The Brzenk Close

[Jared P]

*DISCLAIMER: Injury risk. Probably not a good idea to even try this.*

Thought this would make for an interesting topic.

There's a famous picture of John Brzenk (the greatest armwrestler of all time) closing or holding closed the Captains of Crush 1.5 while fully cupping his wrist. I just tried it myself with the CoC Guide, and was able to hold it closed for a few seconds, but the lower forearm (nearest the wrist) begins to fatigue and burn quickly. I couldn't keep it closed with the CoC Trainer after cupping my wrist.

Below is the aforementioned photograph, an IronMind article about it, and a video demonstrating the topic.

IronMind article from 2006
https://ironmind.com/news/Brzenk-The-Best-in-Boomtown

 

From the comments section on the video from george g:
"In orthopedics, this is a perfect example of active and passive insufficiency. The flexor and forearm muscles pass to two major joints: elbow and wrist. The flexor muscles are actively insufficient because it is already contracted at the elbow to where it cannot generate enough force when curling your wrist. On the other hand, the extensor muscles are passively insufficient due to being so stretched at one joint. That is why for most people in the world it is very difficult if not impossible to emulate what John did. John is just genetically gifted to the average joe."

Curious to hear what @C8Myotome might have to say about what is going on here anatomically, and what potential benefits or problems are involved in training such a movement.

Edited March 24, 2023 by Jared P

[C8Myotome]

Yeah the flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis cross the wrist and all finger joints, and also elbow. When the wrist is in flexion this shortens both of those muscles as some of their length is used to contract and assist in flexing the wrist, so any gripping at that point is being done with those grip muscles serving the dual-rule of both flexing the wrist and now trying to grip on top of that. For only a 1.5 that was probably pretty hard, when the power grip position is 30 degrees wrist extension with some ulnar deviation. Gripping in wrist extension basically slightly lengthens those grip muscles so that they can perform a longer start to finish contraction. Even with a neutral wrist, grip isn't as strong as it is with some wrist extension 

[Ivan Cuk]

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxasMIZWVa2jWjT4kWp_z7O-w0X2ybFRTI

 

[Stephen Ruby]

Thanks for sharing the video. I remember trying that when I first got into grippers and realized how painful and awkward it felt and that convinced me it wasn't a good idea. 

[Jared P]

1 hour ago, Ivan Cuk said:

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxasMIZWVa2jWjT4kWp_z7O-w0X2ybFRTI

 

Haha, there ya go. A dismissal from the man himself. It hurts, and doesn’t seem like effective training for either movement.

It’s pretty cool that he pulled it off for the photo though.

[dubyagrip]

I tried it with my #1 and i wish i wouldn't have 

[matek]

Yea I also had to try it of course. Guys don't do it, it just hurts 

[John Knowlton]

Now I will have to try it just because

Edited March 24, 2023 by John Knowlton

[C8Myotome]

Yeah no reason to do this unless you want a really bad muscle cramp

[Climber028]

This is a fantastic exercise of your goal is to injure your wrist, if you have silly goals like being stronger or staying healthy then maybe stay away

[John Knowlton]

ok ok you talked me off the edge

[Jared P]

Yeah, disclaimer to all:

Don't try it. Injury risk, and it hurts. Doesn't seem healthy. But if you do try it (because you probably will anyways), do it with something extremely light like the CoC Guide. Then stay away.

[dubyagrip]

Who do i sue?

[Blacksmith513]

All set with this. I’ll risk smashing my face with sledge hammers any day of the week. This seems like the type of thing only armwrestlers  who’ve conditioned themselves should try.

[C8Myotome]

Here is an example of how much you go into wrist extension when using a true power grip, it is really visible on my grip machine from the angle. This is why I consider training wrist extension so important, much more important than wrist flexion, to counterbalance how much force the finger flexors are putting out to not only maintain wrist position, but for that position to be wrist extension also to get more length on the finger flexors to use. If your wrist extensors can't get into and maintain that position your grip will be much weaker with neutral wrist position.

 

[Jared P]

Well, Carl just did it with a CoC 3.5 on his Instagram, so there’s that.

[josé adalton]

I conditioned my wrist to do it with an IM Guide or a very light gripper of plastic handles just for experiment/fun. I never injured myself. In this position (30º of flexion, I'm guessing), I could do with my IM Trainer. Sergey Likhutyev could do it with an IM #2 just like the picture of Brzenk.

 

[Stephen Ruby]

1 hour ago, Jared P said:

Well, Carl just did it with a CoC 3.5 on his Instagram, so there’s that.

Wow are you serious? I just made an instagram account to see some of these crazy feats. I wish he would upload them to youtube also. I still don't think it's wise to do or will offer any good carryover to crush strength. 

[Jared P]

4 minutes ago, Stephen Ruby said:

Wow are you serious? I just made an instagram account to see some of these crazy feats. I wish he would upload them to youtube also. I still don't think it's wise to do or will offer any good carryover to crush strength. 

[josé adalton]

1 hour ago, Jared P said:

But that could be at ±15º of flexion of the wrist. It is not full flexion.