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One of the most underdeveloped aspects of strength conditioning is grip strength. Most power lifters and bodybuilders simply build their grip strength through lifting heavy weight. However, this oftentimes neglected area is a crucial aspect of muscular development for a shooter. Firing a handgun, especially one of the striker-fired and polymer frame variety requires a firm solid grip. Countless other tasks from subduing a suspect to climbing a ladder, fence or wall depend primarily on hand strength as well. Traditionally grip strength can be developed as part of a weight lifting routine. Lifting without gloves, performing numerous pull-ups, rope pull downs and completing sets of wrist curls with moderate to heavy weight aid in building up the muscles and tendons in the hands, fingers and wrists, but there is another way to develop a powerful grip: Captains of Crush Hand Grippers.
Captain of Crush Hand Grippers This author was first introduced to the Captains of Crush Hand Grippers by Oak Ridge, New Jersey, “Strongman” Patrick Povilaitis, who was recently featured on Stan Lee’s Super Humans for his incredible feats of strength such as lifting a 275 pound engine block with his hand in an animal trap and bending horse shoes. These are not the typical plastic bodied grippers sold in sporting goods stores that are essentially worthless. The Captains of Crush are constructed of steel and aluminum and are available in 10 different sizes that range in resistance from 60 pounds to the extremely difficult “Number 4” Model at 365 pounds. The company that manufactures the Captains of Crush, recommends starting with an appropriate gripper that the user can comfortably and completely close 5 times and moving up the scale over time as hand strength increases. This is usually when the user can perform 10 to 15 repetitions of completely closing the gripper. Performing a workout with a pair of these grippers is not meant for idle time in the office or in the car. Like any other form of training it requires concentration. Some users perform their routine at the end of a workout and others perform the exercises on their days off from lifting. The user positions the handles of the gripper between the four fingers and the pad of the thumb to begin and squeezes the handles until they touch. The goal is to use only the strength of the hand to completely close the grippers. On a heavier set, they will not close completely, but the ends will get closer over the course of a few weeks. The older sets need not be discarded or resold; they can add variety to training by
9/27/2014 3:40 AM
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using them in an inverted manner This type of grip training is intended as a supplement to regular strength workouts. Rock climbing requires the highest degree of grip and finger strength but the real strength to climb comes from climbing. It is the same with jujitsu, shooting or any other activity that can be improved by using the grippers. The intent is to use these tools and exercises in addition to your training, not in place of it.
IMAGE CREDIT http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captains_of_Crush_Grippers http://pixabay.com/en/punch-fist-hand-strength-isolated-316605/
9/27/2014 3:40 AM