Get a load of this!

[Tommy J.]

Vid is only 5 minutes long. Watch it.

A few grip guys who post here were in this video. And it also mentions the gripboard. 
 

thoughts?

[Tommy J.]

Basically, while it has some refreshing clips in it, it’s basically an ill informed piece. It appears to define “lifting” it, as a clean. And even then, it still isn’t accurate. There is more than one guy who has cleaned an inch.

for me it’s a bitter sweet vid. Cool that it included certain stuff, but was disappointing in that it wrongly informs viewers.

[stranger]

I knew all these Inch Lifters on here were secretly professional basketball players! 

[Tommy J.]

I guess if you think about it, people really are stronger these days than ever before. Or there are at least way more exceptionally strong people living in today’s times than there were back then… I would say the older generations were most certainly tougher than today’s average. Hell, AC, antibiotics, and epidurals didn’t even exist until very recent history. Many today would die just due to those handful of things not existing.

I genuinely believe back in the day there wasn’t anyone who could lift it even to the knee. And if so, there wasn’t many. Which is surprising when you think about it… given most jobs were manual labor back then. 

nowadays an inch lift to lockout, and especially knee height is not really uncommon. I suspect there are thousands out there who can get air with it, or lift it to lockout right now. The inch clean* remains a truly rare feat of strength tho.

In closing, I wonder how many other times throughout history this phenomenon has occurred?.. “this” as in- an ill informative broadcast (regardless of weather it is intentional mislead or not) that is fed to the masses who know no better.. and I wonder how many times in history has this happened, that the people who knew better barely gave it the time of day, let alone made an effort to get it corrected?

interesting when you think about it like that, huh?

and before anyone gets sassy and asks “what are you doing about it Tommy?”…. Notice that I am literally practicing exactly what I preach, right now in this thread. I took that first step, and called it out, on the internet, which is exactly where the video also resides, as soon as I saw the video.

[jchapman]

There are Inch replicas now.  Back in the day, very few people ever got to see or touch the Inch.

[Hubgeezer]

First, thanks for posting Tommy.

Second, can’t say I ever “liked” every post preceding my own on a thread.

Third, much leaky information in the narrative. But for the “layperson”, it is pretty good.

Fourth, I strongly recommend that anyone who posts on this thread personally buys a used copy of David Willoughby’s book written in 1970, “The Super Athletes”. It is 665 pages long, mentions Thomas Inch on 6 different pages, including two full pages devoted to the Dumbbell. Of the dozens of hours most of you have spent reading or watching videos giving the “history” of the Inch, there is more factual information on it that any one place you have seen. Willoughby was a top notch researcher, and the only guy who you will ever encounter a quote concerning Thomas Inch of saying  “I know, because I once inquired of him concerning it”.

[Tommy J.]

14 minutes ago, Joe Sullivan said:

I don’t think there are more stronger people today than there  were back then... only a lot more training now. If that’s what you mean by  stronger.  The  potential to be strong was just as much as it was back then As it is now. People back then were working for a living and using their bodies for work and not training for a  specific feat of strength  or to be bodybuilders powerlifters etc. like they are now (for the most part) . Back then nobody cared, Most of them thought it was pretty silly and a waste of time back then and actually looked down on the man of strength . Then add in the massive amounts of drugs And the easy access to supplements and more food you have today. If you really look at it, the people back then were just as strong Potentially  and most of the old time lifters are not that far off from the ones of today minus the massive amounts of drugs.

 

4 minutes ago, jchapman said:

There are Inch replicas now.  Back in the day, very few people ever got to see or touch the Inch.

Both are valid and noteworthy points. I agree with the lack of inch dbs especially being the reason. Case in point, there are a few who have lifted it upon their first time seeing it. I am not one of them. I had to buy one and make it happen over a period of just shy of a year. Which has always made me wonder how many could have done the same back in the day. Or how many guys actually got some pretty good air with it in front of inch himself, but he just refused to give a lockout lift or a knee high lift any credit.

but then again.. his famed challenge was simply lifting it up high enough to set it on a phone book. And apparently no one was able.

which means- where were all the first time lifers we see like in the last 10 or 15 years?

im in full agreement that the major difference is that strength training these days is a thing, where as it wasn’t in decades prior.

I know a handful of first time lifters. And only 1 of them literally had no strength training background of any kind. Only a manual labor guy that hung big ass glass windows on high rises for years. His name is Pete Whitaker. And I met him by chance, no less.. he is a random friend of one of my neighbors that occasionally comes over to his house. And I’m talking he’s the real deal. ZERO strength training exploits or sports as a kid. And ZERO PEDs, as he is a tall slender sort of out of shape blue collar guy that weights about 205lbs. He smoked it in either hand with no chalk. …lol then complained about his back aching afterward because that feat was a bit outside his usual ROM.

guys like Pete could have existed in droves back in the day, tho. Just a skinny wiry blue collar guy. And back in the day, his profession did exist.

so why did no Pete’s roll up on the Inch back then? Surely the areas Inch himself toured with his bell were likely booming areas with new construction and whatnot. Which means guys like Pete would have been nearby.

I do admit. the Inch discussion and it’s history is one that still fascinates me. And one I feel should be relayed as accurately as possible.

[mcalpine1986]

Some very good Valid points in this thread regarding lifting the inch.

Are people stronger today than years ago? 

Id say yes but only because weight training and strength sports like powerlifting, stongman are much more popular now.

Another factor is we have better access to good nutrition and todays generation are much taller now which more than likely would mean bigger longer hands what is a factor in any thick bar lift as we all know. 

[Bill Piche]

I think there are a heck of a lot more people doing grip than back then.  In general, over time as well. Due to the internet, people have also found out about grip in all regards. This includes all the feats and bending too.  It is pretty cool the gripboard is mentioned though in the video. 

 

[Bill Piche]

Wow, now I know where all the traffic came from to here!  662,000 views!

[Blacksmith513]

I think the average person was way stronger back then.... But your average strongman/athlete is more superior today all across the board, except for maybe "toughness"  . If the numbers some of the old timers from late 1800s-mid 1900s put up are true, there was some strong bastards back then though

Everything was manual labor.  Masons where/are strong bastards, blacksmiths, ranchers, coal miners.... i wish my grandpa was still alive and in his prime.. He could of easily set records in the grip world without any training... Just doing masonry.  But he was one of those genetic freaks that come around every so often.  He couldn't have overhead pressed the inch, and he has very bad back from an early age... But I guarantee he could have lifted the inch.

[BradProv]

On 8/10/2021 at 2:23 PM, Tommy J. said:

 

I know a handful of first time lifters. And only 1 of them literally had no strength training background of any kind. Only a manual labor guy that hung big ass glass windows on high rises for years. His name is Pete Whitaker. And I met him by chance, no less.. he is a random friend of one of my neighbors that occasionally comes over to his house. And I’m talking he’s the real deal. ZERO strength training exploits or sports as a kid. And ZERO PEDs, as he is a tall slender sort of out of shape blue collar guy that weights about 205lbs. He smoked it in either hand with no chalk. …lol then complained about his back aching afterward because that feat was a bit outside his usual ROM.

 

That's the key point... a hundred years ago, men were A LOT shorter/smaller... 

Anecdotes: My Uncle was a WW2 collector and when he passed, he left his collection to me.. there was 95 different RAF, RCAF and British Army uniforms. My girlfriend is 5'7", 150 lbs, powerlifts a bit, and she wouldn't get half of the jackets on....  these were MENS uniforms.  None would have fit my son who is 6'1" 200 lbs.  That's from the 1940s... 

Body size usually equals hand size..... 

PS I lifted Hugo Girard's Inch dumbbell at a casino demo at Canada's Strongest Man 2004, the first time I saw one in person.  It was 170 lbs.  350 lb Ryan Green (from Ontario) cleaned it.  Multiple reps.  His hands were massive. He he was literally a human bear back then. I had it on camcorder video but have lost the tape in the years since....  he quit strongman a few years later, lost 100 lbs and moved across the country to be with a lady and nobody in strongman heard from him again... 

(Lol this sounds like a Big Fish story, but I'd stake my kids college fund its true) 

[Tommy J.]

8 minutes ago, BradProv said:

That's the key point... a hundred years ago, men were A LOT shorter/smaller... 

Anecdotes: My Uncle was a WW2 collector and when he passed, he left his collection to me.. there was 95 different RAF, RCAF and British Army uniforms. My girlfriend is 5'7", 150 lbs, powerlifts a bit, and she wouldn't get half of the jackets on....  these were MENS uniforms.  None would have fit my son who is 6'1" 200 lbs.  That's from the 1940s... 

Body size usually equals hand size..... 

PS I lifted Hugo Girard's Inch dumbbell at a casino demo at Canada's Strongest Man 2004, the first time I saw one in person.  It was 170 lbs.  350 lb Ryan Green (from Ontario) cleaned it.  Multiple reps.  His hands were massive. He he was literally a human bear back then. I had it on camcorder video but have lost the tape in the years since....  he quit strongman a few years later, lost 100 lbs and moved across the country to be with a lady and nobody in strongman heard from him again... 

(Lol this sounds like a Big Fish story, but I'd stake my kids college fund its true) 

Yep, I look back at old photos of my grandpas military days and he towered over all his service brothers at 6’ and maybe only 195lbs or so. Also seemed so thick compared to them. Definitely not a huge man by any means. But dang! Most men were little back then!

Interesting that you lifted the bell at 170 first try. I only personally know 1 other guy that’s done the same at that BW.

[BradProv]

My bodyweight was 320 lbs then lol.  7.5" hand. 

And I had an 2" axle, pinch block and the 1,2 and 3 CoC that I trained religiously for a few years so I wasn't "untrained".  Tales from Milo Magazine fueled my lifting lol 

[Tommy J.]

Just now, BradProv said:

My bodyweight was 320 lbs then lol.  7.5" hand. 

And I had an 2" axle, pinch block and the 1,2 and 3 CoC that I trained religiously for a few years so I wasn't "untrained".  Tales from Milo Magazine fueled my lifting lol 

Ah! Apologies! I misread your post. I reread it and saw that the inch was 170, not your BW.

still tho given your heavy bw, your hand is not big. Length wise anyways. So lifting the inch first try with a 7.5” hand is still super impressive, regardless of strength background.

I remember it being some buzz when I lifted it with a 7.75” hand not so long ago. My opinion is that it’s not terribly dramatic to lift the inch at just under 8” hands. But the closer you get to a 7” hand, the more impressive it is IMO.

[Tommy J.]

Btw, anyone know Bruce Whites hand length? I think hand size wise as it relates to bonafide inch lifters, Yves probably takes the cake on hand size and BW unless Bruce has him beat.

@Mikael Siversson

[BradProv]

Thanks Tommy lol

I don't know, I measure from the first line on the wrist under the palm to the end of the longest finger?  I come up 7.5"

When I do the "match hand size" game with other lifters I rarely, if ever, win lol

[Tommy J.]

Just now, BradProv said:

Thanks Tommy lol

I don't know, I measure from the first line on the wrist under the palm to the end of the longest finger?  I come up 7.5"

When I do the "match hand size" game with other lifters I rarely, if ever, win lol

Measurement sounds legit. And since you mention, back when I lifted the inch, I was asked to measure my hand on camera. In an attempt to squash any further debate, I flattened my hand towards the camera, then put the end of the tape on my middle finger, and pulled the tape well past my wrist and said “see. Under 8”. Interpret that measurement any way you want.”

lol

hold on I have video

[Tommy J.]

 

[JasonD]

6 hours ago, BradProv said:

My bodyweight was 320 lbs then lol.  7.5" hand. 

And I had an 2" axle, pinch block and the 1,2 and 3 CoC that I trained religiously for a few years so I wasn't "untrained".  Tales from Milo Magazine fueled my lifting lol 

I also read that as you weighing 170lbs Brad. I thought, “no way!” You probably weighed more than that when you were 10 years old! I remember Ryan Green. I believe I saw him in a contest in Ohio around 2001?

[Alawadhi]

On 8/10/2021 at 12:34 PM, Tommy J. said:

Vid is only 5 minutes long. Watch it.

A few grip guys who post here were in this video. And it also mentions the gripboard. 
 

thoughts?

Aah they have me at lifting the Inch to the hips and fail lol

9 hours ago, BradProv said:

That's the key point... a hundred years ago, men were A LOT shorter/smaller... 

Anecdotes: My Uncle was a WW2 collector and when he passed, he left his collection to me.. there was 95 different RAF, RCAF and British Army uniforms. My girlfriend is 5'7", 150 lbs, powerlifts a bit, and she wouldn't get half of the jackets on....  these were MENS uniforms.  None would have fit my son who is 6'1" 200 lbs.  That's from the 1940s... 

Body size usually equals hand size..... 

PS I lifted Hugo Girard's Inch dumbbell at a casino demo at Canada's Strongest Man 2004, the first time I saw one in person.  It was 170 lbs.  350 lb Ryan Green (from Ontario) cleaned it.  Multiple reps.  His hands were massive. He he was literally a human bear back then. I had it on camcorder video but have lost the tape in the years since....  he quit strongman a few years later, lost 100 lbs and moved across the country to be with a lady and nobody in strongman heard from him again... 

(Lol this sounds like a Big Fish story, but I'd stake my kids college fund its true) 

Yup I remember him. He was on Jesse Marunde website. I can retrieve that but I also found it on YouTube. Amazing strength for sure.

5 hours ago, Joe Sullivan said:

Would loved to have seen the multiple inch cleans .

Losing that 100 pounds probably saved his life from a massive heart attack later in life. No point of being strong and in a casket.
 

True. As for the clip, see above. Also click on this to see Jesse Marunde repping a #3 way back. He has naturally gifted. He was the first ever teen to certify on CoC #3.

[climber511]

Size as much as anything I think.  The old timers were much smaller generally with I assume smaller hands than today - and "wrap" is everything on Inch lifts.  Every time I read or hear about a first timer lifting the Inch DB the guy has big hands, is a 6' 8" Pro (ish) Strongman with long hands).  Why is it that we think guys like Bob Sundin etc are so darn impressive!  Bob is 170# bodyweight and not huge hands at all - just freaky strong and trained his butt off for that one lift!  I borrowed John Eaton's Inch DB years ago and got it to my knee after a lot of work - a LOT of work - never a full lift.  My hands are 7 5/8" - it always felt like more of a pinch lift than say the IM Axle- I no doubt needed more ability to keep my wrist cocked and my hand under the handle better.  I have had the 146# "Gracie" bell with 2 3/8" handle for years now and many a strong guy has failed to lift it - it was in the Gripmas Medley for years and stopped many more people than lifted it.  Like the Inch tall guys seem to have better luck lifting it (or at least big hands) 

[BradProv]

9 hours ago, Alawadhi said:

Aah they have me at lifting the Inch to the hips and fail lol

Yup I remember him. He was on Jesse Marunde website. I can retrieve that but I also found it on YouTube. Amazing strength for sure.

True. As for the clip, see above. Also click on this to see Jesse Marunde repping a #3 way back. He has naturally gifted. He was the first ever teen to certify on CoC #3.

WOW! That's the Vid!! I thought it was lost!  That's me yelling in the background.  Incredible find good sir! really appreciate that! 

Yes Jason,  Ryan competed a lot back in that time in the US too... he was a human gorilla... he came by it naturally- his white-bearded dad was 300 lbs and had huge hands and probably a 60" chest.

That's incredible this video is still out there hahaha  

Edited August 20, 2021 by BradProv

[climber511]

1 hour ago, Joe Sullivan said:

Truth!! Here is my wrap on a 2.5 inch sahlaney inch handle. My hand barely scrapes the 8 inch mark. I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be for smaller than 8 inch  hands and man do I give super extra credit points for those that lift it with hands from the  7 inch range, especially if it took years and years of trial and error. 

Thick hands hurt your wrap as well - sort of "fills in the middle".   Gonna have to be a lot stronger with a wrap like that than a huge thin hand.  And to reply somewhere else - I'm pretty sure the original bell did have a 4 inch long handle - which allowed a bit of wedging to go on with a wider hand which might help somewhat with rotation?

[Magiclifts321]

I think a lot of it is mental.  People set mental barriers for themselves.  Once one person beats a record several others usually quickly follow.