How did you all start training for grip strength?

[Guest JohnDrake]

 First of all, since this is more like a poll than a post concerning training itself, if any mod wants to move this to a different subcategory, feel free to, because i had no idea where to post it at.

 

So, how did you began your journey into the world of gripsport?

Was it accidentally (like you watched a video of some athlete/bodybuilder/powerlifter/strongman/callisthenic athlete/other, in which he/she exclusively trained his/her wrists/grip and you decide to start training yours too) or deliberately (you wanted to train that part of your body and since wrists are usually neglected/are very underrated, you decided to look up for more specific workout and you ended up in this forum) ?

 

As for myself, i literally randomly discovered this forum. I was curious if there are forums only aimed for armwrestling and among some others, i have discovered this one too.

[Phil K]

I was interested in grip and arm wrestling from a young age. My father had strong hands and wrists from working with leather for many years.

I discovered Ironmind and ordered some tools. I didn’t stick with it. That was in my mid teens.

Cue Covid and I started back again as it was something that I could do at home.

Been at it ever since. 
 

Well, grip and powerlifting style training.
 

I am 42 now.

[Guest JohnDrake]

3 minutes ago, Phil K said:

My father had strong hands and wrists from working with leather for many years.

I can imagine that. Labourers in old days were really strong.

 

 

[C8Myotome]

Obsessively

[Luke Blackwell]

10 minutes ago, JohnDrake said:

I can imagine that. Labourers in old days were really strong.

 

 

"Old man strength" 

[Guest JohnDrake]

4 minutes ago, Luke Blackwell said:

"Old man strength" 

Popeye forearms but also a belly.

[Luke Blackwell]

18 minutes ago, JohnDrake said:

Popeye forearms but also a belly.

...And loves his beer and cigarettes

[Guest JohnDrake]

4 minutes ago, Luke Blackwell said:

...And loves his beer and cigarettes

Add a red face from good shaving, short haircut and a grympy attitude and there you go, the starter pack of an old labourer.

Edited October 19 by JohnDrake

[Luke Blackwell]

2 minutes ago, JohnDrake said:

Add a red face from good shaving and a grympy attitude and there you go, the starter pack of an old labourer.

   Dont forget the stained "wife beater" shirt👌. 

Edited October 19 by Luke Blackwell

[Guest JohnDrake]

8 minutes ago, Luke Blackwell said:

   Dont forget the stained "wife beater" shirt👌. 

And his passion for debating about his favourite baseball team with his co-workers. Sunday visits to the church following by washing and waxing his old car afterwards, he always has 2 kids, 1 dog and a house with a backyard. Always playing cards with his friends on his day off, always loses, but still plays while listening to Elvis, Frank Sinatra and Perry Como.

Edited October 19 by JohnDrake

[Fist of Fury]

I've known about grippers for a long time, probably around when Magnus Samuelsson was active in strongman and certed the #4. But at that time I did not train at all. So I did not even think about trying them myself.

I think I saw some videos with Dennis Rogers on youtube and I was amazed how someone could bend wrenches and hammers. That was around the same time I had started to workout, so I thought I might buy some grippers to train my forearms. That's how I started.

[Guest JohnDrake]

1 minute ago, Fist of Fury said:

I think I saw some videos with Dennis Rogers on youtube and I was amazed how someone could bend wrenches and hammers. That was around the same time I had started to workout, so I thought I might buy some grippers to train my forearms.

I saw some of these too!  These are great!!

 

2 minutes ago, Fist of Fury said:

That's how I started.

 How long  ago?

[Fist of Fury]

16 minutes ago, JohnDrake said:

I saw some of these too!  These are great!!

 

 How long  ago?

I don't remember exactly, somewhere around 2012-13 I think.

[Guest JohnDrake]

12 minutes ago, Fist of Fury said:

I don't remember exactly, somewhere around 2012-13 I think.

Oh, 10+ years of grip training! Nice!

[John Knowlton]

Not sure 🤔 but somewhere in the 90s I was big in powerlifting , I remember reading Powerlifting USA and saw an add from Iron woodys, and they had some grippers, and that’s how it started for me, I did not get serious until later 

[Guest JohnDrake]

11 minutes ago, John Knowlton said:

Powerlifting USA

I guess most of us get influenced by this gem!

 

[Luke Blackwell]

   I'm pretty sure I just stumbled across Coc grippers online and that's how it started.

   Also, I lurked on IM forum and the Gripboard for a long time before I ever joined here

 

[Guest JohnDrake]

3 minutes ago, Luke Blackwell said:

 Also, I lurked on IM forum and the Gripboard for a long time before I ever joined here

 I keep wondering of that, since ever. Why people lurk in forums without joining?

 

Even if they never post,reply or ask something, why don't they want to become part of the club? 

 

It's my honor being in here among you guys (and girls) , it's a really cosy place. I just wish there was a meet up or something, hang out, play with grippers, arm wrestle, beers and some 8-ball pool or something, you name it!

[climber511]

Do a search - the GB already has threads on this topic

 

[Luke Blackwell]

6 minutes ago, JohnDrake said:

 I keep wondering of that, since ever. Why people lurk in forums without joining?

 

Even if they never post,reply or ask something, why don't they want to become part of the club? 

 

It's my honor being in here among you guys (and girls) , it's a really cosy place. I just wish there was a meet up or something, hang out, play with grippers, arm wrestle, beers and some 8-ball pool or something, you name it!

It was to gain knowledge and also have time to build up my own strength. That way, I could join with some decent experience under my belt

   Nobody likes to be newbie☺️

Edited October 19 by Luke Blackwell

[Guest JohnDrake]

3 minutes ago, Luke Blackwell said:

It was to gain knowledge and also have time to build up my own strength. That way, I could join with some decent experience under my belt

I highly respect that but no shame at being a beginner.

 

Take for example karate forums where white belt karatekas always ask the same beginner questions. I don't see them as "beginners" (in a bad, discriminate way) but rather like "knowledge-thirsty".

 

Also, even as a total beginner (like level 0, not even 1 ) you surely have something to show or ask and it's especially awesome when beginners joins any kind of forums dedicated to the  subject of their passion because this way we can monitor their progress and be proud of them as they are proud of themselves too! I spend most of my time in here reading old posts and a smile always shapes in my face when i stalk their profiles and read their updated posts, their progress really make me believe in  myself too, like a motivation of "if they can do it, so are you! what are you waiting for?" (Rocky Balboa inspiration quotes kind of vibes )

 

But again, that's just me and i respect that, lurking around. I been doing that to so many forums i lost count, lol. But some day i guess, i always feel like i wanna drop a "Hey there!" kind of message which is basically more like a "I'm on of you! I come to join you! You are my Fellowship of the Ring!" kind of message.

[Guest JohnDrake]

11 minutes ago, climber511 said:

Do a search - the GB already has threads on this topic

 

Meet up? Okay, i will! Kudos!

[Luke Blackwell]

19 minutes ago, JohnDrake said:

I highly respect that but no shame at being a beginner.

 

Take for example karate forums where white belt karatekas always ask the same beginner questions. I don't see them as "beginners" (in a bad, discriminate way) but rather like "knowledge-thirsty".

 

Also, even as a total beginner (like level 0, not even 1 ) you surely have something to show or ask and it's especially awesome when beginners joins any kind of forums dedicated to the  subject of their passion because this way we can monitor their progress and be proud of them as they are proud of themselves too! I spend most of my time in here reading old posts and a smile always shapes in my face when i stalk their profiles and read their updated posts, their progress really make me believe in  myself too, like a motivation of "if they can do it, so are you! what are you waiting for?" (Rocky Balboa inspiration quotes kind of vibes )

 

But again, that's just me and i respect that, lurking around. I been doing that to so many forums i lost count, lol. But some day i guess, i always feel like i wanna drop a "Hey there!" kind of message which is basically more like a "I'm on of you! I come to join you! You are my Fellowship of the Ring!" kind of message.

Good points

[Guest JohnDrake]

22 minutes ago, Luke Blackwell said:

Good points

 

 

Thanks! So, how long have you lurked in here before decide becoming a member?

Edited October 19 by JohnDrake

[Luke Blackwell]

14 minutes ago, JohnDrake said:

 

 

Thanks! So, how long have you lurked in here before deciding become a member? Years?

A few years actually... 

  That reminds me,  I really need to put post my whole training time-line in my log someday.

   Essentially, I began training grippers in late 2021. I trained about a year, then had some health issues that really got In The way. I put grippers down and didn't touch them for a year and a half. Finally, I got things together and began training again. That's where I'm at now. I've only been back at grippers about 2 months. 

   But yes, I lurked here and there over a span of 3 years