Bigger numbers please

Last week, today,  and in under 2 weeks times there will be or have been a handful of grip competitions. One event seems to have come on in leaps and bounds - Ironminds Silver Bullet. In this you take, for guys, a fresh (ideally straight out of a packet) CoC 3 and using their new little widget (essentially a small section of gripper handle with a cord from which is suspended a 2.5-kilo disc). You close the gripper onto the widget, in itself as feat of hand strength and then keep it closed.

Just a short while ago Mark Felix held the record with some 40 odd seconds and yet in the past few weeks its gone to 46+ and now it's 52.49 seconds (Alexey “Tank” Tyukalov). The only other records we've seen this kind of progress on have been those which are essentially new events. Not knowing the limits of said events makes it a lot easier to make progress in short order.

The purpose of this article is to ask why we're not seeing NEW big ass numbers being created on the standards. I'm think specifically the 2 hand pinch going beyond Jedd Johnson's 120+ kilos / 264lbs. But you could easily include the Vulcan gripper, double over hand deadlift on the Apollon's Axle and so on.

I'm old school  and I am sure my hunger for such raising of the bar has come about by result of my dipping my toe back into the competition waters. Hell, there was a point last year - with a bunch of otehr shit going down to distract me - when I cared not one fig for ANY contest results. But I m training, I aim to do well and I want to see BIG ASS NUMBERS. I want to see National, International and world record numbers go up!! Sp come on guys stop being so damned careful. I know there can be a game played by doing just enough to win but that's what your first three attempts are for - raise the damn bar!!

Sunday 30th September 2012

Sunday
Just a few sessions left (9??)
LPD
to stack + 2 half plates x 8 reps

CG Bench
to 135-kilos x 3 x 3 reps - 100-kilos x 10 reps - 60-kilos x 15 reps
 
1 arm db row
to 80-kilos x 8 reps @

adj t/handle

Saturday 29th September 2012

Saturday
All around me, so it seems, are using all kinds of drugs to get high most weekends. I get my buzz from endorphins
Sledge hammer deadlifts

2HP - volume
to usual 82.7kg x 3 x 6 reps.
I had taped right thumb web to help it heal after previous tears so the left thumb joins it. If there be blood it must be contest time!

Friday 28th September 2012

Friday
Hammer d/b curls
1st as rack was in use.
10-kilos x 12 reps, 20-kilos x 10 reps, 30-kilos x 8 reps, 40-kilos x 8 reps - 15-kilos x 8 reps

Seated press
to 102.5-kilos x 6 reps

TPD
to 15p (3/4 stack) x 6 hard reps - 8 x 15 reps

Adj T/Handle
to some silly weight I'll save for comp after work sets

Thursday 27th September 2012

Thursday
Trained / coached Lewis Graddon (105 class competitor in my upcoming competition)
Gripper holds for time
I do NOT use a 2.5-kilo weight so this can easily effect what I may do by with an actual timed (as opposed to counting in my head) by Lewis plus having him there I did quite well. I also used his coc 3 gripper instead of my RB260ip gripper.
 
2HP
max with 5 x 1 reps in spite of small skin tears right thumb web.
 
Medley
Inc MDB, adj thick handle, hubs (poor), 2-inch v-bar, etc

Wednesday 26th September 2012

Wednesday
Up at silly o'clock (4am or so) and then first, bar owner, to gym.
Power Squat
to 300-kilos x 6 reps.

Leg Press
to 650-kilos x 8 reps

Leg Ext
stack x 20 reps

Seated Leg Curl
stack x 8 reps

Frame holds

Tuesday 25th September 2012

Tuesday
Sledgehammer deadlift
stupidly hard at these levels. I may stop at this weight and just try n get better at it.

2HP - volume
to 82.7-kilos x 3 x 5 reps (3 x 6 next time)

Hub work (for medley)

Monday 24th September 2012

Monday
CG Bench
to 135-kilos (140 x 3 very hard reps dropped to 135) x 3 x 3 reps, then d/s 100-kilos x 8 reps, 60-kilos x 14 reps = pump

Iso lever row
to 100-kilos a side x 8 reps

Low row
1/2 x 8 reps, stack x 8 reps, then 1 arm 12p x 8 reps, 15p (3/4 stack) x 8 reps

Adj t/handle
a little more than  last time x 3 x 3 reps either hand (5kg difference)

Sunday 23rd September 2012

Sunday
Enormously pissed off for a bunch of reasons - pick one - they'll all do. Marched up almost to the tops of the hills over Cymbach in the freezing and cold rain late morning - felt all 280lbs and 48 years. In the gym I was on fire.

Gripper holds for time
Best so far

2HP
to 100.2-kilos x 1+1,  1, 1, F, 1, 1 reps (6 total)

Saturday 22nd September 2012

Saturday
Seated press in rack
to 100-kilos x 6, 4 and 4 reps

HDB Curls
to 40-kilos x 2 x 6 reps

s/s

TPD
to 14.5p x 2 x 6 with no sleeves on

Adj T/Bar yada yada


Pukey at finish

Friday 22nd September 2012

Friday
Sledgehammer deadlifts
Brutal as always. Job still done.

2HP - volume
to 82.6-kilos x 4, 5 and 6 reps. Cut off torn skin from previous session this afternoon

Small medley
inc RB260. 2-inch v-bar, MDB, hubs, etc

Thursday 20th September 2012

Thursday
Power squat machine
to 280-kiulos x 8+ reps

Leg Press
to 630-kilos x 8+ reps

Leg Ext
to stack x 20 reps

Leg Curls
to 19p x 9 reps

Frame hold
last set ugly as all hell. I'm never gonna like this even if I get good.

Wednesday 19th September 2012

Wednesday
Finally had a nice monster of a session. Rammstein CD helped. Bad nights sleep and piss poor diet did not. I will make up for it in a minute.

VG and Gripper holds

2HP
Nice run up and throttle approach helped. Did 4 x 2 x 98.7-kilos

Tuesday 18th September 2012

Tuesday
CG Bench
Struggled. The effects of the weekend viral thing sapped me throughout and it showed here the most.

DB Rows
60,70 and 80-kilos x 8 reps

LPD
9p x 10 reps, 18p x 10 reps, stack+1/2p x 10 reps

Adj T/Handle
Coming along well. Used less chalk just swiped my fingers on a towel between reps

Monday 17th September 2012

Monday

SHDL
Bloody hard as per

2HP - volume
to 82.7kg x 3, 4, 5 reps. Skin still torn
in between went out with big hammer and knocked out wall with builder and 22lb hammer

Sunday 16th September 2012

Saturday
Fit only for as coffin yesterday. It was a real effort to do anything. Lemsip, Penicillin and bed and zero training mean I was able to 'rise again', like Dracula, around lunchtime. Today, Sunday, it's more a sweaty thing so hopeful as 24-48hr viral thing.

Sunday
I was at the desk early and as warm as you like in spite of it always being cold down here. Mind you I was well covered up and, at that point, still wearing yesterdays kit (yes I was that rough then). More Lemsip and a wash n brush up and I was ready to sweat out some more germs at the gym.

Seated press in rack
to 105-kilos x 4 reps

HDB Curls
to 30-kilos (did not go to last heavy set as per) - 15-kilos x 12 reps

TPD
to 14p +1/2 plate x 3 x 5 reps

Adj T/Handle

The world's most powerful fat burner!!

This week my local shop, as requested, got in the latest issue of Muscular Development. Flicking through it's ad packed pages I noticed something of a developing theme - ad after ad stating that their fat burning product (in itself a not entirely accurate statement) was 'the world's most powerful' or is 'Most Powerful Fat Burner in the World' and other very similar claims.

Now lets cast a wary eye at these statements. Each and every product would need to be exactly the same formulation in order for them all to be able to say that they are 'the best' and so on. But we all, experience gym visitors and readers of this blog, know it's, to be frank, bollocks.

On the fat burn claim alone every time you took a dose you'd be in A&E with your backside and other body parts aflame. But if we say fair enough what they mean is that they are, more accurately, is stimulating to the central nervous system in such a way as to help with fat loss it sounds less dramatic. Just as accurate might be the added 'when we made it' knowing full well someone will add a few more milligrams of the active ingredients so as to be able to make such a claim. It doesn't matter that the effective dose has been long passed so long as you catch porkies eye and make him or her by your product.

The issue, such as it is, is that the seller of such items loses the impact they wished to make because it becomes too much for you to believe. As I have said before the biggest joke is usually that regardless of the product it contains a nice healthy (by that I mean large as opposed to one making you well) of caffeine. Other ingredients come and go. Those that are piss poor get dropped or fall out of vogue and some, actually useful for the purpose, often are borderline illegal and as such local agencies ban them. 

The worst of all the idea is, of course, that such a product will enable you to become ripped and lean by taking a tablet. Like steroids all such products work best when you do some bloody work!!  So stop eating crap, count your calories and then throw in such items - quell surprise - you get lean! That is all.

Friday 14th September 2012

Friday
Leg

Power squat machine
to 250-kilos x 8 reps
 
Leg Press
to 620-kilos x 8+ reps (one rep a little deeper than expected ha ha)
 
Leg Ext
to stack x 18 reps

s/s
 
Leg Curl
to 18 x 9 reps

Frame holds
285-kllos x 3 always hard sets

Lost a few more lbs bwt :(

Thursday 13th September 2012

Thursday

am: Coached Lisa on bench

pm:
Gripper holds for time preceded by VG

2HP
Tried 102.7 and was not yet ready, dropped a teeny bit for doubles and triples

Wednesday 12th September 2012

Wednesday
Need to eat another meal or drink another shake every day. Annoyingly although strength is going forward I have dropped a pound or two. Grr
CG Bench Press
Faffed around loads. I got better as timer went on because I dropped the safety bars to a lower position and got the bar to my chest and not hitting the bars as per the first couple of efforts
to 140-kilos x 3 reps (damned hard), 2, 2, 2 then d/s 100-kilos x 10 reps, 60-kilos x 15 reps

s/s heavy sets with

Iso Lever Row
to 95-kilos a side x 8 reps @

LPD
to stack+ 5kg plate x 8 reps

Adj T/Bar
Training this often at the mo to get my close to my 1RM asap. It'll drop off as I get close to some decent numbers.

Tuesday 11th September 2012

Tuesday
Sledge hammer deadlifts

Vulcan Gripper (V2)
Took the shine of off of the gloss painted handles with some wet-n-dry. Made a little difference. Strength only day (holds next time)
B/H: 1/1 x 8 reps ws, 2/2 x 3 reps ws, 3/3 x 3 reps, 4/4 x 1 rep
L/H: 5/5 x N, 1, F, TnG, TnG
R/H: 5/5 x 1 rep, 5/6 x 1 rep, 6/6 x VVN, N, 6/5 x 1 hard rep

Monday 10th September 2012

Monday
Struggled big time due to a lack of sleep

Seated press in rack
to 105kg x 2 poor reps, 100kg x F. Too much too soon
 
Hammer db curls
to 42.5kg x 6 loose reps - 17.5kg x 10 reps

s/s

TPD
to 14p+5kg x 2 x 6 reps - 8p x 10 reps
 
Adj thick handle
Better than last time and repped out on last set

Saturday 8th September 2012

Saturday
Power squat
to 240-kilos x 8 reps

Leg Press
to 600-kilos (most of safeties a few at the end below) x 11 reps

Leg Ext
to stack x 17 rp reps

Leg Curls
to 18p x 8 reps

Frame holds for time
usual x 3 sets (H11+2 mats) and first sets poor pickup but carried on anyway.

Friday 7th September 2012

Friday
Gripper for time
Started out with new Vulcan (V2) + black spring. Damn it needs seasoning. The handles are super slidy which made a HUGE difference. Then the work on holds for time, a la the Silver Bullet challenge, were way off with only 1 effort being half decent. Not a happy bunny. It also pumped my hands a tad.

2HP
worked to 96.7-kilos and did 1 double and then a bunch of singles. It got a little better as I was still pissed off with myself from the grippers. Slight fraying of skin at the base of my thumbs as of old.

Thursday 6th September 2012

Thursday
Chest n back
CG Bench Press - done in rack
to 140-kilos x 1, 2 and 2 dropped to 100-kilos x8 and dropped again to 60-kilos x 11 reps = pumped

LPD with v handle
to stack x

DB Rows
to 80-kilos x 8 reps @

Adj thick bar

At this point Lisa arrived, sometime toned figure competitor (Nabba Wales 2010 3rd place) and occasional powerlifter. Coached on bench, pulldowns, rotator cuff and tricep work

Wednesday 5th September 2012

Wednesday
Grip trained in the am. Re-delivery of adjustable thick bar and new Vulcan arrived today so played about with the VG and did adjustable after sledgehammer work.

Sledgehammer deadlift
Worked to a 1/4-kilo more per hand x 3 x 3 reps

Adjustable thick bar
worked to an attempt at 120-kilos (approx) plus handle. Found getting my middle finger beneath the underside of the handle I opted for tight (1 down from thickest - not measured yet maybe 60mm). Not quite at w/r level today (155kg).

New Vulcan
Needs seasoning.

Tuesday 4th August 2012

Forgot to mention I picked up the Millennium for visiting scrap merchant (no lads it's not for sale ha ha)

Tuesday
S+A
Seated press in rack to 100-kilos x 6 reps

H/D/B/Curls
to 40-kilos x 8 loose reps - 15-kilos x 8 reps

TPD
to 14p+5-kilos - 8p x 15 reps

Fat handled dumbbell deadlifts
to 90-kilos x 3 rp reps each. Puffing / dizzy as per.

Monday 3rd September 2012

Stew K and Jack on site day 2. Scrap merchant has cleared a few bits for me. In the mean time...

Monday 
Gripper holds for time
Usual
 
2HP
to 94.7-kilos x 3 x 3 reps

Sunday 2nd September 2012

Sunday
Stew K down for some work here with Jack. I'd been to the gym
Leg
Power Squat machine
to 230-kilos x 8 reps

Leg Press
to 580-kilos x 8 reps

Leg Curls
to 17p x 9 reps

Leg ext
to stack x 16 reps

Frame hold
to 285-kilos (1 hole lower) x 3 timed sets

Saturday 1st September 2012

Saturday
Sledge Hammer deadlifts
worked to 4 sets of 3 reps - same weight as last time