TRY ROWING/CHINUPS/PULLDOWNS WITH STRAPS

[mbasic]

I always did not need my straps for rowing, chinups, lat downdowns etc.
I always thought it was better to do these bullshit accessory exercises this way for some "grip work volume" or whatever.
Weights/loads/demands in rowing are small compared to that of a DOH deadlift....right?

I always thought it was "gay" to strap up for every goddamn movement .... I get that some jacked body builder strict BB-rowing 315 for 10 reps, or weighted pullups with a 150#DB hanging between your legs, that guy might NEED straps.....but this is not what I'm talking about.

Yesterday, I actually lost grip at the very last rep, on an intermediate set of heavy lat.pulldowns. It was really like more of a brain fart. I normally finish the set sitting down, and then standup and sometimes let go of the bar just as the stack bottoms out. Not a bang, but slight clank of the stack. Anyways I successfully did all the reps, but while letting the bar back up on the eccentric portion on the very last one, right at the top, one hand let go/slipped while I was still seated under the kneepad. It IS a weird bar with some thick soft rubber padding on it ..... weird that the material is geared for cushioning, but super shitty for gripping (its smooth). Anyways, the stack dropped a bit and banged hard and I felt stupid. I never ever had this problem before, and have rowed/pull-downed more weight that this before.

I figured "what the hell", used my oly straps.

So I strapped up. Long story short, the sets were so much easier...better form, reps were easier to complete. I'll go up in weight for sure next week now. I'm not really using body english too much at all (strict front lat.pulldowns). I could tap/smash the bar into my collar bone area harder, etc. I've always sucked at chins, rowing movements, etc. Maybe its in a different spot in my hand, sure .... but damn it was "better". I swear the pump was better too.

OOPS

[CheekiBreekiFitness]

Yeah straps take your forearms out of the equation, so that you can concentrate on your back, glutes, hamstrings, erectors etc.

I never understood why people frown on using straps for pretty much anything.

Also, unless you are a powerlifter, why should you care about training your grip ? I don't get it.

[Hardartery]

Yeah straps take your forearms out of the equation, so that you can concentrate on your back, glutes, hamstrings, erectors etc.

I never understood why people frown on using straps for pretty much anything.

Also, unless you are a powerlifter, why should you care about training your grip ? I don't get it.

Grip is a useful thing in actual everyday life, and while there is nothing wrong with straps anything can be subject to over use.

[CheekiBreekiFitness]

I mean I can't think of a task at work or at home I've done in the last 5 years that required significant grip strength and I never train my grip specifically, and use straps for almost everything. But I guess it could be different if you do a physical job, as I'm a desk jockey (and a european pajama boi who drinks someone else's coffee but that's besides the point).

The only exercise that I feel is somehow functional (when put in the context of my daily life) would be something like deadlifting light, odd objects, and walking with them (that was useful when I had to move house by myself). Other than that I don't know.

[Hardartery]

I mean I can't think of a task at work or at home I've done in the last 5 years that required significant grip strength and I never train my grip specifically, and use straps for almost everything. But I guess it could be different if you do a physical job, as I'm a desk jockey (and a european pajama boi who drinks someone else's coffee but that's besides the point).

The only exercise that I feel is somehow functional (when put in the context of my daily life) would be something like deadlifting light, odd objects, and walking with them (that was useful when I had to move house by myself). Other than that I don't know.

Grip work is also good for forearm aesthetics. And seriously, how often does bench press, OHP or squat actually matter in normal life? They don't - for your self-described state of being. Neither does the ability to do 30 ins of cardio, and yet it is probably a good thing to throw in.

[CheekiBreekiFitness]

Absolutely, I could add 200 lbs to my press and bench, and my life would be 100% the same.

I lift for entertainment and vanity (and health marginally).

Now for cardio I feel that it has an impact on my daily life (running after my kid, going up the stairs, running to catch the bus, being able to walk for long periods of time etc.). I tend to walk about 2 hours a day (no car) so being in decent cardio shape, has an impact, I feel.

Now for forearms esthetics, I would imagine that doing actual forearm work (hammer curl, pronation curl etc) would be more efficient than doing work to increase grip (like static holds and such). But again there's probably a transfer from forearm work to grip strength. I'm not sure I never tried.

[OverheadDeadlifts]

I mean I can't think of a task at work or at home I've done in the last 5 years that required significant grip strength and I never train my grip specifically, and use straps for almost everything. But I guess it could be different if you do a physical job, as I'm a desk jockey (and a european pajama boi who drinks someone else's coffee but that's besides the point).

The only exercise that I feel is somehow functional (when put in the context of my daily life) would be something like deadlifting light, odd objects, and walking with them (that was useful when I had to move house by myself). Other than that I don't know.

Although grip strength only rarely comes in handy at work/home etc it definitely has the most opportunity for showing off. Climbing things, bending things, crushing things, carrying things. Bouldering and ninja warrior courses are very fun with good grip because you can muscle your way through things that untrained people can’t.

Last month at work I walked into the staff room and there were some people fucking around with an egg. They said it’s impossible to break an egg by squeezing it. I can do about 6 reps with a CoC#2 at the moment and whilst it took a surprising amount of force, I broke the egg. And by broke I mean it fucking exploded all over me, them and the walls.

[CheekiBreekiFitness]

That's true it makes for an interesting party trick.

[slowmotion]

Grip is a useful thing in actual everyday life, and while there is nothing wrong with straps anything can be subject to over use.

Agreed.

[cgeorg]

Cue half of exodus trying to squeeze-break an egg.

[heidikay]

Cue half of exodus trying to squeeze-break an egg.

I did this easily on my first try.

[cgeorg]

Cue half of exodus trying to squeeze-break an egg.

I did this easily on my first try.

Welcome back

[mbasic]

The egg thing is about the equality of pressure around the shell.

That said, eggs are super easy to break by crushing/squeezing with your hands....you would almost have to try so intentionally to squeeze with equal pressure on all sides to get any kind of desired observation of: "wow, its taking more pressure than what I thought" ....but yeah, Its gonna break quite easily, no matter how well / even you grip it.

[quikky]

I can get 1-2 more reps when doing pull-ups with straps. I don't do pull-ups to grow my forearms, so if I can get a bit more stimulus in my back, which I am trying to grow from them, that's easily worth it for me. I usually use them for rows as well, as I do rows without setting the bar back on the ground, and grip becomes a limiting factor when doing 8-12 reps.

[Hardartery]

Absolutely, I could add 200 lbs to my press and bench, and my life would be 100% the same.

I lift for entertainment and vanity (and health marginally).

Now for cardio I feel that it has an impact on my daily life (running after my kid, going up the stairs, running to catch the bus, being able to walk for long periods of time etc.). I tend to walk about 2 hours a day (no car) so being in decent cardio shape, has an impact, I feel.

Now for forearms esthetics, I would imagine that doing actual forearm work (hammer curl, pronation curl etc) would be more efficient than doing work to increase grip (like static holds and such). But again there's probably a transfer from forearm work to grip strength. I'm not sure I never tried.

Forearms are built with grip stuff. Way more than you would ever imagine. I have largish forearms, with a lot of 3D terrain, and I have beaten the likes of Hugo Girard and other world class pro's on Hercules Hold. I am not Mark Felix, but I am by no means "Average" in that particular niche. I have until recently avoided any and all curls or direct biceps work during my training life. That was intentional, which I could explain if anyone is interested in knowing.

I was a trained Mason by the time I finished High School (My father was a Masonry Contractor, so that was my job on all school breaks from the age of 12), and I credit almost all of my grip strength to the forearm development of that trade and later on the additional work doing Stucco and Plaster that I added to my list of trades. Swinging a hammer, bending stuff, and holding thick items. Some DOH work with a thick bar, preferrably of greater diameter than the Axle (2") will do things to your forearms that defy belief. Curls don't really do a lot for the forearms, not even reverse grip. Just to note, my wrists are over 8 1/4 inches, and my forearms are bigger than the diameter on a tub of protein powder from MyProtein (Which is why they work for putting on my elbow sleeves) and that has nothing to do with curls.

[mbasic]

Absolutely, I could add 200 lbs to my press and bench, and my life would be 100% the same.

I lift for entertainment and vanity (and health marginally).

Now for cardio I feel that it has an impact on my daily life (running after my kid, going up the stairs, running to catch the bus, being able to walk for long periods of time etc.). I tend to walk about 2 hours a day (no car) so being in decent cardio shape, has an impact, I feel.

Now for forearms esthetics, I would imagine that doing actual forearm work (hammer curl, pronation curl etc) would be more efficient than doing work to increase grip (like static holds and such). But again there's probably a transfer from forearm work to grip strength. I'm not sure I never tried.

Forearms are built with grip stuff. Way more than you would ever imagine. I have largish forearms, with a lot of 3D terrain, and I have beaten the likes of Hugo Girard and other world class pro's on Hercules Hold. I am not Mark Felix, but I am by no means "Average" in that particular niche. I have until recently avoided any and all curls or direct biceps work during my training life. That was intentional, which I could explain if anyone is interested in knowing.

I was a trained Mason by the time I finished High School (My father was a Masonry Contractor, so that was my job on all school breaks from the age of 12), and I credit almost all of my grip strength to the forearm development of that trade and later on the additional work doing Stucco and Plaster that I added to my list of trades. Swinging a hammer, bending stuff, and holding thick items. Some DOH work with a thick bar, preferrably of greater diameter than the Axle (2") will do things to your forearms that defy belief. Curls don't really do a lot for the forearms, not even reverse grip. Just to note, my wrists are over 8 1/4 inches, and my forearms are bigger than the diameter on a tub of protein powder from MyProtein (Which is why they work for putting on my elbow sleeves) and that has nothing to do with curls.

But can you crush a grade A rhode island red chicken egg?

If we are getting into forearm training now, from a hypertrophy standpoint (or even just general training/strength),,,,rather than relying on training your forearm through isometric work, like holding onto a deadlift, your rowing movements, 2" axle bar, bumper plate holds, etc .... wouldn't it be more optimal to run the muscles through a concentric and eccentric range of motion under load, especially for hypertrophy.

Seems like the most common type of grip training that I see on the interwebbs, involves various holds. IMO, this seems like a mistake. I get that the 'holds' might transfer well to holding onto a competition deadlift, or some other comp.based stuff. But you'd think to make them grow, one would want to do wrist-curls, and captain of crush like stuff.

IDK

Thoughts?

[DCR]

That was intentional, which I could explain if anyone is interested in knowing.

* Raises hand.

If we are getting into forearm training now, from a hypertrophy standpoint (or even just general training/strength),,,,rather than relying on training your forearm through isometric work, like holding onto a deadlift, your rowing movements, 2" axle bar, bumper plate holds, etc .... wouldn't it be more optimal to run the muscles through a concentric and eccentric range of motion under load, especially for hypertrophy.

Seems like the most common type of grip training that I see on the interwebbs, involves various holds. IMO, this seems like a mistake. I get that the 'holds' might transfer well to holding onto a competition deadlift, or some other comp.based stuff. But you'd think to make them grow, one would want to do wrist-curls, and captain of crush like stuff.

IDK

Thoughts?

I wouldn't know personally, but every alleged bodybuilder's training routine from the mags back in the day was precisely as you're suggesting - all sorts of wrist curls front and back, maybe some reverse bicep curls for something of an isometric that one wouldn't otherwise get. None of them ever mentioned just doing deadlifts.

[Hardartery]

Absolutely, I could add 200 lbs to my press and bench, and my life would be 100% the same.

I lift for entertainment and vanity (and health marginally).

Now for cardio I feel that it has an impact on my daily life (running after my kid, going up the stairs, running to catch the bus, being able to walk for long periods of time etc.). I tend to walk about 2 hours a day (no car) so being in decent cardio shape, has an impact, I feel.

Now for forearms esthetics, I would imagine that doing actual forearm work (hammer curl, pronation curl etc) would be more efficient than doing work to increase grip (like static holds and such). But again there's probably a transfer from forearm work to grip strength. I'm not sure I never tried.

Forearms are built with grip stuff. Way more than you would ever imagine. I have largish forearms, with a lot of 3D terrain, and I have beaten the likes of Hugo Girard and other world class pro's on Hercules Hold. I am not Mark Felix, but I am by no means "Average" in that particular niche. I have until recently avoided any and all curls or direct biceps work during my training life. That was intentional, which I could explain if anyone is interested in knowing.

I was a trained Mason by the time I finished High School (My father was a Masonry Contractor, so that was my job on all school breaks from the age of 12), and I credit almost all of my grip strength to the forearm development of that trade and later on the additional work doing Stucco and Plaster that I added to my list of trades. Swinging a hammer, bending stuff, and holding thick items. Some DOH work with a thick bar, preferrably of greater diameter than the Axle (2") will do things to your forearms that defy belief. Curls don't really do a lot for the forearms, not even reverse grip. Just to note, my wrists are over 8 1/4 inches, and my forearms are bigger than the diameter on a tub of protein powder from MyProtein (Which is why they work for putting on my elbow sleeves) and that has nothing to do with curls.

But can you crush a grade A rhode island red chicken egg?

If we are getting into forearm training now, from a hypertrophy standpoint (or even just general training/strength),,,,rather than relying on training your forearm through isometric work, like holding onto a deadlift, your rowing movements, 2" axle bar, bumper plate holds, etc .... wouldn't it be more optimal to run the muscles through a concentric and eccentric range of motion under load, especially for hypertrophy.

Seems like the most common type of grip training that I see on the interwebbs, involves various holds. IMO, this seems like a mistake. I get that the 'holds' might transfer well to holding onto a competition deadlift, or some other comp.based stuff. But you'd think to make them grow, one would want to do wrist-curls, and captain of crush like stuff.

IDK

Thoughts?

In my case the use of different trowels as well as hammers was really the main thing. It's not just isometrics, it's turning and maneuvering the tools with mortar on them, pinch gripping blocks repetitively, holding bricks both to lay them on place and to break them with a hammer. Holding hammers, especially 2 and 3 pound single hand sledges with thick wooden handles. The massive amount of forearm abuse that goes on when running slick finish plaster which requires holding the handle while applying massive amounts of force to the edge of the blade to polish the curing plaster. Swinging hammers also requires more than holding them, there is wrist involvement depending on the angle you need to strike on. Old Masons all have thick wrists and crazy grip strength and rarely do any curls other than the 12oz variety.
Plate curls work, not because they are curls but because of the force applied to the wrist with that disadvantaged leverage of holding the plate by it's edge. As far as just grip strength goes, John Brookfield is hard to match and he isn't doing any curls either. He can, however, break a 1/2" cold chisel with his bare hands among other things. I know the bucket of sand thing was pretty popular for a while as far as working the full ROM with the hands. I never found the wrist curls or extensions to do a lot, honestly. They seem good for rehab/prehab but not for building IME.

[Renascent]

That was intentional, which I could explain if anyone is interested in knowing.

* Raises hand.

Seconded.

[AlanMackey]

Yeah straps take your forearms out of the equation, so that you can concentrate on your back, glutes, hamstrings, erectors etc.

I never understood why people frown on using straps for pretty much anything.

Also, unless you are a powerlifter, why should you care about training your grip ? I don't get it.

Strongmen, tennis players climbers, grapplers...