules.  You are right that MM is awesome because of the use of the exact same gripper.  My only critique there is that the jump from 2 to 3 is so steep that there really truly ought to be a gripper in between them (if not two!).  Call it the MM Bridge or MM 2.5.  Right now there's just an empty MM chasm, and the differentiation that MM provides for people in the under 160 and over 180 range is absent for the 20 pounds in between, which is a pretty important 20 pounds because there aren't many who can close over 180.  It is kinda silly to have 5 or 6 grippers in the 180-200 range inhabited by 20 or 30 people and nothing for the 20 pounds beneath that, inhabited by probably 100 or so.  As soon as I got the MM 2 I just turned to other things because 3 looked so far off it made no sense to target it next.

Vinnie for you I say quit bitching and be that dude who crosses the chasm

[Jared P]

4 hours ago, AdamTGlass said:

Honestly the total number of IM certs will likely tumble to zero if things keep on the way they have gone, but hey maybe I’m wrong— 

the mash monster ladder is the true most prestigious cert. every athlete touches the exact same gripper- rigorous, fair judging. It is an error to esteem the moving target of #4 cert over a good position on the ladder. As you keep charging on your own journey I definitely recommend looking to get your best MM cert over any other.

Good advice. The MM ladder certainly seems like the most consistent and reliable measure of gripper strength available now, and I will absolutely try climbing it one day. However I'll probably always hold the IM certs in high esteem, just due to their more widespread cultural impact and acclaim.

Other than MM, I suppose another good way to certify strength would be through RGC (from a single reliable source such as CPW). Rather than MM9 or CoC No. 4, have certification in RGC levels... 180, 190, 200, 210, 220+.

[ShelluvstheMostHigh]

5 hours ago, Jared P said:

Good advice. The MM ladder certainly seems like the most consistent and reliable measure of gripper strength available now, and I will absolutely try climbing it one day. However I'll probably always hold the IM certs in high esteem, just due to their more widespread cultural impact and acclaim.

Other than MM, I suppose another good way to certify strength would be through RGC (from a single reliable source such as CPW). Rather than MM9 or CoC No. 4, have certification in RGC levels... 180, 190, 200, 210, 220+.

I agree. I'm Getting close to closing a ghp#8(Another feat I noticed nowadays: I can now bring it parallel no set sometimes with my right hand and pretty close to that with my left) and training with some strong coc #4s. Cpw is the numero uno  source in measuring gripper brands strength accurately. So if you can close the ones they Etc rated 175-220lbs up. You know your strength is amongst a handful of elite strongmen in many areas, but especially in the grip arena. Makes sense for ironmind and other brand certification to include freshly rated grippers from Cpw indeed Jared. So one knows exactly the strength level that was reached to achieve a num4 ccs nowadays.

Ironmind certification definitely is the most prestigious in my opinion as well btw. Though ghp certifications are also getting more reknown I think.

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by ShelluvstheMostHigh

[Vinnie]

12 hours ago, AdamTGlass said:

Vinnie for you I say quit bitching and be that dude who crosses the chasm

Says one of the dudes who crossed the chasm ...

I think you will appreciate that I have been considering chasing another feat first:  I am pretty close to caving and ordering an Inch replica from that Rhode Island foundry and making an Inch lift my next goal.  And since I weigh 180 with a bit of a pot belly, it might also be cool to coincide the Inch goal with losing 10 pounds, so it can be a bodyweight inch lift over age 50.  That might be rare.

My best inch handle lift ever though is only in the 140s, and my best RT is in the 170s, so there is work to do before I will get the Inch.  On the other hand, I never really trained for rolling handle or thick bar in any meaningful way.

Since you are an Inch expert, any suggestion where to start?

[AdamTGlass]

1 hour ago, Vinnie said:

Says one of the dudes who crossed the chasm ...

I think you will appreciate that I have been considering chasing another feat first:  I am pretty close to caving and ordering an Inch replica from that Rhode Island foundry and making an Inch lift my next goal.  And since I weigh 180 with a bit of a pot belly, it might also be cool to coincide the Inch goal with losing 10 pounds, so it can be a bodyweight inch lift over age 50.  That might be rare.

My best inch handle lift ever though is only in the 140s, and my best RT is in the 170s, so there is work to do before I will get the Inch.  On the other hand, I never really trained for rolling handle or thick bar in any meaningful way.

Since you are an Inch expert, any suggestion where to start?

Use a barbell with a fatgripz on the center- if at all possible load with 10s or 25s for a low start- be prepared to a long march of many days of basically lifting the same weight but different stances / pull distances. I would speculate if you can dominate 155-160 you will be the market to secure a tilted lift on your cast bell….once you can get it lifted with tilt it’s the same game of lift in many stances angles and take everything you can get. If you watch my ig feed im walking out this same goal with it 229 lb inch from Holle. Vinnie for me the pursuit of heavy double lifts has been extremely fruitful- so experiment with doing things like lifting your fatgrip in one hand while lifting a dumbbell/kettlebell in the other hand- continuously seek ways to add to your spinal stability. 
If you chase the inch with the passion you did for your the #3 closes I have no doubt you will succeed. Conservative estimate 3-5 years to really get it dialed in…don’t seek to just pick it up one day, drive to where you absolutely can not fail to lift it

[AdamTGlass]

1 minute ago, AdamTGlass said:

Use a barbell with a fatgripz on the center- if at all possible load with 10s or 25s for a low start- be prepared to a long march of many days of basically lifting the same weight but different stances / pull distances. I would speculate if you can dominate 155-160 you will be the market to secure a tilted lift on your cast bell….once you can get it lifted with tilt it’s the same game of lift in many stances angles and take everything you can get. If you watch my ig feed im walking out this same goal with it 229 lb inch from Holle. Vinnie for me the pursuit of heavy double lifts has been extremely fruitful- so experiment with doing things like lifting your fatgrip in one hand while lifting a dumbbell/kettlebell in the other hand- continuously seek ways to add to your spinal stability. 
If you chase the inch with the passion you did for your the #3 closes I have no doubt you will succeed. Conservative estimate 3-5 years to really get it dialed in…don’t seek to just pick it up one day, drive to where you absolutely can not fail to lift it

Edit - on the current rolling thunder I would guess 210 is about right to an inch lift for many, on the RGT maybe 180. For plateloading bells it will need to be about 200+ unless it’s an FBBC pro bell or similar model that aggressively secures the load as “one piece” 

[Vinnie]

2 minutes ago, AdamTGlass said:

Edit - on the current rolling thunder I would guess 210 is about right to an inch lift for many, on the RGT maybe 180. For plateloading bells it will need to be about 200+ unless it’s an FBBC pro bell or similar model that aggressively secures the load as “one piece” 

Oh wow, so maybe I should chase crushed to dust before Inch - but anyway, the advice makes sense and obviously is coming from experience.  And I can start some of that without having to rush to get the Inch, too.

Cheers

[Blacksmith513]

3 hours ago, Vinnie said:

Oh wow, so maybe I should chase crushed to dust before Inch - but anyway, the advice makes sense and obviously is coming from experience.  And I can start some of that without having to rush to get the Inch, too.

Cheers

Two things... I'm pretty confident in a few years you and i will both be posting videos of us lifting the inch.

number 2... if you seriously want to buy the inch. Buy one now if you can afford it.. Who knows whats going to happen, they could get hard to find again.. I'm fortunate to live an hour from the foundry. So I just bit the bullet and bought it. But I would have paid shipping if I had too.

 

 

[AdamTGlass]

1 hour ago, Blacksmith513 said:

Two things... I'm pretty confident in a few years you and i will both be posting videos of us lifting the inch.

number 2... if you seriously want to buy the inch. Buy one now if you can afford it.. Who knows whats going to happen, they could get hard to find again.. I'm fortunate to live an hour from the foundry. So I just bit the bullet and bought it. But I would have paid shipping if I had too.

 

 

#2 so much. In North America right now there is only one place you’re getting it and that can change any month.