Phew - glad that's over

I'm sitting here catching up after another weekend away (last one in a long time I'm thinking). This time, as per a blog last week, it was at Seni at London Excel. Once again, as with Bodypower, I was with Ultimate Grip. Rod 'Rambo' Lanette and I did all the physical stuff and while he arm wrestled his way through the crowd I gripped, twisted and advised my way through the rest. My right hand is especially fried and I awoke to a thick feeling which is sign of some work done. 

I'll be resting up for a day - especially this Diamond Jubilee long weekend. Having been busy two of the days taking two more to chill out will be nice. Then it's back in the gym and cracking on for what I hope is a soon to be happening move to Wales.

My first workout may well be back at Bulks in Gravesend as I saw and spoke to several WSM competitors (Mark Felix etc) including Terry Hollands. He suggested he might come down and join me for a workout sometime this week. 

I also want to big up the efforts of some of the Gloucester / Whey Gym guys who while I was busy showing off were competing this weekend.

I'm sure I'll have more to say (there's some photos on facebook) but my washing awaits and, as I said, I'm still catching up. Laters!

Seni 2012

This weekend I will be at Seni 2012 at Excel (docklands), again with Ultimate Grip. Seni's focus has always been combat sports including MMA, all the martial arts, boxing and so on. In addition, as with other fitness industry expos, it's including a broader spectrum of interests. So there's also a Show of Strength (featuring a WSM experience) and a Survival section (for those with outdoor pursuits interests).

With 100+ stands and in a 20,000 square metre arena and constant fighting displays I am sure you'll find something to watch and learn from.

We'll have toys for you to play with as usual and, of course, I'll be explaining what use grip training is for the fighting arts - if I can get a-hold of you you might be in trouble.

If you're there come and say hi! 

Back for a bit part 3...Grip Dyno

When we were setting up etc on Thursday the guys, Charles and Gary Rinaldi, showed me their Baseline Grip Dynometer (see image). We had a LOT of fun this weekend with it. As well as having visitors to our stand try out their Heavy Grips we got them to test their strength. The little booklet that comes with it suggest that the mean average for all age groups is, in what I assume to be the untrained population, 115lbs or a little over 52kg.

Throughout the three days we had a load of guys, who obviously lift weights, hit 65-kilos or 140lbs. Now I am sure we did not get them to hold it as per how a sports scientist might, nor did we (for the most part) adjust the handles, but 25lbs better than average consistently is a decent enough indicator.

The climbers among the visitors got higher numbers than you'd expect for their relatively light body-weights and also had as good a crush grip number (slow but steady powerful squeeze until then red needle stopped) as they did ballistic (just a snap like pull). Those who did combat got wide differences (weight trainers would get 5-15kg difference, combat athletes 10-30kg spreads). The handful of women that tried also scored (with only one below - but she was a wee lass) above the mean average. Of course we also had some awesome numbers - one was an old mucker of mine from Liverpool who hit numbers very close to mine. We didn't get the chance to test any high level pro strength guys.

I also noticed, just from my own efforts, peaks and troughs through the day. The closer together my efforts and those of others were the worse the drop off. However, my average crush was 100-kilos with lows of 90-kilos and a peak of 120-kilos. My ballistic efforts averaged off the scale (130kilos being the max) with the best going all the way back to zero and a low of 120-kilos. A few visitors were so impressed they videoed these efforts as the needle went so fast. It was even suggested I was using a secret button!!

Much like the arm wrestling tables and boxing machines both guys and yes gals like to test themselves against the big guys and the dyno was a harmless but fun way for them to do so.

Bodypower... nearly here

I'm nigh on packed and ready to go. I'm working the weekend with Ultimate Grip on stand E2. That's all you need to know so drag your sorry asses over, shake my hand, slip me a fiver... oops and say hi!

Bodypower 2012

Are you coming? Now, in the UK the model by which all other bodybuilding lifestyle expos compare. Numbers, year on year, have grown and with the added extra day, Friday, included I'd expect to see some 40000 over the three days (10k up on last year). In similar set ups industry has focused on the Friday and the retail side on the weekend.

These events are, for me (even with me working there), great fun. They really are what you make of them. So some guys turn up in their tight MMA style shirts, all skin tight on their arms and pecs... so what they're having fun!

The key is to come in and interact. So try testing your strength, pose with model or a pro, try your luck on the challenges and get a full to the brim goody bag! 

I've already said I'm working there but here's a reminder. Come and say hi on the Ultimate Grip stand. I'm piss poor at names so introduce yourselves!!