Training for grippers

Here's another article I wrote for the web-shop. Enjoy:

A much (almost too mush sometimes) topic on the few grip forums we have is the 'how to' training to improve on grippers. As someone who wrote a book on the subject (www.gripperbook.com) I'm well aware of the more complicated and, so it seems to me, overly technical aspects of gripper training. But as anyone who's ever read my training logs you'll note I keep to the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) principle in a very big way.

I train (usually alternating) on both TSG (torsion spring grippers) or the Vulcan Gripper. On TSG I use Paul Knight's suggestions (helped me to tidy up the set) to position them in my hand just so with Paul Savage reminding me to press the thumb (non gripping hand) on the gripper handle against the palm locking it in position better. Then, taking a wider than usual set (as others seem to enjoy when watching my youtube videos) I wrap my hands around and squeeze. My volume is much lower than many and so I rarely, if at all, get any torn or rough skin. 

One little trick I use in competition is to warm up on them as though it was a workout so this usually goes thus: CoC 1 x 6 reps, HG200 x 3 reps, then 1 rep per gripper to my working grippers (right handed usually CoC 3.5 or better and left handed a BBE). Once I get to the working gripper I aim to do around 7 x 1 reps.

On the Vulcan I take the same set up and warm up approach. At the working level (16-18 right handed) I can add the rubber bands for micro-loading and use the same 7 x 1 rep approach. But there's very little over-closing, BTR training or similar. Literally and then if reminded only I might do these extra bits and bobs once a month.

Yet here I am at the or very close to the absolute tip top of the gripper closing tree. There are a few main reasons why I probably don't need to do anything complicated: I'm strong anyway, I've been training a long time, I know what works for me, I've been doing grip longer than most and maybe little or no pressure to go up too many more notches. Now I know that last bit sounds 'big headed' but I've joked with others 'where's the money?'. If I knew I'd make a few bucks more CCS closing a 4 or the guys started breathing down my neck big style I'd either have to pull my socks up and 'get game' or pull over to the side and let them pass (that time is a-coming trust me).

Gripper feats/records

1. Certified CoC 3 back in 2001, closed it for reps, closed it inverted and closed it hanging upside down in a power rack using inversion boots for giggles. I also have a video of my crushing a credit card to show how it's done
2. Closed three (or 4??) different 4's in one evenings training late 2008 (9000+ views to date on youtube) inc one rated at 4.01 (belonging to Jim Wylie). Quite an evening even for me.
3. Hold both official records (CCS and 20mm) on David Horne Vulcan Gripper: 20mm at Level 21 and CCs level 16 (Laine Snook and Paul Savage have done more unofficially)
4. To date worked my way through the Mash Monster list to level 5 (of 7) of which there are, inc myself, 6 of us on that level. I've also closed a MM7 (dud) which is rated as being as hard as the actual MM6 so I'm ready for that one too.
5. Closed a 205lbs calibrated CoC 4 at the 2009 Chad Woodall event (apparently best in competition to date). The same day I then closed two more after the competition (on video) inc one rated at 199lbs with NO CHALK and then another a few minutes later. Again a good day considering I'd travelled 5000+ miles to get there and had managed 2nd place against Chad and had not closed a 4 in weeks!!

One might then ask, if we ignore genetics, hand size and god only knows what else people might possibly come up with as excuses, reasons, what-have-you, as to why I do what I do and why they cannot - how come I can do 'all this shit' with my KISS approach?? Part of it has to be sheer hard work - I treat a gripper close like any big max effort on a compound. So it's near teeth grindingly hard, eyes bulging, veins throbbing and F-O-C-U-S that is getting the job done. Grippers aren't an after thought but 1) first in the workout and 2) treated as seriously as any other exercise I do. Only recently I saw a video (one or my more recent 4 close) where I am breathing out in certain way just prior to a big one in and my eyes take on a certain look (a little away from the camera but also in another place as it were) and I am 'in the moment' and giving it my all.